I was on TikTok the other day while I was walking on the treadmill. (Say what you like but it helps the time go by.)
In between the UFO reports, conspiracy theories and the shenanigans in Congress, a video of the Eagles doing the acoustic version of “Hotel California” came on and I thought, “What a great song!” Which got me wondering: “What makes a song great?”
I mentioned this to my son, Matt, who is a singer/songwriter himself, and he had a great point. He feels music is subjective as in, what I think is great might not be what you think is great. I can agree with that.
Is there a formula?
This week I did what we all do when we want to know something: I googled “What makes a song great?” That lead me to this explanation.
“Not only does a good song need to have great chords, melodies, and lyrics, but also should create some sort of reaction, or evoke a specific emotion. A lot of songwriters craft their music from specific events or experiences that they have had, making it very relatable to others.”
Excellent points.
Let’s look at “Hotel California.” Obviously the guitar licks at various places are awesome! Especially the last minute or so. There are also classic lyrics that we all know.
So I called up the Captain
“Please bring me my wine”
He said, ‘We haven’t had that spirit here
Since 1969″
Mirrors on the ceiling
The pink champagne on ice
And she said, ‘We are all just prisoners here
Of our own device”
And in the master’s chambers
They gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knives
But they just can’t kill the beast
Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
“Relax, ” said the night man
“We are programmed to receive
You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave”
I’ve been wrong all these years!
Oh — just a sidebar here….. I’ve been singing along to this song for, what, 47 years and I just found out THIS WEEK…that I’ve been singing it wrong!
I always thought the line was….
Her mind is definitely twisted.
She’s got the Mercedes Benz.
Imagine my shock when I discovered it’s…
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted
She got the Mercedes Benz
You know, Tiffany’s, the store?! Damn! Do I feel stupid! However, I’m not the only one to “mishear” lyrics. After all, I’m not the person who thought Elton John sang “Hold me closer Tony Danza.”
Where was I?
And another thing!
I think another major factor as to how great you think a song is also depends on where you are in your life when the song was a hit. Were you in a special relationship? Were you young, healthy and carefree? I find that there are many songs by Chicago or Elton John that bring back great memories so, to me, they are classics when they might not be to others.
I also find that whatever you were listening to in your early to mid teens is probably your favorite music. For me, that’s the mid 70s. Just about any song from 1975 or 1976 will cause me to turn the radio up. I was 14 or 15. When did “Hotel California” come out? December 8, 1976. I’m not saying I don’t like any songs from other decades, I just find the mid 70s to be my “sweet spot.”
Whatever music you like I just hope that you have those moments. Those unexpected moments when it comes on all of sudden and you are suddenly launched back to wonderful memories.
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