What makes a song catchy?
- Banned
- 10196 posts since 12 Mar, 2012 from the Bavarian Alps to my feet and the globe around my head
The right mixture of variation and repetition...
- Rad Grandad
- 38041 posts since 6 Sep, 2003 from Downeast Maine
a good hook for one 
The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world. It requires profound, purpose‐larger‐than‐the‐self kind of understanding.
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- KVRian
- 1002 posts since 1 Dec, 2004
But what makes the chorus/hook good? Answer: the right mix of variety and repetition.Hink wrote:a good hook for one
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- KVRAF
- 2210 posts since 20 Sep, 2013 from Poland
Look at the most successfully catchy songs of the past few years and see what they have in common: "On The Floor" (yeah I know the main melody is from "Lambada"), "Mr. Saxobeat", "Danza Kuduro", "Ai Se Eu Te Pego", "We Found Love", "Gangnam Style", "The Fox", "Animals" etc. Write out the vocal melodies, main instrumental hooks and chord progressions. See how much they have in common. How much repetition is there and how much variety? It would be a lot of work, but worth it.
- Banned
- 254 posts since 7 Jun, 2008 from On this 1 world!
I can recommend you to listen to AC/DC's hit songs of the past. Their structure and instrumentation is so simple but rock solid and highly catchy!!
I think one key to it is: limitation. The more complex you make a song/track, the more difficult you make it to the listeners to jump on the horse.
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- KVRAF
- 3044 posts since 23 Jun, 2006 from Hungary
what makes song catchy?
--> contains the word 'catch', like Kosheen - Catch:
--> contains the word 'catch', like Kosheen - Catch:
Youtube channel: https://youtube.com/@SoftSynthPortal
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- KVRAF
- 3044 posts since 23 Jun, 2006 from Hungary
Then these are super catchy versions of famous songs, because these are simplified for babiesDelfinoverde wrote: The more complex you make a song/track, the more difficult you make it to the listeners to jump on the horse.
http://www.rgsmusic.com.ar/cgi-bin/disc ... G&lang=eng
Youtube channel: https://youtube.com/@SoftSynthPortal
- addled muppet weed
- 111286 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
repeat plays on the wireless.
- KVRAF
- 26033 posts since 20 Oct, 2007 from gonesville
I don't know who this guy 'the general public' is or why he or she likes a thing.
It occurs to me that melody is liked by people and that people remember melody more qua itself than requiring it to be stupid. 'Memorable Melody' seems kind of more ineffable than this, and not so easily reduced.
What is this 'the right mix of repetitition and variance'? I would grant that repeating things is crucial, but I don't think reiteration of a thing does the trick through itself. "the right mix of" is rather glib, to the point of carrying little to no meaning.
The only one of that list of recent things I ever even heard was Gangnam Style, which has particular things going for it that made it a hit, the rhythm mostly; and sans the infectious presentation probably doesn't happen.
It occurs to me that melody is liked by people and that people remember melody more qua itself than requiring it to be stupid. 'Memorable Melody' seems kind of more ineffable than this, and not so easily reduced.
What is this 'the right mix of repetitition and variance'? I would grant that repeating things is crucial, but I don't think reiteration of a thing does the trick through itself. "the right mix of" is rather glib, to the point of carrying little to no meaning.
The only one of that list of recent things I ever even heard was Gangnam Style, which has particular things going for it that made it a hit, the rhythm mostly; and sans the infectious presentation probably doesn't happen.
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- KVRAF
- 8413 posts since 4 Jul, 2012 from Alesia
The hook line and sinker
What i think is required to get you on MTV etc
(warning may be offensive)
1- you gotta look semi-decent *No ugly, out of shape people* Ok if your fat at least you gotta have a bit of symmetry going on with your mug, but in general skinny is better.
2- You have to have a very committed energy and work ethic. It's not uncommon for celebrities to use uppers to keep on working working
3- your music has to have a good catchy melody and beat. A good producer or knowledge of what works in other hit songs is clearly required.
4- Your lyrics have to be memorable and appeal to the general public
5- The musical production has to be polished and mastered properly.
6- You have to be talented and actually believe it.
6-Your still reading this? Well I never wrote any hit songs yet but if i do i'll come back and update this list.
No im not really serious with this list
What i think is required to get you on MTV etc
(warning may be offensive)
1- you gotta look semi-decent *No ugly, out of shape people* Ok if your fat at least you gotta have a bit of symmetry going on with your mug, but in general skinny is better.
2- You have to have a very committed energy and work ethic. It's not uncommon for celebrities to use uppers to keep on working working
3- your music has to have a good catchy melody and beat. A good producer or knowledge of what works in other hit songs is clearly required.
4- Your lyrics have to be memorable and appeal to the general public
5- The musical production has to be polished and mastered properly.
6- You have to be talented and actually believe it.
6-Your still reading this? Well I never wrote any hit songs yet but if i do i'll come back and update this list.
No im not really serious with this list
Last edited by V0RT3X on Sun Feb 23, 2014 9:09 pm, edited 4 times in total.