20 reasons a song can succeed

1 - An undeniably memorable chorus melody

2 - An undeniably addictive repetitive riff

3 - An undeniably memorable chorus text-hook

4 - A universally appealing subject, individually expressed

5 - An occasional sonic logo that leaves you wanting to hear it again.

6 - An overall arrangement/production that leaves you wanting it again

7 - An overall style that puts it firmly in the style-of-the-moment

8 - A rhythmical groove that is undeniably infectious

9 - A repetitive/hypnotic chant-like vocal phrase

10 - A complexity to the arrangement / production that needs many plays to digest

11 - A story to the text that keeps you glued through to a satisfying conclusion

12 - A unique extraordinary vocal / collective performance

13 - A singer’s charismatic vocal character / timbre

14 - Inexplicable mystique / magic to the overall arr / prod

15 - Uplifting quality that just makes you flat-out happy

16 - Sympathetic emotion that harmonises with your state of mind

17 - Pace and excitement that infuses the listener with energy

18 - The totality relaxes and soothes the troubled mind

19 - Surprising / unexpected twists and turns that tease or please

20 - Reassuring familiarity that comforts

Auditorius and Jewels needed

Much has happened since the first intro post with it's backwards glance at my almost decade-old 'manifesto'.

It still rings true and is as much at the foundation of both my artistic and production ideology.

Add to that now, a new Publishing arm, Auditorius, that will try to support as much as possible another '4 minutes later' by-line... "If you have nothing to say, shut up".

I grew up with that mantra in the household. If we applied that sensibility to the world of music, we'd be left with barely 1% of the music that is out there and discoverable.

I know writers who are so depressed with the amount of sonic interference that's smothering them every time they go online, that they can barely see the point in trying to speak to a sea of chattering mouths.

Not true. You do, however, as this manifesto says, make sure you release to the world, only the jewels. Sending your 'good stuff' into the world is no longer good enough. Sending your 'great stuff' may be do-able, but it is your absolute 'jewels' we are interested in!

We live in a culture of celebrity that mimics those that are already successful, instantly. Therefore by the time you work your way down to the unbridled Internet, it's full of people mimicking people who are also mimicking people who are... etc etc.

Each musical era has a phenomenon - an iconic character whose attitude represents a wide 'movement' of people who find a contemporary voice to speak for them.

It is Gaga at this time, nobody comes close to her unmatched popularity. The second place artists are so far behind her, it's embarassing.

In other eras it was Tina Turner and Alanis Morrissette. Success that transcends the quality of the music itself - it becomes as much about what the artist represents to their audience, the music comes along for the ride after a while. Certain specific examples of their output become stand-alone phenomenons with a life of their own. Tina's "Private Dancer" for which I had the pleasure of both writing and producing tracks, was just such an album and a time.

These early posts may have to reflect whatever is uppermost in my 'musings' at the time and not have the thematic reference that I trust will come in time. Forgive therefore the scattered, and the meanders. Pause for food.