The key change has been one of the most powerful tools at the heart of popular music. It could blow a song to new heights of emotion, add surprise to a song, or just push the intensity of a song over the top. The 1980s through the 1990s was the heyday for the key change, but it has since fallen out of favor on the whole in mainstream music. Let's delve back to understand why the key change lost its place and point out some modern artists who are still using it to great effect. The Golden Era of Key Changes: 1980s and 1990s. Key changes were everywhere in the 80s and 90s, adding drama and emotion to songs in almost every genre-from pop to rock to R&B. There was an assured way to keep listeners hooked right through to the last second. 1."I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston, 1992. As Houston builds to the final chorus, she executes this incredible, soaring key change that's almost synonymous with the emotional power of that song. The sudden lift in pitch gave ...