What Makes a Song Catchy: Insights from AI, DJs and Surveys
Key Points
- ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot identify hooks, simple melodies and strong beats as core elements of catchiness.
- A museum study ranked "Wannabe" and "Mambo No. 5" as the fastest‑recognised songs.
- DJ Mark Pomeroy stresses emotional connection and beats‑per‑minute, citing classics like "Celebration" and "Livin’ on a Prayer".
- DJ Sloan Lee highlights TikTok’s role in reviving songs such as Fleetwood Mac’s "Dreams".
- Both AI and DJs agree that tempo, repetition and cultural relevance make songs stick in listeners’ minds.
A blend of AI analysis, museum research and veteran DJs reveals why certain songs stick in listeners' heads. ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot highlight hooks, simple melodies and tempo as key factors. A 2014 museum study ranks "Wannabe" and "Mambo No. 5" among the quickest‑recognised tracks. New Jersey DJ Mark Pomeroy and Atlanta DJ Sloan Lee stress emotional connection, beats‑per‑minute and social‑media trends. Together, these perspectives show that catchiness is a mix of musical structure, cultural moments and audience energy.
AI Perspectives on Catchiness
ChatGPT describes a catchy song as one that easily becomes an earworm, noting repeated choruses, simple melodies and a strong beat. The model adds that tempos matching natural human rhythms, such as walking pace, engage listeners. Gemini echoes the importance of hooks and also points to classic tracks like "Mambo No. 5" and "Eye of the Tiger". Microsoft’s Copilot lists modern hits such as "Shape of You" and "Call Me Maybe" alongside older favorites, reinforcing the idea that both lyrical memorability and rhythmic appeal matter.
Survey Findings
A museum survey asked participants to identify short clips of songs as quickly as possible. The fastest‑recognised tracks included the Spice Girls’ "Wannabe", Lou Bega’s "Mambo No. 5" and Survivor’s "Eye of the Tiger". The study suggests that instant recognisability is a proxy for catchiness, even though the survey did not measure long‑term staying power.
DJ Insights from the Field
Mark Pomeroy, a New Jersey DJ with 35 years of experience, says that a song’s ability to create an emotional connection is paramount. He cites classics like "Brown‑Eyed Girl", "Celebration", the "Macarena" and Bon Jovi’s "Livin’ on a Prayer" as crowd‑pleasers. Pomeroy emphasizes beats‑per‑minute, noting that faster tempos work best later in an event.
Atlanta DJ Sloan Lee, who runs Sloan Lee Music, highlights the influence of TikTok and audience diversity. She mentions recent requests such as Chappell Roan’s "Pink Pony Club" and Bad Bunny’s "Titi Me Preguntó", while also noting enduring favourites like Outkast’s "Hey Ya!", Neil Diamond’s "Sweet Caroline" and ABBA’s "Dancing Queen". Lee observes that viral trends can revive older songs, as seen with Fleetwood Mac’s "Dreams".
Common Themes
Across AI, surveys and professional DJs, several constants emerge: memorable hooks, simple and repetitive structures, tempos that align with natural rhythms, and cultural relevance. Social media platforms, especially TikTok, act as modern amplifiers, bringing older tracks back into the spotlight. While AI can catalogue patterns, DJs bring real‑time audience feedback, confirming that emotional resonance and beat energy drive a song’s stickiness.