Debate What Makes A Song Good?

Personally, I think the beat makes a song good. A song would be nothing without a good beat that you can tap your foot along to.

Good Examples:

Spoiler

YouTube - Linkin Park - New Divide (Full CD Version)
YouTube - Disturbed-Down With The Sickness(WITH SOUND)

 

Personally, I would think that a great song has a prominent but not overpowering rhythm, good lyrical criteria or inspiration (Blood Brothers -Iron Maiden), clear and powerful vocals (Separate Ways -Journey), a good riff or two (Blood Brothers, once again, or Astronomy - Metallica, which is a cover of Blue Oyster cult's song), and an EXTREMELY moving/emotional guitar solo, usually leading up to a dramatic climax in the song, before winding back down or an exposition. I.E. I really like things in Minor, especially if they have a message to them.

 

No matter how much you want this to be a philosophical debate, it is an opinion debate, It'll probably cause a flame war eventually, but now it's ok

For me music is a huge part of my life, I have been playing instruments and listening to music since I was very young, and I have developed different interests as time went on. I used to think guitar solos were the greatest thing around, I think that beat is important, but I also find the lyrical meaning behind songs pushes for a deep emotional level not found in cheesy overused lyrics.

To me, it is a matter of taste, what do I like. I like the odd, the out of the ordinary bands that don't receive too much mass popularity, that are there to make music, not appeal to the masses. Of course every band seeks popularity, but I like the ones that get there from doing their own thing rather than what everyone likes. From listening to them I get a deeper emotional feel, because it is their own thing.

So if you haven't already figured out I'm a huge Indie fan. I love finding new underrated bands, and listening to lyrical and musical beauty.

I apologize if I sounded like a buzzkill in the first line, but I was merely stating how it will end... thank you

 

Catchyness maybe a good chorus throught the song and lots of hooks to keep a person loving the song :]

 

Well, I have my own recording studio. I write songs all the time. I play the piano. My brother plays the guitar and drums. We've written a few good songs.

I think there are three things that make a good song.
1. A GOOD RIF. Some songs just don't have it. There has to be a climax to your rif, and it has to be simple and hummable, yet also have a certain complexity to it's meaning.

2. Cool wording. Songs are basically poems with notes. If your words are boring and don't make the listeners think, the song will die out pretty fast. Honestly, once you know all the words of a song you throw it out right? I mean, when you don't know the words, it's interesting. But once you do, often times you think it's really not all that cool. Make sure they are cool to ensure it's fun to listen to time after time. Phrases like slow burn, or face down.

3. Background. The part that most people won't hum or think about is one of the most important. Just look at techno. By having multiple things going on at once, the brain can switch what it is listening to and still be entertained. Having little tinkles or repeats, or cool base rifs make the song interesting over and over again because there is so much to listen to.

 

Use of chord progression combined with beat. The singing is icing on the cake.

 

Billy Corgan.

 

It's all personal personal preference. I mean, most of the people I talk to do not consider the music I listen to "Music".

 

The inclusion of a beach in hawaii.

 

Music to me is about the feel of it, but lyrics, rhythm, sound, and the tempo of the music, all of that makes the songs for me.

 

To make a good song it should have something unique. If it follows suit of almost every song in the genre before it, whether or not i like the genre, it is mainstream trash. There is a song by shinedown out right now, I'm not going to say what it is, nut to me its the essence of a bad song. Its catchy sure; but has nothing unique to it.

 

I think a song must trigger an emotion response, or stimulate an are of the brain. As many songs trigger different responses, it's all about what response the person personally enjoys the most. It comes down to their genetic makeup. For instance trance music stimulates the brain, and creates almost a tranquil, numb feeling. Other pop-styled dance music creates the feeling of movement and excitement. Certain songs trigger nostalgia, happiness, sadness, remorse. It all depends on the persons current mood, and their genetic effectors which decide their personality and what mood preference they have.

 

hah yeah pretty much.

 

Poetic, symbolic, meaningful, and inspiring lyrics.

Lyrics need to use imagery to inspire emotion in the listener, and they are the most important part of a song.

 

I like it when the vocalist matches with the rhythm of the song. I also like the chorus a lot. There's also the cool part when it gets intense for example Forest by SOAD it's so epic when he yells the chorus at the right time.

Forest - SOAD
YouTube - soad-forest

Here's good music from the Death Note Soundtrack the rhythm is amazing
YouTube - Death note Soundtrack 1

 

When a song tells a story.
Whenever I hear this song..

YouTube - Sublime - What I Got

I wish it would never end.
=)

 

If I had to pick the "Perfect song" I would say it would be this one
YouTube - Porcelina Of The Vast Oceans - Smashing Pumpkins
Porcelina of The Vast Oceans.

Great, great instrumentalizations, incredible lyrics, great storytelling, awesome and inspiring.

 

What makes a song good?

Taking E's. Usually works.

Okay, in all seriousness, something that presents the artist's talent, tells a story, and / or makes the listener epiphanate in an emotional outburst. OH MY GOD BEST WORD EVER.