Segue

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This article is about the performance direction. For the two-wheeled transportation device, see Segway PT.

In music, segue (pronounced /ˈsɛgweɪ/) is a direction to the performer. It means continue (the next section) without a pause. It comes from the Italian "it follows". The term attacca is also used in classical music.

For written music it therefore implies a transition from one section to the next without any break. In improvisation it is often used for transitions created as a part of the performance, leading from one area to another.

For example, in live performance the Grateful Dead would often splice together several songs, as part of their jamming style. A striking example occurs on the Live/Dead album, with the transition from "St. Stephen" to "The Eleven" requiring a seamless change of time signature. U2 Does something similar with its two songs "An Cat Dubh" and "Into the Heart" that segue into each other not only on the studio versions but also at every live performance of these songs. Two bands, Blues Traveler and Spin Doctors, have performed together and executed segues between the two groups without a break in the music.

In recorded music a segue is a seamless transition between one song and another, as for instance between the songs "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "With a Little Help from My Friends" on The Beatles' album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. In many Pink Floyd albums, particularly The Dark Side of the Moon or Wish You Were Here, many songs blend into each other without a break. A particular example is Time/Breathe (Reprise), with Breathe (Reprise) being a hidden track. Also all the songs on Side 2 of Dark Side of the Moon segue into each other. Green Day's Songs Jesus of Suburbia and Homecoming are both examples of five minisongs segued together. The first four tracks of Daft Punk's album Discovery all segue together as well. A segue is also the seamless matching of beats in recorded music as performed by a DJ in a nightclub.

In journalism, a segue is a method of smoothly transitioning from one topic to another. A segue allows the host or writer to naturally proceed to another topic without jarring the audience. A good segue makes the subject change seem like a natural extension of the discussion.

When viewing a track listing or set list a segue is often indicated by a > or a ->. Fans of Phish often make a distinction between these two, where -> denotes a true, seamless segue from one song to another, whereas > only denotes that the next song immediately follows the previous, without any improvisation or other form of transition between the songs.

Being a popular music and media term there are undoubtedly many music acts named Segue, with one prominent live electronic music act called Segue from Brisbane, Australia that features Leo Hede from Statler & Waldorf fame. Segue are part of the Sidechain Music family and no doubt share their band name with many acts worldwide.