The Washington times., 1933-08-09
BE GIVEN FAITHFUL AND INTELLIGENT CARE BEAUTY EXPERT WARNING
Secrets OF
Health


Why Are Some Songs Popular?
Sentimental songs are written
and published in steady stream
and always are a few being sung
and whistled everyw here
throughout the country. Always,
also, are such songs catchy,
simple melodies and usually they
tell a story of romantic love Of
some sort.
Why is it that this type of
tune rather than classical one,
which may even be more melo-
diouS one, catches the average
fancy so decidedly? What, in
short, constitutes the amazing
appeal of the sentimental song?
It is a noteworthy fact that
we are attracted to whatever
symbolizes or expresses our un-
fulfilled, personal cravings.
The young girl who happens
to be in love enjoys songs which
deal with that theme, while the
cynical bachelor finds himself
humming ditties that poke fun
at romance. Likewise does the
person who has but recently left
home find Solace in hearing or
singing songs that deal with
mother love and during the war
many songs of this variety, then
popular, undoubtedly helped the
boys at the front to weather
the hardships and sufferings
they were forced to endure.
It is likewise interesting to
note that one type Of song may
appeal at one time and not at
another. A person may actually
despiSe a popular melody of
sentiment and then later, when
he falls in love, keep singing
the very tune he was so dis
dainful of before.
Not only must a song, in
order to achieve popularity, be
simple in rhythm so that it can
readily be recalled, but it must
deal with a sentiment that is
shared by all and is readily
recognized. If a lion tanner
wrote a ditty that told loving
ly of his pet tiger it probably
would never be popular no
matter how catchy the melody.
Furthermore, for a song to
catch hold it must avoid words
and ideas that are subtle or
too highly symbolized. Straight
forward ideas are the best, pre-
ferabIy when expressed in
words or one or two syllables.
In fact, the real catchy line
is the one you can finish your
self without special effort.
The fact that all popular
songs are built along similar
lines is also a handicap to
their permanency in public
favor. In other words, their
similarity soon bores, people
get tired of them. Consequent
ly a fresh crop every month is
welcome.
You have probably observed
in your own case that a tune
will sometimes stick in the
mind and you find it impos-
sible to get rid of it. Like a
compulsion, you must hum it
mentally even if you actually
do not utter a sound.
Songs that keep coming up
into consciousness that way
have a distinct emotional mean
ing for us whether we realize
it to be so or not. BY associa-
tion of ideas with the past they
link, either in the words ex-
pressed or in the melody, with
emotional experiences of the
past which were pleasurable.
Usually, of course, these were
of a sentimental nature, for all
of us are given to sentiment
more than we care to admit.
DIR. Bisch'S Daily Diet Hint
It is a mistake to believe that
women require less food than
men. Both sexes require the
same amount of calories daily
when lie height, weight and
amount of activity are uracti-
cally identical. A woman at
rest, however, requires about
half the number of calories that
a woman does who works as a
laundreSs or who is on her feet
all day long.