songwriting genius

[johncomic]

One of the most genius pieces of pop songwriting I know of is the intro to Awake by Letters to Cleo. And here's why:

the song opens with a descending sequence C major - E minor - A minor, emphasizing the notes C - B - A. This is a Standard Classic riff: off the top of my head I can tell you that Cum On Feel the Noize opens the same way, and T. Rex used this run numerous times. I'm sure there are oodles of other examples out there. But:
then Awake follows it with C major - E major - A major, emphasizing the root notes C - E - A. This is genius because:
1) I've never heard this variation on it before -- so, as far as I know, it's original
2) this repetition gives a sense of “this is the same riff again, and yet it's not the same, it is but it isn't” which is pretty clever IMOSHO
3) the shift from minor to major chords creates a feeling of optimism and uplift and triumph which is the special gift of some of the greatest pop music

Original, clever, uplifting. Dig it up and hear it for yourself, see if you don't also bow before the genius of LTC.