Ultimately, musical taste is subjective, as are "best of" lists. What becomes a smash hit in one era may not in another. Since winning The X Factor UK, Little Mix have gone on to release six UK top 5 studio albums. They competed on the eighth season of The X Factor UK in 2011 and won. Martin also notes, however, that musical tastes change over time. Little Mix is a British three-piece girl group consisting of Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards, previously a four-piece until former member Jesy Nelson left the band on Decemdue to health reasons. A good beat helps, says Max Martin, who's written hits for Britney Spear and Taylor Swift. Lamont Dozier, who wrote dozens of classic Motown songs, has told interviewers that there's no secret formula-people like what they like.
Strong vocals: Powerful male vocals seem to trigger the greatest emotional responses.Īsk a group of songwriters what makes a pop song great and you're likely to get a number of different answers.Chorus: Three different musical pitches appear to be the magical number to make a song's chorus memorable.Think of Freddy Mercury's powerhouse vocals. Phrasing: The longer a singer holds a note or lyric, the more likely we are to listen.Scientists at the University of London who have studied the psychology of pop music have identified three elements that make a song grab your attention: The best pop songs contain all of these elements and more. And a voice that catches your ear and holds your attention. Lyrics that speak to your heart and head. What makes a pop song a classic? A catchy melody, for sure.