“ Love Me Tender,” (written by Vera Matson and Elvis Presley) while inextricably associated with Elvis, has been covered by artists including Nora Jones, Merle Haggard, Linda Ronstadt, Frank Sinatra, Nana Mouskouri, and Percy Sledge. “Yesterday,” the most covered song, has been recorded by more than 2,200 artists, including Frank Sinatra, En Vogue, Liberace, Elvis Presley, Boyz II Men, and even Daffy Duck. Songs that are considered classics typically lend themselves to being recorded by artists in various styles. For example, the marriage of Tina Turner’s voice with the melody and lyrics of “ What’s Love Got to Do With It” (written by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle) was truly a match made in song heaven, as was Ray Charles’ vocal on “Georgia On My Mind.” Having the perfect artist interpret the song also plays a critical role in a song becoming iconic. Imagine “ Ring of Fire” (written by Merle Kilgore and June Carter recorded by Johnny Cash) without the mariachi trumpets, or the Ronettes’ “ Be My Baby” without Phil Spector’s wall of sound. Instrumentation and production can help elevate a song to iconic status. Similarly, note how the melodies of “Georgia On My Mind,” “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling,” “Rhythm of the Rain,” and “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” capture the longing and yearning so many of us have felt. Listen to “Yesterday” and notice how the melody and chords perfectly express the longing conveyed by the lyric. We would all love to be told the sentiments shared in “Never My Love,” “Stand By Me,” “Baby I Need Your Loving,” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.” But melodies also play a critical role in evoking powerful emotions like heartache, vulnerability, joy, or love. It goes without saying that lyrics are an essential element in creating songs that express feelings so many of us have felt and infiltrate the soundtrack of our lives. Songwriter Hugh Prestwood captured this phenomenon beautifully in “ The Song Remembers When” (recorded by Trisha Yearwood). Classic melodies and lyrics transport us back in time on a wave of emotion. In looking over the list, I realized these songs that either fill us with joy, get us singing along at the top of our lungs, bring us to tears, or serve as a time machine.

Are there common denominators to be found in these timeless classics? Elements we might include in our songs to help them stand the test of time and earn a rarified place in the hearts of listeners? I found myself wondering if there are lessons in these iconic songs.

Robinson” (recorded by Simon & Garfunkel) “ Baby I Need Your Loving” (written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland recorded by The Four Tops) “ Rhythm Of The Rain” (written by John Gummoe recorded by The Cascades) and “ Georgia On My Mind” (written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell recorded by Ray Charles). King) are among the most played songs, as are “ Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You,” (written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio recorded by Frankie Valli) “ (Sitting On) The Dock Of the Bay” (written by by Otis Redding and Steve Cropper recorded by Otis Redding), Paul Simon’s “ Mrs. King, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller recorded by Ben E. “ Never My Love,” (written by Donald and Richard Addrisi recorded by The Association) “ Yesterday” (written by John Lennon and Sir Paul McCartney first recorded by the Beatles) and “ Stand By Me” (written by Ben E. “ You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” (written by Barry Mann, Phil Spector and Cynthia Weil recorded by The Righteous Brothers) is the song with the #2 most U.S. With 15 million radio plays, Sting’s Song of the Year GRAMMY-winner “ Every Breath You Take” (recorded by The Police) holds the #1 spot. I was looking at a list of BMI’s most played songs on U.S. Iconic means touching a cultural nerve, standing the test of time and instantly recognizable by many people - that holds true even if it’s not widely considered great in an objective sense.” (Warren Boutros, Songwriter) “ Great means incredibly well crafted, easily memorable, with a universally relatable sentiment and a sense of authenticity-“from the heart” as they say.

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