The reasons why a song stays in our memory can be multiple. The formulas used by popular music composers are diverse and some manage, sometimes by chance, to create a chorus that listeners never forget. Looking for answers about factors that make a chorus catchythe Museum of Science and Industry conducted a scientific study in Manchester.
“I work in a group that studies musical cognition in general, any way the brain processes music, and we were particularly interested in music and memory, and why certain pieces of music stay in memory for so long,” said Dr. Ashley Burgoyne. The study focused on the analysis of music of various genres. In terms of pop, the number one spot went to the hit “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls. Other standouts included “Mambo No. 5” by Lou Bega, “Just Dance” by Lady Gaga and “Beat It” by Michael Jackson.
In the field of classic rock, the song that took first place for having the catchiest chorus was “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” by Bachman-Turner Overdrive. This 1974 song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles, becoming the band’s most popular. Although its chorus is not one of the most famous in rock, its structure has the peculiarity of remaining in the memory of listeners.
The catchiest song of all time according to science
As Far Out Magazine recalls, in 2016 the University of St. Andrews in Scotland published a document where the researchers involved presented the formula for a catchy song. As this study explains, the equation can be expressed as “Receptivity + (predictability minus surprise) + (melodic strength) + (1.5 times rhythmic repetition) = a melody that stays in your head.”
In the words of the researchers, this formula can be understood as a musical “earworm” that needs five crucial components to exist. According to Bede Williamsthis includes: surprise, predictability, rhythmic repetition, melodic power and, most importantly, listeners being receptive to the creation at a basic level.
Under this premise, there were several songs that adhered to this pattern, being “We Will Rock You” of Queen the one that topped the list. Although over the years several people speculated that this song was created in a laboratory, the reality is that it was born after the band led by Freddie Mercury gave a concert in Stafford, England.
