Posted on 09/29/2011 7:31:32 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Queen's We Are The Champions has been voted the catchiest pop song of all time – by a team of academics.
The scientists observed thousands of volunteers to find out why certain songs inspired unabashed wedding guests and clubbers to belt out their favourites in public. Singalong hits had four key elements, they concluded: long and detailed musical phrases, multiple pitch changes in a song’s ‘hook’, male vocalists and higher male voices making a noticeable vocal effort.
Top singalongs include Village People’s YMCA, Sum 41’s Fat Lip, Europe’s The Final Countdown and The Automatic’s Monster.
Musical hits rely on ‘maths, science, engineering and technology’, said Dr Daniel Mullensiefen of Goldsmiths University, London.
Researchers solved the karaoke conundrum after observing thousands of volunteers as they lent their voices to a long list of tunes.
Using this formula, the researchers then compiled a list of the 10 most singalongable hits. Number One was 'We are the Champions' by rock group Queen.
Taking the next five places in the sing-along chart were Y.M.C.A by Village People, Fat Lip by Sum 41, The Final Countdown by Europe, and Monster by The Automatic.
Dr Daniel Mullensiefen said: 'Every musical hit is reliant on maths, science, engineering and technology; from the physics and frequencies of sound that determine pitch and harmony, to the hi-tech digital processors and synthesisers which can add effects to make a song more catchy.
'We’ve discovered that there’s a science behind the sing-along and a special combination of neuroscience, maths and cognitive psychology can produce the elusive elixir of the perfect sing-along song.
'We hope that our study will inspire musicians of the future to crack the equation for the textbook tune.' The findings were released to coincide with the final call for entries to the 2012 National Science & Engineering Competition
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I hate it
way too slow to be a “pop song” or “catchy”
Weird Science was far better
Pile O’ BRD
no no no.... Flock of Seagulls - “I ran”....
*snicker*
Same here, but not quite as much as the cut that immediately precedes it on the album -- "We Will Rock You." It's been the sports stadium anthem for decades now.
Catchy, you say?
Do not deny science. They knooooooow!
I gotta admit, that new song “Pumped Up Kicks” is pretty darned catchy.....as catchy as a song about a kid shooting up his school could be.
Geez....I prefer YMCA....at least it gets everyone off their butts.
I thought it would be ‘Take a Chance on Me’ by ABBA.
lol
What? “Perfect SING-ALONG”? I like this song but I would not call it perfect for multitudes of people.
In fact, most modern stuff falls flat to beer-hall waltzes - perfect for majorities of crowds to sing along.
Really. For catchiest I nominate Summertime Summertime by The Jamies.
My grandkids love it!
So if I disagree with their findings does that mean that I am just another backward science hating conservative?
RE: Catchy, you say?
Hey, don’t look at me... I’m just the bearer of news here. Ask these so-called scientists in the article...
Could someone explain what a song’s “hook” is to me please. I’ve heard the term before, but don’t really understand it. Thanks.
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