# Hooks that getcha.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [July 10, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502 "2003-07-10T16:53:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502/1 "2003-07-10T16:53:24Z")
Listening to Beyonce’s _Crazy In Love_ and really enjoying the opening, I thought of all the great hooks in pop music. The two greatests have got to be Chic’s _Good Times_ and The Rolling Stones _Satifaction_. I think _Hooked on a Feeling_ has got one of the most recognizable ones ever.
So, what hooks grab you? Which are instantly recognizable to you?
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### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502/2 "2003-07-10T17:00:28Z")
I’m not even sure I know a clean definition of “hook” in the sense you’re using it, but if I catch your drift, some that work for me best are:
Billie Jean
Superstition
Money (both Pink Floyd and Barrett Strong)
What’d I Say (Ray Charles)
Long Cool Woman
Walk Don’t Run (Ventures)
If these are way off base, after I get a good “hook” definition, I’ll try again.
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### Author:  [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502/3 "2003-07-10T17:32:43Z")
_Thriller_ is chock-full of hooks. One that I just finished enjoying was “P.Y.T. (Pretty young Thing)”, especially with its fine use of the Vocoder.
“Cracklin’ Rosie” by Neil Diamond is another good example, as is “Summer Breeze”, especially with the toy piano introduction.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2003, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502/4 "2003-07-10T17:56:04Z")
The intro to “My Girl”, by the Temptations. Easily one of the most recognizable intros ever written. Written and played by The Funk Brothers in Motown.
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### Author:  [@bytheway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bytheway)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2003, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502/5 "2003-07-11T00:05:21Z")
More Than a Feeling
Time Is Tight (Booker T & the MG’s)
Wicked Game
Owner of a Lonely Heart
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### Author:  [@karomon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/karomon)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502/6 "2003-07-11T00:59:59Z")
I don’t want to list a million, so I’ll just say the one that’s stuck in my head right now - Jurassic5’s “Thin Line”. Now, with more Nelly Furtado!
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### Author:  [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502/7 "2003-07-11T01:35:25Z")
Some people are using the term “hook” to mean a song’s intro. I’d prefer to think of it as a brief burst of “main attraction” music that defines the song, which can come at any point.
Of course, hooks are very commonly employed in the beginning of songs. On the other hand, some songs do it differently. An example would be ELO’s instrumental “Fire on High”, which lulls the listener along for over a minute before whipping out its signature guitar hook. Kansas’s “Carry on Wayward Son” buries it’s guitar hook after an _a capella_ version of the refrain, which leads off the track.
Sweet’s “Love is Like Oxygen” starts off with a mild synthesizer hook, but goes downtown later with its guitar hook.
Other great hooks:
- Gotta second Chic’s “Good Times”
- the beginning-of-the-bridge hook in Heart’s “Magic Man”
- the opening of Led Zeppelin’s “When The Levee Breaks”
- the opening guitar notes of Aldo Nova’s “Fantasy” (after the helicopter sounds)
- Ray Parker, Jr.'s guitar intro to “The Other Woman”
- the strings which open Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop Til You get Enough”
- the intro to Living Colour’s “Cult of Personality”
- the violin intro to John Mellencamp’s “Check it Out”
- The recurring guitar riff of “Paperback Writer” (obligatory Beates reference)
- Duane Allman’s opening riff on Derek and the Dominos’ “Layla”
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### Author:  [@rolandgunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rolandgunslinger)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502/8 "2003-07-11T02:00:20Z")
“GODZILLA”- Blue Oyster Cult
“I stole your love”- KISS
“Breakin the law”- JUDAS PRIEST
“ROUNDABOUT”- YES
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### Author:  [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502/9 "2003-07-11T02:04:04Z")
Walk This Way
Sweet Child O’ Mine
Sweet Emotion (bass intro, bridges, and the guitar under the verses)
Back in Black
Smoke on the Water
Enter Sandman
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### Author:  [@biqu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biqu)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2003, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502/10 "2003-07-11T02:56:36Z")
a1 – Take On Me (techno cover of 1985 hit by A-Ha)
Gina G – Ooh Aah . . . Just a Little Bit
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### Author:  [@The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Universe_Lashes_Out)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2003, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502/11 "2003-07-11T03:51:49Z")
What, no one’s said “Frankenstein” yet? Best hook ever.
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### Author:  [@anoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anoman)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502/12 "2003-07-11T05:12:50Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by bordelond \*
> **Some people are using the term “hook” to mean a song’s intro. I’d prefer to think of it as a brief burst of “main attraction” music that defines the song, which can come at any point.**
I was under the impression that what you’re referring to is usually called the bridge or break, and that hook is just a synonym for chorus.
Going by the latter definition, some of my favorite hooks of recent crop of singles are:
50 cent - Many Men
Pharrell - Frontin’
R.Kelly - Ignition Remix
Clipse - Cot Damn
Outkast - Flip Flop Rock
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### Author:  [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2003, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502/13 "2003-07-11T06:25:24Z")
B-B-B-Bennie and the Jetssssssssssssssss
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (from My G-G-G-Generation)
B-B-B-B-Baby, you just ain’t see n-n-nothin’ yet
A hook is that little thing that makes the song stand out. When you can call the radio station and say “You know, that one with \ in it” and they’ll know what you mean, that’s a hook.
Often the hook is at the beginning or in the chorus, but it doesn’t have to be.
The guitar lick in **Satisfaction** is a hook. Anybody can sing that and it will be instantly recognized. Stevie’s clavinet on **Superstition** is a GREAT hook. You can burp just the first few notes of that lick and everyone will know what song it is.
The hook can be just a sound or production effect, or a harmony. The bass vocal on **Still the One** by Orleans is an excellent hook. The vocal intro on **The Lion Sleeps Tonight** is one of the all-time great hooks, especially the break from falsetto to normal voice “e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-um, um, uh-way.” _Fabulous_.
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### Author:  [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2003, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502/14 "2003-07-11T13:04:50Z")
I always thought of the hook as the part of the song that you hum. The earworm. The part you remember-- the part that “hooks” you.
I’d say that many hooks are in the intro-- the artists just want to get you from the beginning-- but not all hooks are in the beginning of the song. Like Tommy Tutone’s 867-5309/Jenny. Now that I’ve posted that I bet everyone will be humming _eight six seven five three-O niee–ine_ before they even realize they are doing it.
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### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2003, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502/15 "2003-07-11T13:11:18Z")
Would Pennsylvania 6-5000 count then?
Thanks for the defs.
I even have a book _How To Write Songs On Guitar_ that uses the term without a clear definition, leaving one to suspect or infer its meaning.
One that serves as a hook for me is that place in _Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You_ where it ramps up to the “… I love you, baby…” part. What’s the right name for that latter section? Bridge?
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### Author:  [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502/16 "2003-07-11T14:02:06Z")
I think of the hook as the part of the song that almost gives yuo a spiritual experience and makes you see God. Or gives you an orgasm. You know what I mean, it’s the part of the song that thrills you.
The best example I can think of offhand is Widespread Panic’s _Weight of the World_, from their first album. It’s during the chorus, when the slide guitar leads into a response from the horn section. I saw WP when the venue hosted a New Orleans festival, and they did WotW with none other than the Dirty Dozen Brass Band doing the horn riff. When I’m king, they will be required to play that hook for me daily.
Funny that you mention hooks, the CD I’m burning right now is really a collection of those. Filter’s chorus in _You Walk Away_, Phish’s shuckin’ acoustic guitar leading into a big band response in _Down With Disease_, Old 97’s wailing chorus in _Time Bomb_, and Tomahawk’s building crescendo in _God Hates a Coward_. I would include Moe’s _Opium_ in the mix, but those asshat recording engineers had to make it a 19 minute track with 13 minutes of silence. How do they expect us CD rippers to put together killer compilations of stolen music? Didn’t they ever read Abby Hoffman? I didn’t either but you get the idea.
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### Author:  [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502/17 "2003-07-11T15:15:44Z")
The first one I thought of was _Another One Bites the Dust_ by Queen.
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### Author:  [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2003, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502/18 "2003-07-11T16:38:37Z")
The intro to Mysterious Ways by U2
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### Author:  [@anoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anoman)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502/19 "2003-07-11T21:10:15Z")
Okay, I googled for some definitions. According to [this guy](http://www.instanthitsong.com/songwritingforum/viewthread.php?tid=7&page=) “the hook is the repeated title section of the song.” It’s the part of the chorus that contains the title of the song. So for example, in Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated”, it was “Why’d you have to go and make things so complicated?” For “In da club”, it was “You can find me in the club/ bottle full a’ bub”
Just to name the most inescapable hooks of the last year.
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### Author:  [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooks-that-getcha/187502/20 "2003-07-12T00:13:41Z")
_Louie, Louie_ (The Kingsmen) is nothing but one hook over and over again.
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