We are surrounded by music all the time and it serves many purposes1. From filling gaps in conversation, easing uncomfortable silences, facilitating communication or even regulating our emotions2. Music can also make us stop what we’re doing and listen to it. Great songs do this for us. They evoke feelings, they’re catchy and memorable. They’re made with a lot of work and craftsmanship.
Whether it’s the latest pop hit, an Irish folk song or a classical piece of art, a great song is something that stands out and makes you feel something. Music is a very emotive medium that catches our attention through the human voice and its unique sound, the lyrics, the melody, chords and rhythms.
A song contains verses, choruses, a bridge and an outro. Some of these sections can be repeated throughout the song, but each song has a unique structure and different compositional approaches to writing.
Verses in a song typically have several lines with close or perfect rhyme and usually build up a story or theme. A bridge in a song, sometimes called a transitional bridge, offers a break from the repeating structure of the verse and chorus and can be musically different. For example, it might start with a subdominant chord or a new harmonic pattern and can offer a change in tone to maintain a smooth flow between sections of the song or build tension before the chorus returns.
Music is often divided into a number of different genres, from traditional and ethnic music to heavy metal and pop. However, it’s important to remember that a song is always more than its genre. Song is a term that describes any vocal music and can include aria, recitative, cantata, madrigal, mass, requiem or ballad.