The Science Of A Pop Song

posted in: Music News • Pop

We all know the general “rules” to producing a hit pop song: song structure (intro – verse – chorus – verse – chorus – solo/bridge – chorus – outro), catchy melody and lyrics, I – IV – V chord progression, good production value and accessibility. That’s about as much thought as we give it. But is there a formula you can use to write a a guaranteed, instant hit?

The authors of FutureHit.DNA definitely believe this is the case. The interesting thing is, they don’t stay in the general points of discussion that we all generally fall back to. They bring a handful of interesting stats to make their case, among them:

Average intro length: 4.88 seconds. Average song length: 3 minutes 53 seconds. Apparently we like getting straight to the meaty bit, don’t we? And, once we’re there, just throw it all at us. No fooling around!

Release multiple singles throughout the year. Once one of your songs catches on, your fans will be hungering for more. So, by all means, let them have it!

Don’t play rock. Unless you’re Dave Grohl. In which case, DO IT.

That’s dandy, but what implications does this hold for the current state of popular music? And what about us, the consumers? If the record (“singles” would be more fitting) industry can profile the listeners so easily, it speaks bundles of the conformity shown by the public. Has it really come to the point where most people just want to hear (because, let’s face it, most people aren’t doing much listening) the same song”albeit with slight variations”40 times on Top 40 radio?

While music appreciators and pop fans alike will never waiver, it’s getting easier to look at the formulated offerings of today’s chart toppers with a skeptical eye. Don’t get us wrong: LMFAO‘s “Party Rock Anthem” (which currently tops Billboard’s Hot 100 chart) is a definite summer jam, and Katy Perry‘s been feeling the love ever since Teenage Dream came out last August (has it really been that long!?). Guilty pleasures aside, there’s a reason why pop music is, indeed, popular, and why musicians want to be famous. But the only truly remarkable songs, the songs that withstand the test of time, are those that bring something new to the scene. This is probably the reason Bon Iver‘s recently released self-titled album has received so much praise from everyone; not only did the band bring a fresh sound to the booming indie folk scene, but they did so in a refreshingly contemporary manner. And if any fan-favorite album this is shying away from the cookie cutter, this is definitely it.

What do you think of the matter? Are you content with listening to music designed to sell well? Are you happy with being merely content? Who do YOU think are the most original pop artists today?