How to tell whether a song is good or not

This post was inspired by a recurring conversation that actually led to the creation of Kafree. Nowadays, everyone makes music. That’s not an issue. The issue is that because everyone makes music, the bar for what is considered “good” music has gone down. We can agree that music is subjective, and not everything is for everyone. And that’s exactly why we created this platform, where we highlight the cream of the crop. So how do we determine what makes a song live up to the hype? It breaks down to a few simple categories. One major category is Originality/Creativity. Good music catches your ear because of its distinct sound. It should not sound like anything else. It can be inspired by other music, because there’s nothing new under the sun, but when multiple songs have identical cadences, ideas, subject matter, rhythms, beats, vocal inflections, structures, etc. its difficult to call a track special. Another factor for determining the impact of a song is the Feeling It Evokes, and the Strength of That Feeling. Music is largely emotional and spiritual, and so it is powered by emotions and feelings that cannot be easily expressed in everyday life or normal conversations. When you find a song that accurately describes an emotion, situation, circumstance, or feeling that you have experienced, or have been experiencing, that indicates a song that resonates with you on a personal level. The degree to which that song encapsulates something and how well it illustrates a picture lends to how well it is received. Replay Value is another factor is how likable a song is. This is the category where a lot of songs today fall short, in my opinion. To me, replay value is not only how many times you can play a song, but also if it gains or at least maintains the same value of the first listen. Many songs today get boring or annoying after a couple listens. The problem is, with social media (and the radio), songs are often drilled into our heads, usually without our permission, and so we are forced to end up listening to the same tired tunes over and over again. With music that is truly timeless, you can listen to it an infinite number of times, and appreciate all the elements of it, while never becoming annoyed or bored with it because it has true replay value. One of the things that leads to a high replay value is the Process of Completion. This is something not many people talk about, especially in today’s times, but I believe is very crucial. What went into creating the product we’re presented with? How much time, effort, and love was put into this piece of music? Everything from the beat, to the songwriting, to the mixing and mastering, the marketing of the song. Not only how long did it take to finish the track, but how much thought and planning was put into the whole presentation of the finished product. Today, mainly because of people’s attention span, the length and complexity of songs has been shortened and simplified. So a lot of music just comes and goes, just like the trends that follow them. And lastly, and lowkey most importantly, Intention/Message. Good music lasts in our minds and hearts because of the reason it was made, who it was made for, and the way the artist(s) wanted the song to be received/remembered. It’s not necessarily about preaching or church service, but more about honesty. When music is coming from a genuine place, with an intention for people who resonate with that same energy to hear it and feel like they have a voice, that is the music that will live on forever.