View Full Version : A Good Single
zombie
03-21-2005, 08:23 AM
People were mentiong in the Fiona Apple thread about a lack of singles on her unreleased album, so I was wondering, what makes a song a good single? How can you tell whether one song would be better suited as a single than another song?
Generally, a single is only about between 3-5 minutes long, has catchy hooks, & memorable or unique lyrics along with the production of the track. Many artists specifically re-edit a song for the radio. Also, most singles do not have any profanity or strange subject nature.
SUPERECWFAN1
03-21-2005, 08:36 AM
People were mentiong in the Fiona Apple thread about a lack of singles on her unreleased album, so I was wondering, what makes a song a good single? How can you tell whether one song would be better suited as a single than another song?
Ok this Is a tough answer. I know a lot of muscians who need a " Hit" single to sell thier albums to fans. In Making The Band 2 , Puff Daddy talked about how he needed at least 5 to 6 singles to sell to radio & fans.
Sometimes the only good thing on most albums nowadays Is 2 or 3 songs at a max. The rest Is filler and stuff the studio and muscian put on the album. You rarely see a whole album get praised and that every song could be a single.
Jet's album had at least 5 songs that were released as singles. Thier last one thats playing I felt should have been released as a single last year during Spiderman 2's run. The slow piano song they show on MTV and VH1 now should have been released sooner.
Its really a hard guess on what makes a single sell. I think Its luck and timing too. Thier have been bands who released albums In the years past where the single failed and a movie used It or It played on MTV ( Video Killed the Radio Star) and the single shot up the charts and breathed life Into a career or Band.
REO Speedwagon was on Behind the Music and they detailed why things weren't going well when they started. They released an album or 2 and the singles never caught on with fans enough. Then they finally had It happen In the 80's.
Chalk It up to luck and how fans recieve something that makes a single. Thats my theory.
People were mentiong in the Fiona Apple thread about a lack of singles on her unreleased album, so I was wondering, what makes a song a good single? How can you tell whether one song would be better suited as a single than another song?
Im going to go out on a limb and say there is no defined answer.
A good single just is, it can be on any album, from any form of music.
I've heard crappy techno cds that had a single on them, ive heard metal albums with a clear single.
The most recent example of a band that can put out a single is The Killers. Listen to that album, almost every song on it is quick, catchy, has a good, or at least remorably hook, and in their case, a simple guitar riff that is utterly hummable.
zombie
03-21-2005, 11:45 AM
Yeah, I didn't think there'd be a real easy definition for a good single (although DDM's is close).
What's some of the best singles of the last few years, or ever maybe?
And have there been any singles released by a band you liked that you didn't agree with, and thought a different song on the album would have fared better as a single? Some other song just had that single-vibe to it, more so than what was released?
Punchy
03-21-2005, 11:48 AM
A single is a song the record company thinks will make them the most money.
Yeah, I didn't think there'd be a real easy definition for a good single (although DDM's is close).
What's some of the best singles of the last few years, or ever maybe?
And have there been any singles released by a band you liked that you didn't agree with, and thought a different song on the album would have fared better as a single? Some other song just had that single-vibe to it, more so than what was released?
Yes to the second question, we had a thread on it a while back...songs that should have been singles but weren't.
Sweet Child o mine is a perfect single.
Sanagi
03-21-2005, 12:52 PM
I'd say that a single is a song that immediately pleases the listener, with no patience or attention necessary.
zombie
03-21-2005, 01:37 PM
Yes to the second question, we had a thread on it a while back...songs that should have been singles but weren't.
Huh, really? I don't remember that thread at all. I'll have to do a search for it later.
zombie
03-21-2005, 01:39 PM
A single is a song the record company thinks will make them the most money.
Does an artist have any control over what's released as a single, or is it all what the record company wants?
Does an artist have any control over what's released as a single, or is it all what the record company wants?
It depends on the artist's contract with the record label. Siouxsie & the Banshees had absolute control of everything from writing & recording songs, choosing which artists for the album cover & single artwork, choosing the photographer, choosing the the single, choosing the director for their videos, etc al. In 1982, Polydor wanted "Painted Bird" released as a single, but SATB overruled by releasing "Slowdive" instead from A Kiss In The Dreamhouse. An artist has to be careful not to allow the record label to run over them because, given the chance, the record label will. SATB always chose their singles themselves with little record label interference. Since it was in their contract, Polydor had little choice but to put SATB's chosen single.
TomGun13
03-21-2005, 05:03 PM
Yes to the second question, we had a thread on it a while back...songs that should have been singles but weren't.
Sweet Child o mine is a perfect single.
Sweet Child O' Mine was a single and it was huge (circa 1987-88)
Matt_K
03-21-2005, 05:04 PM
I think it has to be exciting and I don't necessarily mean in a thrash around the room vein, just that there's some sort of visceral appeal in the instrumentation or vocal. Dirve by Bic Runga and Protection by Massive Attack for instance aren't exactly Andrew WK tracks but they have that faintly thrilling sense of drama or a melody where you want to know what the next note is.
TomGun13
03-21-2005, 05:06 PM
Ever notice how on some new discs they will have a sticker that says "Contains the hit songs....." or something to that effect. The record company has a plan, they know what they are going to release. Simple marketing. What will appeal to the most people to make them buy this album.
Punchy
03-21-2005, 09:02 PM
Does an artist have any control over what's released as a single, or is it all what the record company wants?
DDM's right. Almost every record contract is different. But I'd say that an overwhelming majority of big-label artists have their singles chosen by the record company. It makes sense, they are supposed to be handling the business side of the recording and if they think something's going to be a hit and help you sell more albums, why not go for it?
Jonathan Bogart
03-21-2005, 09:28 PM
I think it was Berry Gordy Jr. who insisted that a single has to command the listener's attention within the first five seconds, or it's worthless. If you have any Motown songs sitting around, listen to the first few moments of them. It worked.
howyadoin
03-21-2005, 09:49 PM
Sweet Child O' Mine was a single and it was huge (circa 1987-88)Yeah, but they chopped the hell out of the original album track to make that single.
Sweet Child O' Mine was a single and it was huge (circa 1987-88)
Those were two different statements, i made it a point to add the period.
elheffe
03-22-2005, 12:37 AM
Yeah, but they chopped the hell out of the original album track to make that single.
I absolutely hate the radio version of Sweet Child O Mine. Why even play it if they're gonna cut out the best bits? Same with the close-to-never-played Drown by the Smashing Pumpkins off the Singles soundtrack. They always cut off the last four minutes or so; and that's the best part of the song!!
Reptisaurus!
03-22-2005, 12:59 AM
Yeah, but they chopped the hell out of the original album track to make that single.
I think it totally works as a single, though.
(Although I like the Sheryl Crow version too, so my opinion might be kind of suspect.)
Overall, I'd say that great hook and/or a catchy melody are the most important part of a single.
Valmore
03-22-2005, 01:07 AM
Basically, it's whatever song the A&R man says will garner radio airplay and sell albums. Even these days, the radio, MTV, etc. only plays one song from a new album, so that song has to catch the listeners' attention, meaning it needs to be popular enough to get enough requests to stay in heavy rotation. And yes, generally the very beginning of a song will help determine if it's a single. Interesting opening lead guitar riffs ("What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" "Vertigo" for example) are always good for a single.
Basically, within the first few seconds of being played, you want the listener to say, "Hey, that's "Name of Song" by "Name of Band" - crank it up!" And then drive right over to Besy Buy and buy the new album.
WSLer
03-22-2005, 12:29 PM
Sweet Child o mine is a perfect single.
If it is so perfect how come they had to edit nearly 2 1/2 minutes off of the song?
Nate Grey
03-23-2005, 01:59 PM
Does an artist have any control over what's released as a single, or is it all what the record company wants?
See, I had always assumed the artist got to decide the first single, then the company the second single, or vice versa, but probably neither.
This also begs the question how is the second single decided? Does the artist/execs/whomever decided on what to release as the FIRST single try to release a song as similar to the first single, as different as the first single, or what? And what deterimes a third or fourth? Seems three singles (or more) for one album is a rarity these days.
zombie
03-23-2005, 02:03 PM
Seems three singles (or more) for one album is a rarity these days.
Unless you're Linkin Park. I think they released almost every song off each of their two albums (not including that remix album or whatever it was) as singles.
Nate Grey
03-23-2005, 02:07 PM
Unless you're Linkin Park. I think they released almost every song off each of their two albums (not including that remix album or whatever it was) as singles.
True. But what determines it? My guess is how long whichever single stays on the chart.
Punchy
03-24-2005, 01:05 AM
This also begs the question how is the second single decided? Does the artist/execs/whomever decided on what to release as the FIRST single try to release a song as similar to the first single, as different as the first single, or what? And what deterimes a third or fourth? Seems three singles (or more) for one album is a rarity these days.
All depends on which approach the label thinks will make them the most money. It's different for every act I think.
Except for hair metal in the 80s. The rule was ALWAYS: 1st single-up-tempo hard rocker, 2nd single-power ballad.
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