In this week’s Technique Spotlight, we dive into the melodic structure behind recent country chart-topper I Hope’s expertly crafted chorus.

Written by Gabby Barrett along with Jon Nite and Zach Kale, I Hope has resonated with both country and pop fans alike, the latter due in part to a remix featuring pop superstar Charlie Puth. Since the song’s release it has landed in the top 10 on an array of charts in the US, including hitting the #1 spot on both the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts.

I Hope‘s Chorus Structure

While more varied than some of the more common chorus structures seen in non-hip hop Hot 100 Top 10 hits (i.e. AAAB, AABB, ABAB/CCAB, etc.), the strategic and methodical manner in which the writers structured the chorus’s melodies ensures that the listener remains engaged from start to finish.

Among the chorus’s core strengths are its effective balance of repetition and contrast, melodies that work in perfect tandem with Barrett’s delivery in bringing the emotional lyrics to life, and surprise melodic changeups that ensure the song’s infectious “icing on the cake” hook stands out and gets firmly ingrained in the listener’s head.

Want to learn more about the chorus structure techniques that helped send I Hope to the top of the charts? Visit the Techniques Library to find out!

Click here to read the full technique in the Techniques Library.