Basic Trope: Someone doesn't like a certain character, but likes their musical number.
- Straight: Emperor Evulz sings his Villain Song. The heroes find it rather catchy and dance to it.
- Exaggerated:
- Even though Evulz has a 0% Approval Rating, his song is universally acclaimed and everyone loves it.
- The heroes outright join the Villain Song by singing along Evulz.
- Logical Extreme: Emperor Evulz's Villain Song becomes a chart-topping hit, with millions of fans around the world. It dominates the music industry and even wins multiple awards.
- Downplayed: Charlie, one of the heroes, makes an offhand comment on how he thinks Evulz' song is pretty good, and Alice nods her head to the beat.
- Justified: Just because they don't like Evulz as a person doesn't mean his songs can't be good.
- The reason for the dislike towards Emperor Evulz is unrelated to his musical talent. People acknowledge that he has a great singing voice and appreciate his songs despite their negative opinions of him as a person.
- Inverted: Bob, the main protagonist, tries to make a song. His allies hate it, even though they like him.
- Subverted: The heroes were only thinking about another song they thought was catchy.
- Double Subverted: Evulz sings a second Villain Song which they actually do like, though.
- Parodied: In a comedic twist, Emperor Evulz's Villain Song is intentionally exaggerated and made absurdly cheesy. The heroes burst into laughter while listening to it, mocking its over-the-top nature and clichéd lyrics.
- Zig-Zagged: The characters' reactions to Emperor Evulz's song vary throughout the story. Some initially dislike it but eventually find themselves enjoying it, while others start off liking it but then grow tired of hearing it. The trope is played with in multiple ways, creating a zig-zag pattern.
- Averted: The heroes don't admit that Evulz' song was catchy.
- Enforced: The creator of the work finds Evulz' Villain Song amazing, and wants to make reference to it in the work.
- Lampshaded: One of the heroes comments, "I can't stand Emperor Evulz, but I have to admit, that song of his is quite catchy."
- Invoked: One of the heroes deliberately encourages Emperor Evulz to sing his Villain Song in an attempt to distract him or manipulate the situation to their advantage.
- Exploited: A clever character realizes that Emperor Evulz's Villain Song has a hypnotic effect on people and uses it strategically. They play the song to manipulate others or gain control over them.
- Defied: The heroes actively resist the allure of Emperor Evulz's Villain Song. They cover their ears, refuse to listen to it, or find ways to block out the sound, determined not to be swayed by its catchy melody.
- Discussed: During a gathering of the heroes, they engage in a conversation about how they dislike Emperor Evulz but can't help enjoying his musical numbers.
- Conversed: In an unrelated conversation or scene, characters discuss the phenomenon of people liking Emperor Evulz's Villain Song despite disliking him. They share their opinions and theories about why this happens and debate whether it's justified or contradictory. The trope is brought up as a topic of discussion without directly involving the characters' experiences with the song.
- Implied: The heroes are shown humming or singing a few lines from Emperor Evulz's song when they think nobody is around, hinting that they secretly enjoy it.
- Played for Laughs: The heroes, who despise Emperor Evulz, unexpectedly find themselves involuntarily singing and dancing along to his Villain Song, much to their embarrassment and amusement.
- Played for Drama: Despite their disdain for Emperor Evulz, the heroes find themselves deeply moved by his emotionally charged and poignant musical number, which creates a complex mix of conflicting emotions.
- Played for Horror: Emperor Evulz's Villain Song takes a dark turn, with haunting melodies and eerie lyrics that unsettle and disturb the characters. It becomes a chilling reminder of the villain's sinister nature and the impending danger they pose. The song induces fear and creates a sense of foreboding.
- Unparodied: Despite the initial expectation of the song being parodied or mocked, it is played straight and genuinely enjoyed by the characters.
- Untwisted: The heroes express their dislike for Emperor Evulz and his Villain Song, but later on, they realize that they were wrong, and the song is actually quite good.
- Deconstructed: The story examines the psychological impact of Emperor Evulz's Villain Song on the characters. It delves into how their conflicting feelings towards the song and the character create internal turmoil, exploring the complexities of human emotions and moral dilemmas.
- Reconstructed: After the deconstruction, the story reconstructs the trope by presenting a resolution where the characters find a way to appreciate Emperor Evulz's musical talent while still maintaining their dislike for him as a person. They separate the art from the artist, acknowledging the value of the song without condoning or endorsing Emperor Evulz's actions.
The Villain Song is Actually Quite Catchy that it makes you want to go back.
