What songs have a riff and a hook?

Answer 1

Hooks are when in a piece of music there is a part that makes you remember and like the piece. The hooks are usually repeated in the piece so you don't forget it. There are 3 types of hooks:

1. rhythmic hooks- the beat of the music (for example the clapping in 'we will rock you' by queen)

2.melodic hooks- the part played by an instrument.

3.lyrical hooks- the words in the song (usually the chorus)

Answer 2

Hooks can be instrunmental parts or lyrics in a song that sounds "catchy." Think of it as the part of a song that hooks the person or "sells" the song or album:

let me find a few good examples:

Katy Perry - "Hot n' Cold"

A real simple song, but the hook is when song and lyrics builds up to and breaks out into the chorus: The chorus is very catchy because of all the rhyming and it all just fits together like two notes or chords that are in harmony. The rest of the song, just isn't nearly as impressive as the chorus.

In the song, "Stan," by Eminem, he could have been singing about anything because it didn't really matter as most people were interested in the chorus. Most people recognize the the simple baseline, acoustic style guitar playing, and simple drum track with Dido singing chorus in the background.

"Paper Planes" - MIA, perhaps an excellent example of a hook/gimmick is the sound of a bullet chambered in a gun and fired repeatedly in this song. Many people think this is some kind of gang banger song, but it is only a sound effect used to put more emphasis on the message, but it helps it sell to radio stations and in the music stores.

A riff example: When Linkin Park released the song "Faint," all it really needed was nonsensical lyrics and that infamous hard guitar riff. Of course the song starts of great and the only other good parts of the song are when the heavy riff is used, everything else is forgettable, but it sells.

Another riff example: Bubba Sparxx - "Deliverance," first off, Bubba Sparxx did not seem like a very talented lyricist and it perhaps showed in that they had to overcompensate with excellent production of the music. In this song deliverance, there is a very distinct acoustic guitar riff that pained me to hear wasted on such a song. The riff can be heard through out the song with a pretty cool drum track to accompany it. The quiet parts (no lyrics) part of the song sound great. And it is that is what I believe sold it on music video channels and the radio, for the time it was around.

"Billie Jean" - Michael Jackson, the synth riff along with the simple bassline and the real simple drum track was all you really needed with any other nonsensical lyrics that just happened to fit in. The hook line - "Billie Jean, not my lover...." was an excellent choral fit.