How to Write a Viral Song
written by Melanie Naumann
How many of you have a message for the world, but you need help finding your voice or your audience?
Imagine millions of people listening to your song.
This doesn't have to be limited to your imagination. This is what happens when you go viral.
What does it mean to go viral?
Viral means quickly and widely spread or popularized, especially using social media.
My definition is when enough people say: "I know someone who needs to hear this song."
So we want people to share our song.
And what's the psychology of sharing?
A lot of people share because of something called “social currency.”
Social Currency
Social currency is like having a secret stash of cool points that you can spend to make yourself look good in front of your friends.
You earn social currency by doing things that make you stand out, like being the first to discover a trendy new song or sharing a hilarious meme before it goes viral.
Relatability
The second reason we share is because of reliability.
Maybe your friend just went through a breakup, lost someone dear to them, or is looking for their purpose.
So you share a song with them that speaks to and for them.
Pain Point
And the last reason is that the song has a pain point. So it’s like: Where does it hurt?
Writing A Viral Song
For whom are you writing this song?
Focus on the person you’re writing this song for.
If you speak to everyone, you talk to no one.
Is it like in Miley Cyrus’s song “Flowers,” aimed at people who go through a breakup and need to feel good enough on their own? That’s the same concept as Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,”
Or is it about meeting a girl you feel super attracted to, like in Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You”?
Or, on a similar note, like "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen. That song is also about meeting someone who turns your world upside down.
In general, people are always concerned with how to navigate the emotional minefield of love.
So pick a circumstance you want to write about and stick to it, but don’t write a complete love story. Pick one moment out of it. And enough people will be able to relate to it so that the song can go viral.
5 Second Rule for a Song’s Beginning.
People who don't connect with your lyrics in the first five seconds will pick up and leave.
And if we want our song to go viral, we must create enough intrigue in the first line so that people keep listening. So we have to capture their attention within the song's first line.
The book “A Song’s First Line” explores nine different opening line devices that grab your audience's attention and make them want to listen to your song.
People who don't connect with your lyrics in the first five seconds will pick up and leave.
And if we want our song to go viral, we must create enough intrigue in the first line so that people keep listening. So we have to capture their attention within the song's first line.
The book “A Song’s First Line” explores nine different opening line devices that grab your audience's attention and make them want to listen to your song.
Write a first line that catches their attention to get heard.
One of the best ways to pull this off is just starting with a problem.
You must enter the conversation that is already going on in your audience's mind.
You must make them feel understood.
And if you talk to them, they turn to you, hoping you can help them with that one thing on their mind.
So again, this is all about whom your song is for and what is one problem they face. And you address that one specific thing in your song's first line.
Is it about meeting a person that turns your life upside down? Is it about a breakup? Is it about not knowing what to fight for anymore?
Talk about that right from the start.
Listen to the song’s beginning of Miley Cyrus' “Flowers” from her album "Endless Summer Vacation". She sings:
“We were good, we were gold.”
She uses past tense, so we immediately know that those two aren’t good and aren’t gold anymore. So that makes us feel intrigued. We want to find out what happened to them. And most of all, how did they get over that feeling?
And maybe we know someone in our life with whom we once were good, but not anymore.
So those lines speak to a lot and a lot of people. It’s specific but also with universal appeal—a great first line for a song that has the potential to go viral.
Listen to the song’s beginning of Miley Cyrus' “Flowers” from her album "Endless Summer Vacation". She sings:
“We were good, we were gold.”
She uses past tense, so we immediately know that those two aren’t good and aren’t gold anymore. So that makes us feel intrigued. We want to find out what happened to them. And most of all, how did they get over that feeling?
And maybe we know someone in our life with whom we once were good, but not anymore.
So those lines speak to a lot and a lot of people. It’s specific but also with universal appeal—a great first line for a song that has the potential to go viral.
The same concept is done in "Somebody That I Used To Know" by Gotye ft. Kimbra from the album "Making Mirrors".
The first line is:
“Now and then, I think of when we were together.”
We encounter the same tense. It’s talking about something in the past that is now over.
And using the problem as an opening line device is just one of 9 ways to get your audience hooked.
But you can also start with an intriguing introduction like Pharell Williams did with his song “Happy.” He sang, “It might seem crazy what I am 'bout to say”
And we keep listening because we want to hear more about this. We want to make our own opinion if it’s indeed crazy, or the guy is crazy, you know?
Or look at Billie Eilish’s viral song “Bad Guy”. This one also had a very intriguing opening. She sang:
“White shirt now red, my bloody nose.”
We definitely want to know what happened.
Curiosity is in human nature.
We got to find out what's going to happen. So all those opening lines make us want to hear more. And that’s just the power of story. We want to hear more because we want to hear the story behind it. And if you can deliver the story in your lyrics, you got yourself some powerful lyrics.
Storytelling in Songwriting
Stories are everywhere in our lives. Stories are older than the written language. Stories are ingrained in our DNA. We could not have survived without stories.
And because we’re just so used to hearing stories, we have to be more intentional in our songwriting and use the power of story. Our brains crave stories.
Anthony de Mello said: "The shortest distance between a person and the truth is a story."
If you have a great compelling story that's emotional, it will get shared.
The driving question is this: How will this end?
So here are a couple of things about how you can craft a compelling story in your lyrics.
Make it Exciting
So the most important thing is: Don’t make it boring.
You have to make it compelling. You have to make it interesting.
And different techniques help you with that.
So let’s go through some of them, so you know what to look out for.
Turn your song into a rollercoaster ride.
We love roller coasters because they have their ups and downs. There’s a constant surprise.
Use that inside of your stories because that’s life. Life is not a smooth ride. It’s a rollercoaster all life long.
And so is every little moment of it. Every moment in life has its ups and downs.
So never just show one side of the coin.
Talk about both sides and the middle – all the shades between black and white, because life is never just one thing.
Add Unexpectedness
Unexpectedness is key. It's crucial.
Look at Gloria Gaynor’s song: “I Will Survive.”
She has a strong beginning that makes people identify with what’s being said, and then she throws in some unexpectedness.
In the first verse, she sings:
“At first I was afraid, I was petrified
Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side
But then I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong
And I grew strong
And I learned how to get along
And so you're back
From outer space
I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock, I should have made you leave your key
If I'd known for just one second you'd be back to bother me”
I Will Survive lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
That guy suddenly showed up in HER apartment. That’s shocking.
Or look at Miley Cyrus’ song “Flowers.” She sings in the first verse as well:
“We were right 'til we weren't
Built a home and watched it burn”
That came unexpectedly. That’s a big surprise because there’s gravity to it. It’s not just saying: “We fell apart.” We feel and see how their lives burnt to the ground.
That unexpectedness can also be found in Billie Eilish’s song “Bad Guy.” In the chorus, she sings:
“So you're a tough guy
Like it really rough guy
Just can't get enough guy
Chest always so puffed guy
I'm that bad type
Make your mama sad type
Make your girlfriend mad tight
Might seduce your dad type
I'm the bad guy, duh”
bad guy lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
So the big unexpected reveal is that we turned from him being the bad guy to her being the bad guy.
And every great song has that unexpectedness in it.
In storytelling, it can either be an inciting incident or a turning point. Both show an unexpected shift in the main character’s situation.
But I don’t want to geek out on storytelling terms too much. Just know there are concepts behind those things.
Keep it simple
Stay away from poetic language. A clever phrase might sound cool, but if the listener doesn't understand it, they can’t follow the song.
There are two ways how you can simplify your content.
You have to kill your darlings.
First off, you have to kill your darlings.
Stephen King had this to say on the art of writing in his book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. He said: “Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler's heart, kill your darlings.”
You must figure out what does not contribute to expressing what you have to say, so you must eliminate it. You have to write in a way so that your audience can digest it appropriately when listening to your song.
Simplify, simplify, simplify.
And when it comes to your choice of words, make it simple enough for a fourth grader to understand. Look at Einstein: He condensed a theory that explained universal law into one itch.
Simplicity is key, so people get it.
Emotion
So when you know whom your song is for and what problem you address, you also have to ask yourself:
After listening to your song, what do you want your audience to know? What do you want the audience to do, and what do you want the audience to feel?
It's all about feeling.
It’s about the emotional charge. That’s a concept by Gary Vee. It describes how much something affects us emotionally, whether positive or negative and how strongly we feel about it.
And if we can increase the emotional charge in our song from a one up to a 10, then that song is more likely to go viral.
Miley Cyrus takes us in her song "Flowers," from the devastation of a breakup and watching the home burn to the revelation that we are more than we thought. That’s impactful because of the shift from where we start to where we're going.
That shift relates to the emotional charge. Because it's up to us to decide how we want to use that energy of our strong feelings, we can use it to positively impact ourselves or throw in the towel. And Miley turns the devastating breakup into something good.
And that’s a message that’s strong, good, beautiful, and meaningful. That’s something we want to live by. That’s why this song gets shared because of its message that everyone gets.
The same applies to Gloria Gaynor’s song: “I Will Survive.” We don’t want to be that chained-up little person anymore. We want to be the strong and independent ones who can save all their lovin' for someone who loves us back. Strong message.
Take a Stand and Pick A Side
Now when you write that song, you also want to take a stand for the things you believe in. Don't be afraid to be your authentic self.
Make it count what you have to say.
And pick a side which means knowing where you’re heading in your song. Don't shift between too many places, outcomes, and problems. Remember this: One place they feel low, and one place they go.
And remember, conflict is good. A positive climax always needs a negative setup. So you need to put tension in there. Don’t make it easy. Keep that unexpectedness in mind that can throw one’s life out of balance.
Do you want to learn how to write catchy songs that mean something?
And discover the fundamental secrets of writing captivating lyrics that have the power to go viral?
Then I invite you to watch my free training. Just click the button below, sign up, and enjoy the show.
Distribution: How to get your song out there.
Of course, even a song with the greatest lyrics might not make it and go viral. We also have to consider the music, but also the marketing.
So here are some tips to plan your song's release to increase its chances to go viral.
Have a Tastemaker
The song "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac was originally released in 1977 as part of the album "Rumours," which was a huge success then.
However, it wasn't until 2020 that the song went viral, thanks to a TikTok video.
In late September 2020, a TikTok user named Nathan Apodaca posted a video of skateboarding down a highway while drinking cranberry juice and lip-syncing to "Dreams."
The video quickly went viral and sparked a trend of other TikTok users doing their versions of it, often using the hashtag #DreamsChallenge.
The viral video renewed attention to "Dreams," which re-entered the charts and became a hit again. The song surpassed its original peak chart position in some countries, such as the UK.
The success of "Dreams" on TikTok also positively impacted Fleetwood Mac's other music, as their "Greatest Hits" album re-entered the charts, and the band saw a surge in streams on streaming platforms.
In summary, it took one viral TikTok video by Nathan Apodaca to bring "Dreams" back into the mainstream and give it a new life as a viral hit decades after its initial release.
So that’s the secret of distribution to make a song go viral: Having a tastemaker is one of the best and most effective ways of getting your song to the masses.
Just look at other songs that started their viral success exactly like this.
Whether it’s "The Middle" by Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey that went viral with a TikTok dance challenge, “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac that got popular after a high school choir in Utah sang a rendition of the song, or "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X became a viral hit with the “Yeehaw Challenge.”
No Social Media Tastemaker? Don't worry.
So, if you want to make this possible for your song without a tastemaker, do this:
Create a distribution plan.
Form strategic alliances with influencers who like your music. Help them, help you. So share their comments and videos, and they share yours.
Use Russell Brunson’s concept of The Dream 100 to figure out who are the people who already have congregated your favorite audience. Make a list of the playlists and social media influences, podcasts, or youtube channels you want to be featured on.
And once you have a new song, you need to contact your Dream 100 and ask them: “Hey, would you be interested in featuring this song in your video, post, or reel? In exchange, I can give you X, Y, and Z."
Always consider the mutual benefit.
And build an email list of people who like your stuff. Give them something free when they opt-in and sign up for your email list. Always ask yourself: What’s in it for them?
So whenever you have a new song, you can promote it via the people who already follow you. And reaching people via email gets their attention far better than on Social Media. At least when they already know and like you. And you can ask them to share. Maybe you want to initiate your own TikTok Challenge. Having a base is a great starting point. So build an email list too. (I recommend using Systeme.io. It's user-friendly, easy to understand and set up, and they have a forever free plan.)
And one more thing:
Don’t just release the song.
Use a Countdown.
Make announcements and tell people when your new song will be coming out. Could you give them a taste of it? Make them hungry for more.
Because the more attention you can get on the song in the first hours, the more likely you'll make it to the trending pages. It is all about momentum.
When you release a song on social media, again, consider your timing. Ensure you know when your target audience is online. And reply to their comments.
When Taylor Swift started on Myspace, she went through every single person's comments and personally responded to them. So triple down on the comments and use people's names when commenting. The sweetest sound a person will ever experience is the sound of their name.
And consider when your song has the most chances to go viral. It's always right after its release. The critical time on Instagram is in the first hour. It is very important to develop a lot of momentum. So, comment, comment, comment. On YouTube, it’s the first 24 hours to make it to the trending pages. And on Facebook, it's the first 48 hours.
What if your song doesn't go viral?
We can't foresee the future. We can't say with 100% certainty which song will become a viral hit and which one does not. But following those tips increases your chances of having your song go viral.
In case you don't make it, keep experimenting. Maybe someone will become your song's tastemaker and start a successful challenge. You never know if you don't put your songs out there. So keep at it.
The best way to improve is by getting feedback!
If you want to be confident in your lyrics before you record your song, you can now sign up below to get constructive, actionable feedback on your song lyrics. So you know what works and how you can do better so that you can hook, move, and impact your audience with your words.
- STEP #1
Get Your FREE Copy.
So you can grab your listener's attention with your song's first line!
- STEP #2
Discover the Power of Storytelling in Songwriting
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for lyric breakdowns, songwriting tips, tutorials, discography studies, and songwriter battles 🥊.
Thanks for reading,
Melanie.
Stop Second-Guessing Your Lyrics
Get Real Feedback That Moves You Forward
Click below to get constructive, actionable feedback on your song lyrics. So you know what works and how you can do better so that you can hook, move, and impact your audience with your words.
Leave a Comment
NEWSLETTER
Get your FREE Copy
How to Write Opening Lines That Make Your Song Stand Out in Seconds