Y12 AS Pop Notes - Sunny Afternoon - The Kinks

Sunny Afternoon – The Kinks (1966)

Context

"Sunny Afternoon" is a song by The Kinks, written by chief songwriter Ray Davies. Like its contemporary "Taxman" by The Beatles, the song references the high levels of progressive tax taken by the British Labour government of Harold Wilson. The track later featured on the Face to Face album, as well as being the title track for their 1967 compilation album. Its strong Music Hall flavour and lyrical focus was part of a stylistic departure for the band (begun with 1965's "A Well Respected Man"), who had risen to fame in 1964-65 with a series of hard-driving, power-chord rock hits.

Influences

The Music Hall/ slice of British life flavour of the song shows the influence of The Beatles, whose songwriting style was dealing with more adult issues and a wider range of styles. As well as “Taxman”, the use of the minor key and chord changes around the circle of 5ths shows the influence of “Michelle”.“Sunny Afternoon” also had an obvious influence on Queen’s “Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon” and the Music Hall, whimsical style of early Pink Floyd.

Structure

The verse chord structure is used as an intro, played twice, the second time with drums added. The refrain “Lazing on a sunny afternoon” is used to close two verses and two bridge sections. “in the summertime” is repeated over the intro music, acting as a kind of chorus.

Melody

The vocal melody rises in contrary motion to the bass line, but falls again for the refrain. Two intervals dominate by repetition: the rising perfect 4^th for “love to live so pleasantly” and the rising, bluesy minor 3^rd of “in the summertime” – unusual for the minor key to be used to represent summer.

Harmony

The solid feel to the harmony arises because of the use of primary triads I, IV and V, the descending, repeated note bass line (similar to Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots are Made for Walkin’”) and the use of the sequential circle of 5ths. The chords to the verse are: Dm-C7-F-C7 (moving from D minor to F major), A-A7-Dm (providing a solid close in D minor). The bridge has these chords: D7-G7-C7-F (a sequence from the circle of 5ths), Dm-G (a hint of the Dorian mode), before the refrain’s A-A7-Dm returns.

Instruments and Texture

Strong, electronic bass line. Vocals distorted by megaphone effect (like The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine”). Strong offbeat drums, showing the groups “beat” origins. Piano and guitar filling in chords. Backing vocals adding a simple countermelody and then joining in for “in the summertime”. Accordion adding to Music Hall feel and showing influence of “Michelle”.