Song Evaluation

Doing a song evaluation before you submit or pitch your song to labels, music libraries or music business professionals is very important. Going through and answering these questions about your song will tell you if your song is a hit. Or rather a potential hit. Your song doesn't have to meet all criteria. There are several legendary songs that don't. But the more of the characteristics of a hit song you include in your work, the more likely you'll succeed commercially. It doesn't mean that you have to give up your creativity, who you are or anything like that. Sticking to the formulas that appeal to masses of listeners will just help you get your message to a higher number of people. It's good for you and music lovers too. So never forget to do a song evaluation before submitting your song somewhere. (Find out where you can submit your completed songs on the Songwriting FAQ page.)

The more questions you can answer with a "Yes", the more likely your song is a potential hit.

Song Evaluation - Melody

• Are all the song sections (Verses, Choruses, Pre-Choruses and Bridges) easily distinguishable from each other?

• Is the Chorus repeated at least three times?

• Does the Chorus have the same or almost the same melody each time?

• Does the Chorus have a more intense and/or higher melodic range and different rhythmic pattern?

• Is your Chorus melody less than sixteen bars long?

• Does the Chorus melody feel resolved at the end of the Chorus?

• Does your song have an original and memorable melodic hook?

• Is the melodic hook at the same place as the lyrical hook?

• Is the Verse melody eight bars or less?

• Does the Verse melody and/or parts of it repeat?

• Do the Verses have the same or almost the same melody each time?

• Does the end of the Verse melody lead you into the Chorus or Pre-Chorus?

• Does your song have a consistently repeated rhythmic pattern?

• Is your song's melodic range between an octave and an octave and a half? Except if you write for divas :)

• Is the melody easy to sing? (Not too fast, the singer has time to take a breath, etc.)

• Does the melody sound completed? (No awkward, out of place and not so clearly defined notes, etc.)

• Is the mood and message of the melody consistent with that of the lyrics?

• Is the melody memorable? Would it be relatively easy for listeners to sing along?

Song Evaluation - Lyrics

• Is your song about love or a related topic? (The majority of hit songs are about some aspect of love.)

• Does your song involve only a few (1-3) characters? (More is difficult to understand in a song.)

• Is your song about one single idea, emotion or event?

• Does the title summarize what the song is about?

• Do you have a really strong, interesting title?

• Is your song's first line interesting? Does it immediately grab listeners and make them curious of the story?

• Do you use easy, natural sounding grammar structures and contemporary language?

• Is the majority of your lyrics conversational? Could it be something one friend tells another?

• Did you delete any words that are not essential to understand the lyrics?

• Are there many action words, details and images describing the story?

• Is the lyrical hook obvious?

• Is the lyrical hook (which usually contains the title) at the beginning and/or end of the Chorus?

• Is your song general and realistic? Can average people emphasize with it? (Not many people feel for the singer in a "I'm rich & famous and it's SOOO difficult" kind of song.)

• Are the pronouns consistent? Do they point to where you want them to?

• Did you rewrite and substitute clichés with more creative lines?

• Are your lyrics easy to understand for average people? (No obscure literary references, for example.)

• Did you delete those lines that sound like you're trying to lecture or boast about something?

• Are the rhymes natural-sounding?

• Do you give a little more information in each Verse and make the story go somewhere? (You might even include a punchline.)

• Is the mood and message of the lyrics consistent with that of the melody?

• Do the lyrics of the Bridge summarize and intensify the emotion/message?

Song Evaluation - Arrangement

• Is the Intro (if you have one) very short (10-15 seconds)?

• Do chord changes represent the changes in the contents of the lyrics?

• Do the sections contrast?

• Is the song between 3 and 4.5 minutes?

• Do you get to the Chorus in less than 45 seconds?

• Does your song belong to one very specific genre?

Even when you've done the song evaluation, it's advisable to come back to your song a day or a couple of days later and listen to it with fresh ears. You'll be surprised. Usually positively :) But you might notice some mistakes, inconsistencies you didn't before. It's still better to correct them at this point than realizing them when you're sitting in an office and an A&R person is listening to your song…

To find out how to do a song analysis in more detail, I suggest reading Robin Frederick's book Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting. It's a MUST read if you are serious about songwriting!




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