A
pop chorus is not the same as a refrain.
At least one well-known writer on
pop-song-writing theory has stated
this. A refrain musically and lyrically
resolves a verse and therefore ends
it, whereas a chorus begins a
distinctively new music section of at
least eight bars. A refrain is often a
two line repeated lyrical statement
commenting on the preceding verse.
However, there are also crucial
differences in the structural purpose
and use of the chorus as opposed to the
refrain. Choruses such as those cited
are musically and lyrically designed so
that they can be repeated, for example,
in a double-chorus, or at the end of the
song, when they form the repeated outro,
which very often continues into the
fade-out of the recording. (Other
structural elements, such as the
breakdown, where the sung melodic line
of the repeated chorus drops out may
also be present here). The point of this
is, again crucially, that the chorus
contains the lyrical and melodic hook of
the song (usually the song-title), which
needs to be repeated as often as
possible in order to be memorable to the
listening audience. Refrains are not
intended to be repeated in this way,
(although they may contain a hook, but
not necessarily the title.
A chorus is also very often approached
by a bridge, (also called a pre-chorus
or climb), which serves to build the
song up into the chorus, often using
techniques of harmony, melody,
instrumentation and production, which
arrives as a climax to the song. This
does not happen with a refrain. Again,
the point is that the chorus is the main
part of the song, containing its central
message, not simply an ending to, and a
comment on the verse.
In summary, the refrain belongs to an
earlier tradition of song-writing, e.g.
the folk-song, sea-shanty or hymn. The
pop-chorus, on the other hand, belongs
to a more modern tradition aimed at
providing a song-format which, through
its ability to repeat a hook with great
frequency within the standard three or
four minutes of a pop-song, will be most
successful on media through which songs
are marketed to the consumer, e.g.
pop-radio. |
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