The Sugar “Beat It” Influence

Cleverly sandwiched between the two “Maroon 5 payoff” segments in the chorus is a section that appears to be directly influenced by Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” This article details the key similarities between the two songs.

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Hooks, Clever Elements & WOW Factors

During the first quarter of 2015, 20 songs had the distinction of charting in the Top 10 of the Hot 100. This article features key highlights culled from our "Q1 Top 10 Deconstructed" report that shows what made them so infectious, engaging and memorable.

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What Made Sugar So Sweet?

Crafted by an all-star team of hitmakers, "Sugar" features all of the characteristics that you would expect to find in a chart-topping hit. However, what REALLY makes "Sugar" so sweet is its killer chorus. This article features highlights extracted from our "Sugar Deconstructed" report that…

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70s/80s Rock & New Wave: The Next Big Thing?

Of all the trends that shaped the sound of the songs that landed in the Top 10 of the Hot 100 during the last couple of quarters, late 70s / early 80s Retro R&B/Soul, Funk and Pop have been among the hottest. This Penn’s Pick…

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Then & Now

A lot can happen in the course of a year, especially when it comes to hit songwriting. What follows is a comparison of the top performing categories within the HSD Music Charts during the fourth week of July in 2014 and 2015.

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Hit Songs Deconstructed Music Charts – Month In Review: June 2015

After a first quarter in which Pop ruled, the month of May saw R&B/Soul take over as the top primary genre. Hip Hop/Rap was on the rise too, while Rock’s influence continued to be negligible. Choruses came early and love/relationships remained the dominant lyrical theme.

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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. This article features highlights extracted from our Love me Like You Do Deconstructed report that illustrate some of the…

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Genre Fusion: Standing Out From The Pack

It all sounds the same. Homogenized. Unadventurous. That’s what many people think about today’s mainstream music. But when you actually listen to songs that hit the upper reaches of the charts, nothing could be further from the truth. It takes a creative artist well-versed in…

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Who’s Writing the Hits? Find out who’s behind today’s chart-topping hits!

In 2014 there were 199 credited songwriters involved in crafting the 59 songs that charted within the Hot 100 top 10. Published by Hit Songs Deconstructed, the #1 source for hit songwriting trends and analysis, this e-book gives well-deserved recognition to today’s hitmakers and provides…

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