"Don't bore us,
get to the chorus/Don't be a shnook, get to the hook!"
by
Larry Robkoff
Okay, you've decided that you want to write songs that will
be heard by many. You've begun to study commercial songs,
you're reading books on commercial writing, and you're
paying close attention to the successful songs of the day.
You are beginning to understand how this new approach
differs from the way you used to write.
By
now you have no doubt discovered that the single most
important component of commercial songwriting is that
sometimes elusive creature known as The Hook. Can you
survive as a commercial songwriter without a firm command of
how to write a hook?...in a word NO! Since this is certainly
the case, lets see if we can shed some light on this often
misunderstood yet absolutely essential piece of commercial
songwriting.
In
short, the hook must be that part of the song the listener
goes away remembering. Great hooks start with great ideas.
Great hooks sell great songs. Great hooks are what
publishers, record companies and recording artists are all
looking for. Most publishers decide to pass or accept based
on the hook. I have worked with major publishers that won't
even listen until you have pitched the hook first.
The "Hook" can most easily be described as that part of the
song that is most memorable, usually most catchy lyrically
and musically, and usually most repeated. It is almost
always the song's title, and is usually found within the
song's chorus. Musically speaking, the hook is often the
most dynamic part of the song. While most hooks are lyrical
lines, they are often followed by a musical figure that
enhances the lyrical line. The Dire Straits tune Sultans of
Swing is a fine example of this technique.
Most successful commercial songwriters write hooks before
they write songs. They do this because a great song is more
easily born of a great hook. Writing a great commercial song
based on an average hook is a near impossibility.
You will note that I've used the words usually, often, and
almost, quite frequently in describing what a hook is. I
want to be careful about stating rules for commercial
songwriting, because in fact there are none. There will
always be writers that break every possible rule and still
manage to achieve commercial success. Nevertheless for most
of us it makes sense to acknowledge and draw guidelines from
prevailing industry standards. In essence I am saying that
while many great commercial songs don't follow the rules,
most do!
Write your next song from the hook. Make it interesting,
accessible, catchy, and memorable and you're there!
Good Luck & Keep Writing! |
