Why River Flows In You Is So Popular: Theory Breakdown

Why is “River Flows In You” by Yiruma so popular? What makes everyone want to learn this song? Well, if we look at the theory behind it, “River Flows In You” is so popular and so good because it’s a perfect balance of pop song simplicity and classical complexity. It’s beautiful yet accessible, simple yet sophisticated. It’s a work of art, really!

In this post, we’ll break down the theory behind the hit song that went viral — from social media to public street pianos.

This is the genius behind Yiruma’s “River Flows In You.”

🎹 For Piano Players, By Piano Players

Love more guides like this? Subscribe to The Note for more quick tips, cheat sheets, explainers, and other stuff piano players love. Delivered to your inbox for free.

By signing up you’ll also receive our ongoing free lessons and special offers. Don’t worry, we value your privacy and you can unsubscribe at any time.

The Melody

Let’s talk about the melody first. The melody tells the story.

Listen to those first two notes: do they sound familiar? Check it out…

The melody kind of sounds like Beethoven’s “Für Elise,” doesn’t it? Now, I’m not saying that Yiruma copied Beethoven…but I’m not not saying that either! As Picasso said, “Good artists borrow, great artists steal.” There’s obviously something very compelling and memorable about “Für Elise,” so it’s not surprising that both it and “River Flows In You” are so popular!

Good artists borrow, great artists steal.

Pablo Picasso

Pay attention to that minor 2nd interval…it creates a sense of tension and longing, adding emotional depth to the piece. In the intro, you can hear how the melody holds back a bit, building anticipation. And right after the first theme is introduced, there’s this deliberate empty space where the D lingers, held out with a fermata.

This is a great example of the importance of space. Good music isn’t just about finding the right notes; the space between the notes can be just as important. Less is always more in Yiruma’s songs.

The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Notice how the melody is played very freely at the start. This is on purpose! It’s almost like we’re holding back (imagine the first timid feelings of falling in love). Then, as the piece progresses, our melody gains confidence and intensity. We start to hear arpeggios, short scales, and more intense rhythms, mirroring the growing passion of a new romance.

But no matter how intense it gets, we always come back to the original theme, grounding the entire piece. Because if we break down the melody even further, we’ll notice that despite the many sixteenth-note runs, we are still essentially targetting the same notes: A-A-A-G#. These are the same notes targeted in the opening theme.

Decorating a simple theme with ever-fanciful fills makes this song simple and memorable, yet sophisticated and beautiful at the same time.

The Chord Progression

This song is built on a vi-IV-I-V chord progression. (In our A major key, that’s F#m-D-A-E). You can find this progression in a lot of popular songs, such as “Despacito” (Luis Fonsi), “Apologize” (One Republic), “Hello,” and “Im Yours” just to name a few. You can also find it in the minimalistic piano music of Ludovico Einaudi, proving the progression’s versatility and appeal across genres.

F#m – D – A – E
vi – IV – I – V

There’s a big debate over whether “River Flows In You” is classical music or pop music. Well, I would argue it has the appeal of pop music colored by the influences of classical music.

Let’s see how this chord progression works its magic through its main appearance: as arpeggios.

Yiruma’s Arpeggios

Yiruma incorporates both simple and more advanced arpeggios. For the F#m chord, Yiruma goes root-fifth-root with an F#-C#-F# arpeggio. This is a power chord with a nice open sound. Then, during more intense moments, the F# arpeggio starts lower in the bass, adding intensity and richness to the sound.

Yiruma adds an interesting twist to the D chord by using a D-A-E arpeggio (as opposed to the expected D-A-D arpeggio if we’re following F#m’s pattern). This expands the chord a tad, giving it a more spacious feel and adding a layer of complexity.

For the A chord, Yiruma targets the third note of the chord by playing an A-E-C# arpeggio. The E chord also targets the third with its E-B-G# form. Which is exactly what Beethoven uses in his second left-hand arpeggio in “Fur Elise”!

Why “River Flows In You” Is So Popular

Whether you love “River Flows In You” or think it’s been overhyped, there’s no denying the viral success and global admiration for the song among piano players.

So, how did this all happen? The song was originally released in Yiruma’s 2001 album First Love. Then, it gained attention when it was unofficially adopted by Twilight fans as “Bella’s Lullaby” before the film franchise composed its own version.

Then, “River Flows In You” received another bump in fame when piano players (re)discovered the instrument during the Covid-19 lockdowns, using their time inside to learn this beautiful yet accessible piece. Finally, “River Flows In You” is a popular song to play on public street pianos, further spreading the love.

What makes Yiruma’s hit so magical is that it’s simple enough for late-beginner piano players to learn, yet beautiful and impressive at the same time. It doesn’t sound like a beginner piece. Yiruma found the perfect mix between complexity and simplicity to turn a four-chord song into a masterpiece.

SHARE THIS: