Within a relatively short span of time of each other, two different people, completely separately and totally arbitrarily, both contacted me to ask if So Much Great Music had ever covered the subject of “the bridge” in songs. A worthy topic, and the answer is “no.”

Better yet, I convinced the first of those two, my friend Dave, to take it on himself as an SMGM Guest Post (perhaps the second will compose his own bridge take as a follow-up sometime down the road).

In addition to being a renowned music aficionado, Dave also has two significant SMGM-related claims to fame: first, he was my long-time collaborator on a series of ‘70’s Playlist compilations, culminating in our meticulously cultivated “optimal mix” for a high school reunion, as previously documented here. And second, although Dave himself may not remember this, he was the one who first introduced me to The Outlaws, a band that would become my favorite in high school, and arguably of all the years since (even inspiring a bit of a fixation for me which was once described here).

So, what (or where) is the musical bridge? For that I turn it over to Dave.

*     *     *     *     *

Where’s That Confounded Bridge?

James Brown wants to be taken there, Led Zeppelin wants to know where it is, and Eric Clapton misreads it, and mis-names one of Cream’s most iconic tunes.

What are they after? The Bridge. That essential component of most popular songs that, when incorporated, adds variety, context, depth, emotion, musical elaboration and effectively takes the listener “away” before bringing them back. Verse-chorus-verse-chorus-BRIDGE-verse-chorus is how it usually goes down, but not always. James Brown, in ‘Sex Machine’ begs his band to take him to the bridge, and they do. In ‘The Crunge,’ Robert Plant of Led Zep asks, “Has anyone seen the bridge?” with increasing frustration. The answer is surprisingly ‘no’ as the song does not actually feature a bridge section. And while songwriting for Cream’s last album, co-composer George Harrison, working across a table from Eric Clapton, scribbles “bridge” on the song sheet. But seeing it upside down Clapton mistakenly reads it as “badge,” leading to the tune’s quirky title (the word “badge” never appears in the song), as well as one of the more memorable musical bridges in rock history.

Bridges are ridiculously versatile and often become the heart and soul of the tune. They sometimes allow for the instrument(s) to take over completely (‘Late in the Evening,’ ‘Something,’ ‘Comfortably Numb’), they can provide a meaningful transition from the previous chorus to the next verse (‘Born to Run,’ ‘She’s Always a Woman’), or – in my favorite way – they make an appeal to the listener to essentially “Hold on just a second, let me explain” (‘Good Vibrations,’ ‘Thank U’).

There are countless performers and bands that make excellent use of the bridge, and this is about as far from an exhaustive list as there can be. I could wake up tomorrow with a completely different list (and I’m sure you could too). In fact, you are probably screaming one out right now. Regardless, I often find myself listening more intently and whispering “bridge” to myself just as the tune finds its way there, and bridges from one side to the other.

Dave’s Sample “Bridge” Artists/Songs

  • Billy Joel – ‘Angry Young Man,’ ‘Scenes From an Italian Restaurant,’ ‘She’s Always a Woman’
  • The Beach Boys – ‘Good Vibrations,’ ‘God Only Knows’
  • Alanis Morisette – ‘Thank U’
  • Pink Floyd – ‘Comfortably Numb,’ ‘Wish You Were Here,’ ‘Us and Them’
  • E.M. – ‘Fall on Me,’ ‘Strange Currencies,’ ‘Shiny Happy People’
  • Paul Simon – ‘American Tune,’ ‘Graceland,’ ‘The Obvious Child’
  • The Beatles – ‘A Day in the Life,’ ‘We Can Work it Out,’ ‘You Won’t See Me’
  • The Police – ‘Every Breath You Take,’ ‘Wrapped Around Your Finger,’ ‘Englishman in New York’ (Sting)
  • Elton John – ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,’ ‘Love Lies Bleeding,’ ‘Rocket Man’
  • Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band – ‘Born to Run,’ ‘Rosalita,’ ‘Thunder Road’

*     *     *     *     *

I’m not making this up: Here are two pics, as captured then exchanged from Dave’s TV and mine, just this week on Jeopardy.

Finally, of seemingly countless choices, James Brown may in fact have been The King of The Bridge in addition to The Godfather of Soul. Here’s a prime example (note him literally yelling out “bridge!” at 1:30 and 3:15 of the song)