Creating a hit that will hook.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chuckschwandt
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Weird Al is a pisser...the song 'Polka Power' (a rip off of just about every no.1 song in the last 12 months cracked me up...

Back to the Hit song thing, i think that luck would have to play a part in it. You gotta have the right song, in the right place, with the right words at the right time...

Tim
 
You're right - I really should have a funny polka in my bag of tricks - and no I'm not making fun of you.

Play a polka in the middle of the last set in any Midwest club and you'll have as much fun as you can handle.

The problem is I'm trying to save up for my soundcard and my sampler, so I'VE GOT TO STOP BUYING STUFF.

But here in Mississippi, there is a law on the books:

Play accordian
Go to jail

:)

foo
 
Gathering the great thoughts

Seems like creating a song with a heart felt
lyrical topic is very key in releasing a hit.
As mentioned by others, hit songs with less than
that aim have a much shorter duration. I think
this says alot about us as human beings; we are
influenced most by what moves the heart. I think
those who write sincere songs are not going for
a hit, but rather want to communicate the topics
"impact" on their life. Like Ray Charles said the
other night, if it moves me, there is a good chance
it will move somebody else (not a exact quote).

Chuck
 
Oh, crap! You know what that means...

Chuck, you've just solidified a thought in me. The fact that these songs with such content are written and released less often in the industry means that the industry is anticipating our attention span. That insults me.

I guess it's just the "go with what works" attitude. It's true that the songs sell fast and in large quantities. It brings more money to the record companies every year.

That also reminds me; I come from a small town in KC, Missouri called Lee's Summit. There the radio plays only the top forty hits and every hour. On some of those stations I've noticed that it isn't even about music anymore. It's about radio...

Small towns like the one I come from don't have a lot to listen to. The radio plays what is selling in the other states. Here in Chicago, I hear new songs every week that would never play in Lee's Summit.

It's all about the attention span, right? Maybe not... I mean, I've known people that feel they must avoid their true feelings. Their feelings, period. If it doesn't have that upbeat tempo, if someone has to think about it, some of us won't even give the music a chance.

It's all spelled out these days. Very little symbolism. They just give you the whole meal... Eventually, one gets full. In the same way, the songs get old. It's like, "been there, done that..." Do you know what I'm saying?!

Everyone is becoming numb...

Everyone is full...
 
Reply to Prophet 81

Hi Prophet 81,

Interesting thoughts you have there. I think
the entertainment industry understands more
about human cravings than we care to know. In
fact that has alot to do with why many
entertainment people privately study at the
church of scientology. Like I said, they are
wizzards at knowing how to make money. I am
a Bible college graduate, and it amazes me
how much these people know about what really
tugs on the heart of humanity. Beauty, fame,
intelligence, power, and wealth are the five
big carrots that the entertainers use religiously
to get us hook line and sinker. Oh well, I think
it will come clear beyond the blue some day...

take care,
Chuck
 
Chord & note hooks

I was thinking about those note and chord
hooks that are so catchy. Listen to Roy
Orbison's "Pretty Women" (I think that is
the title). Anyhow, it has a killer little
lead hook that grabs you through the song.
Sometimes the way a chord or note pattern
comes across can be the power point of a
song. Yes, sincerity probably rules, but
there are some enduring songs with
instrumental hooks. I don't follow Mr
Michael Jackson, but the song "Beat it"
has a killer instrumental hook. The
lyrics just seem to be a fill in for a
song carried by the music.

from the Carolina mountians,
Chuck
 
Yeah, Chuck! How about that little lead over the chorus of "Hangin' Around" by Counting Crows? I think it's irresistable with the vocals behind it all and the that little lead. I think it gives it a really "spacious" effect.

Micah
 
Creating hooks

If you Hook me today,
for your songs I will pay.
But sing a dull song,
I'll give you the gong. Ha

Hooks really get hold of us. I suppose
we would all be playing hooks if we
knew the secret to creating them. Sincerity
was mentioned as a key element. Leads,
vocals, and other charateristics are there
too. In other words anything can be the hook.
If we could bottle up certian good feelings
in life, the whole world would follow. Like
the "yawn"; it is a good example. We can all
can relate to a good morning yawn. Now, how
do we get it into a bottle for the market;
this is my point here. The hook is there, but
HOW to bottle it up? How do we fabricate what
we know works ? Am I making sense or not ?

Still brain-storming
Chuck
 
I don't care if its classical
I don't care if its gregorian chants
I don't care if its soft rock
I don't care if its soul
I don't care if its Rhythm and Blues

If it makes me want to hit repeat, then it's a good song.
Usually, a powerful melody with some serious harmony, and some nice instruments and ambience.

Usually I get put off by those songs like oops I did it again, or Its gonna be me, that take a good progression and just change some notes around.

I also get put off by those songs that have verses similar to another song but change the chorus.

Good songs I've heard lately, to illustrate what i mean:

creed : with arms wide open
match box twenty : bent
changing faces: that other woman
spirit tales: I can't do that


everlasting good songs:

kiss from a rose : seal
sogno: andrea bocelli
12,8,6 :brian Mcknight
 
hooks or hoki ???

Hi CyanJaguar,

I get put off by artists who build on others
work too. I get ideas from other artists, but
avoid dancing with the infringement fires. It
also takes away the personal satifaction of
creating your own work. Good points for sure.
- I really want to get my fingers around this
hook issue. The characteristics you mentioned:
melodies; serious harmonies; nice instruments,
and ambience definately get my attention in
songs. As mentioned earlier, anything can create
the hook. Well now, what is the root of those
creative jucies ? What leads us to fabricate
these elements? Producers seem to pull this off
like a habit in the celebrity arena. What is
the nector of creativeness in hooking. Is it
a good environment to practice in ? Is it ginko
balboa - ha? how about running five miles each
day - ugh ? A producer ? What contributes to the
flow of creative hooking juices ?

still brain-storming
 
Keith Richards-The king of hooks.
Listen to the intros to every stones hit.
DJ
 
It's the culmination of a group of people with different ideas and flavors working toward the same goal.
 
Collaboration is the word. Having talented
people around is definately a great asset.
Having a demo pro to critique a songs is
another blessing. Taxi is probably one of
the best. One only needs the fortitude and
patience to except constructive critcism.
Learning to go back and rewrite about
90% of the time is a growth level in itself....

Chuck
 
Here's $.04 more.........

Not all hooks/hits have the same impact. Some are like bubblegum, it's great to chew for awhile but it loses its flavor real fast. More enduring pop music, including stuff that gets to be called "classic", has something more than a catchy phrase that hooks for the moment into the current musical group consciousness. I suppose that what it has is an emotional impact; it evokes a feeling that people get every time they hear or think about it. You can also go the next step and talk about the nature of the feeling - it could be a sentimental thing that gets people to feel something that's going to be totally different for each person, or it could have a more sophisticated personal message that many people share (songs like that get to be called "anthems").
 
The producer of Titanic says....

The producer of the movie Titanic (newest one)
was asked what made the success of his movie.
He said it was "dynamic range". Then he specified
how the filming went from super action to almost
silence throughout the whole movie. Your emotions
were jerked back and forth, putting the viewer on the
edge of their seat. Could this be a different kind
of hook??? We have heard many songs doing the same
thing. A change in a song from one dynamic to another
is interesting. It makes the journey more enjoyable
for the listener, and possibly has an emotional hook
to it.

Chuck
:)
 
Re: The producer of Titanic says....

Chuckschwandt said:
We have heard many songs doing the same
thing. A change in a song from one dynamic to another
is interesting. It makes the journey more enjoyable
for the listener, and possibly has an emotional hook
to it.
Click to expand...

Why not, it worked for Beethoven (and gobs of other classical composers).

One of the things which is grating to me in so much music is the lack of dynamics. It's all forte the whole way through, with nary a crescendo or descrescendo to be found. And don't get me started on tempi. One of the things that playing to a click does is eliminate the possibility for tempo variations...

-dh
 
Musicologicality

Might be interesting to note that in the 50s one of the major radio broadcast networks commissioned a survey to answer this question: Why does a listener change stations?

The survey returned one answer above all others: "Listeners changes stations when they don't like the song being played."

As a result, playlists evolved from the old "Hit Parade" of the top 100 songs, to the top- 40 system, which is further domintated by the top 10. The whole purpose being to play the songs statistically most likely to keep people tuned in.

The point relating to enduring and non-enduring songs is this:

The record companies have to contend in this tiny arena of the Top 40. The solution? Songs that sell big, but don't last long.

The songs fittest to survive in this pop charts jungle are the ear-candy variety--instantly grasped with no thought required.

The ideal song will also become trite and boring the moment the market has been saturated with its recordings. There's little value to a record company if a song keeps getting airplay, but everyone already owns the record.

In other words, the music marketeers don't want "classics" they want extremely hip cotton candy.
 
Songs with an outstanding chord schedule:

Autumn Leaves
Stand By Me
Streets Of Londen

They have been copied for a zillion times. Not strange.
 
I love the heart tugging tunes. But I really enjoy the fun stuff too. Like who would ever of thought of a pair of cowboy boots under a bed may be under someone elses bed other then his best girls. (Whos' bed have your boots been under, by Shania Twain)
I think sometimes we go to music to feel understood and relate but we also go at times just to relax and unwind. Shania and others like her provide that great unwinding music.
Sheesh! I loved the song Cocaine (sp?) but I never ever even concidered doing anything so foolish. It was just such a catchy tune and loads of fun to sing along with.Like the tune," We will rock you". If you'd only see the words, its like, what a waste. But the words and tune together are so catchy it is magical.
 
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