What do you look for in a song?

[kuro]

Composition. Composition is everything to me. I treat lyrics as a bonus, since some of my songs don't contain lyrics.

[crowlowell]

The beat tbh.

I aint gonna lie - while i have the patience to appreciate "slow burn" songs that take a few listens, sometimes I want to listen to songs that i can easily play on repeat.

[Lensing]

What do you mean with composition? Every song is composed.
What elements of the composition are important for you?

I´m into short rock´n´roll songs. Simple arrangements, less is more,
danceable groove.

As a songwriter I want the audience to dance and that´s what I ask
myself when I decide on tempo and groove. And that´s also what
many unexperienced musicians fail on in my genre. They are no
dancers and they don´t know how to make people dance

[AizuKin123]

If a song has a meaning and singable lyrics!

[skullforceagents]

Melody and good instrumentals

[kyupol]

Good melody, lyrics are second

[ThunderChicken]

Many years ago on British TV there was a musical variety show called the Old Grey Whistle Test. It got its name from when the show would get a first copy of an album. If, after hearing the album a few times, the doormen in the facility (who wore grey suits and were thus referred to as "The Old Greys") could be heard whistling tunes from the record, it was said to have passed the Old Grey Whistle Test.

I bring forth this obscure bit of musical trivia because I am my old "Old Grey". If, after hearing a tune once or twice, I get it stuck in my head and whistle or hum it, it has passed my own Old Grey Whistle Test.

[jwabeasley]

I care a lot about melody and harmony, but I don't care much for lyrics. I have difficulty understanding most song lyrics, and don't care much for genres that are mostly about the lyrics.

I'd like to say any number of formal elements are the main criteria but to be honest, the main thing that makes me like a song is whether it was in some kind of visual media that I liked. Yes, I mostly listen to soundtracks. In music that's disconnected from some other media, usually the melody and tone go on for far too long and repeat too often (and this from someone who owns more than one Wagner instrumental soundtrack). There are many songs that I own that I wouldn't normally like except they were in a movie or game I liked.

[kuro]

I'n a fan of EDM, rap (mostly trap and drill), and dancehall reggae.

[thepenmonster]

To quote history's greatest philosophers;

I like music that doesn't suck.