by Sam Bye
As someone who listens to a wide range of songs, it is hard to pinpoint what exactly makes a song good or bad. Some songs I enjoy because of the pure genius behind the lyrics–I know every word and try to decipher the meaning behind them. Other songs, though, I have listened to hundreds of times without really ever paying attention to the lyrics–what I like about them is the instrumentation and rhythm. After looking through my playlists, though, I’ve realized that what makes a song stand out to me is its ability to evoke a specific feeling. Nearly all of my playlists are for hyper-specific moods or situations. Two real examples of playlists I’ve made and listen to frequently are “songs that feel like daytime drives to the beach in the summer” and “early morning drives to goldberg’s” (my favorite bagel store on Long Island.) A good amount of the playlists I make are ultimately left unfinished with only two or three songs on them because I am unable to find more songs that perfectly match the vibe. There isn’t one single feeling that I think a song needs to evoke to make it good, but I think a great song is one that can transport me to the same place every time, no matter where I am or what I’m doing when I hear it. There are probably dozens of specific aspects that go into this from the creator’s perspective, but I’ve picked out a few that stand out to me as a listener.
1. Lyricism– As I mentioned before, I like when a song has good lyrics. “Good lyrics” is an extremely subjective qualifier, but to me it means the song has clever wordplay, a deeper meaning, and/or a cohesive storyline.
2. Instrumentation– The instruments used in a song can add something to the song or confuse it. When the right instruments are added to a song they create a feeling of cohesiveness that brings the song to another level.
3. Rhythm– The rhythm of a song is one of the first things I notice as a listener, it’s your introduction to the song that gets you hooked or makes you hit the skip button. The rhythm needs to be catchy but unique to hold attention.
4. Uniqueness– I listen to a lot of pop music, so there are plenty of songs that sound the same and I enjoy them regardless. However, my favorite songs are the ones that do something different. Those are the ones that stick out and make me want to go back and listen to them again.
5. Musicality–It seems obvious that the best songs are those written by people who are knowledgeable about music. I think an intimate knowledge of music allows artists to do something interesting and different with their songs using all of the aforementioned elements as tools.
With all of that in mind, I think “Baghdad” by Flo Perlin can be called a great song. Flo Perlin sings about a woman with hope of starting a life reconnecting with her roots in a new land, anxious but given hope by the stories her family has told about Baghdad. The lyrics weave a vivid story that leaves you nostalgic, thinking about family and roots. The song opens with string instruments and heavy vibrato in a slow, smooth buildup to the lyrics. The addition of an acoustic guitar speeds the song up but maintains the soft warm quality of the strings. This warmth meshes well with the nostalgic storyline and creates that cohesiveness that takes a song to the next level. Perlin is known for her combination of contemporary folk, jazz, and soul. Those elements give the song a familiar rhythm, but the combination leads to a unique sound. The way Perlin uses all of these elements together proves her talent and knowledge of music, and the honeyed, almost earthen quality to her voice adds another layer of depth to the song.
All of this together masterfully evokes strong feelings of nostalgia. No matter where I am, if I close my eyes and listen to this song I am instantly transported to my grandma’s old floral couch; I have a cozy sweater on, a blanket draped over me, and a mug of tea in my hands as I look at an old photo album. Flo Perlin creates a comforting and warm atmosphere with just her voice and some instruments, and that, to me, makes it a great song.