What Is a Song?

At its most basic, a song is a short piece of music, usually with words. It combines melody
and vocals, although some composers have written instrumental pieces, or musical works
without words, that mimic the quality of a singing voice. The words of a song are called lyrics.
Lyrics can include a series of verses, the longer sections of the song that tell the story, and a
refrain, a short phrase repeated at the end of every verse. Songs can have a simple structure of
one or two verses, or a more complex one with multiple verses and refrains. Songs usually have
a meter or beat. Whether you sing or speak the lyrics, you can feel a pattern or pulse in the way
the words move the song forward.

The word 'song' has been around for a very long time, and it connects back to Old English and
Old Norse languages. As such a history suggests, songs are used for many purposes: to tell
stories, express emotions, or convey a belief in faith. Sometimes they give instructions or help
make difficult, repetitive work a little less tiresome.

What Makes A Song?

Like the beginning of a film or novel, a song introduction should catch the listener’s attention.
However, it should do this without overwhelming them. For this reason, song intros are
typically slower and more low-key. The goal is to establish the rhythm, tempo, and melody of
the song, and introduce the singer or singers’ voices.

2. Verse

The verse of a song is a chance to tell a story. Lyrically speaking, this is where the story actually
develops and advances. In most songs, the chorus and pre-chorus generally use the same lyrics
each time, so the verse is your chance to get your message across. It might be helpful to split
the story you want to tell in two and think about how the second verse can build on the first.
Some songwriters use the second verse as an opportunity to change or subvert the meaning of
the chorus, or even the entire song with different lyrics. It’s a chance to be creative and explore
the different emotions you’re trying to bring out in your listener.

3. Pre-chorus

Although optional, a pre-chorus helps to heighten the impact of the chorus. A pre-chorus
usually contains a chord progression from either the verse or the chorus, building upon that
familiarity. It’s another chance to experiment—a pre-chorus can utilize different harmonies,
for example, or break the pattern of the song.

4. Chorus
The chorus is the culmination of all the big ideas in your song. This is often why the title of the
song also appears in the chorus. It’s a summary of what the entire song is about. The chorus
typically also contains the hook—the catchiest part of the song. Choruses should serve as the
climax to the song. The verses and pre-chorus both serve to build up to this one moment;
therefore, the chorus should reflect that release of tension.

5. Bridge

The bridge typically happens only once towards the end of a song, usually between the second
and third chorus. It’s a change of pace in the song—it stands out both lyrically and musically.
The point is to jolt the listener out of her reverie and remind her that there’s more to this song
than just repetition. This can be achieved through something like switching to a relative key in
the same key signature (for example, from A-Minor to C-Major) or through something like a
guitar solo.

6. Outro

This is the end of the song. An outro should signal clearly to the listener that the song is coming
to an end. This can be done in a number of ways, but typically is achieved by doing the reverse
of the intro—in other words, slowing down. More often than not, the outro is usually a repeat
of the chorus with a slow fade-out.

TYPES OF SONGS
The beauty of music is that there’s something for everyone. There’s always a type of song for
you, no matter what mood, style, or theme you prefer.

1. POP

Pop is one of the most popular music genres within the younger generations, but it’s still often
loved among older generations too.

Pop songs are all about uplifting rhythms and catchy melodies. The lyrics used in pop music
are usually not that hard to understand and remember, making pop songs easy to sing along to.

Some of the most notable pop songs across history include Thriller by Michael Jackson, Baby
One More Time by Britney Spears, Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran, and Rolling in the Deep by
Adele.

2. CLASSICAL

Classical music is one of the oldest types of music in existence, dating back to as early as the
5th century.

Simple diatonic harmony, contrasting moods, and balanced melodies are a few of the features
of classical music. This genre is also characterized by homophonic texture and a focus on
elegance.
Some of the most inspiring works of classical music include Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik,
Puccini’s O mio babbino caro, Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4, and Beethoven’s Für
Elise.

3. HIP-HOP AND RAP

Hip-hop or rap music has distinctive rhythmic beats that are more defined on the bass line. The
vocals are the star of the show here. Rappers sing at a fast tempo and deviate from the beat by
a good margin.

Sometimes, a rap song is created to attack another person or group of people with words. Such
a song is called “diss track”.

Some of the most popular hip-hop and rap songs are Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang by Dr. Dre &
Snoop Dogg, C.R.E.A.M by Wu-Tang Clan, The Real Slim Shady by Eminem, and La-Di-Da-
Di by Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick.

4. EDM (Electronic Dance Music)

The term “EDM” is incredibly expansive. It may refer to mainstream EDM music or other
electronic sub-genres like house, techno, and trance. EDM or Electronic Dance Music is mostly
played in clubs. Its repetitive and uplifting beat makes it easy to dance to.

This type of song is characterized by a four-beat measure kick or bass drum, followed by a bass
drop or “the downbeat”. Some notable pieces of EDM music include Lean On by Major Lazer
& DJ Snake, Where Are Ü Now by Jack Ü. & Justin Bieber, Wake Me Up by Avicii, and Don’t
You Worry Child by Swedish House Mafia & John Martin.

5. COUNTRY

Country music originated in the countryside of the United States back in the 1920s. It combines
the cowboy music of the west with the folk music of the southeast. The genre is usually played
on classical instruments, particularly those with strings.

Country songs are characterized by simple lyrics and melancholy ballads, with themes that
revolve around hard life, loneliness, and love.

The Bones by Maren Morris, Die From A Broken Heart by Maddie & Tae, I Hope You’re
Happy Now by Carly Pearce & Lee Brice, and The Legend of John Henry’s Hammer by Johnny
Cash are a few of the most memorable songs from this genre.

6. METAL

Metal music is a subgenre of rock music with roots that date back to the 1960s. Similar to rock,
metal music is characterized by heavy sounds and the domination of electric and bass guitars.

However, metal music has a faster tempo than classic rock and is generally more aggressive,
with deeper sounds and higher distortions. Heavy metal songs also use dark themes that revolve
around war, death, fear, and sadness.
Some noteworthy metal songs include Master of Puppets by Metallica, Iron Man by Black
Sabbath, Angel of Death by Slayer, and The Trooper by Iron Maiden.

7. GOSPEL

Gospel music is one of the few music genres that are tied up to a particular religion, which is
Christianity in this case. One prominent feature that makes gospel music what it is the
overpowering Christian vocals. It also incorporates complex rhythms, harmony, and distinctive
call and response patterns.

Gospel music is played for religious, spiritual, and aesthetic reasons. Some of the most popular
gospel songs are Sam Cooke’s Peace in the Valley, Marian Anderson’s Move On Up A Little
Higher, and Aretha Franklin’s There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood.

8. FOLK

Folk is a term used to describe traditional music originating from a specific region among local
people in non-professional settings. It’s closely tied to geography, and people who sing their
own folk music take great pride in it. However, since folk music varies greatly across cultures,
there’s no specific way to describe how it sounds.

Folk songs are often about national identity, patriotism, and culture. Desolation Row by Bob
Dylan, Love Is Our Cross To Bear by John Gorka, and Gentle Arms of Eden by Dave Carter
are a few examples of folk songs.

9. JAZZ

Jazz music is defined by syncopated rhythms, polyphonic ensemble playing, bent notes,
improvisation, unique voices, and pitch and timbre distortions. It originated among the African-
American people in the United States during the 19th-20th century.

It’s widely believed that listening to jazz music has a relaxing effect and can affect your brain
positively. Some of the best jazz hits of all time include Louis Armstrong’s What A Wonderful
World, Dave Brubeck’s Take Five, and Miles Davis’ So What.

10. BALLADS

Ballads are songs that tell a story one way or another. They typically have a slow tempo and
are full of emotions. This type of song isn’t tied to a particular genre; a ballad can be a pop,
rock, or hip-hop song.

Certain ballads may contain heavy sounds, and they’d be called “power” ballads in that case.
Some examples of ballad songs include November Rain by Guns N Roses, One by Metallica,
Still Loving You by Scorpions, and Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler.

11. BLUES

Blues is an emotion-driven music genre that’s dominated by flattened notes. It’s considered a
form of folk music that emphasizes call and response patterns, dissonant harmonies, and
syncopation. Blues music has a microtonal nature and usually includes chants, shouts,
spirituals, and field hollers.

Some notable blues songs include Texas Flood by Stevie Ray Vaughan, I’m Torn Down by
Freddy King, and Hound Dog by Big Mama Thornton

12. FUNK

Funk is a form of dance music that gained significance in the mid-1960s. It’s powered by hard
drum beats and bass lines. And while funk music is nowhere as popular as it once was, the
genre still has its fans.

More Bounce to the Ounce by Zapp, Super Freak by Rick James, and Pick Up The Pieces by
Average White Band are among the most well-known funk songs.

13. REGGAE

Some of the elements that define reggae music include amplified bass guitar riffs and bold
drum beats. It’s basically a blend of soul music with ska.

The genre has been linked to a religious movement that calls for the worship of Haile Selassie,
the former Emperor of Ethiopia.

The genre has pretty much gone extinct in the past few years when it comes to the number of
artists that sing it. But it still has a solid fanbase in Jamaica, its homeland. Reggae also inspires
many of the top-rated songs from other genres.

Some popular reggae songs include Pressure Drop by Toots And The Maytals, I Can See
Clearly Now by Johnny Nash, and Switch Up by Proteje and Koffee.

14. AMBIENT MUSIC

Unlike many other types of songs, ambient music songs focus on creating ambiance with aural
textures. They don’t have a regular structure that integrates steady rhythms and formal
melodies. Instead, it’s all about setting the right atmosphere and tone.

Some of the most popular ambient music songs include Steve Reich’s Music For 18 Musicians,
Ulf Lohmann’s Java, and Brian Eno’s Always Returning.

15. WORLD MUSIC

World music is a generic term used to describe traditional music or effectively any music
originating outside of the primary genres of music originating within North America and
Europe.

The term “world music” comes with a lot of issues where it categorizes most non-Western
music into an outcast group which is unlikely to get any major popularity or commercial
success (read more about this in my article about world music).
The term was initially meant to classify music songs for marketing purposes, but it evolved
into a category of its own. World music encompasses a wide variety of music styles and genres
that include indigenous, quasi-traditional, and folk music. Songs within this category are
mostly written in languages other than English.

Some examples of world music include Enya’s Orinoco Flow, Libera’s Salve Me, and Caroline
LaVelle’s Erotica.