This song has been cross-format focused to be a hit.

And it will.

Sooner, or later.

http://uplaya.com/users/create_and_upload is the site, if anyone's interested. It's designed for songwriters, not people wondering if a random song in their library is a hit.

Subs. A hit song isn't a hit because people have horrible taste in music. I like catchy radio songs simply because they're catchy. You're driving to work and they're fun and kind of pointless and you forget them. But it's not what I'd consider serious music. It's not what I "like". No snobbery, please.

It might have something to do with how they got the beat, they got the beat, they got the beat.

Yeah.

They got the beat.

Beluga Heights: Subs. A hit song isn't a hit because people have horrible taste in music. I like catchy radio songs simply because they're catchy. You're driving to work and they're fun and kind of pointless and you forget them. But it's not what I'd consider serious music. It's not what I "like". No snobbery, please.

No. People have horrible taste in music. That's pretty much it.

It's very simple

http://www.kirps.com/web/main/resources/music/themanual/

Dave Grohl explains it pretty well...

How to write a hit song, with Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters

enforcerpsu: Beluga Heights: Subs. A hit song isn't a hit because people have horrible taste in music. I like catchy radio songs simply because they're catchy. You're driving to work and they're fun and kind of pointless and you forget them. But it's not what I'd consider serious music. It's not what I "like". No snobbery, please.

No. People have horrible taste in music. That's pretty much it.

Based on? Is this another "stop liking the things I don't like" kind of remark? Okay people like the Black Eyed Peas. Slow? Yes. Retarded? Maybe. But it's not like it bothers me.

Here is how it is done:



Link to NPR (new window)

When I was in graduate school, one of my text books mentioned a study on the life cycle of a pop song, it was something like 16 weeks from writing to falling off the radio. I haven't been able to find it, my google fu has failed me this morning, but perhaps someone else can find it. It was quite the interesting read.

Don't remember the source, but there was an article on Fark a few years ago about how the number one most important factor wasn't rhythm, lyrics, or melodies, but rather the tone of the music.

I mean, classical musicians have known this since forever. Why else do violinists spend half their damn time as students practicing vibrato?

/not bitter

Broktun: Here is how it is done:

npr.org


Is it bad that now I really, really want someone to make a miniseries about Writing Camp?

FeedTheCollapse: Beluga Heights: Subs. A hit song isn't a hit because people have horrible taste in music. I like catchy radio songs simply because they're catchy. You're driving to work and they're fun and kind of pointless and you forget them. But it's not what I'd consider serious music. It's not what I "like". No snobbery, please.

I find the idea that a song can't be both deep and catchy to be amusing. I also bet you find yourself not wanting to listen to "Serious Music" frequently.

They're not mutually exclusive categories although I'd say they overlap rather infrequently. And I'd say I listen to serious music more often than any other type. On the average day I probably listen to a few top 40 songs while driving around. The rest of my day, probably a good 2-3 hours of music I consider to be more the type I like.

A pop song is a potential hit if it:

1) is easy for tipsy women to shake their asses to
2) has a tune that's easy to mumble along to when you're drunk, (or preferably no tune at all)
3) doesn't provoke any sort of thought whatsoever

A country song is a potential hit if it:

1) has a tune that's easy to mumble along to when you're drunk
2) mentions America, the military, Jesus, kicking the ass of a country with a lot of brown people, pickup trucks, getting drunk, and getting laid.

Beluga Heights: Subs. A hit song isn't a hit because people have horrible taste in music. I like catchy radio songs simply because they're catchy. You're driving to work and they're fun and kind of pointless and you forget them. But it's not what I'd consider serious music. It's not what I "like". No snobbery, please.

I still think "Mmmm Bop" is one of the best songs ever written. No one knows the words but I can't think of one person who would not get it stuck in their head. And at least for the first 30 times enjoy it.

Is it genius? No. Is it deep? No.

But God dang if that is not the catchiest song of all time.

You say we're manufactured
To that, we all agree
So make your choice and we'll rejoice
In never being free

Hey, hey, we are the Monkees
We've said it all before
The money's in, we're made of tin
We're here to give you more

Wait a second. If this is about a service you have to pay for, doesn't that make this "article" just an advertisement?

Spaztictacular: Dave Grohl explains it pretty well...

How to write a hit song, with Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters

"Don't bore us, get to the chorus!"

First thing I thought of when I saw the headline.

Beluga Heights: enforcerpsu: Beluga Heights: Subs. A hit song isn't a hit because people have horrible taste in music. I like catchy radio songs simply because they're catchy. You're driving to work and they're fun and kind of pointless and you forget them. But it's not what I'd consider serious music. It's not what I "like". No snobbery, please.

No. People have horrible taste in music. That's pretty much it.

Based on? Is this another "stop liking the things I don't like" kind of remark? Okay people like the Black Eyed Peas. Slow? Yes. Retarded? Maybe. But it's not like it bothers me.

Had to post this.

Just study Lady GaGa and you will know everything you need to know. She had stumbled onto something at one point and knew exactly how to exploit it. She even predicted it.

This (pops) may be relevant.

FeedTheCollapse: GibbyTheMole: A pop song is a potential hit if it:

1) is easy for tipsy women to shake their asses to
2) has a tune that's easy to mumble along to when you're drunk, (or preferably no tune at all)
3) doesn't provoke any sort of thought whatsoever

A country song is a potential hit if it:

1) has a tune that's easy to mumble along to when you're drunk
2) mentions America, the military, Jesus, kicking the ass of a country with a lot of brown people, pickup trucks, getting drunk, and getting laid.
3) see above category, but add a lapsteel guitar and maybe a fiddle



expanded for you.

Don't forget the random banjo track.

The Axis of Awesome knows how to do it.

FreakinB: 4 chords (new window)

Came here to post 'I V vi IV', leaving satisfied.

Does it suck?
Do you have a lot of money for various sorts of advertising?
Is it in the ballpark of 3:30 long?

There you go.

Spaztictacular: Dave Grohl explains it pretty well...

How to write a hit song, with Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters

Thankfully this doesn't seem to have been the approach for the TCV debut. Maybe that's why it's better than anything the Foo Fighters have ever done.

Lollipop165: Beluga Heights: Subs. A hit song isn't a hit because people have horrible taste in music. I like catchy radio songs simply because they're catchy. You're driving to work and they're fun and kind of pointless and you forget them. But it's not what I'd consider serious music. It's not what I "like". No snobbery, please.

I still think "Mmmm Bop" is one of the best songs ever written. No one knows the words but I can't think of one person who would not get it stuck in their head. And at least for the first 30 times enjoy it.

Is it genius? No. Is it deep? No.

But God dang if that is not the catchiest song of all time.

It's been almost a year and I still have "Friday" stuck in my head. G*d***it. Brilliant, but G*d***it.

kab: Spaztictacular: Dave Grohl explains it pretty well...

How to write a hit song, with Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters

Thankfully this doesn't seem to have been the approach for the TCV debut. Maybe that's why it's better than anything the Foo Fighters have ever done.

My point about having poor taste on music...

/I know, I know, not everyone likes the foo fighters
//just kidding. Kind of.

Still doesn't explain why Crap Hop is successful. Steal someones lyrics, put some bad rhythym to it, find some talentless hos to slog some bakcground...and you got a hit song these days.

Isn't this the kind of thinking in the 70s that made Disco the muck-encrusted mockery of music that it is now remembered as?

foobies and Auto Tune.

CASEY KASEM'S AMERICAN TOP 40
SONGS OF THE ROCK ERA (1955-1972) - 7/2/72

40: BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY - FOUR SEASONS (1962)
39: I CAN'T STOP LOViNG YOU - RAY CHARLES (1962)
38: TO SIR WITH LOVE - LULU 1967)
37: THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS - JOHNNY HORTON (1959)
36: AT THE HOP - DANNY & THE JUNIORS (1957)
35: TAMMY - DEBBIE REYNOLDS (1957)
34: MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS - DEAN MARTIN (1956)
33: IT'S TOO LATE - CAROLE KING (1971)
32: BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS - SIMON & GARFUNKEL (1970)
31: LOVE IS BLUE - PAUL MAURIAT (1968)
30: MAGGIE MAY - ROD STEWART (1971)
29: KNOCK THREE TIMES - DAWN (1971)
28: ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT - ELVIS PRESLEY (1960)
27: IT'S NOW OR NEVER - ELVIS PRESLEY (1960)
26: I THINK I LOVE YOU - PARTRIDGE FAMILY (1970)
25: AMERICAN PIE - DON McLEAN (1972)
24: IT'S ALL IN THE GAME - TOMMY EDWARDS (1958)
23: AUTUMN LEAVES - ROGER WILLIAMS (1955)
22: CHERRY PINK AND APPLE BLOSSOM WHITE - PEREZ PRADO AND HIS ORCHESTRA (1955)
21: AQUARIUS/LET THE SUNSHINE IN - 5TH DIMENSION (1969)
20: I'LL BE THERE - JACKSON FIVE (1970)
19: LOVE ME TENDER - ELVIS PRESLEY (1956)
18: JOY TO THE WORLD - THREE DOG NIGHT (1971)
17: I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE - MARVIN GAYE (1968)
16: SUGAR SUGAR - THE ARCHIES (1969)
15: RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN' ON MY HEAD - B.J. THOMAS (1969)
14: THEME FROM "A SUMMER PLACE" - PERCY FAITH (1960)
13: (WE'RE GONNA) ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK - BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS (1954)
12: SINGING THE BLUES - GUY MITCHELL (1956)
11: (LET ME BE YOUR) TEDDY BEAR - ELVIS PRESLEY (1957)
10: SIXTEEN TONS - TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD - (1956)
9: JAILHOUSE ROCK - ELVIS PRESLEY (1957)
8: LOVE LETTERS IN THE SOUND - PAT BOONE (1957)
7: DON'T BE CRUEL - ELVIS PRESLEY (1956)
6: ALL SHOOK UP - ELVIS PRESLEY (1957)
5: I'M A BELIEVER - MONKEES (1966)
4: I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND - BEATLES (1964)
3: MACK THE KNIFE - BOBBY DARIN (1959)
2: HEY JUDE - BEATLES (1968)
1: THE TWIST - CHUBBY CHECKER (1962)

Having a hot singer works better.

Goban: Just study Lady GaGa and you will know everything you need to know. She had stumbled onto something at one point and knew exactly how to exploit it. She even predicted it.

Except that (1) she struggled for years, so a magic spell it isn't and (2) she's starting to falter out already. Bad Romance was her popularity peak and it's the image she'll be remembered for.

El Dudereno: FeedTheCollapse: GibbyTheMole: A pop song is a potential hit if it:

1) is easy for tipsy women to shake their asses to
2) has a tune that's easy to mumble along to when you're drunk, (or preferably no tune at all)
3) doesn't provoke any sort of thought whatsoever

A country song is a potential hit if it:

1) has a tune that's easy to mumble along to when you're drunk
2) mentions America, the military, Jesus, kicking the ass of a country with a lot of brown people, pickup trucks, getting drunk, and getting laid.
3) see above category, but add a lapsteel guitar and maybe a fiddle



expanded for you.

Don't forget the random banjo track.

I was drunk the day my mom got out of prison
And I went to pick her up in the rain
But before I could get to the station in my pickup truck
She got runned over by a damned old train

Drool drool drool drool drool drool MY PAYOLA!

I think I see what you were going for there subby. Link (new window)

/If not, then hey, who hates the Dead Kennedys?

WGJ: El Dudereno: FeedTheCollapse: GibbyTheMole: A pop song is a potential hit if it:

1) is easy for tipsy women to shake their asses to
2) has a tune that's easy to mumble along to when you're drunk, (or preferably no tune at all)
3) doesn't provoke any sort of thought whatsoever

A country song is a potential hit if it:

1) has a tune that's easy to mumble along to when you're drunk
2) mentions America, the military, Jesus, kicking the ass of a country with a lot of brown people, pickup trucks, getting drunk, and getting laid.
3) see above category, but add a lapsteel guitar and maybe a fiddle



expanded for you.

Don't forget the random banjo track.

I was drunk the day my mom got out of prison
And I went to pick her up in the rain
But before I could get to the station in my pickup truck
She got runned over by a damned old train

I do enjoy some good David Allen Coe on occasion.

If that ain't country I'll kiss your ass

Repetition

Repetition

Repetition

Repetition

El Dudereno: WGJ: El Dudereno: FeedTheCollapse: GibbyTheMole: A pop song is a potential hit if it:

1) is easy for tipsy women to shake their asses to
2) has a tune that's easy to mumble along to when you're drunk, (or preferably no tune at all)
3) doesn't provoke any sort of thought whatsoever

A country song is a potential hit if it:

1) has a tune that's easy to mumble along to when you're drunk
2) mentions America, the military, Jesus, kicking the ass of a country with a lot of brown people, pickup trucks, getting drunk, and getting laid.
3) see above category, but add a lapsteel guitar and maybe a fiddle



expanded for you.

Don't forget the random banjo track.

I was drunk the day my mom got out of prison
And I went to pick her up in the rain
But before I could get to the station in my pickup truck
She got runned over by a damned old train

I do enjoy some good David Allen Coe on occasion.

If that ain't country I'll kiss your ass

Was going to post that Gibby missed mama, trains, or prison.

And if that ain't country, it'll harelip the Pope.

Spaztictacular: Dave Grohl explains it pretty well...

How to write a hit song, with Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters

Farking awesome

"Wait, Nickelback's an actual band? All these years I thought it was just a derogatory term for a terrible band." - Crow T. Robot

WGJ: El Dudereno: FeedTheCollapse: GibbyTheMole: A pop song is a potential hit if it:

1) is easy for tipsy women to shake their asses to
2) has a tune that's easy to mumble along to when you're drunk, (or preferably no tune at all)
3) doesn't provoke any sort of thought whatsoever

A country song is a potential hit if it:

1) has a tune that's easy to mumble along to when you're drunk
2) mentions America, the military, Jesus, kicking the ass of a country with a lot of brown people, pickup trucks, getting drunk, and getting laid.
3) see above category, but add a lapsteel guitar and maybe a fiddle



expanded for you.

Don't forget the random banjo track.

I was drunk the day my mom got out of prison
And I went to pick her up in the rain
But before I could get to the station in my pickup truck
She got runned over by a damned old train

Or how about:

Mah baby left me
But I have my horse
I need a step ladder now
But it could be worse

/rhyme worse with horse