What makes a song good to you?

For me, a song that has a strong, original, and pleasant melody is a good song. Some songs have strong melodies, but they’re annoying. “Pleasant” is subjective, but what some people disparagingly call a “sugary” or “sweet” melody is a pleasant melody to me, and therefore a good song. Second, having good, meaningful lyrics is important too. But melody is the most important. Also, a song that drags on and on, or lacks a good beat and rhythm, is not a good song to me.

These are good songs——

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMls9gkSqg8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eki_PRzNk-Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5f0mWnM9gU

As a classical music lover at heart, lyrics are secondary to me. What matters to me is the sound of the song itself and that includes the sound of the words. The meaning of the words may affect my feelings about a song, but it is not one of my primary concerns in liking a song (hence why I have much music in languages I don’t understand; I simply like to hear the sound of the language).

I often say that if a song is stuck in my mind, then it’s a good song. That’s pretty much true. If a song has a good beat and tune, one that can be memorized or remembered, then it’s good to me.

@DominicX Yes, a good song is a memorable one.

I love classical music too. Do you have any favorite composers?

Human motions that are transmuted by the musicians into a musical form does it for me every time.

For me, it is the lyrics as well as the overall emotional effect the song has on me. If I really get a song and it seems to have greater depths every time I listen to it then it will invariably be my favorite song for a time.

i like a song that i can dance to and makes me feel free. there’s just something so good about a song that makes you feel happy, alive and enlightened. it doesn’t even have to be a classic. it can be modern, even new, from this generation. like my favorite song to date, you make me feel… by cobra starship and sabi

Hard to place exactly what it is in a song, but it has to strike a chord in me, whether it be getting a little boost of adrenaline, remind me of past regrets, bring to surface an emotion I hadn’t felt in a while, etc.

There’s a lot that goes into making a song good, for it so often changes depending on the song. I’ve liked songs simply for their style as much as I’ve liked them for their lyrics and music. Hell, not even, if it’s sung with passion, and sung well, and forces you to sympathize with the artist, shoving empathy down your throat with every note, I’ll like it.

There are many categories of songs and music.

Since I am an oldies lover of music, I will just give one example from my oldies collection.

This song has absolutely no meaning, yet has a great beat to dance to.

Ram A Lam A Dingdong by The Edsels. (the original not the remake)