The Merits of a Short and Long Song

Pop music grew out of the radio. Music was recorded for the masses and the radio was the means for deliverance. Consequently, songs were fashioned to not be longer than three and a half minutes. The modern single was born. All the early rock and pop bands began by working with this model. Early Beatles records ran under forty minutes, sometimes even thirty. But as music became a means for artistic expression, songs became longer and more complicated. Led Zeppelin really pioneered this. Today, we live in a music world in which we can enjoy both types of songs. It is my contention that a short and a long song are enjoyable for similar reasons.

One of the shortest modern songs is "I Fell In Love With A Girl" by The White Stripes. Clocking in just under two minutes, the song goes full speed for the stop. Jack's vocals are a mix between excitedly screaming and passionately declaring his love. His guitar playing is classic rock strumming. The drumming is like footsteps and keeps the march going. For all these reasons, I enjoy this song. I immediately identify the instrumentation and respond accordingly. I soon join in on singing with Jack and tapping my foot along to the beat.

In contrast, there is "Victory Dance" by My Morning Jacket. This song opens the band's 2011 release Circuital and as it opens up a new instrument joins in along the way, reaching a length of nearly six minutes. The song begins with a gong and guitar. Slowly new sounds enter, such a horn, and it keeps the listener interested to discover what will come next. It is a listening experience of surprise. By the end, it comes together as a feast of sounds and the listener is left sonically satisfied. 

Overall, I believe that a both short and long songs work because of these two approaches to instrumentation. Whether everything is on the table for the start or revealed along the way, the listener can enjoy.