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Verse-chorus form is a musical form
Musical form

The term musical form refers to two related concepts:*the type of composition *the structure of a particular musical piece .There is some overlap between musical form and musical genre....
 common in popular music
Popular music

Popular music is music that is accessible to the mainstream and disseminated by one or more of the mass media. It belongs to any of a number of musical genres, and stands in contrast to classical music, which historically was the music of the elite and upper strata of society, and traditional music which was disseminated orally....
 and predominant in rock
Rock and roll

Rock and roll is a form of music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Its roots lay mainly in rhythm and blues, Country music, folk music, gospel music, and jazz....
 since the 1960s. In contrast to AABA form, which is focused on the verse (contrasted and prepared by the bridge
Bridge (music)

In music, especially occidental popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section....
), in verse-chorus form the chorus is highlighted (prepared and contrasted with the verse). (Covach 2005, p.71)

The chorus
Refrain

A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in Poetry; the "chorus" of a song. Poetry fixed forms that feature refrains include the villanelle, the virelay, and the sestina....
 often sharply contrasts the verse
Song structure (popular music)

The structures or musical forms of songs in popular music are typically section al forms, such as strophic form. Other common musical form include thirty-two-bar form, verse-chorus form, and twelve bar blues....
 melodically
Melody

In music, a melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity....
, rhythm
Rhythm

Rhythm is the variation of the length and accentuation of a series of sounds or other events....
ically, and harmonically
Harmony

In Western music, harmony is the use of different pitches simultaneously, and chord s, actual or implied, in music. The word is related to the word "harmonic" which implies related wavelengths of waves....
, and assumes a higher level of dynamics
Dynamics (music)

In music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a sound or note , but can also refer to every aspect of the execution of a given piece, either stylistic or functional ....
 and activity, often with added instrumentation.






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Verse-chorus form is a musical form
Musical form

The term musical form refers to two related concepts:*the type of composition *the structure of a particular musical piece .There is some overlap between musical form and musical genre....
 common in popular music
Popular music

Popular music is music that is accessible to the mainstream and disseminated by one or more of the mass media. It belongs to any of a number of musical genres, and stands in contrast to classical music, which historically was the music of the elite and upper strata of society, and traditional music which was disseminated orally....
 and predominant in rock
Rock and roll

Rock and roll is a form of music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Its roots lay mainly in rhythm and blues, Country music, folk music, gospel music, and jazz....
 since the 1960s. In contrast to AABA form, which is focused on the verse (contrasted and prepared by the bridge
Bridge (music)

In music, especially occidental popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section....
), in verse-chorus form the chorus is highlighted (prepared and contrasted with the verse). (Covach 2005, p.71)

The chorus
Refrain

A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in Poetry; the "chorus" of a song. Poetry fixed forms that feature refrains include the villanelle, the virelay, and the sestina....
 often sharply contrasts the verse
Song structure (popular music)

The structures or musical forms of songs in popular music are typically section al forms, such as strophic form. Other common musical form include thirty-two-bar form, verse-chorus form, and twelve bar blues....
 melodically
Melody

In music, a melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity....
, rhythm
Rhythm

Rhythm is the variation of the length and accentuation of a series of sounds or other events....
ically, and harmonically
Harmony

In Western music, harmony is the use of different pitches simultaneously, and chord s, actual or implied, in music. The word is related to the word "harmonic" which implies related wavelengths of waves....
, and assumes a higher level of dynamics
Dynamics (music)

In music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a sound or note , but can also refer to every aspect of the execution of a given piece, either stylistic or functional ....
 and activity, often with added instrumentation. See: arrangement
Arrangement

In music, an arrangement is either a rewriting of a piece of existing music with additional new material or a fleshing-out of a compositional sketch, such as a lead sheet....
.

Contrasting verse-chorus form

Songs which use different music for the verse and chorus are in contrasting verse-chorus form. Examples include:
  • "Be My Baby
    Be My Baby

    "Be My Baby" is a 1963 single written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich, performed by the Ronettes and record producer by Spector....
    " by The Ronettes
    The Ronettes

    The Ronettes were a 1960s girl group from New York City, best known for their work with record producer Phil Spector. They consisted of lead singer Veronica Bennett ; her sister, the late Estelle Bennett; and their cousin Nedra Talley....
     (1963)
  • "Penny Lane
    Penny Lane

    "Penny Lane" is a song by The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney, recorded during the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band sessions, and released in February 1967 as one side of a double A-sided single, along with John Lennon's "Strawberry Fields Forever"....
    " by The Beatles
    The Beatles

    The Beatles were a rock music and pop music band from Liverpool, England that formed in 1960. During their career, the group primarily consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr ....
     (1967)
  • "Smoke on the Water
    Smoke on the Water

    "Smoke on the Water" is a song by the British hard rock band Deep Purple. It was first released on their 1972 album Machine Head . The single was Music recording sales certification on August 28, 1973 by the RIAA, selling 500,000 copies in the US....
    " by Deep Purple
    Deep Purple

    Deep Purple are an English Rock music band formed in Hertford, Hertfordshire in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of Heavy metal music and modern hard rock, although some band members have tried not to categorize themselves as any one genre....
      (1973)
  • "That'll Be the Day
    That'll Be the Day

    "That'll Be the Day" is a song written by Buddy Holly and Jerry Allison and recorded by various artists including The Crickets, The Beatles and Linda Ronstadt....
    " by Buddy Holly
    Buddy Holly

    Charles Hardin Holley, known professionally as Buddy Holly was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll. Although his success lasted only a year and a half before his The Day the Music Died, Holly is described by critic Bruce Eder as "the single most influential creative force in early rock and roll." His works and...
      (1957)
  • "California Girls
    California Girls

    "California Girls" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love and recorded by The Beach Boys in 1965. It features contrasting verse-chorus form....
    " by The Beach Boys
    The Beach Boys

    The Beach Boys are an American rock band. Formed in 1961, the group gained popularity for its close harmony and lyrics reflecting a California youth culture of cars and surfing....
      (1965)
  • "Smells Like Teen Spirit
    Smells Like Teen Spirit

    "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a song by the American Rock music band Nirvana . It is the opening track and lead Single from the band's 1991 breakthrough album Nevermind....
    " by Nirvana
    Nirvana

    In sramana thought, Nirvana is the state of being free from both dukkha and the cycle of rebirth. It is an important concept in Buddhism and Jainism....
      (1991)
  • "All You Need Is Love
    All You Need Is Love

    "All You Need Is Love" is a song written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon/McCartney. It was first performed by The Beatles on Our World, the first live global television link....
    " by The Beatles
    The Beatles

    The Beatles were a rock music and pop music band from Liverpool, England that formed in 1960. During their career, the group primarily consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr ....
     (1967)
  • "Foxy Lady
    Foxy Lady

    "Foxy Lady" is a song by Jimi Hendrix to Dan Friedman from his 1967 album Are you Experienced, featured as the lead track on the official Dutch edition....
    " by Jimi Hendrix
    Jimi Hendrix

    James Marshall Hendrix was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter whose guitar playing continues to be a considerable influence on rock music....
     (1967)
  • "Can't Get Enough
    Bad Company (album)

    Bad Company is the eponymous debut album by hard rock band Bad Company.The album was recorded at Headley Grange with Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio in November 1973....
    " by Bad Company
    Bad Company

    Bad Company are an England hard rock Supergroup founded in 1973, consisting of band members from Free , Mott the Hoople , and King Crimson . Bad Company was managed by Peter Grant , who had also guided Led Zeppelin to massive success....
     (1974)
  • "About a Girl
    About a Girl

    "About a Girl" is a song by the United States Grunge music band Nirvana . It is the third song on the group's debut album, Bleach . It is also the first song on the posthumous MTV Unplugged in New York album from which it was a single in 1994....
    " by Nirvana
    Nirvana (band)

    Nirvana was an American Rock music band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987....
     (1989)


Simple verse-chorus form

Songs that use the same music for the verse and chorus (also known as 'Strophic'), such as the twelve bar blues
Twelve bar blues

The 12-bar blues is one of the most popular chord progressions in popular music, including the blues. The blues progression has a distinctive form in lyrics and phrase and chord structure and duration....
, though the lyrics feature different verses and a repeated chorus, are in simple verse-chorus form. Examples include:
  • "Shake, Rattle, and Roll
    Shake, Rattle and Roll

    "Shake, Rattle and Roll" is a prototypical twelve bar blues-form rock and roll song written in 1954 by Jesse Stone under his assumed songwriting name Charles E....
    " by Big Joe Turner
    Big Joe Turner

    Big Joe Turner was an United States blues shouter from Kansas City, Missouri, Missouri....
     (1954)
  • "Louie, Louie" by The Kingsmen
    The Kingsmen

    The Kingsmen were a 1960s garage rock / frat rock band from Portland, Oregon, Oregon. They are best known for their 1963 recording of Richard Berry's "Louie Louie", which held the #2 spot on the Billboard magazine charts for six weeks....
     (1963 cover), example not using blues form
  • "La Bamba
    La Bamba (song)

    "La Bamba" La Bamba is a traditional song of the Huasteca region, with greater attachment to the state of Veracruz, is the son jarocho genre and is known popularly as the anthem of Veracruz....
    " by Ritchie Valens
    Ritchie Valens

    Ritchie Valens was an singer, songwriter and guitarist of Mexican origin born in the U.S.A rock and roll pioneer and a forefather of the Chicano rock movement, Valens' recording career lasted only eight months....
      (1959)
  • "Piece of Me
    Piece of Me

    "Piece of Me" is a song by American pop music singer Britney Spears. The song was recorded for her fifth album, Blackout . The song's lyrics are a response to the constant media scrutiny and sensationalism of Spears's private life....
    " by Britney Spears
    Britney Spears

    'Britney Jean Spears' is a Grammy Awards-winning American pop music singer, dancer, actress, and glamour model.Raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Louisiana, Spears first appeared on national television in 1992 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The New Mickey Mouse Club#199...
     (2007)


Simple verse form

Songs which feature only a repeated verse are in simple verse form (verse-chorus form without the chorus). Examples include:
  • "Evil Ways" by Santana
    Santana (band)

    Santana is a flexible number of musicians accompanying Carlos Santana since the late 1960s. Just like Santana himself, the band is known for helping make Latin rock famous in the rest of the world....
     (1969)
  • blues
    Blues

    Blues is a music genre based on the use of the blues chord progressions and the blue notes. Though several blues musical form s exist, the 12-bar blues chord progressions are the most frequently encountered....
    -based songs which are not simple verse-chorus form (above), such as "Heartbreak Hotel
    Heartbreak Hotel

    "Heartbreak Hotel" is a rock and roll song performed by Elvis Presley, with Bill Black , Scotty Moore , D.J. Fontana , Floyd Cramer and Elvis on rhythm guitar as the main supporting musicians....
    ", an 8-bar blues, "Hound Dog
    Hound Dog (song)

    "Hound Dog" is a twelve-bar blues written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and originally recorded by Big Mama Thornton in 1952. Other early versions illustrate the differences among blues, country music, and rock and roll in the mid 1950s....
    ", and "Lucille", both 12-bar blues
and with a contrasting bridge
Bridge (music)

In music, especially occidental popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section....
:
  • "Eight Miles High
    Eight Miles High

    "Eight Miles High" is a song by Gene Clark, Roger McGuinn, and David Crosby, first appearing as a Single from 1966 by the Rock music Musical ensemble The Byrds....
    " by The Byrds
    The Byrds

    The Byrds were an American Rock music band. Formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964, The Byrds underwent several lineup changes, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group's disbandment in 1973....
      (1966)
  • "Tomorrow Never Knows
    Tomorrow Never Knows

    "Tomorrow Never Knows" is the final track of The Beatles' 1966 studio album Revolver . It is credited as a Lennon/McCartney song, but was written primarily by John Lennon....
    " by The Beatles
    The Beatles

    The Beatles were a rock music and pop music band from Liverpool, England that formed in 1960. During their career, the group primarily consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr ....
      (1966)
  • "Purple Haze
    Purple Haze

    "Purple Haze" is a song written in 1966 in music and recorded in 1967 in music by The Jimi Hendrix Experience and released as a single in both the United Kingdom and the United States....
    " by Jimi Hendrix
    Jimi Hendrix

    James Marshall Hendrix was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter whose guitar playing continues to be a considerable influence on rock music....
      (1967). (ibid, p.71-72)
  • "Cars
    Cars (song)

    "Cars" is a 1979 song by Gary Numan, released as a single from the album The Pleasure Principle . It reached the top of the charts in several countries and today is considered a New Wave music staple....
    " by Gary Numan
    Gary Numan

    Gary Numan is an English singer, composer, and musician. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of commercial electronic music and has been described as the "King of synthpop." Numan is widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars "....


Both simple verse-chorus form and simple verse form are strophic form
Strophic form

In music, strophic form is a Section al and/or additive way of musical form a piece of music based on the repetition of one formal section or block played repeatedly....
s.

Source

  • Covach, John. "Form in Rock Music: A Primer", in Stein, Deborah (2005). Engaging Music: Essays in Music Analysis. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-517010-5.