REPETITIONS OF
SONG SECTIONS consist of applying
Repetitions of melodic themes, choruses and instrumental sections area is an important element to successful songs. Repetition of melodic themes, choruses, and instrumental riffs build familiarity of the song. The key is to have enough repetition without inducing boredom.
Repetitions can be used as effective tension creators with
hooky pay-offs. Repetitions are more easily accepted if they are short lyrical phrases that are catchy and fun to sing. This is an art of crafting short lyrical hooks where meter, phrasing, rhythm, rhyme,
assonance and alliteration work together. The amount of repetition depends on
purpose of song, target audience and music format. Repetitions of Music Sections
include the following:
Melody Repetition: using melodic departure and return
keeps the song interesting and listener involved so departing from the main theme with the right amount of contrast is important.
Lyric Repetition: serves to let the listener’s mind rest where verses are giving information but the repeated
chorus reinforces the song message hook. Pick-ups right before the repeated chorus
lyric serve to let the listener know of the change.
Phrase Repetition: repetition of words or short phrases and
repetition of a familiar melody and lyric that creates a great tension creator in a song.
There should be a good balance of predictability in the repetition and surprise without too much of either.
Pre-Chorus Repetition: superb lead-ins that build tension in a song
to increase the feeling of release in the chorus to the point where there is a great sense of resolve going into the chorus. The Pre-Chorus is made up of a series of short lines.
The repetition of those lines sets up a tension that begins to release in the last line of the Pre-Chorus where the
lyric meter changes, “setting up” the chorus signaling the listener. Groups
of three are a powerful setup to make the last line of the third repeat pay off strongly.
Chorus Repetition: consistent
with the same melody and lyric, the song’s title usually appears in the first and/or last line and sometimes more. The lyric is usually the same each time however new lyric information in subsequent
choruses is used to develop the story. An example is a “turnaround” where a “twist” is not revealed
until the last chorus.
