Track analysis of "Just Like Heaven" by The Cure
Here is my analysis of "Just Like Heaven" by The Cure.
STRUCTURE
The structure of the song itself is quite unusual for a pop song, as it starts with a 32 bar intro, with the vocals coming in for the 1st verse at the end of the 32 bar, around 50 seconds into the song.
The song is based mainly around a repetitive 4 chord pattern. The intro, verses and instrumentals are the same structure and are based around the same chordal motif – the I chord (A), the V (E), the ii (Bm), and the IV (D). It continues this pattern for 72 measures before there is a change in chords.
It strays away from the typical verse chorus, verse chorus, structure (or any of the other common structures), and instead has quite a unique structure that I would describe as INTRO – VERSE – INSTRUMENTAL – VERSE – REFRAIN/CHORUS – INSTRUMENTAL – VERSE – (shorter) REFRAIN/CHORUS.
The Refrain/Chorus is the only part in the song where the chords change, and the chords are the vi chord (F#m), a Major flat VII chord (G), and the IV chord (D).
As the song is in A Major, this G Major chord could be considered a borrowed chord, as it does not fit with the key signature of the A Major scale. A very clever choice of chord in my opinion.
MELODY
The great thing about this song is there are a number of different melodies on different instruments, that feature prominently throughout the song. The first melody is really the bass line, which etches the songs progression into your memory before any other melodies come in.
The next one is introduced by the electric guitar, and is essentially just harmonizing with the root notes by adding the relevant 3rds to the main progression.
After the acoustic guitar comes in, the keys introduce a beautifully simplistic melodic phrase before one of the main melodies comes in on electric guitar. This melodic hook on the electric guitar is a prominent motif throughout the song, and for this reason could be considered the chorus, in my eyes.
Robert Smith’s vocals provide scores of other beautifully somber melodies throughout the song, with the vocal range in this song spanning from F#4 – A5.
Again, the keys provide numerous melody lines sporadically throughout the song.
HARMONY
After the initial melody of the bass line is provided, diatonic harmony in this song is provided initially from the electric guitar, as previously mentioned harmonizing the relative third of each root note played on the bass
Then the acoustic guitar comes in next completing the triadic harmony the listener has been waiting for, by introducing the 5th into each chord.
The next harmonic melody is provided by the keys, which produces a lovely mix of descending and ascending melodies.
The lead guitar then provides another conjunct harmonic melody with an descending phrase that is doubled, then it ascends back up through the scale to finish off the hook by repeating the descending phrase.
Robert Smith also provides vocal harmony’s throughout the song, entering into Lydian mode at one stage in the song.
Again, the keys harmonize with the vocal melodies sporadically throughout the song.
RHYTHM & METER
The song is in standard 4/4 timing
The songs tempo is roughly 150 bpm
The acoustic guitar in this song has a rhythmic pattern made up of a mixture of quarter notes, eighth notes, and sixteenth notes. I have made up a lead sheet for the acoustic guitar which demonstrates the rhythm pattern.
There is a little jump to the rhythm of the song, by moving to the V and IV chords an eighth note early (on the 4&).
At the end of the first REFRAIN/CHORUS there is an extra 2 bars added on the IV chord. At the end of the last REFRAIN/CHORUS there are 2 bars taken out, ending on the first beat of the 3rd bar.
TRANSCRIPTIONS
This is my transcription of the drums at the start of the song (I don't play drums, and I only started learning basic theory this year, so it might not be totally accurate, but I'm pretty sure it's close enough).
This is my transcription of the bass guitar at the start of the song.
This is my transcription of the rhythm and chords of the acoustic guitar when it comes in.
This is my transcription of the keyboard melody line when it comes in.
This is my transcription of the main lead guitar hook that leads into the first verse.
I made all these transcriptions using the MuseScore app.












