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Same Chord, Different Role
It's important to remember that a single chord can have a different role in different keys, even though its pitch (and
its fingering on the guitar) remains the same. The analogy would be with an actor and his or her various film roles. A
chord has the ability to play different roles according to whether it is chord I, II, III, IV, V, VI or VII of the key.
Consider the function of C in the following keys:

The C chord is always the same in itself, but it appears in different roles.

Shortcut Key Changes
Key changes in pop songs usually have to be achieved very quickly. Here are some typical "shortcuts" to near keys.
Remember that in each instance you could end up in the minor key of the last chord if you wanted.

C Dm D7 G CGA7D

C Em E7 A CGGmD

C Em D7 G CGGmCF

C Em A7 D CAm A7 D

C F Fm Bb7 Eb C Am E

Notice that IImaj, IIImaj and VImaj all have possibilities for modulation. In the verse of 'I've Got To Get A Message
To You', we have a I II V I progression that becomes I II V VImaj (G instead of Gm) to lead from Bb to a C chorus.
This is a strong modulation because V in Bb (F) is IV in C. In the verse of 'Stop! In The Name Of Love', the
progression goes:

I Imaj7 Vm VImaj/7 IV V IV V

C Cmaj7 Gm A7 F G F G

This is clever because Gm and A7 are chords IV and V in D minor, so we expect to go to D minor, but instead the
music turns back to F – chord IV in C. (To hear a song in C major that does have an A7 leading into D minor, listen
to the verse of 'Baby Love'.)