Maroon 5’s New Song Is So Familiar Because It Copies Another Song We All Know

Have you heard Maroon 5's new song, "Memories"? Here it is in case you haven't. While you listen, notice how nostalgic it makes you feel:

How do they do that?! How do they write a song that tugs at your heartstrings in no time, makes you feel like you're at a graduation or wedding, like you've heard it before, and it's brand new? Is there a magical chord progression that opens our hearts and makes tears stream down our faces?

Turns out, yeah, there is. Recognize this song?

That's Pachelbel's Canon in D, a song commonly used to accompany brides down the aisle or graduates to their degrees on stage. It's an instantly nostalgic-feeling song because we associate it with the most important, memorable events in our lives.

Adam Levine basically ripped off its main melody, added lyrics about wistfully recalling memories and missing people from your former life, and created an instant hit (and instant tear-jerker). The next time you hear "Memories" while driving around in your car, whistle along with Canon in D and see how they overlap. It's crazy!