How Do You Know When You’ve Written a Hit Song?

It’s a question that every songwriter constantly struggles with…

If the truth be told, I don’t think it’s possible to know for sure, but there are certain rules and guidelines to watch for that can help you come close.

Let’s begin with something we know for sure, I don’t care how good a songwriter you are, you’re not going to write a great song every time you sit down to write. In fact a lot of times you are going to come up with nothing. This leads us to be somewhat insecure about our abilities and in turn causes us to accept “good” when we should always hold out for “great”.

I believe that in order to be a successful songwriter, you have to have an objectivity that allows you to know the difference between a song that can only be good and a song that has the potential to be great. You also have to have the patience to wait for the great ones. True inspiration is not something that is there for the songwriter 24/7, it comes when it wants to, and with that in mind, it is important that you use this gift wisely. Spending a lot of time on a song that can only be “good” is a waste of time, although I suppose you could make the argument that practice makes perfect.

So what are the signs that you are on to something great?

First of all you have to be a professional and take your art seriously enough to recognize the difference between a lyric that is mundane and predictable, and one that is unique and exceptional. You have to be even more discerning in regard to the melody which at first listen, is the most powerful element of a song.

All of this counts, but in the end, what makes it a “great” song is to what extent it affects you emotionally. If it affects you deeply you have a good chance that it will affect others in the same way.  It doesn’t have to be “commercial” (a trap we all fall into). It can be something that is not in the main stream, something outside the box. The only thing that counts is that it affects you emotionally. Go with your gut and you’ll never go wrong.

If you have all the ingredients contained in the paragraphs above you have a great shot at having written a hit song.

Don’t settle for anything less than “great”.

Barry DeVorzon

As a composer/artist Barry DeVorzon has long been a prominent name in the recording industry. He has had a total of twenty hit records, which he has written and/or produced. He discovered the highly successful group, the Association, and developed one of the most successful independent record and publishing companies of that time. He later sold his record company and his publishing company “Tamerlane” to Warner Music.