What makes a good song?

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   thirdmilleniumposted 13 years ago

   I am always at a loss at what decides a good song? Is it the profundity of the words? Or, is it the guitar riffs?
   
   If it is the thoughts of the singer and their impact upon the society, you may as well go read a Plato or a Noam Chomsky. On the other hand, if is the haunting music, it could be easily found in Pink Floyd.
   
   Methinks it is the music which has the upper hand. You can marvel at the ingenuity of thoughts that Bob Dylan had put into his songs. But is his music as good as his thoughts?  Crossby, Stills, Nash and Young have good words as well as good music.
   
   What words did Beethoven or a Strauss have with their music?  If we find shades of their music in many songs that are being done today, do words have anything to do with music?
   
   I would vote for the harmony of Garfunkel's vocals with guitar, violin, piano  than the thoughts of Paul Simon.
   
   Still... I am not sure..........

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      klarawieckposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Songs are like people - they are only attractive if they can stand on their own ground... a good song doesn't have to be explained, it just has to make sense.
      - Lyrics don't have to be so deep and the melody/harmony doesn't have to be anything out of this world. Neither does the arrangement... but it needs to be solid and it needs to feel like all aspects of the song were made for each other. The melody, lyrics, harmony, and arrangement are all pieces of one puzzle. If a piece doesn't fit right, the puzzle won't look appealing.
      That's my take, at least.

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         Chaotic Chicaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I'll second that!  It really is about the whole picture/puzzle.  A song could have a catchy tune but the lyrics throw it way off base or the lyrics be fantastic but the base be all wrong for it.  It has to have a perfect balance of all aspects in order to work.

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            camloposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Yes, I'd say the same.
            
            It's how the song is produced.
            
            Dolly Parton's 'I Will Always Love You' is beautiful. But performed by Whitney Houston and her power, it moves into another dimension.
            
            Both versions appeal to our emotions, but in different ways. And the song is well composed.

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      wilbury4posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      In my opinion it is how the song makes you feel, whether it be by the music or by the lyric;
      the meaning of the song or at least how the listener interprets the meaning, some songs will give out different meaning dependent on the listener;
      your mood whilst listening to the song.
      Coincidentally, the artists you mention, Dylan, Floyd, CSN(Y), Simon & Garfunkel all fall into my favourites.

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   timorousposted 13 years ago

   I'll third that..
   I think it's a synergy of the many aspects of a performance.  Of course, it's mainly the music.  Even an instrumental piece can stand on its' own.  The main appeal is a melody that you can recognize on hearing the tune again and again.
   
   This is followed by the right kind of instrumentation and arrangement (and of course a really good performance helps) that really brings the song to life.  The lyrics add yet another dimension, as well as the vocal stylings of the performer(s).
   
   When everything is in a seemingly perfect balance, it can be magical.  Of course different aspects affect each person differently, so a great song is a matter of what it means to each person.

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   camloposted 13 years ago

   Every time I think of one aspect of what makes a song good, another comes to mind. I think this subject could make a good Hub.

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      blondepoetposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Oh Camlo was just on U Tube listening to you sing River Deep Mountain High, wow, I was boogying shaking my touche. Gee your fabulous.
      I need to consult with you over our forthcoming duet am having technical troubles. You don't have msn or anything do you?

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         camloposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         No - but FB.

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            blondepoetposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Trying to remember my password on FB it has been donkey years since I have been there lol.

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               camloposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Maybe you can open a new account ... just an idea

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                  blondepoetposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  I am still trying.
                  If at first one does not succeed try and try again lol.

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         camloposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Sorry, I was preoccupied listening to that new song ...
         You can join me on FaceBook where we can chat. http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pro … 0466068011
         Or just do a search for Camlo De Ville
         I thought you'd already seen River Deep - the teeth, remember?

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   bsscorpio8posted 13 years ago

   The ebb and the flow of the tension and release.

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5. 84

   rebekahELLEposted 13 years ago

   they didn't need words. I think some of the greatest songs have no words. it reminds me of a quote from the movie Immortal Beloved where Beethoven is defining music with his secretary Schindler. A song had just been played, and he says: “Music… what is it? I don’t understand it. What does it mean?"  Schindler responds, ‘It exalts the soul.” Beethoven responds, “Utter nonsense. If you hear a marching band, is your soul exalted? No, you march. If you hear a waltz, you dance. If you hear a mass, you take communion. It is the power of music to carry one directly into the mental state of the composer. The listener has no choice. It is like hypnotism. So, now.. What was in my mind when I wrote this?” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mixnMzHU … r_embedded
   
   I also think of the composer Hans Zimmer, his music also needs no words. I guess this music is more than a song.
   
   and then there's a great song like Natalie Merchant's Carnival. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4FpUhtfbBY

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      camloposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I love that Natalie Merchant song - I've just downloaded it and am playing it now. Thanks for that!

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         rebekahELLEposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         you're welcome. I love it too and all of her work. I think  she is amazing. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketc … oetry.html

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            camloposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I'll have to listen to that album, and more of her work.
            She was bound to get critisism for her remarks in that article ... they could easily be misunderstood.
            Billie Holiday's 'Strange Fruit' was also a poem.

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   waynetposted 13 years ago

   A good song can be made by people singing.....
   
   I know, just call me the singing genius!

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      blondepoetposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      heck Wayne you need to sing with Camlo and I.
      All for one and one for all....
      
      

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         waynetposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         La la la la ding dong...Why I oughtta!!!!!! doh!!!

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      camloposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I'd never thought of that - an interesting idea.

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         waynetposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Ya see...I like to inform with innovative ideas!

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         blondepoetposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Hahahahahahahahaha
         
         
         

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            camloposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            It wasn't that funny - and not as funny as that cat ...

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               blondepoetposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               I thought it was Camlo

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   saleheensblogposted 13 years ago

   appeal of the song,no matter from where it comes from.

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8. 68

   blondepoetposted 13 years ago

   What makes a good song?
   A bit like the one Camlo and I are going to sing.

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   camloposted 13 years ago

   Yes, it will be a good song ... What's it called, BTW?

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      blondepoetposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I have a few up my sleeve. I am going to experiment with a few. Do you have any preferences Cam?

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    Rafiniposted 13 years ago

    What makes a good song?  The overall message and it's delivery. 
    
    Take "Imagine" by John Lennon, for example.  Is it a good song?  What's the message and how is it delivered?  Could it be improved - really? 
    
    Now, compare it to "Black & White" by Three Dog Night.  Is this a good song?  What's the message and how is it delivered?  Could it be improved - really? 
    
    Repeat for each and every song you think is a good song.  Has your taste in music changed due to this analysis?  (sorry, just a curiosity question popping in!  )

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    camloposted 13 years ago

    I'm always willing to try something new. What have you got up your sleeve?

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    klarawieckposted 13 years ago

    Hey, I'm a musician and songwriter. This is true - jokes aside. How about we do a hubpages forum song. We all can write a line! I can put music and words to it! It would be so much fun!!!

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    Beelzedadposted 13 years ago

    "Hooks" make a good song, and they can come in many forms from lyrical to musical.

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       klarawieckposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       oooohhhh... BillyBoy... at 80 it seems you are still rising! Waaaaaannaaa hook up?!

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