what is that x-factor to you that makes your favorite song or songs awesome?
2006-08-20 15:11:34 · 29 answers · asked by groovemastermike 1 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
that feeling it gives you when you hear it. It doesn't matter what the feeling is, as long as it makes you feel something. That's what songs are supposed to do. They are meant to envoke feelings or emotions within people.
2006-08-20 15:16:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are many factors...
One is the human inflection. If there is a vocalist, what is the inflection that they put into the song using their voice? Does it match the message of the lyrics?
What is the message behind the lyrics? What mood are you in? What mood do you want to be in? If you just got dumped by your lover, songs about heartache are going hit your heart strings, but maybe disco is what you need to feel happy again. If you just won a Gold Medal, it might be time for the Theme to Rocky... it's super triumphant!
Is the rhythm organic(live percussion) or mechanical(drum machine)? I prefer live drums, but a drum machine can be cool too if it is programmed by someone with some soul. Actually, I sometimes like the LACK of soul that a drum machine has to offer. It makes me giggle that Ministry sounds like a bunch of pissed off robots.
Do you play an instrument? Obviously a drummer is going to have a handful of songs that he REALLY likes just because of the drum performance. The same is true of any instrumentalist.
Do you have a favorite instrument? Guitar is a favorite of many, as are piano and clarinet. Have you tried them all? What else is out there that you haven't tried to listen to?
How about the cadence/chord progression? A truly great song keeps you guessing about where it is going to go next. It keeps you immersed by keeping you involved, trying to guess where it is going. Whether you are right or wrong, it pleases you to hear where it ends up.
What did you listen to last? A song can seem much better than it really is if you just listened to a tune that is a real turd.
What did you listen to when you were in your mother's womb and when you were a small child? Research shows that people have a predisposition toward music that they heard through the amniotic fluid in their mother's womb, and music that they heard as a child. I think that this contributes to various styles being recycled/sampled.
What genres are you familiar with? It is said that "The more you love music, the more music you love". I think that all of the above considerations can be applied to any genre. I heard a polka tune today that had an amazing clarinet part... in fact, it was called The Clarinet Polka, check it out! The inflection was kick ***. This morning I was listening to "The Dickies" tune "Hunchback". It's a punk rock tune from 1983 with great pop sensibilities and a sense of humor. The inflection and timbre of the vocalist's voice were great, the drums were great, and it satisfied overall. Maybe next will be some disco or some new wave or some classical, country, blues, rag time, jazz, or rap... All of them have the potential to let you play along, guessing where it is going to go next. Whether you guess right or guess wrong, one thing holds true: you will have a better understanding of music overall. Music loses it's magic when you know exactly what it is going to do. Try something new!!
Ultimately that is my x-factor... it is something new that allows me to grow in my appreciation for music, something truly original, or something so foreign that I've never heard anything like it before.
2006-08-20 22:47:55 · answer #2 · answered by Paravacinni 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The main thing I listen for are the lyrics. If the song's relatable and real then I'm usually hooked but the delivery also has to be catchy in order to keep my attention once I get the basic idea as to where the songs' message is going.
2006-08-20 22:26:37 · answer #3 · answered by Lil Bit 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, everyone likes meaningful lyrics. Like the songs, "Run Away Train", by Soul Asylum (unfortunately, I can't find that album ANYWHERE!) or "Closing Time", by Greenday (before they got all crazy). But you have to be dragged to the song, first. So really, it depends on the person. Some like nice guitar riffs, others like the rap atmosphere, others like up-beat fast songs. Personally, I like variety (mydrivefm.com and you can listen to my favorite station streaming!) Have a nice day!
2006-08-20 22:19:03 · answer #4 · answered by Spearfish 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bridge is key for me. If you ever heard "Come Back" by Foo Fighters you'll know what I mean. The lyrics of course have to be good, but the bridge music or lyrics have to be there in full force. If there's nothing good between the verses I have to change the channel.
2006-08-20 22:19:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A hook like "Since U Been Gone".... I love how it starts kind of quiet and then EXPLODES into the chorus. Also some smokin' guitar work helps and a lot of kickass drums!! All the best, most rocking songs have that. :)
2006-08-20 22:19:54 · answer #6 · answered by Flyleaf 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bass and drums. If they aren't working the song ain't going be half as good. Think of Bonzo in Led Zeppelin or Lenny Bruce in Cream.
2006-08-20 22:17:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No matter what the song is if you don't have the beat behind the singer then you don't have a song.
The better the beat the better it will really rock.
2006-08-20 22:17:56 · answer #8 · answered by fedupmoma 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
musicians must luv to live under the rock, eating stone as food and luv metal more than plastic
otherwords, the more rock/s in the artist's body, the more the song.....rocks!
2006-08-20 22:17:46 · answer #9 · answered by Paula 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A driving beat, a thumping bass line, a good hook, great lyrics that aren't dumb, stellar vocals. Something that makes me immediately want to dance. Something that I can drive to. Something that I can listen to over and over again.
2006-08-20 22:18:30 · answer #10 · answered by badkitty1969 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋