Most commonly, Verse/Chorus songs start with the Verse and build into the Chorus. This allows the song to begin its story or situation, and to build up drama and excitement, ideally climaxing at the Chorus. Almost all songs involve some kind of story, or a situation that’s summed up in the Chorus, or a question that’s answered in the Chorus, so this is a natural way for things to progress.
So why would you reverse that and start a Verse/Chorus song with the Chorus?
One big benefit is that you start the song, and hopefully grab the listener, with the strongest and most memorable part of your song. If they go for it, you’re in. It makes the song more of an ‘all-in’ situation – you either win them at the top or you don’t. You’re not gradually hooking them.
The downside is that if your strongest section doesn’t do the job, you’ve lost. And that doesn’t mean you have a weak Chorus. Many very good Choruses need a lead-in. Think of ‘My Girl’. Or ‘Billie Jean’. Or ‘Sugar’. Great Choruses… but would you start with them? Bad idea.
It depends on how well the Chorus works as a stand-alone the first time through, without any lead-in.
When you start with an Intro and a Verse, you have a chance to build up suspense and mystery: Where, both lyrically and musically, is this leading? The answer usually being: the Chorus.
Successful songs that begin with the Chorus also create mystery, but in a different way. The listener looks forward to an explanation, a fuller accounting, of what the Chorus lyric is about.
Think of ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ – What (or Who) can’t buy me love? Or ‘Help’? “All About That Bass’ – What’s all about that bass?’ ‘I Shot The Sheriff’ – Who? Why? ‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)’ – of what? ‘Fast Car’ What’s that about?
Then there are songs where opening with the Chorus is more of a declaration of intent, a bugle call, like in ’Get The Party Started’, ‘Good Times’, and ‘She Loves You’.
It’s worth noting that starting with the Chorus or not is usually something you know when you’re writing the song – but not always. It can sometimes be more of an an arrangement/production decision.
In most cases the more common Verse/Chorus (or Verse/Pre-Chorus/Chorus) beginning is the best way to go. I find that starting with the Chorus is a feel thing – sometimes it just makes more sense, it feels correct. But if you’ve never tried it, if it’s not yet a feel thing for you, you might consider checking out what it feels like to start your song with the Chorus. Sometimes it’s just right.
Thoughts?
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Very nice article Tony. I think you nailed all of the important points. For me personally, I am not sure I have ever written a song where it made sense to lead off with the chorus.
One song I just heard for the first time in awhile is “You give love a bad name”. I like how Bon Jovi led off with the first couple of lines of the chorus a cappella. However, I don’t think it would have worked if they sang the entire chorus a cappella and then broke into the verse. I thought it was brilliant that they removed the big chorus instrumentation in the into vocals, which made the guitars/drums in the verse sound even bigger.
Thanks again for your insight.
Todd
Thanks, Todd. I agree with you about the Bon Jovi song.
Sorry I didn’t reply sooner!
Best wishes,
Tony
I have a couple songs where I decided to start with the chorus, and I ended up with a Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus structure. It’s great if you have a big hook that you want to hammer home and it doesn’t need very many lines to set up. Also great if you just want to get out of writing a second verse.
Regards,
Chris.
Thanks, Chris, as always, for your humorous insight!
Sorry I didn’t reply sooner.
Best wishes,
Tony
Yes! This is exactly the most common structure my songs usually take. I am currently in the midst of writing a song exactly this way!
Chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus. Its the easiest most natural way I can go with.
Adam
I have also been writing songs with this structure, I think it is very effective for the modern world of music, a lot of stats are showing listeners are wanting the sauce more immediately and you have to grab them early on, stats also show that songs are becoming shorter and shorter as time goes on. Not that this is the only significant reason, but its interesting to consider what modern day listeners are moving towards. I agree, it cuts the struggle of maintaining interest in verse 2, it goes straight for the jugular starting with the chorus, and leaves room for a double chorus at the end of the song. Each song is very different and it definitely a feel thing, but don’t be afraid to start with the chorus, whether its a stripped back version or straight in. A lot of modern day trap music will start like with a small instrumental intro and straight into the hook. Peace and thanks for the article!
Thank you, Kway Lord!
Hey..see no harm in starting with the chorus..i think its ones decision
And if you think you can do it well gooo…being different is good sometimes
Absolutely!
That’s great Tony. I’d love to hear your thoughts about Somewhere over the Rainbow. What would you call the lead in? It’s not the bridge because it’s not bridging two thoughts or lines. Is it pre chorus because “Somewhere…” is obviously the hook and chorus. Thoughts?
‘Over The Rainbow’ is not a Verse/Chorus song, so it doesn’t have a Chorus. It’s form is AABA, so the Title is repeated in the first line of every A section. (You can google ‘AABA song’ and read the wikipedia page on it for more info).
Thanks, Gary!
Tony