So What – Pink – Song Form/Rhyme Scheme

So What – Pink – Song Form/Rhyme Scheme

Most of the songs we’ve looked over have all had odd song forms and/or strange rhyme schemes. Pink's "So What" is a line drive of everything that is normal in a hit song.

Song form = ABABCB

A = verse

B = chorus

C = bridge

 This is one of the two most common song forms (as I’ve stated in the PAST).  The form flows extremely well. You fuss rock for two punky verses and then bust into their anthem choruses. After a quick detour of diva self-reflecting bridge, we stage dive back into the loving fist raised arms of the familiar chorus. 

All the sections are strongly balanced. They all have an even amount of lines. Nothing off-kilter to throw off the forward momentum of the song. (Even the quick prechoruses are doubled up.)

Speaking of prechoruses...notice the prechorus are half as long as the other sections. They feel like an extension of the verse without becoming self indulgent and drawing too much attention to themselves. They ramp up the momentum and let go. 


Verse rhyme scheme = aabb – went/rent/tonight/fight

I guess I just lost my husband, I don’t know where he went

So I’m gonna drink my money, I’m not gonna pay his rent

I got a brand new attitude and I’m gonna wear it tonight

I’m gonna get in trouble, I’m gonna start a fight

In my opinion, aabb is the most common of all verse rhyme schemes, the king of the rhyme trinity…

aabb, abab, xaxa

(and to a lesser extent “aaaa”)

Chorus Form = T--T

T = Hook/Title

“-“ = Swing line (a line that isn’t the title!)

So, so what, I’m still a rock star, I’ve got my rock moves and I don’t need you

And guess what, I’m having more fun, and now that we’re done, I’m gonna show you…

Tonight I’m alright, I’m just fine and you’re a tool

So, so what, I am a rock star, I’ve got my rock moves and I don’t want you tonight

Detour 1 of 2 – Tower Records Title Test

I want to jump in and say I wonder why the song isn’t called Rock Star. Rock Star makes more sense from a “what is memorable” stand point. I call it the Tower Records Test (Tower Records was where I bought most of my CD’s before the company folded). If I didn’t know the artist or the actual name of the song, I would sing the line that I remembered from the radio (which SHOULD be the hook) to one of the clerks. If what I sang WAS the title, then we'd find the album and I’d buy it. Cha-ching! Artist makes money. 

It was always disappointing when I couldn't find the song because the "hook" of the song wasn't the actual name of the song.

“So What” makes a statement, but I’m of the school that you should name your song after the line that people will sing to a clerk in a record store. (Bohemian Rhapsody, and Scenes From an Italian Restaurant excluded).

Detour 2 of 2

I can’t resist. Remember me talking about Kurt yesterday? Kurt and I threw a 70’s party and dressed up like the disco you always wanted to be. Splashy Rayon shirts (open to navel?...check!), Bell bottom slacks (sans-a-belt?...check!). Afro/disco wigs (brunette/Kurt, blonde/Shane…check, check!). Disco ball (motorized?...check!). Platform shoes, Elvis shades? (oh yeah…check please!).

The day after the party, we realized we had our costumes for the entire weekend so we decided we’d have a night on the Nashville, Starsky and Hutch style. First stop? Station Inn…bluegrass night! I remember I could see the shadow of my fro bouncing in the reflection of the stage lights as the dumbfounded bartender took our cover charge. A quick thinking banjo player threw out the riff from Superfly (no small feat on banjo) as we sauntered to our seats, high fiving everyone in overalls and flannel shirts. Everyone was giving us the peace sign (which made no sense…peace sign = 60’s?).

After our bluegrass debut, we hit Tower Records thinking it’d be funny to buy the Saturday Night Fever sound track dressed like Bee Gee rejects.

The following is the actual conversation with the goth dressed, faced-pierced, black lipstick, vamp-girl behind the counter…oh yeah, her nametag? Wait for it…wait for it…”Death”!

Shane: Far out groovy chick! Which aisle do we boogie down to find Saturday Night Fever? (Striking THIS pose)

Death (slightly annoyed): Excuse me?

Kurt: Take a chill pill. Dig it. Where’s Saturday Night Fever. That vinyl is Dy-no-mite!

Death (eyes rolling): Seriously?

Shane: It’s a gas. Outta sight.

Kurt: Yeah, real boss. Slip me some skin (extending upturned hand to Death).

Death (recoiling): Soundtracks (pointing with black eyeshadowed eyelids)

Shane: Far out!

Kurt: Keep on Truckin’

Death (under breath): Freaks

…walking back to our car, CD in our little yellow bag…

Kurt: You do realize we just had a brush with Death?

…and close scene [Insert: sound of movie clapper].

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T--T is a very strong chorus form. The opening and closing line of the chorus (or any section for that matter) are the most memorable positions. If you want your title to be noticed, put it in the opening and closing lines. Which Pink did.

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That’s it for today. Go write something groovy.

~Shane


PS. Make sure you voice your opinion in the two polls. Thanks