Monday, March 27, 2006

What makes a song a hit?

Can anyone please tell me what makes a pop song a hit? Of course, since my blog receives scant comments, I won't be holding my breath. The answer no doubt involves a variety of factors, - it could be novelty, timing (saying what is topical today), beauty, marketing, -- so the question is better restated as what makes a song an enduring pleasure?

My short list:
a memorable melody
polyrhythms
emotional depth

and I suppose a list of necessary but not enough by itself: development, conclusion, a knowable structure.

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