What makes a great chorus?

[Lost_BMW]

Inspired by the Tom Petty thread and the recent documentary film I've been listening to some old records and what struck me was how Petty and The Heartbreakers made so many songs with great choruses.

Then got to wondering why they struck such a chord and just what it is that makes a great chorus?


To start off I'll offer "Mary Jane's Last Dance"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bJBRwZgxKg


For me there are several things here.

1. the smoothness of the harmonies

2. the way the guitars support and drive it on (reminds me of Neil Young and Crazy Horse)

3. the lyrics ("I feel summer creeping in and I'm tired of this town again") and how quickly with one line they add to the feeling of the song - developing that sense of boredom and 'small town' ennui also in the main song

4. and, especially, how the chorus comes in - so smoothly and quickly, not telegraphed at all like in many songs, even though it's so unlike the rest of the song. First time I hard the song the chorus really surprised me; a choppy, rythmic pattern to the main verse and then suddenly this smooth wash of sound, love it!


So, any more ideas on what makes a great chorus and any candidates?

[RemainAllHoof]

Memorability? (Or "catchiness"?)

[Evangelion]

RemainAllHoof said:

Memorability? (Or "catchiness"?)

+1: Every time the song takes the listener away from the chorus, he must be longing for it to get back to it so he keeps listening.

[Mojooo]

Simplicity

I listen to a lot of 'prog rock' whichs to be quite 'complex' and to be honest never catchy.

Sometimes being simple and basic is better.

[Evangelion]

Yes I listen to a lot of prog too and must admit that often the catchy bits are slightly further apart than one would like them to be!

There's something to be said for a basic, honest-to-goodness pop song with no pretensions towards anything else.

[2volvos]

Well obviously there are hundreds of great choruses, but one that comes to mind straight away is Labelled With Love by Squeeze.

Now I could go on for a very long time as to why Squeeze are one of the best bands ever, but relating to this song, the chord progression is great, the lyrics are a good counter to the verses that carry the narrative of the song. And as ever with them it is brilliantly sung and phrased.

On the other hand, Squeeze did a load of great 3 minute pop songs without choruses (Up The Junction, Picadilly, Vicky Verky etc) but with the verses being so punchy and neat a chorus isn't needed.

By the way, agree entirely about Tom Petty - an awful lot of talent packed into the Heartbreakers...and he uses it really well.

[Lost_BMW]

Likewise, agree about Squeeze. Two of the most talented pop songwriters we've had imho.

A similar mastery of the structure of the pop song, matched to good musicianship and vocals.

[RemainAllHoof]

2volvos said:

pop songs without choruses (Up The Junction

I never noticed that before! (I've just hit youtube.)