‘While You See a Chance’ – Steve Winwood (1980)
- Music: Steve Winwood
- Lyrics: Will Jennings
- Production: Steve Winwood
Chart performance:
- No. 7 (U.S.)
- No. 45 (U.K.)
- No. 3 (Canada)
Steve Winwood’s hit single “While You See a Chance” is a bridge from the 1970s to the 80s. It’s album-oriented rock at its finest, but the synthesizers throughout hints at what was to come during the electronic 1980s. Let’s break down the track.
Key elements of ‘While You See a Chance’
The song begins with a single synthesizer fading in, as if someone is just waking up. Another synthesizer joins in, and then a Hammond organ appears, casting a ray of sunshine on the arrangement. The synths wander for a moment until yet another one takes over the main melody of the song, and we finally hear the full band, which consists only of Winwood (No guitars were used). When the drums and tambourine kick in, it’s as if Winwood has arisen and is ready to take on the day.
If you don’t believe it, the lyrics confirm it:
Stand up in a clear blue morningUntil you see what can beAlone in a cold day dawningAre you still free? Can you be?
The structure of the song is puzzling — it’s not your regular verse/verse/chorus type. The opening stanza gives way to an instrumental (!) before Winwood launches into a pre-chorus telling us not to let things get us down:
When some cold tomorrow finds youWhen some sad old dream reminds youHow the endless road unwinds you
While you see a chance, take it
The words would seem like cliches if it weren’t for the magic of the melody, which is instantly uplifting. It climbs, settles back down, then climbs again. Winwood’s soulful voice gives a bit of gravitas to the melody; otherwise it would be another saccharine pop song.
Surprises in the bridge
Then there’s the bridge. Oh, that bridge. “While You See a Chance” is in the key of D — a bright, happy key that symbolizes joy and victory, according to musicriser.com. But then Winwood takes a U-turn and tunes it down to A# (B?), which evokes a feeling of optimism, hope and peace. He becomes a bit of a cynic, exclaiming “Don’t you know by now no one gives you anything? And don’t you wonder how you keep on moving?” before the bridge begins to resolve back to D, and he affirms, “one more day, your way.”
A forgotten gem
What makes “While You See a Chance” work is this careful balance between electronic and organic sounds. The synthesizers sound a little dated, but the piano, Hammond organ and drums ground them and gives it that extra soulful feel.
The song helped define the emerging 1980s rock sound, proving that established artists could incorporate electronic instruments without losing their signature sound. Today, it remains a prime example of the transition from 1970s rock to 1980s electronic-influenced pop.
Listen to “While You See a Chance” on Arc of a Diver, available on all major streaming platforms.
