“I think the best songs are being written by the very under-stated, under-appreciated indie artists. The thing that separates them from mainstream success is they either consciously or unknowingly refuse to deliver on a big chorus.” –Ryan Tedder
Ryan Tedder has written high-profile songs for an impressive array of commercially successful acts.
Choruses and Storytelling
In this interview for NPR’s music blog, Tedder asserts—as you read above—that the difference between indie and mainstream songwriters is that indie artists “…either consciously or unknowingly refuse to deliver on a big chorus.”
That’s a sweeping generalization, but it’s an interesting one.
Exceptions crowd my mind immediately: Nick Cave has delivered some enormous choruses, and I don’t think I’d call him a mainstream success in the US. Meanwhile, John Hartford’s classic “Gentle on My Mind” has a sneaky, subdued chorus that’s really more of a refrain.
But I believe Tedder is talking about what’s going on right now in music, and right now the American mainstream isn’t carrying the most sophisticated music.
“Stuff now is even simpler. It’s just lowest common denominator, like, what is the most nursery-rhyme-simple melody you can come up with? Pick one phrase that captures the essence of whatever the track is and just repeat it ad nauseam and then maybe squeeze in another line here and there and then call it a song…
…it is definitely about melody and rhythm right now and almost not at all about content or actual storytelling.”
The Balance: Hooks, Choruses, and Content
It seems that Tedder prefers the storytelling craft of the no-chorus indie songs he’s hearing over the monotonous, sectionless, dance-oriented music that’s dominating the airwaves.
Tedder positions himself in the middle ground, influenced by indie bands he admires while also penning choruses that everyone can sing along with. Good for him.
At the core of the interview is his abiding respect for skill and craft. Tedder clearly feels that a simple hook, repeated often, is important to a song’s success—but that the song’s melodic and rhythmic hooks shouldn’t come at the cost of actual content.
In other words, don’t depend on a catchy little guitar riff to save you if your lyrics suck. 
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