Catchy catchy slowly monkey

"Papz see me up in the vicinity and flash me, I'm the definition of definitive and catchy"

Tinie Tempah

Tell me though, what makes a song catchy? Guitar solos do it for you? Keyboard riffs? Chords? Or even vocals? For me, it is all of them, but when I think of catchy, I put great emphasis on the chords used in songs, and depending on the sequence the chords are used in, it will present itself in a distinctive key. Catchy songs don't necessarily have to be happy tunes that people can bust their best moves to; they can be catchy that they send a shiver down your spine as if the song is massaging you - a digital massage if you will...
Agree with these upcoming choices?

Gary Jules - Mad World

This Tears For Fears cover was used in the cult film Donnie Darko, and gained the UK Christmas No.1 spot in 2003. It is a soft piano cover that is easily one of the most emotional pieces of popular music ever recorded. Set in the key of C Minor with a chord progression of Fm-Ab-Eb-Bb, it doesn't change much throughout the song, but the use of many flat chords makes this song so catchy for me; they're the sort of chords I can listen to all day long. Maybe it also has something to do with the fact that the same chord progression is used in the verses for 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' by Green Day, which a lot of you will remember was my favourite song for a while. I also love listening to the chorus when the vocoder kicks in on Jules' voice; it's moving to say the least, and in a way, catchy.

Biffy Clyro - Mountains

Choosing this song is based around the chords used once more; most of them are flat. The guitars are detuned to make it easier for the Scottish power-trio to control. The key part for me in this song is the post-chorus part that kicks in precisely one minute in (Ab5-Bb5-F#5-Db5), and especially the second time around when there is an addition of a piano melody to compliment the raw sound being produced. This is Biffy's anthem and no wonder. It's not quite them at their most creative, but it's still identifiable enough to be Biffy Clyro. Mon the Biffy!

Coldplay - In My Place

Throughout my teens, this was one song that I would hear the guitar over and over again in my head but would never remember the name of the song. It finally came to me on the way to a night up town (yeeeeeah) and I was listening to Coldplay play live at Glastonbury 2011 on Radio 1, and then this gem appeared three songs in. After hearing Chris Martin's whispered words of "In my place, in my place, were lines that I couldn't change", I knew I'd found the song. After a decent night up town (yeeeeeah) I proceeded to go on my laptop the next day, YouTube this and listen to it pretty much all day. I shit you not, I must've played it about 20 times on guitar for the rest of the day. I just couldn't keep my ears off the guitar riff, a simple E octave in the key of A Major that also implements a B and a C#. This song will always remind me of the best summer ever: 2011.

Smashing Pumpkins - 1979

Another chance for me to blag about why 90's bands were better than a lot of bands of the Noughties. Take an alternative rock band from America, and give the band permission to use a sampler and you get this. A loop of "ooh", although it's not very distinguishable, is an ever-present throughout the song, and adds to its many licks and gives it an extra attractive quality; the key of Eb Major helps too, leaving a disposal of D, Eb and Bb octaves to be used. Again, the use of chords grabs me, and whilst it took some getting used to, I have now begun to adore it as one of my all time favourites.

Mindthings - Elle

French musician Clement Peres composes atmospheric instrumental music and allows all you lovely people to download his album 'Resonance' free of charge. Sweeping bluesy guitars accompany an Fm-C#-G# chord progression to create an unearthed diamond - it is relaxing as it is catchy. His entire album is made up of similar numbers that create a calm atmosphere to clear the mind and appreciate what is around you. Listen to 'The Colours of Happiness' and 'Artificial World' too - you'll be better off for it.

To summarise, give a guitarist a capo and make him attach it to the first fret, or make him tune it down a semitone, or ask your pianist to use only sharp/flat notes and you have yourself a catchy song in my book (that's just me though - you may or may not concur). This doesn't guarantee success though (having said that, all the songs mentioned have been very successful singles). Yes I love songs with memorable riffs such as MGMT's 'Kids', anything off Deadmau5's 'Random Album Title' or anything that Two Door Cinema Club do, and damn are they catchy, but here are offerings that I consider to be catchy; they are catchy because they keep me wanting more. I couldn't stop listening to all four of these songs when I first heard them, as they'd hooked me in - you might say that I was the catch they caught with their catchiness.

Upcoming gigs

Studying in a coastal Welsh town with train links only to Birmingham doesn't give me much scope for going to gigs when at university, unless I can find the time to travel and the money, but over the summer and later in the year I am happy to go say that I will be attending some concerts.

They all, bar one for clear reasons, happen to be at the same place: Wolverhampton Civic Hall. A fantastic venue in my home town that many acts have confessed their love for, notably McFly, who claim it is their absolute favourite venue to play because "the crowd are so loud, they go nuts", but the hall is also noted for the rumours that there is apparently oil placed beneath the floor of the main room to make it easier for attendants to bounce. On stage, this must ensure a wonderful spectacle, and with brilliant acoustics and facilities, who can argue?

Stewart Francis

1st June - Wolverhampton Civic Hall

Now I know it's not music but bear with me! As soon as my exams finish I am heading home to my loving family. The first thing me and my Dad are going to do? Go and watch Stewart Francis. A notorious one-liner with a droll onstage demeanour that makes Fonzie seem uncool, his delivery is perfection. You may have seen him on Mock the Week, Live at the Apollo and Michael Mcintyre's Comedy Roadshow, and if you haven't, please go ahead and YouTube him. A man who, like the great Colin Mochrie, pokes fun at his Canadianism, is a hot ticket right now and is currently in the middle of his UK tour. Having seen many hilarious comedy shows in my time from the likes of Stephen K Amos, Jimmy Carr, Reginald D Hunter, Milton Jones, and of course, the great Frankie Boyle, Mr Francis certainly has a lot to live up to. I just hope it's not a case of 'My Dad took me to see Stewart Francis and I remember swimming back to shore thinking...'

Blur (TBC)

5/6th August - Wolverhampton Civic Hall

Welcoming back the Britpop Daddys is going to be one hell of a night, provided I acquire a ticket considering they go on sale on Friday, hence the TBC. Having seen Blur at the Civic Hall back in 2009, I am excited to be able to relive that night. I sat on the balcony on the right hand side very near the stage, and I don't usually like to sit at gigs but it was fun to watch the crowd go completely ape. Wolverhampton are lucky to have Blur visit not once, but twice. This again crosses with the fact that Blur love the venue, and they must have a good time here back in 2009. Considered warm-up shows before their big gigs in Hyde Park, that very gig could be the last time we could see Blur live, so I'd consider it an honour if I got to go to this with my dear friends. Fingers crossed!

Leeds Festival

24th-26th August - Bramham Park, Leeds

Being something of a V Festival veteran, I decided this year to branch out a bit and try something else. So when V announced the lineup a couple of months ago, I was left a bit unimpressed. I've had some fantastic years there seeing some great shows but as a fan of rock music, I don't really get my fill at Weston Park. Along with a selection of my chums from home I shall be heading up to Bramham Park in Leeds for a five day binge whilst seeing the occasional band. Seriously though, I will see as many bands as I can, with the ones I'm looking forward to most being the mighty Foo Fighters. I last saw them at V Festival in 2007 and they were brilliant; it's been a long time coming, and I especially look forward to seeing the new material played live. A dilemma on the Saturday leaves me having to choose between The Cure and The Maccabees, but as with every time I go to a festival, it always ends up as a last minute decision. Sunday will be a fantastic send off to what should be a smashing weekend, with Kasabian holding a reputation as an energetic live band. Like with Foo Fighters, I last saw them at V Festival 2007 (passing up the opportunity to see them headline the 2010 festival in favour of The Prodigy), meaning I have yet to see their last two records performed live, and I anticipate an incredible finale. I will also be checking out Pulled Apart By Horses, The Gaslight Anthem, Bullet For My Valentine (for old times sake), The Black Keys (sadly missing Two Door Cinema Club in favour of watching The Black Keys and getting a good space for Foo Fighters), Foster The People, Enter Shikari, and Gallows. This has potential to be one damn fine weekend of music.

Lostprophets

1st November - Wolverhampton Civic Hall

A visit to Wolverhampton once again to see the Welsh metal-pop-emo hybrid known as Lostprophets. Coinciding with my brothers 18th birthday two days later, this is a fantastic excuse to come home and spend some time with him, however he is not going to this gig. I will be attending with my cohorts James and Daniel for my fifth time seeing this band (twice at V, three at Civic). Guaranteed carnage awaits when the anthems of old come out in force. 'Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja' guarantees nobody remains untouched in the crowd and by the end of that song the people at the back will have swapped places with the people on the barrier. This is the third time in four years that Lostprophets have played this venue, so something tells me they enjoy the lovely people of Wolverhampton.

Feeder

21st November - Wolverhampton Civic Hall

Twenty days after the Lostprophets gig I am back in Wolverhampton once more, this time to see one of the most underrated British bands of all time with Mr Potts: Feeder. Having had the pleasure of seeing them in the Wulfrun Hall back in October 2010, it will be a mass sing-along from the off. Last time for me it was a shame though as a week prior to the gig, I tore my ankle ligaments playing football and was on crutches for a while, hindering my attempts at bouncing throughout the show, even during 'Buck Rogers'. I did however manage to get my crutches in the air when 'Feeling a Moment' was played; whether the band noticed or not I have no idea. I did have the pleasure of meeting the band after the gig though after a while of waiting in the cold with some obsessed fans who had seen them about 20 times; this was my second Feeder show after seeing them at V two months prior. They were true gentlemen and apologised for keeping us waiting with offerings of cans of Guinness, Coca-Cola and even a bag of sweets. Singer/axeman Grant Nicholas knows how to write a tune, and is also a big influence on my guitar style, and when I told him this he genuinely seemed flattered, and our friendly handshake turned into a half-hug; for a man who must get a lot of compliments thrown his way, it was a nice moment to see his face light up when I praised him. God I'm a suck up...

Yes I was wearing a Muse shirt under the cardigan. WOT OF IT?!