Why do you like a song? What makes it a favorite?


I have been thinking of the "mechanics" of why we like a specific song more than others, what makes us like it?
Recently I discovered a lot of music on my music server I was unaware of, it was not showing up because it was not in a folder and/or labeled correctly. So after a lot of time and work my music count went from 415 to 614 and I listened to a lot of music I had forgotten about since it was not showing up.

So this led to me rebuilding my Play lists, 14 of them. Then I got the idea to make one last one, Will's Best Of.
This brought up a fundamental question, how do I determine what makes my Best Of list? I started with a guideline to help me determine if a song made the Best Of cut;
I listen to a song and it's; Good, I like it. - It doesn't get added
I listen to a song and it's; "Oh yeah... that's the stuff" I could immediately play it again - It gets added to the Best Of

What is it about that song that compels me to want to add it to my Best Of, what or how does it influence me to add it? Is it the lyrics? music/instruments? Vocals?
I have heard many things over the years. How studies have shown that the harmonics of music interact with your brain effecting brain chemistry and alter your mood.
Or
Music invokes an emotional response often causing you to recall specific memories of people, places, times.

I can see all of these things being the cause. When I hear one of my favorites I get that immediate feeling, I immediately know it is a favorite.
Sometimes the music influences me more, sometimes the artist's voice does, sometimes it's everything.
Some times I can hear 5 seconds of a new song and know I am going to really like it.
I have a eclectic taste in music so it is not a certain genre that I gravitate to.
Some of my favorite Rock bands are; AC/DC, Van Halen, and then there are several Taylor Swift songs that I like. Hey I admit it, well maybe not if I was out with the guys at a bar having a few beers. But what can I say, there is just something about those songs that I like, that pulls me in. Can't explain it.
Does all this mean it is harmonics?

Music invokes a emotional response in me. There are many songs that take me to a specific person, place, time.
On the downside there are a few songs, ones that I like that I will never listen to again, ever.
I have an entire Play list of songs that are heavy, I don't listen to them often because of the emotions they invoke.
Does this mean it is an emotional response?
Or a combination of emotional response and harmonics?

Is the Corona induced boredom causing me to psychoanalyze how my brain determines if a song is a favorite? Could be.

How about all of you? Why do you like a song? How do you determine if it is a favorite?

Is it a favorite because it is good, or because it takes you to another place, time, or reminds you of someone?

Will
128x128flrun
I think Coronavirus gave us the opportunity to listen to other types of music ,that's out there.
A lot of things can push my Like Button. 

A compelling short musical phrase or riff.  Like in the Rolling Stone's Satisfaction or the opening of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.  Likewise, it's great if the music works on a larger canvas -- if it takes me on a journey, whether that journey be physical, emotional or narrative. 

As bkeske says, if a lyric or a stretch of lyric conjures up an important vision or memory. 

An instrumental or vocal performance that simply wows me with either its virtuosity, passion or its expression of some other emotion...whether that emotion be peace, anger, sadness, energy, charity, laughter, love or lust.

If it has a good beat and I can dance to it. 
Fuzztone,

A song has to go somewhere is a good factor. A song that has a point or tells a story like; Eagles - Hotel California or if you like country Chris LeDoux - This Cowboy's Hat.
Jay Ferguson - Thunder Island

Bkeske,
For you it invokes specific memories. For me the Grateful Dead takes me back to high school, and I didn't even listen to them that much it was mostly other people. 

Jerry Garcia, or the Dead - Scarlet Begonias. Why? Well back in college it reminded me exactly of a wonderful girlfriend I had at the time during my ‘hippy days’ (not sure I have ever completely left them). Still think of her occasionally to this day, and that song reminds me of some very fond memories. Drove her cross county when she decided to move to San Francisco temporarily. She stayed. Only saw her once after that.
I've had a Faves p/l for 20 years.
Each of us likes what we like.
And we don't like each other's.
Mine goes from Digital Underground to Francois Poulenc to Lani Hall to The Flame to Wondermints to Wang Chung to Miles Davis.
YRMV

PS
I forgot Brian Protheroe. I love of all his songs. He is my definition of a crooner.
Which figures because he concentrated on an acting career after an unhappy record industry experience.
For me, a song has to go somewhere.
I enjoy unique progressions like Lewis
Taylor or Kevin Gilbert.
I love James Brown but one chord tunes are too boring to listen to without seeing him do his thang.
Andrew Gold, Marni Nixon's son.
R.I.P.
I'm A Gambler on his first album sounds great on anything, 2" speakers at the beach to Quad cans through any amp.



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I've always had my favorites as well but what makes us determine what gets added to our Favorites or "Best Of" over a song that is just "good"?

Wang Chung is good, Dance Hall Days is in my Best Of list.

And in her mouth an Amethyst? What the...? Interesting. A lot of interesting lyrics.
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