What makes a great song?

[quarky]

Not great as is good, but great as in, stand the test of time.. Great as in Kashmir, Stairway to Heaven, Since I've Been Loving You, November Rain, Estranged, Coma, that kind of great?

For me, it seems like a common element in different parts of the song at different tempo's.. What do you think?

[grabaraxl]

it's all about the songwritting.
sweet child is a great song too, and it's pretty simple, 3 chords, sweet guitar riff, great solo and an aswesome ending. it seems easy, but it isn't!!!!

[Longpig]

Not great as is good, but great as in, stand the test of time.. Great as in Kashmir, Stairway to Heaven, Since I've Been Loving You, November Rain, Estranged, Coma, that kind of great?

For me, it seems like a common element in different parts of the song at different tempo's.. What do you think?

If I knew that I'd be very rich and nuts deep in a model right now, not typing on a message board.

LP

[supaplex]

lots and lots of alcohol or drugs... no, wait... i mean talent

[jamesdm]

The fans and random listening people  made a song great, and in some cases the press.

[LunsJail]

Not great as is good, but great as in, stand the test of time.. Great as in Kashmir, Stairway to Heaven, Since I've Been Loving You, November Rain, Estranged, Coma, that kind of great?

For me, it seems like a common element in different parts of the song at different tempo's.. What do you think?

If I knew that I'd be very rich and nuts deep in a model right now, not typing on a message board.

LP

Haha....good point!!

[Juanjay]

Intro-Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-break/solo-Verse-Chorus

thats the most tried and true method.

but its inspiration, timing (when the song hits the airwaves not the time sigs) and melody.

[BenDixon]

Who knows what makes a great song anyway? In most cases it’s a subjective thing. For me it can be everything from the quality/innovation of the production to the talent of the songwriter/performer. It not the same thing as if every great produced song is great nor that is every song preformed by McCartney. But it always helps to be a “fanboy”,  on the other hand I’ve come across songs by artists/writers I don’t really like which I thought was great.

But what the hell… maybe I’ll just wait a couple of years and ask Lennon what defines a great song. He has written a bunch. 

[bazgnr]

Melody.

I've heard many bands that are overflowing with excellent musicians and tecnhical players, but whole albums and music I personally wouldn't waste my money on.  True, it's all subjective, but there has to be a good hook, no matter how simple or complex it might be.  A good many bands try to dazzle with technical prowess, time signatures, and complexity, but forget to write anything that sticks with you once the song is over.

[domi]

It's all about subjectivity.
But to be a great songriter/musician, Euterpe has to kiss you, I think.

[BillBailey]

Its indefineable. Its just that something. You just know it when you hear it. There is nothing specific and no common thread between all great songs except that they all have something truly magic about them.

[D]

Its just lightning in a bottle.

Im not sure u can sit down and say "OK IM GONNA WRITE THE GREATEST SONG EVER"

Most of the greatest songs are an accident.

Its just something u write and people latch onto someway.

It has to capture an emotion in people that they didnt even know they had.

[JuicySwoos]

Guns n roses......................

[RoCoKiN]

I think what makes Guns songs so great is that they went through all the shit so they have that experience to back it up...you can't write a song like Estranged and never have felt the pain of losing someone...that's why alot of the shit you hear on the radio these days doesn't make you "feel" anything because it's all mass produced by some guy just trying to get words into a catchy beat for some fluffed up pop star.  You can't listen to UYI 1 or 2 without feeling a rollercoaster of emotions...if you can...then man you haven't lived long enough!

[cybercurves]

A great song withstands the test of time!  In otherwords you can listen to it for years after it comes out and never get bored.  Like "Stairway...", "....Jungle", "Hey Jude", etc.  Those will never be outdated because they've withstood the test of time.  Most (or all) songs written for the radio today are written for today only and may hit the #1 spot, then after six months it disappears and when you listen to after that, it totally sucks!