While there are many elements that can be found in a good song, I'll suggest that a song that emotionally connects to a listener is "better" than one that does not.

A typical listener doesn't pay much attention to lyrics. If it sounds happy, it's a happy song, no matter what the lyrics say. (Remember "Born in the USA"?)

That doesn't mean that isn't important to strive for excellence in songwriting. But a song with throw-away lyrics can still move someone, and be much "better" than a technically correct song.

But if a song fails to emotionally move the listener, I'll go on a limb and say - despite the exceptions to the rule - that's not a good song.


-- David Cuny
My virtual singer development blog

Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?