Song Appeal

Hunter Farris•www.songappealofficial.com

What tools can a pop song use to affect us psychologically to make us like the songs more? We'll take a look at everything from music theory, to linguistics, to rhetoric, to applied psychology.

Last refreshed: July 17th, 2025 at 3:08 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

"Big Yellow Taxi" by Counting Crows ft. Vanessa Carlton - Episode 006

Why do we like "Big Yellow Taxi" by Counting Crows ft. Vanessa Carlton? In this episode, we explore the song's rhetorical structure that leads us to agree with the point of the song. You can find the full transcript for this episode and the shownotes at SongAppealOfficial.com/BigYellowTaxi.

Apr 06, 2018•14 min

"Closer" by The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey - Episode 004

Why do we like "Closer" by The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey? In this episode, we take a look at how it gives us suspense by having as little resolution as possible so that we stick around through the whole song and enjoy it the whole time. You can find the full transcript and the shownotes at SongAppealOfficial.com/Closer.

Mar 23, 2018•12 min

"Some Nights" by fun. - Episode 003

Why do we like "Some Nights" by fun.? In this episode, we take a look at how "Some Nights" uses 1-syllable words to make itself more easily understood so it can overcome the barriers of its unusual song structure. For the transcript and shownotes, visit SongAppealOfficial.com/SomeNights

Mar 13, 2018•13 min

"Just the Girl" by The Click Five and "Stacy's Mom" by Fountains of Wayne - Episode 002

Why do we like "Just the Girl" by The Click Five and "Stacy's Mom" by Fountains of Wayne? In this episode, we break down the emotional structure of these songs made up of their highs and lows and how they use the perfect emotional structure to give people a great time. For the transcript and shownotes, visit SongAppealOfficial.com/TheClickFive-FountainsOfWayne

Mar 13, 2018•15 min

"Sugar We're Goin' Down" by Fall Out Boy - Episode 001

Why do we like "Sugar, We're Goin' Down" by Fall Out Boy? In this episode, we'll take a look at the emotional power that a really good melody can have as we see how "Sugar, We're Goin' Down" instantly sounds nostalgic by drawing on melodic ideas we've heard all our lives. For the full transcript and the shownotes, visit SongAppealOfficial.com/FallOutBoy.

Mar 13, 2018•11 min

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