Elementy chwytliwe (hooks) w muzyce popularnej. W stronę muzykologicznej teorii przebojów muzycznych

Jakub Kasperski

doi:10.16926/

Published: 12.02.2026 10.02.2026

Vol. 20 (2025)

Catchy Elements (Hooks) in Popular Music. Toward a Musicological Theory of Hit Songs

Jakub Kasperski

Abstract

The theory of the hit song is a highly intriguing research topic. In the musicology of Western countries, it already has a history and a kind of canon of texts and methodologies, which have yet to gain broader recognition in Poland. The author discusses and introduces what he considers to be the two most important texts that help explain the musical aspects of hit songs. In the earliest theoretical reflections on popular music, Theodor W. Adorno analyzes the structure of pop hits and the mechanisms by which the music industry promotes them and influences listeners. On the other hand, Gary Burns’s 1987 article on hooks represents a milestone in addressing the question of what makes a song a hit – both musically and beyond. Referring to both texts, the author conducts a detailed analysis of two musical hits from the 21st century – one from the United States and one from Poland.

Keywords:

hook, catchy elements, Adorno, hit song, popmusical expression, Gary Burns, The Black Eyed Peas, Smolasty, Doda

How to Cite

Catchy Elements (Hooks) in Popular Music. Toward a Musicological Theory of Hit Songs. (2026). Edukacja Muzyczna (Musical Education) , 20, 21-71. https://doi.org/10.16926/

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Catchy Elements (Hooks) in Popular Music. Toward a Musicological Theory of Hit Songs

Abstract

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Jakub Kasperski