Hit song Forumal

[React]

Very True. Critical for the success of most tunes! hah.

I also find that most songs are about one of 3 things:

1. Love/Sex
2. Hate/Death
3. God

And as you mentioned, there's also #4.
4. I win/You lose/I hate the world

Songwriters should veer away from these ideas. Although, that also depends on what message their trying to get across. But in the end, I say write about whatever the hell you want to.

Timmy J

Your Focussing on rock songs when you say that? lol Rap music is:

1. Money
2. Cars < Refer 2 step 1
3. Bling < Refer 2 Step 1
4. Gangs/Guns <<-- This Falls into your Hate Death Category i think lol
5. Sex <<-- Who Can live without it... any good artist talks about it
6. Problems
7. Life

i Normally dont hear any god stuff less we are talking R kelly or R&B lol

 

[tpreager]

Your Focussing on rock songs when you say that? lol Rap music is:

Yes, I suppose I was. Good point!!

 

[true-eurt]

I'm going to write a song about business management.

I'm going to write a song about this thread......Then I just might post it...

 

[true-eurt]

Hey...if I write a song about this thread, does that mean I have to share publisher rights with all you guys WHEN it goes over the top ?
I better go call my lawyer.........

 

[thane1200]

Yup... and he closed every drawing session with the words "Escher...OUT!"

A

..................................................WORD!...............................................

 

[ignition]

http://www.breitenbuecher.de/gimmick/hitgenerator/hit_generator.htm



Travis

 

[thane1200]

That's too funny!

 

[TaoManna Don]

I'm going to write a song about business management.

If you want to make it a disco song, here is a start for you:

Shake, shake, shake
Shake, shake, shake
Shake your business manager
Shake your business manager

(appologies to KC and the Sunshine Band)

 

[thane1200]

If you want to make it a disco song, here is a start for you:

Shake, shake, shake
Shake, shake, shake
Shake your business manager
Shake your business manager

(appologies to KC and the Sunshine Band)

But, for today's fast-pased environment, initials are definately needed...

Shake, shake, shake
Shake, shake, shake
Shake your B.M.
Shake your B.M.

(appologies to anyone with class)

 

[FALKEN]

Here is my proposal for a hit song formula.

First let me start by creating a hypothetical situation. You record a bass line on your 4-track recorder. For 4 bars you play the bass line with a certain rhythm, and then for 4 more bars you play the bass line with a different rhythm. In doing so you play the same progression and place the chord changes in the same place through out all 8 bars. Only the rhythm changes. Next you play back the first 4 bars of the bass line as a loop until you come up with a satisfactory melody on your guitar. You decide that the melody might sound cool on the other 4 bars of the bass line as well. Notice how the way you play the melody is effected by the change in the rhythm in bars 5-8. Even though the melody is played with the exact same rhythm as it had in bars 1-4. The bass line is effecting how you feel it, and your picking style will change slightly to the feel of the bass. I will call this emotion.

it sounds like you are starting to come up with your own process. that is great. everyone has their own process. mine is nothing like that. once youve got yours down, the sky is the limit.

someone else mentioned writing songs based on letters of the alphabet?

the creation of arbitrary contraints gets you past a lot of the "where do I start" bullshit because it gives you the starting point.


...as far as promotion being a part of the hit song formula, most professional songwriters and producers do not promote the material themselves, they are paid to write the song and thats it. you do not have to have money to write a "hit song".

...as far as a hit song formula being rational and music being emotional...
I could only wish more music was rational!!!!!

how bout this quote from a song currently ALL OVER THE F-ING radio and tv:

-> "I say dont you know, you say you dont know...take me out"

WTF?!?!?!?!?!!!!!

there is definitely a hit song formula.

my personal formula is do the exact opposite.

 

[FALKEN]

There are 5 individuals who write the majority of "hit songs" on the radio today. I was lucky to go out for drinks with one of them one night and he explained to me the formula he used to write a particular song from a couple years ago which won several grammys and made millions of dollars.

 

[dgatwood]

There are 5 individuals who write the majority of "hit songs" on the radio today. I was lucky to go out for drinks with one of them one night and he explained to me the formula he used to write a particular song from a couple years ago which won several grammys and made millions of dollars.

Did it involve blood and a quill pen?

(Don't pick it up, pick it up, pick it up.... --Douglas Adams, from 'The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul')

 

[The First Don]

can you explain the formula please. Im sick of being poor and not getting laid.

 

[Rokket]

can you explain the formula please. Im sick of being poor and not getting laid.

What he said, only IN ALL CAPS!!!!!!

 

[FALKEN]

the record label told him that they wanted it to sound like another song from like 10 years ago...so he said..ok... took the main rhythmic beat from that song and used that for the vocal melody in the chorus. made the words about some girl at a club or something and there really isn't much more to it.

 

[famous beagle]

First of all, I don't know why all of you are talking about a hit "formula." The post is clearly supposed to be about a hit "forumal," as named by The First Don. However, since the subject has turned to hit formulas, I'll throw two cents in.

Of course there are formulas for hit songs. It doesn't mean that they'll always work. However, consider this:

Intro/1st verse/chorus/2nd verse/chorus/bridge (or instrumental)/3rd verse (optional)/chorus out

Throw in good production, an emotional delivery, and lyrics that don't totally suck, and you've got a good shot.

If that's not a formula for a hit song, then I don't know what it is. Of course, every song that follows this format is not going to be a hit, but it's clearly worked many, many times in the past. Look at virtually every Nirvana single, and it will follow this formula almost to the letter.

Who said that formulas always have to do with math? Look the word up in the dictionary; there are plenty of definitions for it that have nothing to do with math. Now if you're talking about a "forumal," then obvioulsy it only has to do with math. Everyone knows that.

 

[glynb]

Is there a formula for a famous painting?
Sure, get some brushes some paint and a canvass and paint the canvass with the brushes and paint.
Is there a formula for a hit novel? Sure, get a word processor, write a story with a plot, beginning middle and end and some interesting characters and there you have it, a hit novel. Simple.

See how silly this whole thing is. Let's stop it now.

Without promotion you have no hit. Promotion determines hits above all.

 

[the blues daddy]

first don

First Don... you must board stiff

 

[wilko]

Analytical thought is breaking a whole part into components; reducing fractions to simplest terms is an example of analytical thought. With all due respect, I found it necissary to define this based off of the use in context.

The left side of the brain, also refered to by some as the artistic or creative side, uses abstract thought processes. The right side of the brain uses logical thought processes. To the extent of my understanding, analytical thoughts are derived from logical thoughts. Conclusively, logical thoughts play no signifigant role in creative, artistic, or abstract works.

I am sorry here but I can't agree with the above. Logical thoughts play a large role in writing songs otherwise we'd end up with meaningless random garbage.

When I write a song, it is based around (usually) an emotion or an idea and I get that idea down on paper (well MR8 recorder). When I get the lyrics down - I analyse each line. I look at the rhyme, the meter even the hardness of the syllables. Each time I ask myself "Does this fit?", "Does this say what I want to say?", "Can I find a better word/line/note?" etc. In every case the song itself becomes better. A true songwriter knows how the rules work (and knows when to break the rules).

I have known songwriters never edit their work as they want to "keep the original vibe" and almost without exception their songs make me cringe at some point or another.

A good song is one to which you can relate on some level.

Wilko
It is cold in New Zelaand now...brrrr)

 

[glynb]

I am sorry here but I can't agree with the above. Logical thoughts play a large role in writing songs otherwise we'd end up with meaningless random garbage.

When I write a song, it is based around (usually) an emotion or an idea and I get that idea down on paper (well MR8 recorder). When I get the lyrics down - I analyse each line. I look at the rhyme, the meter even the hardness of the syllables. Each time I ask myself "Does this fit?", "Does this say what I want to say?", "Can I find a better word/line/note?" etc. In every case the song itself becomes better. A true songwriter knows how the rules work (and knows when to break the rules).

I have known songwriters never edit their work as they want to "keep the original vibe" and almost without exception their songs make me cringe at some point or another.

A good song is one to which you can relate on some level.

Wilko
It is cold in New Zelaand now...brrrr)

Well done, i agree with your approach, & I do the same agonising over every line. But then I haven't had any 'Hits', you don't state whether you have had any either? This post is about formulas for 'Hit' songs, not 'good' songs or 'worhtwhile' songs with meaningful lyrics. Hit songs and good songs aren't necessarily the same thing, though to a record label which exists only to sell product they probably are.

Hit song :

My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard,
And they're like it's better than yours,
Damn right, it's better than your's,
I could teach you, but I have to charge

Oh, once you get involved,
Everyone will look this way so,
You must maintain your charm,
Same time maintain your halo,
Just get the perfect blend,
Plus what you have within,
Then next his eyes will squint,
Then he's picked up your scent.

Now, i don't know how much the author agonised over those lyrics, perfecting them? Point is, that was a smash hit song, hits aren't necessarily about time spent or cleverness, but a groove or a good tune, there's no formula.

Formulas if followed correctly will work every time, there is no hit song formula becuase nothing works every time does it?