Why does the chorus end with 'Tonight'?

Why do so many pop songs end their chorus with the word 'tonight'? Ed Sheeran, Vanessa Carlton, The Greatest Showman, Scissor Sisters, Train, Chris De Burgh, Bill Haley and Jerome Kern are all guilty of using it, so why is this habitual hook so persistent across popular music?
SUPPORT ME ON PATREON: / davidbennettpiano
Twin Monarch blogpost: twinmonarch.com/songwriting/h...

[@lenn_man]

Oh how the sun looks beautiful... T O N I G H T

[@mediaman97]

This needs to be the pinned comment

[@marlonmontelhiggins8570]

It would be fitting if one were to be in a part of the world in the time of year when the sun doesn't set. 😆

[@chia-iho]

maybe in alaska

[@megy570]

My dumb brain: Yes.

[@MrVatov]

David is right, the TONIGHT doesn't alter the meaning the slightest bit.

[@lalo5536]

I’m hearing and seeing “tonight” so much it doesn’t sound like a word anymore.

[@bananakiwi8028]

sEmAnTic SaTiATiOn

[@quartnoire]

Thats a phenomenon called Jamai Vu

[@fogernelion1949]

To neat?

[@Sean-cv4tt]

same lmfaooo

[@TheBigDean18]

I know right? What does it even mean anymore?

[@commengaetor7258]

Don't Stop Me Now: Starts with tonight Everyone: Wait thats illegal

[@MLBlue30]

Freddy Mercury was actually creative when writing music.

[@ravtaff]

"We're Young" by fun. also did that

[@projectjt3149]

damn you beat me to it

[@wariolandgoldpiramid]

I get that your comment is a joke, but is it actually based on fan reactions? Like, did people really notice "hey that's weird, it breaks the trope" ?

[@bruhbruh7935]

@M Ralte remove the "everyone: wait that's illegal"

[@Cryhai]

“Nocturnal shenanigans” really is the most PG implication I’ve ever heard

[@thegreenmage6956]

No, try The Beatles: ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’.

[@InventorZahran]

@@thegreenmage6956 That's not even an attempt at innuendo...

[@melanisticmandalorian]

That is how I want to talk to my wife "Madam, are you ready for the nocturnal shenanigans......... to-night.

[@saulio123]

My teacher would so say that 😂

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

obviously the songs are all about pillow fights

[@SidneyPatrickson]

Tonight is the bass drop of lyrics.

[@parisashahabi5067]

Strangely accurate

[@farzamimani5339]

This actually made me laugh

[@coolandhip_7596]

You said what we we're all too scared to say, you brave soul

[@tazedchode]

Whats a bass drop

[@almathomassen6447]

Who Else thought And you know i walk a thousand miles if i can just see you tonight And So if by the time The bar closes And you feel like falling down I carry you home tonight Was the same song?

[@catherinespark]

It's funny if you replace 'tonight' with 'for now'... "Darling you look perfect...for now."

[@thenerds666]

Lol that got me!

[@thecolorblack4778]

Oh that's great 👏👏

[@edvinbrattberg8647]

"Everything you do- for now"

[@thejiddy]

How about "right now"

[@leoguo5070]

catherinespark what about “for once”

[@grantmalone]

Sentences where adding tonight at the end makes a difference: I promise I won't cheat on you. I'd like to see you in my office. Everything that lives will die.

[@JasonJBrunet]

I did not have sexual relations with that woman.

[@tlep2979]

That's bullshit, I did not hit her.

[@stupidchild7716]

I swear I haven't touched that child!

[@avaneeshbharadwaj8516]

This comment is quite underrated 😂😂

[@Aurora-oe2qp]

@@avaneeshbharadwaj8516 I guess we could add tonight here too and the meaning is changed, because the comment is definitely not underrated now, a month later.

[@opticowl5486]

"We Are Young" by fun., is of course the apotheosis of this trope. They tease you with the tonight resolution for the whole damn song.

[@pinkajou656]

Y e s

[@reinhardtwilhelm5415]

Now that you mentioned it, that's kind of glorious.

[@Charlie-tc8sr]

john mulaney's bit saying every pop song is about how tonight is the night and we only have tonight

[@abbie1200]

Charlie S tonight’s no good, how bout Wednesday?

[@highoninfinity]

Abbie Edwards oh, you're in dallas on wednesday? lets just not see each other for 8 months and its completely fine

[@mariar.4893]

Charlie S it’s such 19 year old bullshit

[@madison-5422]

Maria Rybakov I’m 19 and feeling attacked why that specific age 😆

[@ItsAsparageese]

@@madison-5422 Honestly it's the perfect age for this topic 'cos "sophomoric" is a really good word here and that's a typical college sophomore age. At 19 we're just getting a handle on the world and our philosophies enough to feel really aware and like we've got things figured out and know where we're going, and we're just smart enough to have that feeling but still stupid enough to be way off base with it. Hence "sophomoric" lol, just wise enough to be an idiot. So it makes sense that writing and/or listening to inspiring-sounding but vaguely shallow pop songs, especially ones about fairly shortsighted views on life and using a sense of impermanence as a rationalization for hedonism, is totally a 19-year-old sort of thing to do. :P

[@slowfreq]

This is the exact kind of really really specific rant I love.

[@737driver]

It’s a very Larry David subject.

[@katiemccollum]

May I recommend: Jenna marbles’ video “some thought on avocados”

[@antonlefaivre4327]

... - tonight?

[@TurboSixxSpeed]

@@katiemccollum PROPOGANDA!

[@brown22sugar25]

when i was an egg i ate 4 dozen lads no she has garbage dogs

[@thulani5764]

The pain I felt when tonight was taken from Hey Soul Sister was indescribable

[@IceyGuy]

Wtf this just reminded me of what my friend and I used to do 10+ years ago. We would sometimes end our sentences with "tonight" in a singy voice when talking. I guess we were already somehow aware of this trend in songs and kinda subconciously mocked it.

[@greesy76]

that edit of hey soul sister without the “tonight” is incredibly cursed

[@MrGOOMBAGUY]

I hate everything about it.

[@showalk]

Yeah, I think it worked really well for the other two songs, but it completely destroyed Hey Soul Sister

[@Omar-bi9zn]

preach

[@indijay9049]

I can't find it could someone pls send a link?

[@indijay9049]

Oop found it haha

[@diulikadikaday]

Replace every “tonight” with “I guess” “You look wonderful...i guess”

[@oreodimasdale3840]

Hey. That works! "Guess" is short and snappy. But "I" might destroy it. So people will evolve it to "Ah guess" overtime.

[@MiuXiu]

Reminds me of Flight of the Conchords - The Most Beautiful Girl.. makes jokes out of corny pop song phrases and pick up lines. “Looking 'round the room I can tell that you Are the most beautiful girl in the room (In the whole wide room) And when you're on the street Depending on the street I bet you are definitely in the top three Good looking girls on the street, yeah Depending on the street, ooh” ....... “You're so beautiful You could be a part time model But you'd probably still have to keep your normal job A part time model Spending part of your time modelling And part of your time next to me And the rest of your time doing your normal job, ooh”

[@diulikadikaday]

@@MiuXiu, I love Flight of the Conchords. As a New Zealander, they are like our national heroes.

[@MiuXiu]

diulikadikaday hell yeah! I’m in the US but I loved watching them and still listen to their music. They’re great.

[@carlhartwell7978]

@@oreodimasdale3840 How about 'Sort of' When you say it with more of a softer 'd' sound instead of the harder 't' I think it'd work!

[@jgagnier]

I noticed this at about 4-5 years old. English is my second language, and at that age, any preeminent and recurring word has a solid impact. After yes/no/hello/goodbye, tonight is probably the first English word I learned. I would make up songs in pretend English, and "tonight" was a strong staple.

[@Amyehme]

'Tonight' can give a sense of romance and excitement, making it sound like it's a special moment. If it was replaced with 'Today' in some songs, it may not have the same effect, because 'Today' suggests a longer time span, losing its 'special moment' vibe!

[@danielviles38]

The rule in pop music has always been that, if you have two syllables spare, use "tonight" when you need the accent on the second syllable and "baby" when you need the accent on the first.

[@rlyrosy]

oh shit

[@Samtehcool]

Amusingly enough, Ed Sheeran's "Perfect" invokes both of these.

[@elappo1824]

Daniel Viles what generally might decide where you would need the emphasised syllable to be?

[@aashi8316]

@@elappo1824 when songwriters write the tune before the lyrics, certain notes are written to be different lengths so they fit with the instruments.

[@miiclarky]

I can't get enough of you BAby

[@mellowgeekstudio]

"In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight..."

[@FreshGirl3000]

Latino Sci-Fi Geek True👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@glitchedgirI]

But that emphasises TOnight rather than toNIGHT

[@mellowgeekstudio]

@@glitchedgirI Oh yeah, you are right. I forgot about that.

[@napwneoenejeod3740]

thats not the chours tho

[@woottastic]

That’s not the chorus.

[@gracemcdaniel4221]

They’ll tell the story of T O N I G H T

[@cosmicpulse7459]

Grace McDaniel was looking for this

[@panbreadkin2072]

This one’s a little different though in terms of the “tonight” being central to the meaning. Good example nonetheless.

[@thunderfirex335]

Fellow Hamilfan, hello there

[@pinkajou656]

RAISE A GLASS TO FREEEEEEEDDDOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM

[@angi4912]

*sobs HAMILTOOOONNNN

[@simonjohnston3100]

This makes me realise how creative the end of the chorus to "Let's go to the mall" is. The melody goes 8-3-1 rather than 2-1-1 AND the last word is today. Robin Sparkles broke new ground in the Canadian 90s!

[@cl4m473]

Now you know your ABCs, next time won't you sing with me... toNIGHT~

[@killmekillme1193]

LMFAOOOO

[@avramyleitner910]

It actually sounds good

[@chelsealee144]

KillMeKillMe THAT ACTUALLY SOUNDED SO LEGIT I HAD TO SING MY ENTIRE ABCs TO MAKE SURE IT WASN’T REAL 😂😂

[@barringtonwomble4713]

Twinkle twinkle little star, how i wonder what you are... Tonight~

[@xyzno1cancer]

O'er the land of the free And the home of the brave *toNIGHT~*

[@diode_wow]

Someone should write a song called "Tonight" and never say the word. It should obviously be a 4/4 summer pop hit to really drive people insane when they start wondering what extra "thing" is missing because the song sounds weird.

[@saprogeist31]

Unfortunately, a major pop artist would have to do it, or the off-kilter quality would likely prevent it from becoming popular.

[@RoxxieDymond]

Challenge accepted 😎

[@B.A.G.Studios]

I was thinking this also

[@gavinmitchell1328]

I will do this in the future, just for you.

[@dlol.]

Replace it with nocturnal shenanigans

[@InventorZahran]

"Tonight" is a fairly generic word tonight. You can easily add it to the end of almost any sentence, without changing the meaning of the other words tonight. As you can see in this self-demonstrating example, it can work in almost any context tonight.

[@fduranthesee]

Say “tonight” so much it doesn’t mean anything anymore tonight

[@samduymelinck]

@@fduranthesee You're right, but it doesn't matter tonight

[@seventhspud]

tomorrow is used for jazz tonight

[@karolakkolo123]

The year 1787 happened tonight.

[@SarimFaruque]

I don't like this tonight

[@fantasticmio]

Another fun game: add tonight to songs that dont have it: "just to be the man who walked a thousand miles to fall down at your door tonight!"

[@harrisont2004]

Oh shoot that works

[@majorse000]

I'll make it through Prove it to you Follow me tOnIgHt

[@tshapedl]

You better watch out You better not cry You better not pout I'm telling you why Santa Claus is coming........... ....tonight.

[@alexjane943]

T shapedSpaceL Well, that tonight is needed lol. That’s when the guy comes, apparently

[@indighost__]

@@Jens_Gram he's coming.

[@amongusamongusamongusehrh]

It’s to town, but that works too

[@timirtey8928]

@@amongusamongusamongusehrh No shit, Sherlock

[@maryhawkins3427]

Wait pls actually tell me if you are joking lmao I can't tell sorry- I thought it was to town, but I must be just super dumb and not notice a joke when it is right in front of me lmao

[@theozamparo]

"So if by the time the bar closes And you feel like falling down I'll carry you home Tonight"

[@crash21499]

I’d say yes to this but at the same time with this song the word “tonight” is integral because it connects “carry you home” to “we are young” in most of the places it’s used. So while yes it creates that same sense of urgency, I don’t think you could replace it by just instrument or another word. Yes no maybe so?

[@beckmyre]

True, though that is also the pre-chorus leading into the chorus. As well as it does not follow the cadence or scale degrees that all of his examples do. Good thought tho

[@theozamparo]

I was specifically thinking about the very end of the song actually, it's a more than obvious instance of the effect

[@austinmolitor7283]

Came here to mention We Are Young too

[@elliotscribot-carter972]

I was just about to say this one ahaha

[@Valetravelgames]

i'm getting tonightus from hearing all of those tonights xD

[@onlookerofthings6029]

@Anne Day Well... not hear

[@slingingsteve]

you may have to have it to get it - good job

[@editname6868]

Underrated

[@shadehunter]

Ya know what sound a drum set makes falling out of the back of a truck? Ba-dum, chick! (Joke drum beat).

[@Thelilbone]

hahahaha

[@ms.kittywhiskers7348]

‘Tonight’ has now lost all meaning to me after watching this video

[@BibleStorm]

The best "tonight" ever is at the start of "don't stop me now" by queen.

[@4dultw1thj0b]

I'm not sure if that even really applies since it's at the beginning of the sentence instead of the end

[@ananda_miaoyin]

I´m gonna have myself a real good time...

[@ulasonal]

@@ananda_miaoyin i feel ali i i iveeeee

[@ObjectManiacJennifer27]

And the world, I'll turn it inside out, yeah.

[@DaveGaming99]

I'm floating around in ecstasy...

[@yayabibi7572]

the most popular filler words: *tonight* *yeah* *baby* *oooh* *ayy* *mmm* *LALALALALA* *skrrt* *aye*

[@emilyz8405]

cow another one is “yuh”

[@robfriedrich2822]

Ooh yeah baby, daytime you're ugly, but you're right - tonight

[@talondearborne7631]

OP should check our Edge of Glory

[@asapling]

You forgot Aye

[@oliviapetrowski4553]

Emily Zoque More popular ones: Na na na Nu nu nu Hey! Uh La la la

[@supermariomariani]

Everibody:puts tonight at the and Freddie Mercury: no

[@swivel_z1371]

Japanese songs, especially ones from Idol Groups, like to use 「君と」very often, which on its own means "You too" or "With you" as if to include the listener into the group of very cute singers. It also seems to be the standard version of saying You in songs, though あなた is still used often, even though it's not used in speech nearly as often.

[@ADeeSHUPA]

君と め로ぢ

[@swivel_z1371]

@@ADeeSHUPA Why did you type one single Korean character in the middle of that?

[@swivel_z1371]

@ADee SHUPA Are you going for "meroji"? It can be written as メロディ in Japanese, and is how you make a "Dee" sound (de + small i)

[@fortepiano4491]

I can literally only think about "We Are Young" and it's not even at the end of the chorus.

[@noost6923]

Lmao same

[@dovra3655]

Forte Piano when i saw the title, that’s literally the first thing that popped into my mind. idk why

[@tallywally162]

Same!

[@shen1671]

How about the part that goes, "Carry me home tonight , Just carry me home tonight, Carry me home tonight, Just carry me home tonight"

[@marthaj.patterson7539]

its so ironic how they do it to end the pre-chorus and indicate the beginning of the chorus. Its the embodiment of the modern problems require modern solutions meme

[@DavidDiMuzio]

I actually think Ed Sheeran's "Perfect" sounds much better without the word "tonight" at the end. That word always particularly bugged me in that song.

[@stanconnorstan4266]

Totally agree, it emphasizes the perfection of the person in all times...beyond just that single moment. TBH it sounds kind of shallow.

[@eKalb33]

I'd prefer "to me" rather than "tonight"

[@madison-5422]

Like she just looks perfect *tonight* it cheapens it

[@57wookie]

Idk the perfect kinda hangs there too long

[@TheBillyAxford2799]

@@stanconnorstan4266 if you think about it tho, im pretty sure a woman would like to feel extra special on a special day like their wedding or something like that. Saying that she looks perfect on that night could really be something more beautiful than shallow with the right context, I guess it just depends if you want to look at it cynically or not.

[@Lefty7788tinkatolli]

The one that comes to mind is "We Are Young" "So if by the time the bar closes, and you feel like falling down... I'll carry... you home.... toniiiight".

[@pinkajou656]

It’s really interesting how it starts the chorus too

[@pinkajou656]

We are yooooonnnnggg!!!

[@Eralen00]

Funny, I've never heard the end of that song. Don't have the stomach for it

[@ryanharris9608]

“Tonight I’m gonna rock you tonight” - Spinal Tap

[@thejintymyster6396]

Does anyone else just love... "Nocturnal shenanigans" It's one of the most brittish things I've ever heard

[@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770]

I prefer skoodely pooping.

[@cacen180]

thejintymyster withjinty “brittish”

[@AbsoluteAbsurd]

Ok man

[@barringtonwomble4713]

Personally i consider that to be a load of codswallop.

[@shadybeashooketh1911]

it's British you dickhead

[@Sejikan]

Replace "tonight" with "my guy"

[@uyagraph]

Darling you look perfect....my guy

[@Sejikan]

@@uyagraph exactly! it works perfectly!

[@andreamary407]

Yup it totally works as a replacement for tonight hahah

[@lunadoodles8810]

this is the most beautiful thing i've ever read, i am going to go do this to every song i can think of now. thank you so much for this.

[@jasminem812]

genius

[@mothsfavlamp]

It’s used in Hamilton too, in Story of Tonight and Laurens Interlude

[@JoshBgoRams]

They’re all way more interesting, emotional and less tacky without tonight. Thanks for taking it out to show that. I went back and listened again

[@pinkajou656]

They’re not nearly as bad as I thought they’d be

[@EddyThron]

Hey soul sister I don’t wanna miss A single thing you dooooooo *... ... ...* That was a particularly stressful moment.

[@aidan9637]

EddyThron ikr

[@lowkeyebonyy]

.... HEYYYY

[@fleshwtblood]

Which minute?

[@SanJose408Alex]

Gut wrenching

[@_mako]

Idky but it sounded like erectile dysfunction

[@johnwalker5614]

Removing 'tonight' from the end of a chorus is the lyrical equivalent of switching to light mode

[@masterchief3007]

Darling you look perfect today

[@dusknightwings7821]

Darling you look perfect, _For now_

[@nef36]

I use light mode for youtube.

[@Doofito]

ive never read anything more accurate in my life

[@greensphinx]

Nef36 by using light mode, you are the living form of the sun. A cold sun. The only thing good about you is carcinogenic. You are a living eye cancer.

[@jamestaylor5028]

Please do a video on the hundreds of songs that say "down, down, down..."

[@manolocorp]

For the "How I met your mother" fans here, the song "Let's go to the mall" by Robin Sparkles has this kind of hook at the end of the chorus, but with the word "today". That song is legendary.

[@j_0anna]

removing tonight from perfect and a thousand miles works but removing it from hey soul sister is SCARY

[@nothayley]

I think that might be because in HSS the artist has just gone from 1 to 2 in the previous bar, and so even in this short sample your ears know what they want and they're not getting it. Perhaps the whole songs of Perfect and A Thousand Miles would be more disconcerting if "tonight" were removed.

[@putridpedros]

@@nothayley also there's a big gap, no drum fill and then just empty uke chords so it sounds obviously missing. In the other ones there's enough other instruments to cover the gap so it doesn't sound as weird.

[@423adriana]

Yeah it sounds super creepy lyric - wise.

[@corvidaedalus]

I'd say it's because he lingers on "do" for a bit too long that it feels like he's about to say something else, but he doesn't. The guy in the video essentially created an awkward silence in a song.

[@yogarcia6066]

I think they mean the lyrics were scary, not the music

[@5naxalotl]

in superman: the broadway musical, the showstopper should end with the word kryptonite

[@adriancastro3232]

Kriptonight

[@dooomalex]

Underrated

[@carrotsoup9551]

BITHCHCJDJ

[@sleepybraincells]

made me chuckle

[@yodelgoats790]

its called holy musical b@man thanks

[@meinname4997]

I also think that the resolution on "tonight" works really well in live shows, making the night of the show feel more special and the lyrics easier to identify with.

[@MarcusKyo]

Using the word "tonight" at the end is an easy way to add extra feeling and a sense of atmosphere to the lyrics. "Tonight" has a feeling of "conclusion" and also "exploring the unknown" because of the dark but also beautiful starry imagery of night and not knowing what lies beyond. Since lyrics are mostly used to tell stories, it's pretty useful to use words that have that ability.

[@JessT23]

'Fun: We are young.' I will carry you home, toniiiiiight

[@EllingtonReborn]

Exactly when i saw the thumbnail is when i started thinking about this very song.

[@jurgeysamuel]

Same but he throws tonight in at the beginning of a chorus or bridge toniiighghiiight we are yoooyuuung

[@olirolypoly]

weee are yoooooung so let’s set the world on fiiiirrrreeee

[@countryswingaz4343]

@@jurgeysamuel He uses it to link the verse and chorus together. The same unresolved melody effect happens if you just sing "I will carry you home." Pretty clever, actually.

[@StellarWishGaming2002]

Chorus also starts with tonight

[@BoHorn]

Finalllyy someone mentions this, been bugging me for years.

[@pinkpanthaur]

Same. I thought I was the only one who noticed.

[@chefthewizard2856]

Bo Horn being the only person that notices this must be torturous 😭😂

[@TheHowlingStone]

For real! I've always ragged about it and it's nice to see it discussed like this.

[@rvndre8601]

Same! But what is worse is when the song's title is a noun (eg 'Sledgehammer') and the chorus ends with 'like a sledgehammer'

[@BoHorn]

tiny mushroom oh yeah that’s unbearable

[@metalskater888]

I've been waiting forever for someone to make this video! Thank you so much :)

[@hughp97229]

The word "tonight" invites you into the song, because it's a word that has immediate relevancy, both to the characters in the song, and to the listener, who is listening tonight. It makes you a part of the action, by bringing the action very much into the present tense. This is like in a movie, where most of the action took place in the past, and suddenly you're at the scene that's supposed to represent the present day. Suddenly the action seems more immediate and raw. There's also another explanation for "tonight." The song writers are piggy-backing off of each other, borrowing the good feelings you subconsciously remember from the last song hook that ended with "tonight."

[@bedislife5605]

Removing "tonight" put my bones into attack mode

[@chewycenter7690]

I saw an improvement each time.

[@mariomartens3695]

@@chewycenter7690 same

[@xLextonx]

@@chewycenter7690 "hey, soul sister" was cursed without 'tonight'.

[@Aurora-oe2qp]

Really? I quite preferred it for all the songs except Soul Sister which sounded slightly off without tonight. Probably because I feel like the tonight actually made a difference in the lyrics.

[@BrianaLynn7]

@@xLextonx without it i feel sick lol. I know these songs too well with the "tonight" and without it i feel uncomfortable lol. Also the ending note would need to change without the tonight bc I do feel the need for that resolve .

[@clifftarrance]

This was the best video I've seen.... tonight

[@richardmoores]

Now you’re getting it

[@joecastro9977]

Very nice

[@freedommendoza40]

HAAHHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA

[@angelofababeir1709]

Now that's the best usage

[@coloursofmychoice5418]

Another great video, thanks :) However, I'd argue "tonight" clearly has a semantic meaning in that it emphasizes the urgency and moment of the utterance. No matter what time of day: it either will be or still is "tonight". By taking a general utterance and modifying it like this, an air of "seize the moment" or possibly even imaginative spatial and temporal proximity is given. Thus, a slightly different emotion is conveyed and the song, in a way, provides itself with a timeless presence as it still talks about the presence, i.e. "tonight". To add a few: U2: "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" The Cure: "Lullaby" Pitbull ft. Neyo, Nayer & Afrojack: "Give Me Everything (Tonight)" Amy MacDonald: "This Is The Life" Hamilton Musical: "The Story of Tonight"

[@connor9613]

Meanwhile Queen start their song with "Tonight" (Don't stop me now)

[@SonicFanChris4]

Meanwile, most of the chorus of "Tonight, Tonight" by The Smashing Pumpkins is made up of the word "Tonight."

[@aidan8473]

Exactly what I wanted to comment lol.

[@charlesporsbjer2416]

The song does the tonight trick as well. It even finishes the song...

[@shortyrags]

@@charlesporsbjer2416 is it the same though? It sounds like the vocal melody is actually resolving upwards in a minor scale to what would be the relative major root and then the instrumental goes down step-by-step to the minor tonic.

[@crazymonkeymw2]

And he pronounces if TOnight at times.

[@Majestia27]

@@shortyrags Sounds like a Picardy third, resolving to a sense of hope.

[@jmz1736]

Welp, "tonight" is no longer a word

[@adityakhanna113]

Happy semantic satiation!

[@Jeremia1]

What is that,

[@AuXXKeyz]

@@Jeremia1 when you repeat a word so much that it doesnt makes sense anymore

[@nateds7326]

Fun. Inovated by *STARTING* their chorus with tonight. Genius!

[@adamernest5998]

Super interesting! Your Love by The Outfield is the song that first comes to mind with this. "I don't wanna lose your love, tonight" and "I just wanna use your love, tonight" are the two main lines of the chorus.

[@geekthegirl6961]

Doesn't "tonight" also draw the listener in, as though the singer and listener were part of the same shared experience? Tonight, as in here in this moment.

[@carlhartwell7978]

Good point, it definitely gives a song a sense of _now_

[@Padlix]

That's spot on

[@jojoelio5537]

that is one of the conclusions drawn by the article he mentioned earlier in the video.

[@viedeciel]

Clever.

[@pootrizz]

It also ends a chorus with a cutoff in sound

[@SuperGroat]

Haha i spent a good year of my life wondering what was "that song I couldn't remember anything about except how satisfying the "tonight" lyric was at the end of the chorus". Turned out it was probably a meta song i couldn't find because it was every song.

[@camw621]

Maybe "Tonight, Tonight" by Smashing Pumpkins, cuz it's like three thirds of the song, lol...

[@Wellimanewguy]

Or perhaps "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight" by Genesis

[@poodychulak]

Or "Tonight Tonight Tonight" by Beat Crusaders Oh wait, that puts tonight at the beginning of the lines in the chorus...

[@bethanyrippeon8862]

We are young by fun?

[@zoey-oey-oeyd4020]

This man: “Night is a quick snappy sound which results in a short staccato note” West Side Story: “TONIIIIIIIIIIGHT”

[@joearl4901]

I think Perfect sounds fine without the Tonight, since the end of the word "perfect" drops down to the root note, but the rest do need that satisfying drop at the end. It isn't right if the chorus doesn't end on the root note.

[@alex_evstyugov]

This is brilliant. I think I'll just start adding it to random songs to mess with people. Oh I believe in yesterday. Tonight. Shake it off, shake it off. Tonight. Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah. Tonight.

[@stephenderry9488]

"tonight" could be the new "in my pants" - a generic phrase you can just add to everything tonight.

[@soph1e]

@@stephenderry9488 Now that's an idea in my pants tonight.

[@dontlookatmypic3594]

Why do i find this comment hilarious😂😂

[@3N3MYKN1GHT]

The tonight in Hallelujah is incredibly terrible >_

[@scooby25611]

@@stephenderry9488 Reminds me of Spongebob Squarepants when he starts saying "at night" after everything

[@AdamHaycee]

I did a music production degree and this is exactly the kind of overboard analysis that would have resulted in a great dissertation

[@luqcrusher]

Adam Harriis This didn’t feel overboard at all, more like a close observation.

[@jps76]

How do you know when someone has a music production degree?

[@hein2790]

@@jps76 they'll tell you (in reverb)

[@armandosoria7993]

@@hein2790 lol

[@aidanlindell2260]

The two that stick out in my mind are "Tonight" by Smashing Pumpkins and, one that hardly anyone talks about, "Breaking the Habit" by LINKIN PARK

[@GoodwinGhost]

i also feel like "tonight" is a good way to conclude the chorus cuz it's also the conclusion of the day. it just kinda fits

[@JamoboBorg]

Well the Beatles basically own the word Yesterday, so noone's gonna write about the past...

[@autonomouscollective2599]

Jacob Borg And “Annie” owns Tomorrow.

[@vz2428]

Is it fair enough to say that Oasis owns "Today"?

[@samley2691]

ZucaVliat24 no...

[@vz2428]

That's why I asked

[@Grayham4]

And that's why I love them

[@laserbeamlightning]

Just reminding everyone that since he used music in the video, he's demonetized. Throw him a thumbs up at the very least to show some love for him making this video

[@coachkevinyoung]

And do it ... tonight

[@vz2428]

Claimed*

[@renno2679]

I thought it was under fair use?

[@vz2428]

@@renno2679 fair use on KZbin? Funny joke

[@iStraightEye]

With such a great explanation and concrete evidence, not only would I give a like but also subscribe to him... Later after it gets dark.

[@gingersnipps5034]

gosh thank you somebody finally said it- ive noticed this and its kinda bothered me sometimes when it hardly makes any sense as a lyric. ive never really understood why it always had to be 'tonight' but your explanation actually makes much more sense

[@jeffstone28]

Loved this video, David. Clever of you to observe and analyze this 🙂.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks Jeff! 😊

[@capngeeoff]

I think the word "tonight" might also to be a trick to connect with people attending a concert

[@gregwoodin5630]

Good point. Guaranteed to make the couples in attendance all gooey eyed.

[@DaProGamer12]

...tonight

[@xxIluvyouguysxx]

Doesn’t work. I can’t afford concerts

[@Nearhhh]

@@xxIluvyouguysxx lmao you killed me 😂 🤣

[@MysticOceanDollies]

xxIluvyouguysxx lol me

[@AEMOERmusic]

In that Hey Soul Sister one, the removal of tonight actually makes a huge difference. 'I don't wanna miss a single thing you do' has way different implications to 'I don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight'.

[@TheMastermilch]

I think we are just super conditioned with Hey Soul Sister. It's probably the most known of those 3 songs and there is quite a lot of emphasis on the "Tonight". Especially because the "do" is so drawn out. You just need something to finish that long "do".

[@FresoVODs]

@@TheMastermilch Nah. "I don’t want to miss a single thing you do" is quite stalkerish. Adding "tonight" (or *any* temporal or other limitation to the statement) makes it nigh infinitely less stalkerish.

[@TheMastermilch]

@@FresoVODs If you take the line by itself, sure it's quite creepy. In context of the whole song, this line isn't too creepy in my opinion.

[@xzotic6]

The point was that the lyrics still made sense despite removing “tonight.” The melody sounds terrible without that resolution but the message still gets across

[@ellishale2523]

Adventures of Freso see: Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing, Every Breath You Take, etc. No time limit put on these sentiments, definitely more stalkery.

[@darrylhenry5117]

I am looking forward to supporting your patreon as soon as I get the funds right. You are ingenious in music communication and I am listening to you tonight.

[@Jmac1962]

The word adds a feeling of Immediacy, imminence, and anticipation into the lyrics.

[@boldcautionproductions9203]

You are so right - look Dashing through the snow In a one-horse open sleigh Through the fields we go Laughing all the way. Bells on bob-tail ring Making spirits bright What fun it is to ride and sing A sleighing song *tonight* I just *knew* thought this song was about nocturnal shenanigans...

[@derpydayha]

Agreed 😂

[@Danjanon]

It truly is. Don't drink and ride 😁

[@OrbiliusMagister]

So the right word order should be... "Bells on bob-tail rings, *spirits making bright*."

[@SeanFarFlung]

Best comment

[@TheCloudyoshi]

This is an exception to the rule in that the word is actually used in the rhyming- not just added after a rhyme to end a stanza

[@premeditated_burger]

Skinner, with his crazy explanations The superintendent's gonna need his medication When he hears Skinner's lame exaggerations There'll be trouble in town tonight

[@DavidBennettPiano]

SEYMOUR!!!!1!!

[@MooImABunny]

You do realize you've just added innuendo to this, by proxy.

[@LateStudiosandmore]

wait but in this the melody goes up on the 'tonight'. explain.

[@Warhawk-kf9mx]

samrossetc The melody goes up, yes, but the note still resolves in the root.

[@brandonthesteele]

@@MooImABunny he didn't do that, whichever Simpsons writer wrote that song did

[@GorgoReptilicus]

Thank you so much for your work and analysis. I'm a new subscriber and am learning more about music production and design. Your insight is much appreciated!

[@filomatheia2604]

This video lives rent free in my head. It's insane how many times I think about this whole "tonight" thing.

[@sarahcha]

This reminds me of that spongebob episode where he ended everything with “at night”

[@SuryaBudimansyah]

I believe it's "The Hash-Slinging Slicer" one

[@exosvocals2526]

😂😂😂

[@VeryPeeved]

I want to meet potential architects; all night I want to purchase urban real estate; all night I want to study local zoning laws; all night I want to calculate construction costs; all night

[@TheModicaLiszt]

The Graveyard Shift is the name of the episode

[@liebnub]

Best comment confirmed.

[@BrianShensky]

The anti-"Tonight"-trick example is "Tonight Tonight Tonight" by Genesis. The CHORUS goes "Tonight Tonight Tonight" and resolves to "Oh ohhhhhhhh".

[@plumbersteve]

Brian Shensky I thought of that one too. Love genesis.

[@pitchblackcap1218]

This made me think of Tonight Tonight Tonight by Beat Crusaders

[@PhilipJReed-db3zc]

Semantically it's the same as "Tonight, tonight," without the last tonight though, so that backs up his point.

[@moonlightchild3855]

You're awesome and so is Genesis 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@SirHiggalot]

What if they had ended it with tonight, though? "Tonight, tonight, tonight..." "TONIGHT."

[@mckay91095]

I've noticed this as well over the years, I'm so Happy to see someone else recognized this.

[@seeroflight5783]

man i remember searching this a couple years ago and found nothing, glad you and that dude on that article covered it

[@gomey70]

I noticed this years ago. Lots of words rhyme with the 'ight' sound. Light, bright, night, right, fight, might, sight etc. All quite emotive words found frequently in pop songs.

[@dylanwaring5678]

gomey70 shite

[@user-co2ps4yo7k]

terraria shit

[@kyleaneuendorf8494]

Then Dancing in the Moonlight will blow your mind.

[@valvenator]

DUUUUUDE! I think you just wrote a Rap tune! your love light is shining bright so this night let's make it right no need to fight 'cause we might just loose sight of things we feel...................... tonight!

[@ediblepencil494]

Mama Ooo Didn't mean to make you cry If I'm not back again this time tomorrow Carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters *ToNiGhT*

[@gryla5290]

Tonight~ I'm gonna have myself A real good time

[@RubyPiec]

@@gryla5290 Is that the real lyric/

[@gryla5290]

@@RubyPiec idk what you mean but mine's from a different song of Queen's

[@Yotanido]

@@gryla5290 I had to think of Don't Stop Me Now throughout the entire video. Obviously doesn't fit the theme, but starting with "Tonight" kinda does that, I guess

[@15121Duncan]

@@gryla5290 yeah but in that case the word is there for the lyrics first

[@samproximax1790]

You create such amazing contents, thanks for your work

[@whydot7437]

I’ve wanted to know this for so long and I’m so glad he made a video on it, because this hook has made “tonight” my least favorite word in songwriting and just in general since it’s in so many songs

[@scottbrown2252]

Great video... tonight.

[@jerometubog2467]

Lol

[@thezaher]

Let's add Tadaa instead. If I could see you... Tadaa Darling you look perfect... Tadaa A single thing you do... Tadaa Edit: Jazz hands included.

[@jongbong1912]

Or maybe "wankers"

[@twotothehalf3725]

@@jongbong1912 "Wankers" isn't as good because the stress is on the first syllable unlike "tonight" and "tadaa" where the stress is on the second.

[@cynicalsheep7493]

@@twotothehalf3725 "tadaa" has the problem he mentions, where it's not really a staccato syllable ending like "tonight" has

[@guccideltaco]

I don’t think it would work, because Tadaa is something said when you’re surprising someone with something, which doesn’t make sense at the end of those phrases. As my kid brother said when he heard Savage Garden “I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You” as a little kid: “this doesn’t make any SENSE!!”

[@Auoric]

@@guccideltaco r/woooosh

[@nicolassanslopez3370]

In the musical Twisted, at the end of a song only for making fun of the endings with tonight, all the characters end singing tonight. Why i have to explain.....WHERE ARE MY STARKID FANS

[@cursorygosling2846]

"They'll tell the story of tonight"

[@gametheorybackpack]

I was searching for like 5 minutes for someone say something about Hamilton and I found two of them right next to each other

[@InventorZahran]

Raise a glass to the four of us, Tomorrow there'll be more of us, Telling the story of tonight... (Let's have another round tonight...)

[@pinkajou656]

@@InventorZahran Raise a glass to freeeedom, something they can never take away!

[@CuriousNeon]

What a nice KZbin recommendation.... ... *ｔｏｎｉｇｈｔ～*

[@katetaylor337650]

This is super similar to queens We are the champions where he says ‘of the world,’ some people still sing it on the wrong verses

[@viennekemper188]

i think that's because freddie did sing the "of the world" at the end of the song at live aid, which is undoubtedly their most popular performance. so people who don't usually listen to queen and dissect/memorize their lyrics are most familiar with the song going that way, even though it's not really like that

[@Brax1982]

As far as I know, he doesn't sing it, at all...isn't that a popular example for the Mandela Effect (which is utter bullshit)? Seriously, like I'd ever listened to this song, for real.

[@putridpedros]

@@Brax1982 nah he sings it after the first verse

[@DC_Prox]

@@Brax1982 he does say it at least once, the Mandela effect is that some people mistakenly think he says it after the last iteration, but "champions" is the last word.

[@ellen7136]

@@viennekemper188 I completely agree. I grew up listening to the live aid version moreso than the studio version.

[@RemixerDarken]

"Shooting Star" by Owl City and "Angel with a Shotgun" by the Cab (where the "tonight" harmonizes with the root note, so it's on the 3rd degree instead) also have choruses that end in "tonight".

[@crisaguilar4]

I just love all your videos ❤️

[@e.johnson7349]

I need a clip of Soul Sister sans "tonight" to mess with some people. It's just the right amount of strange to drive people insane.

[@smileydweeb3611]

you are a terrifying individual

[@IceMetalPunk]

It's like... "But...but...wait! WHERE IS THE END? IT NEVER ENDS!"

[@IsomerMashups]

Great Scott, this is going to be my next April Fools joke. Just a straight upload of this song with the "tonight" removed.

[@arnold08]

I want to hear it changed to "today". It rhymes with "hey"!

[@allisonmiller6121]

Everyone: Ends chorus with Tonight Freddie Mercury extra™: Tonihight... I'm gonna have myself...a real good time

[@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770]

Toniiiiiiiiiyiiiiiiight!!! We are young! -that tonight’s ‘gonna be a good night!

[@wlinse7095]

@@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770 аnd it ends with tonight

[@matheustran8009]

Fun (I think that was their name) Tonight, we are young

[@KayCooLest.]

Allison miller I feel aliii iii iii iiiiive

[@logexpTommy]

Brian May: Give me all your love toooooniiiiiiiiight

[@maryannemakes]

I love this - so insightful. Great video!!! :)

[@donna30044]

Of course, there's the hauntingly beautiful and heartbreaking "Tonight" from West Side Story, in which "tonight" not only ends the song quite dramatically, but is used repeatedly throughout the song. The song is found to be all the more poignant in that the story being told in the greater work (West Side Story) ends so tragically on that fateful night.