How To Write A Pop Song
First, an admission: the total number of songs I’ve ever written is precisely two. The sum of their combined airplay is probably less than 10.
However, during that time I’ve listened to hundreds of records and thousands of songs. Some of them were good, some of them bad – a few were even excellent. But here’s what I noticed:
- A pop song can be built around one of three things; either a catchy melody, phrase, or hook. The best songs have all three.
- A good pop song really should last only three minutes. Always leave them wanting more. You can stretch it out an extra half minute if you throw in a time change or an extra hook.
- If your pop song is four minutes long and only has one hook you’re being indulgent. Either your intro or your outro is too long or you need to reconsider that middle solo.
- Ballads and epics are the only songs that should ever be four minutes long. A lot of people think that a ballad is a love song, but they’re wrong. A ballad is a love story, just like an epic is a story as well. These songs need extra time to develop characters and plot.
- The problem with most four minute love songs is that quite often they’re given mid-tempo rhythms to allow the singer a chance to show just how sensitive and/or hurt he or she can be, but remember, if you still only have one hook and aren’t telling a good story, then really, you’re just being boring.
- Unless you’re bringing every trick you own to the party, no song should ever hit the five minute mark. As a DJ, the only time I was ever interested in a five minute long song was when I had to go to the bathroom.
- If your song is longer than five minutes ask yourself: Am I sure it has a hook, melody, and a snappy phrase? Am I telling a good story? Am I sure this song isn’t going to be used to send everyone outside? If you can look yourself in the mirror and say yes to all these things, then go ahead and write the next "Paranoid Android."
