A higher male voice with noticeable vocal effort indicates high energy and purpose, say Pawley and Müllensiefen, particularly when combined with a small vocal range. Both Mercury and rock boss Bon Jovi seem to have the requisite voice qualities.
Otherwise phrase length and pitch complexity are the attributes that make a song catchy.
"Longer and detailed musical phrases – the breath a vocalist takes as they sing a line is crucial to creating a sing-along-able tune," their overtly technical statement explains. "The longer a vocal in one breath, the more likely we are to succumb to a sing-song."
And a final crucial characteristic is the number of pitches in the chorus's hook. And the more the better. "The more sounds there are, the more infectious a song becomes" say the researchers. The ultimate catchy songs combined longer musical phrases and a hook over three different pitches.
Proton Soup said:Muppet Video
Hm. I think I know why so many of the songs are new and not what I'd call wildly generation-spanning popular.fourier jr said:& they have a list of the top 10 catchiest songs too
Better put some on that list that the kids actually know...The research ... has been published as part of a campaign to get the kids interested in science and engineering
Willowz said:Plato was right about everything, everything.
Pythagorean said:Hrm. Interesting. The music industry has used a much simpler formula:
16 bars of 4/4 in some permutation of I-IV-V in any key.
muppet video
BadBrain said:By the way, does anybody know what a "boffin" is?
NeoDevin said:And the formula for how to write a love song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdudKAMOz5s
A musicologist is a person who studies music, its history, theory, and cultural context.
A musicologist may come up with a formula for catchy songs in order to better understand the elements that make a song appealing to listeners and to improve the success rate of creating hit songs.
The formula for catchy songs, according to the musicologist, is a combination of simplicity, repetition, and surprise. This means that the song should have a simple and memorable melody, repeated hooks or lyrics, and unexpected elements to keep the listener engaged.
The accuracy of the formula for catchy songs may vary as it is based on the musicologist's research and observations. It may not apply to all songs or genres, as music is subjective and can have different effects on different individuals.
The formula for catchy songs is not a guarantee for success, as there are many factors that contribute to a song becoming popular. The formula may provide insights and guidelines, but ultimately, the success of a song depends on the audience's taste and the timing of its release.