Motifs are highly important, yet often overlooked, elements within hit song melodies. We see them across the board in Top 10 hits, yet they are rarely discussed in modern songwriting education!

So, what exactly is a motif?

A motif is a melodic fragment that is repeated and/or developed within and/or across sections to make a song more cohesive, familiar, memorable, and infectious. While hooks are more noticeable and defined, motifs function in more of an under-the-radar or background capacity.

This six-minute video case study looks at how Blinding Lights' all-star team of writers who include The Weeknd, Max Martin, Belly, DaHeala and Oscar Holter, cleverly used motif reinforcement in conjunction with standout hooks to create an earworm that’s impossible to get out of our heads.

Blinding Lights: A Case Study on Motif Reinforcement

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