10 Things You Will (and Won't) Hear on a No. 1 Summer Hit
Hit Songs Deconstructed and Billboard collaborated on the following article which focuses on how the top hits of summer are crafted by songwriters, marketed by the labels, and why they connect with the listener. The on-line version was published on…
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Hit Song Choruses
The Hit Songs Deconstructed Top 10 Deconstructed Report provides an in-depth look at the compositional characteristics and techniques utilized to craft all of the songs that land within the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 each quarter. This article spotlights some…
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Wiggle
Clever, crass, comical and exceptionally well crafted. These are the four “c’s” that define Jason Derulo and Snoop Dogg’s latest hit, Wiggle. This article shows how the melding of unique and familiar elements enabled the song to stand out and resonate amongst its mainstream contemporaries.
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R&B/Soul: Hit Songwriting Characteristics
Dance/Electronic, Hip Hop/Rap, Pop, R&B/Soul and Rock. These are the five primary genres that comprise the songs that land within the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 from quarter to quarter. This article features a small number of highlights and takeaways…
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Penn's Picks: Artist & Band Evolution: Vol.1
Most artists and bands have a point in their career where their sound and style evolves (or in some cases, devolves) beyond what they were known for. This can be brought about by boredom, the need to put food on…
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Hit Songs Deconstructed Music Charts – September In Review
The weekly Hit Songs Deconstructed Music Charts provide unique insight into today’s hit songwriting trends by spotlighting the characteristics driving the Billboard Hot 100 top 10. This report shows the trends for the month of September. TOP 10 PLAYLIST >>…
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Ain't It Fun
Released as the fourth single from Paramore’s self-titled fourth album, “Ain’t It Fun” is one of the band’s most successful songs to date, peaking at #10 on the Hot 100 and hitting #1 on the U.S. Adult Top 40 and…
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The Rise (and Fall?) of R&B, Bass Rules the Top 10
During the second quarter of 2014, 23 songs charted within the top 10 of Billboard’s Hot 100. 13 were “new top 10 arrivals,” while the others were carryovers from Q1. Amongst the many hit songwriting trend shifts that took place…
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Penn's Picks: Frontmen & Their Successors: Vol. 1 – Metal
In all genres, but especially Hard Rock and Metal, the frontman plays a pivotal role in defining a band’s image and sound. Vocalists such as David Lee Roth, Ozzy Osbourne, Paul Dianno, Ronnie James Dio and Ian Gillan were all…
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