What makes a good song?

Exactly What It Says on the Tin. What makes a song good or bad IYO?

Really depends on the genre and how all the individual elements of a song come together. Simple, intricate, minimalist, flashy, long song, short song, raw production, clean production - either all of these things come together well, they "contradict" one another, or they get caught in that strange grey zone between good and bad that most of us probably just call "meh".

I guess the broadest possible answer I could give that's still applicable is the sense that the artist "feels" the song. If a song feels disingenuous or passionless (or worse, manipulative) then I won't like it.

What you said, basically. The right balance of lyrics, melody, production and singing style.

For a good example of how the balance can make or break a song, I present "Just Fishin'" by Trace Adkins. I think the song is extremely well written, but the melody is BORING. It's like, three notes repeated ad nauseam, leaving little room for Trace's fine voice to do much of anything. The production is also rather bland and uninspired, and combined with the lifeless melody, it just ruins the song IMO.

If a song accomplishes what it set out to do, I'd say it's successful. If it's meaningful, it's deep. If it's widely enjoyed by people, be it by fans of its genre or by the public at large, it's a good song. If it has all three, it's an excellent song. If it has all three and doesn't get old after repeated listenings, it's a stellar song. And if it's none of these, well, quite frankly, it sucks.

...That is the best definition.

And I wasn't even trying when I wrote it!

It really is a great definition.

Cheesy lyrics, electric guitar and synth.

No, really.

So, this?

I actually liked the least wanted song. XD

Everyone does. You can't get much better than a soprano rapping over a brass section and little kids singing about doing all your shopping *Beat* at Wal-Mart!

And I seriously want to do a singalong with the last couple minutes of that song.

edited 17th Apr '12 8:35:42 AM by 0dd1

I can actually sing and play several instruments, but I would still love to do at least SOME Stylistic Suck music.

I like the church organ bits, as well as the banjo, but those children are PURE EVIL.

And the drums sound exactly like every drum machine on every electronic keyboard when I was little.

The Bagpipes in "The Most Unwanted Song" where played awesomely.

I bet they stole my old kiddie Yamaha for that.

A good song, in my opinion needs a good beat, some good lyrics, and the right voice for the song.

Also, a banjo, if the song is country. Gotta have my banjo.

Awesome, I freaking love Banjos.

Banjo is fun to play, but by all technical standards I'm pretty bad at it. The friend of mine (and band-mate) that owns the banjo in question is significantly more skilled.

Total stylistic suck is also fun, for different reasons.

Yep.

I've trolled many a passerby with my rendition of "Don't Stop Beliving"

Our violist does that, as I've mentioned before. But he's a pretty good piano player, so technical incompetence isn't really an option. Which is why we write our own terrible songs. One is called "I Like Riding Horses", and it is... self-descriptive. It also contains the phrase "mutually buoyant" in the lyrics, at a point where logically there should only be two syllables. I play an out-of-tune guitar with a bead necklace. Our violin player sings. Our bassist drums.

The words "calculated epic failure" come to mind.

edited 18th Apr '12 8:48:28 AM by JHM