What makes a song a hit?

[AcidShred]

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What makes a song a hit? I've been wondering for a while now. I'm begining to think it's a combination of how mainstream the sound is, how catchy it is, how much exposure it gets and finally the quality. What do you think?

[fishtx]

exposure and airplay...

[Deacon_Blues]

How easy it is to listen to
How catchy it is
How easy it sticks in your head
How "hip" it sounds - it must fit into the current ideal for what's hip to be pop
How hip the band/artist is - if you aren't hip, you won't make a hit.

Then comes a lot of work and economical effort to get the song out to the masses. After that you might get some exposure and airplay, given your song fulfils the criteria for a hit.

It takes something extra to write a hit. Everyone doesn't have that.

[tplyons]

If your question were easy to answer, it wouldn't be answerable.

It's a matter of how many people like it. Period.

But in order for that to happen, it's a matter of timing, writing, exposure, endorsement, radio play, etc. etc.

[bradjonesbass]

If I knew that, I wouldn't have a day job

[sarcastro83]

Payola.

[Eric Perry]

Anymore? It needs to sound EXACTLY like all the other crap out there. Remove all originality from your head and you'll stand a chance!

[GeneralElectric]

How many hooks it has IMHO. The easier it sticks in your head, the more you'll remember the song.

[RedemptionBass]

What makes a song a "hit" is determined by how badly it hurts when I hear it, hence the term, "hit".

[Yngwie 4String]

In Metal its the Riff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMmHX3WENHY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WX_4FNoto4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0RJS9DsjnE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqZmtq5LhFo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5Snehl2bAk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm4ohAcGJWg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb-DTrMG4vs

I can go on for a while.

[deaf pea]

Originally Posted by AcidShred

...What makes a song a hit?...

It´s not "what", it's "who" . . .

The FANS!



.

[GeneralElectric]

Originally Posted by Yngwie 4String

In Metal its the Riff:

I can go on for a while.

A catchy riff is a hook in my opinion.

[Implosion]

Originally Posted by AcidShred

...What makes a song a hit?...

Originally Posted by deaf pea

It´s not "what", it's "who" . . .

The FANS!



.

The right answer to the "who" question is Timbaland. It seems like every new radio-hit-song has got him either singing, featuring or producing.

[Skeletomania]

TRL. If your song get air time on TRL your song is a hit.

[Muusers]

Timbaland

[Implosion]

Originally Posted by Implosion

The right answer to the "who" question is Timbaland. It seems like every new radio-hit-song has got him either singing, featuring or producing.

Originally Posted by Muusers

Timbaland

Now we need a third person who agrees also and we can defeat "the riff" -guys and declare our truth official.

[JeffC]

Even Rivers Cuomo agrees about Timbaland . Anyone heard the New Weezer single "Pork and Beans"


Everyone likes to dance
To a happy song
(Hey, hey)
With a catchy chorus and beat
So they can sing along
(Hey, hey)
Timbaland knows the way
To reach the top of the charts
Maybe if I work with him
I can perfect the art

I'mma do the things
That I wanna do
I ain't got a thing
To prove to you
I'll eat my candy
With the pork and beans
Excuse my manners
If I make a scene
I ain't gonna wear
The clothes that you like
I'm finally dandy
With the me inside
One look in the mirror
And I'm tickled pink
I don't give a hoot
About what you think

No I don't care
I don't care

[Polk Salad]

Originally Posted by AcidShred

What makes a song a hit?

The hook.

[Benjamin Strange]

A hit is dependent on many factors, but mostly hinges upon how good looking the singer is.

[baba]

Looks
Exposure
Lowest common denominator musically