Is there a science to musical hooks?

All morning, I've been singing The Decemberists' new single, Calamity Song. Here's the thing: I don't even like this song. It annoys me. But it gets so stuck in my head, that at a certain point, I'm actually craving hearing it.

I'm sure you've all been here..... The Proclaimers' 500 miles... Cee-Lo's Crazy (yes it's a great song, but overplayed)... anything by Adele right now.

So I've been wondering What Makes a Hook?

   Now I know you can't exactly program a hook... good music is art, meaning it gets its power from life experience, spontaneity, there's an X factor. I know hooks come from a greater purpose than making some fat-cat artist, record exec, or radio promoter a shit ton of money. How else do you explain all those songs that technically have hooks, but make you feel nothing?

Still, I remember a Rolling Stone review of Tristen, one of my fav rising arteestes, that said she'd spent a year dissecting her fav old pop songs before writing her record. (Her song Baby Drugs has got it!) And I bet scientifically, according to the laws of music theory -- which is really just the math of music -- you can find some common elements to hooks.

The Decemberists' hooky Calamity Song -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJpfK7l404I

Cee Lo's Crazy-- http://youtu.be/bd2B6SjMh_w

Has anyone seen any stuff out there breaking down hooks?

        Stuff that examines the intervals they use, what chords they start on, or what notes in a chord tend to be the sweet spots. And let's not forget rhythm -- most of my hooks have a swagger to them that ain't about the notes but where you place them.

I did not go to a music conservatory, but I am constantly finding ways to learn this shit -- and right away, I know the first three notes in Calamity Song land in a cool, weird place. (i'm guessing the 7th, but need an instrument, not just my head to confirm this.) I bet you can't find a tonic note in that whole verse melody.

And don't worry, I am not going to use this information to try to generate some great pop machine. More so that, when I am knee-deep in a half-written song & chasing a feeling, I can stay on track better... I can find my way back faster when I start to get stuck.

How do you know a hook? When you hear it.

To quote another pop guy, our own Bob Schneider.... None of it matters, "'til someone catches a feeling." Bob Schneider, 'Til Someone Catches a Feeling -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O991CGNvCfc

If you find any resources, hit me! thanks. 

~jessie 

*                     *                     *                     *                      *