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Print this page Print Version Chorus

Traditionally, the chorus of a song is where the audience joins in with the performers and everyone sings together; chorus literally meaning 'sung in groups' from the Greek word khoros .

If we take a folk song such as 'Streets of London', the audience would listen intently to the performer telling the story in the verses ; the words to each chorus are the same and familiar, so they can join in with the singer at the end of each verse. This can be great fun, and the contrast between listening and singing creates an enjoyable tension and release for the audience; fundamental in popular music.

Your chorus must be exciting and easily remembered.
Steve Hillier

These days, choruses are often like an old fashioned refrain; built from a phrase or collection of phrases repeated several times through the song. They're not written to be sung in groups but are the musical highlights of the song; the parts that the listener can remember after only one hearing. It is the repetition of the simple musical and lyrical idea in the choruses through the song that helps to make it catchy, or 'hooky'.

David Byrne David Byrne
Describes how a line from a preacher's sermon kickstarted the stream of consciousness that led to Talking Heads' 'Once In A Lifetime'.
Listen to the interview
Audio help To write a successful modern pop song, your chorus must be exciting and easily remembered. Here are some shortcuts to guide you towards that killer chorus:

• The lyric to the chorus must be simple, short and to the point.
• Make just one lyrical point in the chorus eg 'She loves you', 'We're going to dance all night', 'Get me out of here'
• To increase the excitement in a chorus, you could try making the pitch of the melody a little higher than in the verse.
• Or you could increase the tempo of your song slightly in the chorus.
• If you want to sell records, make sure the title of the song is mentioned in the chorus at least once.

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