Songwriting Teacher Reacts: Benson Boone - I Wanna Be The One You Call

Today, we’re diving into track seven of Benson Boone’s American Heart: “I Want to Be the One You Call.”
In this live reaction and on-the-fly analysis, I explore the song’s tonal center, chord progressions, melodic choices, and the clever relationship between lyrics and melody. From motif development in the verses to the one-chord pre-chorus and even the classic key change at the end, there’s a lot to unpack here for anyone interested in songwriting.

Key songwriting takeaways from this video:

Motif development – how short melodic ideas get repeated, expanded, and varied across verses.

The one-chord pre-chorus – why sometimes less is more in building toward a powerful chorus.

The big final modulation – how moving everything up a whole step creates that unmistakable “borderline cheesy but brilliant” pop climax.

If you’re a songwriter, this track is a great case study in balancing intelligence, emotion, and pop sensibility.

#BensonBoone #Songwriting #AmericanHeart #SongAnalysis #LetsTalkSong

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This video is made for educational and commentary purposes only. My intention is not to infringe upon any copyright laws. All rights to the music featured in this video belong to their respective owners. This reaction video is intended to provide analysis, insights, and a unique perspective on the music, which I believe falls under fair use. Please support the original artists by checking out the official content on their platforms.

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