What are some effective ways to use a key change during a song?

Question

In my own songwriting, I might change keys to reinforce a change in the direction of the lyrics. For example if the first two verses are first person but the last verse is 3rd person, I might change keys to reinforce the change in perspective. Or I might use it to reverse the thought process. If the first two verses are about why I should be happy but the third verse explains why I'm not, I might use a key change to musically reinforce a change in mood. But what are other reasons a songwriter of a pop, or country, or folk, or blues, or rock, or similar song - might use a key change in a song (other than to showcase their vocal range)?

Answer 1

One really common way that songwriters and arrangers/producers use a modulation is to create a higher level of intensity or energy in the song. It's typically used towards the end of a song, usually with a repeating chorus. You might hear the chorus in the normal key and then again modulated up (modulations down are much less frequent) in order to continue to build the song where it normally has no where else to go.

Some examples of this are:

1. Whitney Houston - "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
2. Michael Jackson - "Man in the Mirror"
3. Celine Dion - "My Heart Will Go On"
4. Adele - "All I Ask"
5. The Beach Boys - "Wouldn't It Be Nice"
6. Beyoncé - "Love on Top"