Western classical music has seen the use of a fairly wide variety of time signatures, but over the last few decades, radio stations which focus on pop music have tended to play mostly songs played in 4/4 time. Starting in the mid-1960's, a certain number of European and North American rock bands began to explore other time signatues, perhaps under the influence of classical music or Jazz bands such as Dave Brubeck who had achieved some commercial success with other time signatures. By the late 1960's, many of these bands had come to be labelled progressive rock, and throughout the 1970's, bands such as Pink Floyd, Yes, Jethro Tull, and Emerson Lake and Palmer managed to land hits on the radio charts despite this use of time signatures other than 4/4. This article seeks to gather together a list of songs in popular music with such time signatures. Works in classical or jazz music that have influenced pop could also be included. Revisions and additions are welcome.
Some examples, listed by signature and year released, are:
5/4 or 5/8
also known as "quintuple meter"
* (1916) "Mars" and "Neptune" from "The Planets" by Holst * (1959) "Take Five" by Dave Brubeck (from Time Out) * (1961) "Far More Blue" by Dave Brubeck * (1961?) "Far More Drums" by Dave Brubeck * (1962) "Castilian Blues" by Dave Brubeck * (1962) "Countdown" by Dave Brubeck * (1966) "Theme from Mission: Impossible" by Lalo Schifrin * (1969) "River Man" by Nick Drake (album Five Leaves Left) * (1969) "Do What You Like" by Blind Faith, written by Ginger Baker * (ca. 1970) "TWX in Twelve Bars", theme from the PBS series Wall Street Week, composed by Donald Swartz * (1971) "Same Old Story" by Blodwyn Pig * (1971) "Everything's Alright" by Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice — album: Jesus Christ Superstar * (1972) "La Luna Nuova" by Premiata Forneria Marconi * (1972) "Living in the Past" by Jethro Tull * (1975) "Eternity's Breath, Pt. 2" by Mahavishnu Orchestra * (1975) "Can't Stand Your Funk" by Mahavishnu Orchestra * (1975) "Faith" by Mahavishnu Orchestra * (1978) "Theme from Halloween" by John Carpenter * (1978) "Down and Out" by Genesis - 5/4, choruses in 4/4. * (1979) "Earth's Creation" by Stevie Wonder - and reprise in "Finale". * (1981) "Face Dances Part Two" by Pete Townshend * (1981) "The Deathless Horsie" by Frank Zappa - from "Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar" album & "The Frank Zappa Guitar Book" (out of print). * (1982) "English Roundabout" by XTC * (1987) "Round and Around" by Pink Floyd * (1987) "Echo" by Joe Satriani - 5/4 * (1988) "Atlas Eyes" by Tangerine Dream * (1990) Theme from the NES game Total Recall * (1991) "Divine Step (Conspectu Mortis)" by Coroner * (1991) "Day Is Gone" by Cardiacs * (1991) "Grace" by Bobby Mcferrin and Yo-Yo Ma (from the album Hush) * (1991) "Music on the Wind" by Suzy Bogguss (from the album Aces) * (1992) "Medicine" by Monster Magnet * (1992) "Whirl" by The Jesus Lizard on the album Liar * (1993) "Seven Days" by Sting * (1993) "Spin the Bottle" by Juliana Hatfield * (1993) "Here Come the Bastards" by Primus (from the album Sailing the Seas of Cheese) * (1994) "Here Come the Rome Plows" by Drive Like Jehu (from the album Yank Crime) * (1994) "Jacket Town" by Yellowjackets * (1994) "A Fairytale About Slavery" by Miranda Sex Garden (the main vocal line is subtly a 6/4 polymeter) * (1994) "Endless Dream: Silent Spring" by Yes - 5/4 after 10/8 piano intro * (1995) "5/4" by Sunny Day Real Estate album: Sunny Day Real Estate * (1995) "Through Racism Forms" by Hieronymus Bosch * (1995) "Batwanese Beek" by Warda Al-Jazairia * (1996) "Lifetimes" by Fire Merchants * (1996) "Advent" by Opeth * (1996) "Percolator" by Stereolab * (1996) "Tomorrow is Already Here" by Stereolab * (1996) "Absenter" by Jawbox * (1997) "Cichli" by Autechre * (1997) "Parsec" by Stereolab * (1997) "Diagonals" by Stereolab * (1997) "Rainbo Conversation" by Stereolab * (1998) "Tender" by Beyond Dawn * (1999) "Beyond This Life" by Dream Theater * (1999) "Step Up, Ghetto Blaster" by Mindless Self Indulgence * (1999) "The Jitters" by The Dismemberment Plan — album Emergency & I * (1999) "Soft Mistake" by Lamb * (1999) "5/8 in Flow" by Ronny Jordan * (1999) "Stepping Tones" by Mahavishnu Orchestra * (1999) "Don't Be Afraid" from the video game Final Fantasy VIII * (1999) "Three Wishes" by Camel * (1999) "Just Like You Imagined" by Nine Inch Nails * (1990s) "Kagura's Theme" from InuYasha by Kaoru Wada * (2000) "Retread" by Engine Down * (2000) "Trial Error" by Engine Down * (2000) "The Missing Piece" by Faraquet (from the album The View From This Tower) * (2000) "Golden Atoms" by Stereolab * (2000) "Isengard Theme" by Howard Shore from The Lord of the Rings * (2000) "Morning Bell" by Radiohead (version on Kid A) * (2000) "Nothing Yet" by Tracy Chapman * (2000) "Speedy Car" by Stereolab * (2000) "Blue" by VAST (verses only) * (2001) "Caminando Hacia La Luz" by José Grucci * (2001) "Direction" by Jay Farrar * (2001) "The Grudge" by Tool * (2001) "Little Sin" by Toadies (except for a short 4/4 intro) * (2001) "Livin' like a bug ain't easy" by Scäb from Home Movies * (2001) "Sir Yes Sir" by Tomahawk * (2002) "The Persistence of Loss" by Nine Inch Nails * (2002) "Hangin' Tree" by Queens of the Stone Age * (2002) "Hym" by Isis * (2002) "Maritime" by Isis * (2002) "A Plague Upon Your Hissing" by The Mars Volta * (2002) "Skhanddraviza" by Ruins - listed, although their catalogue could easily fill this page * (2002) "Wind" by Akeboshi (First ending theme for the anime Naruto) * (2002) "How It Should Be (Sha Sha)" by Ben Kweller * (2002) "Buried in Your Black Heart" by Burden Brothers * (2003) "They Also Mourn Who Do Not Wear Black (For the Homeless in Muskegon)" by Sufjan Stevens * (2003) "A Car Ride In Idealistic Ethiopia, Part 1" by Estradasphere * (2003) "Water From the Same Source" by Rachel's * (2004) "Megalomaniac" by +/- * (2004) "September Blues" by Funky Lighters * (2004) "Brown Pelican" by Merzbow * (2004) "This Bitter Earth" by Venetian Snares * (2004) "Rear Moth" by Psapp * (2004) "Fresh Pair of Panties On" by Snoop Dogg * (2005) "Hiszekeny" Venetian Snares * (2005) "Oh God" by Jamie Cullum * (2005) "Hold Fast Hope" by Thrice * (2005) "Ronnie Rabbit's Magical Quest" by Jesus and Christ * (2005) "Senki Dala" by Venetian Snares * (2005) "Contain" by Venetian Snares * (2005) "Aaperture" by Venetian Snares * (2005) "Regenbogen Stelen Van Prostitueen" by Omar Rodriguez * (2006) "Tras 2" by Battles * (2006) "Assclown" by Ministry * (2006) "Barracuda" by People in Planes * (2006) "15 Step" by Radiohead (so far, only played live) * (2006) "Twirl" by Venetian Snares * (2006) "Cancel" by Venetian Snares * (2006) "Old House" by Nik Kershaw * (2006) "The Search for the Third" (from "The Sublime Numbers") by Matthew Prins * (2006) "In Her Eyes" by Josh GrobanPartially in 5/4 or 5/8
* (1962) "Turn! Turn! Turn! (to Everything There Is A Season)" by Pete Seeger * (1967) "Within You Without You" by The Beatles — the sitar solo in the middle of the song is in 5/8. Some parts of the verses are in 5/4. * (1967) "Good Morning Good Morning" by The Beatles - the verses start in 5/4. * (1968) "White Room" by Cream - intro in 5/4 with the drums playing the Mars rhythm reversed, most of song in 4/4 — intro repeated later as a bridge. * (1968) "Revolution 9" by The Beatles - "Number Nine" is in 5/8. * (1968) "Spanish Caravan" by The Doors - 3/4 with one bar of 5/8 before main sequence. * (1969) "Light Flight" by Pentangle from Basket of Light - switches between5/8, 7/8 and 6/4.
* (1969) "Autopsy" by Fairport Convention - beginning and closing verse in 5/4, middle section in 4/4, link in 12/8. * (1969) "Don't Let Me Down" by The Beatles — opening line. * (1970) "Across the Universe" by The Beatles - the measure with the words "All across the universe" is 5/4, and the "Possessing me and caressingly me" verse is in 6/4. * (1970) Jesus Christ Superstar - the instrumental section of "Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say)", as well as other recurring motifs in the score, are in 5/8. * (1971) "Four Sticks" by Led Zeppelin - verse. * (1972) "Armenian Dances (Part I) by Alfred Reed - the 3rd movement of this song (Hoy, Nazan Eem) is mostly in 5/8 time, with 6/8 occasionally added, which also makes some parts of the song in 11/8. * (1972) "Trilogy" by Emerson, Lake & Palmer - middle section in 5/8, first section is in 4/4 and 3rd is in 6/8. * (1972) "Heart of the Sunrise" by Yes - includes a 5/4 riff that appears in differing configurations. * (1973) "Dreamer" by Supertramp - closing fade on glockenspiel. * (1973) "Ritual: Nous Sommes Du Soleil" by Yes - 5/4 riff early in piece, develops into polymetric section which features a 4/4 vocal melody over 5/4 rhythm section. * (1974) "Rock The Boat" by Hues Corporation - pre-chorus only. * (1974) "Red" by King Crimson - opening riff is two bars of 5/4, one bar of 6/4 then two bars of 4/4. 'Verse' section is mainly in 4/4 but there are bits in 7/8. * (1974) "Sound Chaser" by Yes - main riff and several variations are in 5/4, "Cha-Cha" vocal break in 5/4 as well. * (1975) "Song for America" by Kansas - chorus. * (1975) "Have a Cigar" by Pink Floyd - bars of 5/4 scattered throughout. * (1975) "Scorched Earth" by Van der Graaf Generator - mainly in 4/4, but the verses incorporate a few lines in 5/4. * (1976) "Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station" by Frank Zappa from Zoot Allures - chorus. * (1976) "I'm Gonna Leave You" by Journey - riff played intermittently in the song. It's shuffle time makes it possibly a fast 15/8. * (1976) "One For The Vine" by Genesis - intro section in 5/4. * (1978) "The Trees" by Rush - the instrumental section after the synthesizer interlude is in 5/4. * (1978) "Great White Hope" by Styx - part of the instrumental break is in 5/4. * (1978) "Charlys Tema I" by * (1979) "Chiquitita" by ABBA - the Chorus has one 5/4 bar ('an
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