The song is a powerful medium for telling stories. It can be written by a poet in the transient throes of passion and yearning, brought to life by a pubescent on the threshold of maturity, or attempted by a jaded musician reeling under the pressure of an excessively extortionate record label. Song can take the form of a musical composition, a poetic text or even a graphic image, but it is usually heard as music played from a tape, CD, a record or as sung live.
A song has many dimensions, and the way it is performed can be as important to its meaning as the lyrics and melody. Vocal arrangement and production add tremendous drama to songs, and they can also help a listener understand the overall structure of the music.
In most popular songs, the verse and pre-chorus lead into the chorus, which is often the big payoff and climax of the song. It is often repeated, but the words and music can vary each time it is sung. Some singers have become known for their ability to create a dynamic change in tone between the verse and chorus.
There are different kinds of songs, falling into one or more genres, such as Irish folk, African storytelling, Christian hymns, heavy metal, pop, rock and country. Increasingly, though, songs are blending multiple genres, creating hybrids that have chart-topping appeal. There are also some trends that can be observed in the evolution of a song, such as a shift towards simpler lyrics and an increase in the number of songs with a bridge section.