What makes you listen to songs again and again? Options

[*mipadi*]

My question is loosely inspired by the "what song can you listen to over and over, and never get tired of it?" thread, which raised an interesting point: What makes you listen to a song again and again? What draws you into a song and makes it one of your favorites?

For me, it's hard to tell. Some songs have a really good melody, or rhythm perhaps. I'm a seasoned bassist for a number of bands, so I'm especially attracted to songs with an engaging bass rhythm.

But I don't think any of these things make a song my favorite. A quick analysis of my favorite music (made easy by my "Most Played" smart list in iTunes--very cool feature, by the way) shows that almost all of the songs I listen to a lot have some sort of connection to an event in my life, a person close to me, or some aspect of my personality.

For example, my favorite song is "Tyler" by the Toadies. The song has a great vocal track, awesome guitar melody and harmony, and a sweet bass line. But I think what sucks me in is the fact that I first heard it around the time I started playing bass (way back in The Day about seven years ago or so) and it was the first song I learned to play well on the bass. It has an emotional attachment to my life, because it reminds me of my early forays into the music scene.

There's a song by Jonathan Coulton called "Code Monkey" that is rapidly becoming one of my favorites. The song is about a guy that reminds me of, well, me, and my life, and it's fun to listen to because on some level, it makes me feel more comfortable to be me (as cheesy as that sounds). Likewise, the song "So Much Drama in the Ph.D." is cool because it's funny, and it's written by a comp sci student using a lot of comp sci terminoloy, which serves greatly to remind me of my place in this world.

I also like the song "Fett's 'Vette" by MC Chris, because it is about my favorite Star Wars character, Boba Fett. Boba Fett pretty much made me want to become a galaxy-trotting bounty hunter when I was a kid.

And although it's not one of my favorite songs, I used to listen to the song "1985" by Bowling For Soup a lot because, at the time, I was dating a girl who was in love with the 80s, and it reminded me of her.

So I guess overall, my favorite music serves to remind me of me, my life, and those around me. It keeps me grounded; it reminds me of who I am and who I was. Doesn't all this make sense? Music is meant to evoke an emotional response, so shouldn't the music you like the most be the music that evokes the most powerful emotional response? And how can a song evoke a powerful response if it doesn't have some sort of significance to your life?

[starlette]

I will admit that I didnt read all of that. Im sleep deprived and I can't my eyes to focus long enough. But, as a singer, for me I think what makes me really love a song and listen to it over and over again is great vocals. Something about someone with a simple track just singing, usually emotionally, really gets me. I remember when I bought Destinys Child Survivor I was listening to it, and like every new cd I buy I listen to the first 20 seconds of each track to get a feel of whats on there, and I get to dangerously in love and I just couldnt skip the song. It was so pretty. and like with Mariah Careys #1's, the song My all. totally a never skipper. And then on Beyonces Dangerously In Love album, Speechless. I listen to that song all the time! so yeah, its usually haunting emotional melodies that hook me in. Unless I'm in a perky mood, then its anything with a good beat and fast lyrics. But the whole emotional connection thing...well I don't really have that with songs. But I must say intese love songs get me because thats what I want. And so if the artist can convey that mood to me, then I feel it. So yeah. I don't know.

[Tribal J_Rome]

I'd have to say vocals too. It's really just as simple as that. I noticed that on my Most Played list most of them have awesome vocals, and what's even more is the combination of vocals and the rhythm/beats/melodies/tune.

[*StanleyThePanda*]

Everything mixed together. Lyrics, Vocals, instruments. All of it put together and making it sound good.

Though, I am very picky about music, if I dont like the vocals then I wont listen to it. So that probably has alot to do with why I listen to it over and over.

[angel-roh]

I have to say the beat.... it's mostly because of the beat. i dont really follow the lyrics.....


but sometimes i do listen to lyrics when im not thinking at something...

i overplayed hotel lobby by utada hikaru. just few days ago, i just realized what the lyric was... and i was like "ewwww".."whooooaa X rated here!" hehe.. i knew this song since the last 2 years o_o;;; and i just realized the lyrics few days ago -_-;;

[silver-rain]

Everything mixed together. Lyrics, Vocals, instruments. All of it put together and making it sound good.

Though, I am very picky about music, if I dont like the vocals then I wont listen to it. So that probably has alot to do with why I listen to it over and over.

Yeah, I agree about that too. It's really everything mixed in together, especially the beat and rhythm and if the lyrics are cool too.
I really like songs by Savage Garden and can listen to any of their songs over and over again because I like his (Darren Hayes') voice and because my boyfriend and my song is one of their songs. (Truly Madly Deeply)

[think!IMAGINARIL...]

the lyrics matter most to me. most of the lyrics of my favorite songs have a deeper meaning and are someway connected to my life. some songs may sound bad when it comes to rythem, but i don't care. as long as the lyrics mean something to me, then i like it.
but then again, the song itself has to sound good.

[*stephinika*]

1) Lyrics and what they mean to me.
2) The beat.
3) Generally, how catchy they are.

[Saeglopur]

Rawr.. alright. What makes me listen to songs again and again... Hmm.. I actually like songs cause they remind me of people! I want to be reminded of that person.. so I play the song over and over again.

I can listen to Daniel Powter's Bad Day not because I had a bad day but! because it reminds me of someone. =)

[blucheri]

The beat of the song
and that vocals in the song.

thats what attracts my attention in the first place

[x__rilind]

generally, the song has to have some significant value, as well as great vocals and most often a good bass line.

my problem is that i too often judge a song the first time i hear it, and then form a more in-depth opinion the successive times (if there are any). most of my favourite songs can be related to a particular feeling they evoke, or were songs i first heard at an important time in my life. unfournately, that sometimes means i can't listen to a song unless i'm in the same kind of mood i was when i first heard it.

vocals are important because they are often so emphasised in a song. my favourite singers at the moment would probably be kristen may of veda (vedera, whatever), lacey mosley of flyleaf, and marilyn manson. why, i couldn't quite tell you. lyrics are also important, but half the time are unintelligable.

bass lines are especially important to me, because the bass line is what you feel. i love a strong, rythmic, but not overpowering bass line, because i am the type of person very centered on feeling.

other than that, it depends on mood. and anything decent to mosh too is definetly a plus.

[*My Cinderella.*]

I would have to say the lyrics and the beat. It makes me come back for more and more. Kinda like this Vanessa Carlton song.

[Unfold]

for me, it's mostly the lyrics and vocals. im super picky about songs too.

[mseryel2]

im gonna have to say the vocals, tune, beat, and artist. if it has at least a little bit of everything, then that is one great song.

[redpeony]

If it strikes something in me, I guess. Can't really elaborate... I'm sure you can relate.

[Gigi]

Sweet melodies and cool guitar licks always catch my attention. They then become an instant song-I-can-listen-to-all-the-time when the lyrics are meaningful and the vocals are good. I've become addicted to any Stars songs because of the perfect harmony between the male and female vocals.

Now that I think of it, there are a lot of songs that I really love because of their connection I see they have with my life, like Michael has said. Metric's "Combat Baby" reminds me all about my own combat baby, how he loves this song too and how the lyrics are so remarkably tied in with him. Other random Spanish songs I can listen to on a daily basis because I listened to them constantly on my trip in Cuba.

[Crich323]

I think what gets me into a song is the beat and melody.
If I can personally relate to a song then I listen to it none stop.

That's all I can think of.

[musicrocksmysock...]

the beat and rhythm of a song makes me listen to it more, also the instruments played in it

[Simba]

A catchy beat and rhythm. With that, I can listen to a song for hours...

[Maggles]

Gosh the main thing is probably the melody, then voice and then lyrics for me. I can listen to the same song probably 15+ times before I decide its time to change it.

[multifaceted]

When they are long and whiny and full of "Oh yeah"

[angelrevelation]

Hmm, I don't actually have any 'favorite' songs really. I usually only listen to songs that match my mood. So a song that I think is 'good' changes constantly.

Most of the time, the songs I listen to over and over help me cope with something- they echo and express my feelings without me actually having to. Or, songs remind me of a time or memories, so when I want to go back to them, I listen to those songs.

[Slowguy1421]

I just tend to like songs. And when I'm bored, I end up listening to it over & over again because its on repeat! Lols.

[Amay]

Vocals and lyrics would probably be the main one.
Catchy tune is the other reason.

[moninja]

I'd have to say vocals too. It's really just as simple as that. I noticed that on my Most Played list most of them have awesome vocals, and what's even more is the combination of vocals and the rhythm/beats/melodies/tune.

agreed. the beat, vocals, and the message of the song.

[priyas]

Lyrics and the beat

[michellerrific]

^ Not WHAT song, WHY that song.

The beat, usually. Then I listen to the lyrics and see how it..compares, i guess.

[emazing]

It depends on the various genres. For example, I listen to certain rap songs incessantly (vocab word, just trying to use it as much as possible ) because of the lyrics and the flow; the rhymes (<333 it when they beatbox). Contrary to what most people think, rap can be rhythm too... it's not the stereotypical pimpsandhoesfreaking type of ... poo. Haha. As for rock/indie music, I love the eccentricity (dunno if that's a word or not but oh well) of indie, and mostly the melody and the acoustics when it comes to rock.

[viugiufgjhfhjfhg...]

The main reasons why I get attached to a particular song are either purely musical, or else because the song make me evoke a specific moment in life that held some specific significance for whatever reason. Although I also cling to songs because they are capable of inspiring emotions in me out of nowhere, with no link to any event that may have happened in my life.

I love the sound of all the Pavement albums, and they are guilty for getting me interested in lo-fi pop rock. Their sound is simple at the first hearing (some songs are recorded on 4 tracks, even) yet they manage to come with incredibly original song structures without resorting to crazy instrumentation or production effects.

Theirs are songs to which I can listen to for hours and I still enjoy them like it was the first time around; I am literally addicted to the song Carrot Rope.

The songs that make me recall moments in life tend to be the most random group, and also the most wider. But that's just because as I grow old I go through more experiences that later on can be brought back by a song. As an example, Ottis Redding songs make me think of my late grandfather, since I used to listen to him practice them in an annex room to the house because his wife wouldn't let him play the keyboard at home ._.

As per the later group, I would list songs like This is a goodbye, by SNFU. Which despite being not so great musically and having no specific memories attached to it manages to get me in the mood to get things done immediately. Also classical pieces fit in this category, since I think their lack of vocal parts make it easier for me to let my feelings flow one way or another more freely.

In a certain way, all three cases inspire an emotional response in me. As Mike said, it serves a reminder of who and how I am but also does please my wish for acquiring musical knowledge and does help me when I want to feel whatever comes from within.

Music is an great discovery (since it's always been there in one way or another) capable of inspiring the most diverse and sometimes intense feelings amongst its audience. That's why there's funeral marches, why do gyms play the Rocky OST every now and then, or why do couples have their song.

Music is definetly one of my reasons why.

O_o

[banthisaccountno...]

Catchy riffs, drumming, or vocals (for the most part).