# Musical "hook"
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** music
**Created:** [December 27, 2023, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243 "2023-12-27T18:39:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 19
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2023, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243/1 "2023-12-27T18:39:49Z")
I see the term used often. But I’m not a musician and I’m not sure what parts of a song are the “hook”. Here is a quote from Wikipedia about the Stones’ song, “This could be the last time”
“A full live performance is also prominently featured in the 2012 re-edit of the 1965 documentary _[Charlie Is My Darling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Is_My_Darling_(film))_. The footage confirms that the rhythm chords and guitar solo were played by Keith Richards, while the song’s distinctive hook was played by [Brian Jones](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Jones).”
Can one of you musicians link to a recording of the song and list what time the hook is played? Or any other song you like.
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2023, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243/2 "2023-12-27T19:01:52Z")
A song can have multiple hooks, but I would call that riff played in the intro, like literally right when the song begins and is repeated through the song, is the main hook.
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2023, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243/3 "2023-12-27T19:18:01Z")
The hook brings you back.
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdz5kCaCRFM)
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2023, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243/4 "2023-12-27T19:21:26Z")
To gitcher picture on the cover of the Rolling Stone
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### Author:  [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2023, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243/5 "2023-12-27T20:00:34Z")
“Hook” by Blues Traveler is an interesting song. The chord progression matches Pachelbel’s Canon’s, one of the catchiest songs ever. Basically the entire song is a one big ‘hook’ from start to finish. And the lyrics mock the listeners for being so easy to manipulate into liking the song.
> **[Why “Hook” by Blues Traveler is actually a pretty genius work of metafiction](https://www.avclub.com/why-hook-by-blues-traveler-is-actually-a-pretty-geniu-1798232765)**
>
> The album may or may not be obsolete, but the fact remains: Listeners have long obsessed over individual songs. The Single File is The A.V. Club’s look at the deep cuts, detours, experiments, and anthems that make us reach for replay.
```auto
```
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### Author:  [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2023, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243/6 "2023-12-27T20:11:37Z")
The main hook in the OP’s song is the guitar lick played right at the beginning.
In general, the hook is the part you find yourself humming when you have the song playing in your head. Some songs can have multiple hooks - often described as a “hooky” song. The opening guitar lick in “Layla” for example, is a great hook.
I always considered Blues Traveler’s “Hook” as being somewhat ironic, in that it doesn’t have a real hook to my ears. Just a very catchy melody and very famous chord progression. Basically Popper just saying he can write just about whatever he wants on top of those chords and you’ll tap your feet and hum along and love it.
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### Author:  [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2023, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243/7 "2023-12-27T20:15:56Z")
> [@mixdenny](#):
>
> Can one of you musicians link to a recording of the song and list what time the hook is played? Or any other song you like.
For “This could be the last time”, the 7 or 8 note riff that starts at :15 [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhRjvYO-WsI).
Later Keith Richards became the Stones’ primary hookmaster. [Here’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEjkftp7J7I) a pretty familiar one that starts at about :20.
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2023, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243/8 "2023-12-27T20:50:06Z")
> [@Jas09](#):
>
> always considered Blues Traveler’s “Hook” as being somewhat ironic, in that it doesn’t have a real hook to my ears.
I agree.
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### Author:  [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2023, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243/9 "2023-12-27T22:00:37Z")
I just realized that the “hook” is the (usually guitar) **lick that “hooks” you** , and gets you into the song.
.
At the end of _Licks Off Of Records,_ from back in Martin Mull’s stand up days (no, he was America’s first “Sit Down” Comedian), he plays a series of famous hooks. The point is he has no innate talent: “They’re just Licks Off Of Records that I’ve learned.”
The first one he does is the beginning of _Sunshine Of Your Love_ by Cream, then _Satisfaction,_ then different performances had different hooks added.
eta: Oops, on the brilliant version he does with Glen Campbell they make up their own licks at the end. Well, still a funny funny song!
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ifg5V9n66NM)
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### Author:  [@SeaSun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaSun)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2023, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243/10 "2023-12-27T23:31:55Z")
To expand on Blues Traveler’s “Hook” and what a hook is…
[The Hidden Genius of “Hook” by Blues Traveler (video link)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDx4zirhV-w)
ETA - I have no idea why I can’t embed videos…I always get an error. So, just the link above.
@Dark_Sponge I haven’t listened to this song is ages…I’m really glad you mentioned it - such a great song!
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### Author:  [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2023, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243/11 "2023-12-28T02:35:04Z")
A hook can be lyrical as well as musical.
At 0:20 of [this song,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v_inbXiPLQ) Elvis Costello helpfully points out that “here’s the hook.”
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### Author:  [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2023, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243/12 "2023-12-28T03:30:34Z")
Listen to the Cure’s “Just like Heaven”, the guitar hook comes in at 0:25. That’s a hook. But what’s fun about this song is that there is another hook, a keyboard hook, that starts around 1:30 but becomes prominent in the bridge at 2:11.
These hooks make it a fun song to listen to.
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3nPiBai66M)
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### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2023, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243/13 "2023-12-28T03:51:44Z")
Classical music can have hooks, as well. Consider the first four notes of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, which keep popping up throughout the entire piece. Of course, since it’s classical music, we call it a _motif._
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2023, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243/14 "2023-12-28T08:45:13Z")
I feel like a-ha’s “[Take On Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djV11Xbc914&ab_channel=a-ha)” is 90% hook but actually the hook is like 5% of the song (at :25…but at 2:15, the hook brings you back).
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### Author:  [@InfraBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InfraBlue)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2023, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243/15 "2023-12-28T23:29:51Z")
A lot of rap music uses the hooks of other songs.
Here’s an infamous use of someone else’s hook.
> **[Ice Ice Baby - YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=jewmMjnbfzE&si=X_1dnFGM9kISBV7Y)**
>
> Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group Ice Ice Baby · Vanilla Ice To The Extreme ℗ A Capitol Records Release; ℗ 1990 Capitol Records, LLC Released ...
Here’s a pretty genius use of a hook.
> **[Butterfly - YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=Hlx4O20E-Fg&si=gSB2ZHnbgUFrWQaQ)**
>
> Provided to YouTube by Columbia Butterfly · Crazy Town The Gift Of Game ℗ 1999 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment Released on: 1999...
From this (~50 seconds in).
> **[Pretty Little Ditty (Remastered) - YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=3mjZ61IW-Nw&si=TT-mV7Mk0c7zV7CB)**
>
> Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group Pretty Little Ditty (Remastered) · Red Hot Chili Peppers Mother's Milk ℗ 2003 Capitol Records, LLC Released ...
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2023, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243/16 "2023-12-29T14:34:39Z")
I would say that the “hook” is the part of the song that, when you hear it, makes you go “Oh, it’s that song”. It’s typically right at the start, but sometimes a song starts off relatively nondescript and only has the distinctive hook some ways in.
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### Author:  [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2023, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243/17 "2023-12-29T14:53:19Z")
John Williams movie themes are good examples of songs with hooks. They are usually the 3 to 10 note string someone could play on the piano or hum that would make you say “oh, that’s Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc.”
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### Author:  [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2023, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243/18 "2023-12-29T17:37:51Z")
I got it! So it can really occur anytime during the song. I was thinking it was the long musical solo about 2/3 of the way through many songs. “Green Grass and High Tides” has that fantastic long musical part that really gets frenetic about 5:55. But that song has so many different melodies going on it’s hard to say which one stands out the most. Maybe even the first 45 second of deliberate picking. I can only imagine what the crowd at a live show does when they start that song! Simply the best Southern rock song ever.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz2CAtExXgQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz2CAtExXgQ)
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2023, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-hook/995243/19 "2023-12-30T02:51:35Z")
> [@mixdenny](#):
>
> So it can really occur anytime during the song.
Yes, anytime or anytime **s**. The hook is the most memorable part of the song, and repetation can help make it memorable.