What defines a "hit" song to you?

[Pendraflare]

The term "hit song" has many different interpretations. In the making of Top 10 Worst/Best Hit Songs lists every year, many people only use Billboard's Year-End Hot 100 to make their picks. But some people may not just define a song as a hit for that reason alone; they might see it as that if it really starts to get airplay. Some people will say that a song classifies as a hit if it mattered for some reason or another in the year. How high on the charts would you say counts as a hit? Does it count to you if it makes the Top 10 or something?

All that said, what do you think makes a song a hit to you and something you think people will remember? Discuss.

 

[maccrash]

totally depends on how much money it makes, really. plus most really big hits have this level of ubiquity that's also kind of telling.

 

[El Héroe Oscuro]

The radio playing the shit out of the song until you can't get it out of your head. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, well...that's up for interpretation by the listener.

 

[Her]

there's of course the definition of where it places on the charts, but to me what makes a hit song is its ability to transcend from the devoted fanbase to the non-fans, gaining a presence in the pop culture of that time period

it doesn't necessarily matter if the song is loathed by a majority, as in fact, often a loathed song crosses into pop culture quicker than a beloved one

 

[poniko]

for me an hit song is a mix of popularity with marketing. you can make a hit song for all the kinds of cultures in the world - more local ones, like a country hit for western usa or samba for northren brazil - or more "globalized" ones, wich are the top artists in the market. both the two types depends on the amount of money you can put and general culture of the targeted audience - just do what people like! ~cliché~

of course just because it requires money and image doesn't mean it has no quality... at least requires publicity skills!

 

[Shining Raichu]

The more repetitive the lyrics the bigger the hit.

 

[Rogue planet]

those songs where everyone cheers and puts double the effort into their dance, true hits right there

 

[Universe]

a song that comes on the radio so much i instantly make this face right here when i hear it again:

it's a hit alright.. or two.. or several.. head first into a wall. 8I

 

[I'm so HM02]

Any song about chasing a having sex with a girl. I gave up on modern music because it's meh! ??????

 

[Zehn]

Anything that has a good phrase (like don't stop believing) or very catchy

 

[blue]

A song that you hear on the radio about twice a day for weeks. uptown funk

 

[pompayyy]

I see a hit song as a song with large amounts of airplay and success. Generally pretty catchy. The majority of them are just fun songs, albeit shallow.

 

[Dter ic]

A song that has catchy lyrics, instrumentation that's unique/ of a different genre (not house/EDM pls) and a silly but cool dance routine. Lyrics don't matter when languages aren't a barrier to success after Gangnam style was such a worldwide phenomenon.

 

[Treecko]

A hit song usually has simple lyrics that most people can understand (or at least has a good rythmn/easy to sing to) and an enjoyable beat that is easy to dance or song a long to, but it is also a song that receives a wide amount of radio play. (Aka why Uptwon Funk got so popular. )