# Songs where you preferred the verses over the chorus **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 21, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401 "2017-02-21T18:34:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401/21 "2017-02-22T15:52:21Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > In this song, the “middle eight”\* is even less interesting than the chorus. > > \*A middle eight is a contrasting short section, found in some songs, usually just once or twice in the song – typically around eight measures long. E.g., “And when I touch you I feel happy…inside…” Often (or even usually) also called a “bridge,” but there are people who use the term “middle eight” and “bridge” differently. Some folks say the “bridge” is the part in some songs that hooks the verse into the chorus, but I’ve always known that as a “pre-chorus.” From a little research on the subject, it seems that this difference in terminology may [be regional.](https://www.gearslutz.com/board/songwriting/758608-what-would-difference-between-middle-8-bridge.html) ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401/22 "2017-02-22T16:47:52Z")
When reading the Thread Title I immediately thought of _American Pie_. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401/23 "2017-02-22T16:51:41Z")
If there is a “song” I like, it is usually because I am struck not by the song itself, but by the arrangement of the version. And the chorus is more often the part where the arrangement runs free, and either makes or spoils the whole presentation. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401/24 "2017-02-22T16:59:03Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > “Stardust”: > > \*And now the purple dusk of twilight time > Steals across the meadows of my heart; > High up in the sky the little stars climb > Always reminding me that we’re apart. > > You wander down the lane and far away > Leaving me a song that will not die; > Love is now the stardust of yesterday, > The music of the years gone by.\* > > This verse is pure poetry, and sadly, is omitted in so many recordings, in favor of the chorus. I suppose it’s been said before but back then the verse was a different thing. It was like an introduction and could be discarded for different reasons. The song “Love sick Blues” by Hank Williams had an old fashioned verse to start it. Hank took it and made it into a bridge, against the wishes of Fred Rose BTW. So when he sings “I’m in love I’m in love…” that was the verse originally, leading into the chorus, which we now know as the main part of the song: “I got a feeling called the blues…”. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401/25 "2017-02-22T22:50:09Z")
I love ‘Walk this Way’, but the chorus is a disappointment ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401/26 "2017-02-23T01:03:34Z")
(for chorus over verses, here) Speaking of Aerosmith, “Back In the Saddle Again” had pretty standard rock verses, while the chorus had their coolest, awesomest bass (or rhythm guitar?) (or both?) line. I don’t know if they got any heavier than that. (not that “heavy” was really their biggest mandate) > [@JKellyMap](#): > > Musically, in terms of chords (that arpeggio against a descending bass) and lyrical interest, [“Lucy…”'s verses are] more complex and creative than the chorus. The difference in complexity between the parts is middling at best (with the _slightest_ of nods to the verses, more so for the lyrics) and as far as creativity’s concerned, that’s more of a subjective than objective call, (at least in this case, anyway), no? In this Dillinger Escape Plan song, they depart from their usual unhinged craziness - they’re actually singing quite melodically (and powerfully too!) in the chorus (_totally_ earworm-y), and in turn knocking the relatively catchy verses to a lower peg, AFAIC. (In the verses, though - kinda neat hearing what sounded like plucked violin strings, at one point) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Qlj3hr0GoxM/maxresdefault.jpg "THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN - Unretrofied") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlj3hr0GoxM) ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401/27 "2017-02-23T01:13:50Z")
nm - wrong thread ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401/28 "2017-02-23T05:13:22Z")
[quote=“Eddie The Horrible, post:26, topic:780401”] (for chorus over verses, here) Speaking of Aerosmith, “Back In the Saddle Again” had pretty standard rock verses, while the chorus had their coolest, awesomest bass (or rhythm guitar?) (or both?) line. I don’t know if they got any heavier than that. (not that “heavy” was really their biggest mandate) The difference in complexity between the parts is middling at best (with the _slightest_ of nods to the verses, more so for the lyrics) and as far as creativity’s concerned, that’s more of a subjective than objective call, (at least in this case, anyway), no? In this Dillinger Escape Plan song, they depart from their usual unhinged craziness - they’re actually singing quite melodically (and powerfully too!) in the chorus (_totally_ earworm-y), and in turn knocking the relatively catchy verses to a lower peg, AFAIC. (In the verses, though - kinda neat hearing what sounded like plucked violin strings, at one point) [/QUOTE] The verses in Back In The Saddle are fucking great. The coda is to the verse, and that might be the best part. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401/29 "2017-02-23T08:33:54Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > …coda… :eek: > [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > And none of those fucking codas or fugues! I don’t think I’ll ever get over this, but, like any impugned, eviscerated, and literally moist-defecated-on mega-genius, I move on…I move on with the fortitude comparable to Elliot Carlin simply trying to navigate through life… I move on so anyway another tune where I like the verse more than the chorus is the Beach Boys’ “You’re So Good To Me”. The verses have some of my favourite Beach Boys’ singing (Jardine, here?), but the insipid chorus with “you’re my baby”/“lalalalalalalalalala” interplay felt like, to me, it was last-minute filler tacked-on because they couldn’t think of anything else, and studio time was ticking, detracting immensely from what otherwise had the making of a classic. Especially that lalalala shit - GRRRRRRR! Yeah, I realise that kind of vocalising was of its time, but still - it sounded, here, _way_ too half-assed, by-the-numbers, almost cheesy, especially in relation to the fine verses. Not exactly getting played 24/7 on the ipod (which I don’t even own one anyway) “I Just Called To Say I Love You” I think has genuinely good verses with a chorus that descends into shmaltz. I especially like how the verses shift back and forth between minor and major keys. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401/30 "2017-02-23T10:43:50Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > The difference in complexity between the parts is middling at best (with the _slightest_ of nods to the verses, more so for the lyrics) and as far as creativity’s concerned, that’s more of a subjective than objective call, (at least in this case, anyway), no?- There is certainly room for opinion on much of this, but when it comes to CHORD PROGRESSIONS (which are fundamental to any song), some are less common than others, which is what I mostly meant by “more creative” in this case. (I should have been clearer about that). I IV V, LSD’s chorus, is as common as you can get. (Someone will object that the entire blues genre uses the same chord pattern, or very close variations thereof – am I daring to suggest that Robert Johnson et al. were “uncreative”? Hardly – given the unusual constraint of that genre, they expressed their creativity through other elements of composition.) ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401/31 "2017-02-23T16:25:45Z")
Coda just means the end of the song. Take a mega genius breath… (;0) ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401/32 "2017-02-23T23:57:33Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Coda just means the end of the song. Take a mega genius breath… (;0) Yeah I now them, but they were barred from entry, which means I’ll have to get all ass-plosively perturbed again like Willie Wonka’s blueberry girl, or an old-school wrestler who jumps up and down and repeatedly slaps the top of his head if he gets flustered. Oh I love my lawn. > [@JKellyMap](#): > > There is certainly room for opinion on much of this, but when it comes to CHORD PROGRESSIONS (which are fundamental to any song), some are less common than others, which is what I mostly meant by “more creative” in this case. (I should have been clearer about that). I IV V, LSD’s chorus, is as common as you can get. > > (Someone will object that the entire blues genre uses the same chord pattern, or very close variations thereof – am I daring to suggest that Robert Johnson et al. were “uncreative”? Hardly – given the unusual constraint of that genre, they expressed their creativity through other elements of composition.) Good points. I’d think BB King or Buddy Guy would’ve been a little skeptical of a producer or critic who regarded them as not creative. My least favourite song by The Animals, “Sky Pilot”, has ok verses - good angry political lyrics, but that dreary, psychedelic chorus (with that groovy, swirling phase effect) is a bring-down for me - the way Burdon goes “skyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy pi-lot” sounds like he’s bored and wants a nap. Like he’s _trying_ to sound depressing. Even “How high can you fly?” sounds phoned in, loutish. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401/33 "2017-02-24T00:33:09Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > A LOT of Paul Simon’s work would qualify, methinks. In fact, I find the verse being more interesting is the norm in most songs. The chorus is the ‘hook’ that people always remember, and without it, songs don’t usually sell very well, while the verse is the meat. I am just listening to S and G. A good example of the opposite: good Chorus, ho hum verse is “Flowers never Bend with the Rainfall” Some of the hits by S and G are a little hokey in the chorus, but those guys had a great guitar composer, plus a great harmonizer which makes their verses good. I like Sky Pilot OK. But check out Back in the Saddle. The rhythm schemes in the verses are much more compelling than the chorus with that dribbly 6 string bass. WEP. (Worst example possible). I wasn’t citing the coda. I meant to say that the coda is to the same rhythm as the verses. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401/34 "2017-02-24T00:51:54Z")
What’s the chorus in “Message in a Bottle” by The Police? Is it when he sings “Message in a bottle,” or is it when he sings “sendin out an SOS” over and over and over until you want to eject the mix tape you put it on and throw it out the window of your Scirocco? ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401/35 "2017-02-24T05:51:04Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > The rhythm schemes in “Back in the Saddle’s” verses are much more compelling than the chorus with that dribbly 6 string bass. WEP. (Worst example possible). I wasn’t citing the coda. I meant to say that the coda is to the same rhythm as the verses. Points taken. Yeah the rhythm schemes and lyrics in the chorus definitely take a back seat to the ones in the verses. From what I’ve heard usually the lyrics in a verse are more varied than chorus lyrics, which are sometimes just repeated (which is where the “refrain” concept comes in? I’m still a little fuzzy on that.) Too bad what you thought was dribbly bass I thought was pretty funky counterpoint. For a number where I liked the chorus more than verses - “The Good Thing” by Talking Heads, mainly because of the darned catchiness of the chorus’s vocals, but also how the vocals have this wierd…underlying…cultishness to it? Like it’s being sung by a…a coven?:eek: Ok I’m probably way off-side on that score. A great fucking album, btw. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401/37 "2017-02-24T11:17:08Z")
Joe Jackson’s “Stepping Out” – wonderfully crafted music in the verses, less so in the choruses. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401/38 "2017-02-24T14:40:49Z")
“Out of the Blue” by Roxy Music. The slowed-down chorus is ok but the driving pace of the verses is what works for me. I’m sure they slowed down the chorus with the intention of rhythmic counterpoint and a sense of “romantic closure”, lyrically, but I felt the chorus deprived the song of its propulsive power. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401/39 "2017-02-24T18:23:29Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > Points taken. Yeah the rhythm schemes and lyrics in the chorus definitely take a back seat to the ones in the verses. From what I’ve heard usually the lyrics in a verse are more varied than chorus lyrics, which are sometimes just repeated (which is where the “refrain” concept comes in? I’m still a little fuzzy on that.) Too bad what you thought was dribbly bass I thought was pretty funky counterpoint. > > For a number where I liked the chorus more than verses - “The Good Thing” by Talking Heads, mainly because of the darned catchiness of the chorus’s vocals, but also how the vocals have this wierd…underlying…cultishness to it? Like it’s being sung by a…a coven?:eek: Ok I’m probably way off-side on that score. A great fucking album, btw. I saw Aerosmith the first two nights that Joe came back for the BITS tour, one was a new years eve show. The whole house was kept completely dark. All of the sudden it was lights and “I’m Baaaaack!” Pretty dramatic. I guess I love the verses so much I felt let down by the chorus there, or something. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401/40 "2017-02-25T00:16:36Z")
For chorus over verses: Bowie’s “TVC15” has a basic but very strong and catchy hook in the chorus, making the verses pale accordingly. Nice piano runs (and later on sax) in the chorus too. verses over chorus: “Dreaming”, by Blondie - great melodic vocal range, all up and down, in the verses (definitely the reason I like the song), while she just more or less drones her way (3 notes? 4 notes?) through the chorus. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-you-preferred-the-verses-over-the-chorus/780401.md?page=1)