JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum How necessary is a chorus?

I agree that if you are going to write for Nashville, you HAVE to include a BIG chorus with a KILLER HOOK (or seven). Otherwise, the song MUST be flat out outstanding. The rules are different for writers and artists. Artists get some leeway; writers get none. Follow the Nashville formula or parish. I have had one very good country song rejected by TAXI multiple times because the lyric did not fit the formula. It was not conversational enough and didn't tell a story. I can cite song after song after song that has topped the Country charts and has not followed this formula but that apparently doesn't matter. I have learned that unless I give in and follow the formula, I will never get a forward (much less a cut) with that song.

The worst part is that I have only gotten very good reviews for that song. Even the lyrics are considered good, just not COUNTRY. I had an A&R person at a major label tell me that the song was good enough to be an album cut (they don't sign those), even with the current lyric, but needed a lyrical re-write in order to have hit potential.