What Do You Mean Deconstructed

Justin Bieber teamed up with “Boyfriend” collaborator, LA-based producer MdL for his Summer 2015 hit “What Do You Mean.” The song debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100, a career high for Bi...

Wildest Dreams Deconstructed

Taylor Swift teamed up with Pop powerhouse duo Max Martin and Shellback for her dreamy Pop Ballad, "Wildest Dreams." The song fuses sultry, low range alto vocals with Swift’s well-established sopran...

Cheerleader Deconstructed

OMI’s 2013 single “Cheerleader” found its way to the top of the charts in August 2015 in the form of a remix from young German DJ/producer Felix Jaehn. This remix pairs OMI’s Reggae style with...

Hit Songs Deconstructed - Powerful Analytical Tools for the Music Industry

Can’t Feel My Face Deconstructed

Abel Tesfaye (aka The Weeknd) hooked up with Max Martin and his team of hitmakers to craft a song with hopes of superstardom. Mission accomplished. The result was Can’t Feel My Face. The song’s...

Shut Up And Dance Deconstructed

Released as the lead single from Walk The Moon’s sophomore major-label album, "Talking Is Hard," "Shut Up And Dance" has catapulted the band into international stardom. The reason for the song’s s...

Sugar Deconstructed

Released as the second single from Maroon 5’s “V” album, “Sugar” features the stellar craft fundamentals that you would expect Adam Levine and his team of hitmakers to deliver. Among the ma...

Love Me Like You Do Deconstructed

Featured within the Fifty Shades Of Grey movie and sung by Ellie Goulding, Love Me Like You Do has gone on to become a global phenomenon. To-date the song has charted within the top 10 on almost 50 ch...

Uptown Funk Deconstructed

Many key factors contributed to the Uptown Funk's massive success. Some of the most important include an abundance of hooks, payoffs and standout moments, a clever and engaging narrative, a multitude ...

Blank Space Deconstructed

Released as the second single from Taylor Swifts's 1989 album, Blank Space follows in the footsteps of Shake It Off, further reinforcing her stature as a mainstream Pop superstar. Co-written by Max...

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Published monthly, the HSD Wire eNewsletter provides readers with a monthly recap of the Hit Songs Deconstructed Charts, our featured Penn's Pick, articles with highlights and takeaways culled from our monthly reports and much more!