What Makes A Great Song?

Tempo?

Rhythm?Beat?

Lyrics?Dynamics?

Genre?Instruments?

Voice?

Artist?

Long Live Rock and Roll-Daughtry-

Well I was bornThe year that disco diedAnd U2 was in high schoolThank the Lord that they survivedGot my first taste, on a Seger 45And since that Kiss I rocked outAll day and partied every night

We still argue about who's betterElton John or Billy JoelWe still wonder if Kurt reallyWrote the song she sang in HoleNo we'll never stop believingThat's the Journey of our livesSo won't you help me Pour Some SugarOn these memories tonight?

Sing itLong live rockLong live rollLong live big guitars and music for the soulSing itDon't give up, don't grow oldLong live crazy nights and records made of goldLong live rock and roll

Summer of '96, I got my first guitarI played it till my fingers said"You're gonna be a star"Grunge was everything, at least it was to meA Marshall in my Chevy SprintJust running down a dream

We still argue about who's betterMotley Crew or G&RWe still can't believe Van HalenTurned into Van HagarNow the record shops are gone for goodAnd no one seems to careBut me and you and all our friendsKeep Living On That Prayer

Sing itLong live rockLong live rollLong live big guitars and music for the soulSing itDon't give up, don't grow oldLong live crazy nights and records made of goldLong live rock and roll

Went to bed in ClevelandWoke up in TenesseeNo matter where I'll roll tonightI'm chasing history

We still argue about who's betterThe Beatles or The StonesThey're forever 27Jimmy, Janis, Brian JonesAnd we stand here in their memory'Cause their songs, they still surviveSo throw your lighters upAnd, darling, sing with me tonight

Come on

Long live rockLong live rollLong live big guitars and music for the soulSing itDon't give up, don't grow oldLong live crazy nights and records made of goldLong live rock and roll

Beat

• Strong, clear beat that I can tap my toes to

Dynamics• Contrast between soft and loud • Build to the chorus

• Well I was bornThe year that disco diedAnd U2 was in high schoolThank the Lord that they survivedGot my first taste, on a Seger 45And since that Kiss I rocked outAll day and partied every night

• We still argue about who's betterElton John or Billy JoelWe still wonder if Kurt reallyWrote the song she sang in HoleNo we'll never stop believingThat's the Journey of our livesSo won't you help me Pour Some SugarOn these memories tonight?

• Sing itLong live rockLong live rollLong live big guitars and music for the soulSing itDon't give up, don't grow oldLong live crazy nights and records made of goldLong live rock and roll

Genre

• Pop• Rock• Country• Folk• R&B• Jazz• Alternative• Blues• Some Rap and Hip Hop• NO HEAVY METAL!!!

Instruments• Acoustic guitar (no riffs!)

• Piano

• Percussion to keep the beat (maybe a shaker or cowbell )

• Fiddle or violin

Lyrics

• Lyrics I can identify with – Doesn’t have to have a moral or lesson, just

has to be something I can connect to– Can have a message or just be silly

• Nothing crude or gross

• Aligns with my personal beliefs– Ex. Can’t Choose (JRDN ft. Cardinal Offishall)

or Gorilla (Bruno Mars)

For example…

• “born the year that disco died” (around the time I was born)

• References the names of a lot of bands/musicians I listened to while growing up (U2, Beatles, Journey, Elton John, Billy Joel, Guns and Roses, Jimmy Hendrix, Janis Joplin)

• References songs I recognize– “pour some sugar”– “never stop believing”

• Makes reference to some changes in the music industry (“record shops are gone for good…”)

Vocals

• Singer must be able to carry a tune– Ex. The Taylor Swift vs. Miley Cyrus dilemma

• His/Her voice doesn’t need to be traditionally good, it might have a cool tone or interesting sound (ex. Shakira)– Chris Daughtry’s voice is rough/gritty. It’s

interesting.

My criteria for a great song…

• Dynamics-contrast of loud and soft

• Genre-likely pop or rock

• Instruments-piano and guitar

• Vocals-good or interesting

My challenge to you…

• Think of a song you heard on the radio, a music app, or your friend’s iPod. You know, the one you just had to know the name of and artist so you could download it for yourself.

• Think of the song you have on repeat on your iPod. You know, the one you listen to a million times and know every beat and lyric to.

Or

Now-figure out…

• What makes that song so interesting to you? Is it the beat? Genre? Artist? Rhythm?

• Choose your criteria for deciding what makes a great song and, using one of your favourites, evaluate that song based on your criteria.

Happy Listening!