Why is the theme from Friday the 13th scary? In this episode, we'll take a look at the psychology and linguistics behind why "ki ki ki" sounds dangerous and evil.

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What makes the Jaws theme scary? In this episode, we'll dive into how leitmotifs, low notes, accelerandos, and dissonance combine to make us feel like the shark is going to attack.

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How can a song prepare us for an experience? In this episode, let's take a look at how the lyrics to the Animaniacs theme help us prepare for the show. And in the process, let's see how a song can be better doing the opposite of what previous episodes have recommended.

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How much can a melody tell us about the character who's singing the song? In this episode, we'll take a look at how the melody from "Carryin' the Banner" shows us that the Newsies aren't experienced and aren't united.

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How much does it really matter how a song tells its story? In this episode, we'll hear how Dr. Paul J. Zak discovered a crucial difference neurological difference between "The Devil Went to Georgia" by The Charlie Daniels Band and "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" by Rupert Holmes.

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How much does it really matter what key a song is in?

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Why do we like "Wherever You Will Go" by The Calling? In this episode, we explore how the song uses tension and release to make us enjoy the song more.

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Why do we like "All the Pretty Girls" by Kenny Chesney? In this episode, we take a look at how it uses two writing tools called "anaphora" and "epistrophe" to make the lyrics easier to remember. You can find the full transcript for this episode, the shownotes, and a link to hear the song at SongAppealOfficial.com/AllThePrettyGirls. You can also support Song Appeal on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal.

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Why do we like "The Middle" by Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey? In this episode, we'll take a look at how it feels like it has energy without taking any of the traditional routes to making a song energetic.

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Why do we like "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran? In this episode, we take a look at a few things that can make a song romantic, from its rhythm, to its speed, to the order of the chords. You can find the transcript for this episode and the shownotes at SongAppealOfficial.com/PerfectEdSheeran. You can also support Song Appeal on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal.