A good prechorus is becoming quite rare these days (as are key changes). So, let's hear it, which songs have the best prechorus?

I'll start with two from wildly different genres:

Heart of the Matter - Don Henley
Master of Puppets - Metallica

Don't Stop Believin' by Journey probably has by favorite pre-chorus.

Rex Racer said:

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Don't Stop Believin' by Journey probably has by favorite pre-chorus.

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Ok but what's the chorus then? I've always thought the don't stop believing part is equal parts bridge and outro, not a chorus.

bthotugigem05 said:

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Rex Racer said:

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Don't Stop Believin' by Journey probably has by favorite pre-chorus.

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Ok but what's the chorus then? I've always thought the don't stop believing part is equal parts bridge and outro, not a chorus.

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I see that now. Okay, I'm wrong.

Not quite the OP's question but this for me is a great example of a song where everything is great except the chorus.

Rex Racer said:

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bthotugigem05 said:

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Rex Racer said:

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Don't Stop Believin' by Journey probably has by favorite pre-chorus.

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Ok but what's the chorus then? I've always thought the don't stop believing part is equal parts bridge and outro, not a chorus.

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I see that now. Okay, I'm wrong.

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I don't know if I'm right though. For me the prechorus has always been immediately followed by the chorus.

If you consider the Beatles songwriting model as canon:
Verse
Chorus
Verse
Chorus
Bridge
Chorus

Then I've always logically felt that the typical prechorus model would be:

Verse
Prechorus
Chorus
Verse
Prechorus
Chorus
Bridge
(optional prechorus)
Chorus

But Journey messes with that structure in so many of their hit songs, Don't Stop Believin' could just as easily be

Verse
Prechorus
Verse
Prechorus
Bridge/Solo
Chorus

Just some notes from the Overthinking It Department.

How bout songs without a chorus?

Stairway to Heaven
Bohemian Rhapsody

Hotel California
Red Barchetta

Hotel California most certainly has a chorus.

Oof. Brain fart.

bthotugigem05 said:

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Rex Racer said:

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bthotugigem05 said:

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Rex Racer said:

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Don't Stop Believin' by Journey probably has by favorite pre-chorus.

---

Ok but what's the chorus then? I've always thought the don't stop believing part is equal parts bridge and outro, not a chorus.

---

I see that now. Okay, I'm wrong.

---

I don't know if I'm right though. For me the prechorus has always been immediately followed by the chorus.

If you consider the Beatles songwriting model as canon:
Verse
Chorus
Verse
Chorus
Bridge
Chorus

Then I've always logically felt that the typical prechorus model would be:

Verse
Prechorus
Chorus
Verse
Prechorus
Chorus
Bridge
(optional prechorus)
Chorus

But Journey messes with that structure in so many of their hit songs, Don't Stop Believin' could just as easily be

Verse
Prechorus
Verse
Prechorus
Bridge/Solo
Chorus

Just some notes from the Overthinking It Department.

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I just looked up the lyrics. And they are as you described at first. Meaning it has an outro at the end.

I Believe in a Thing Called Love

American Woman by The Guess Who is a pretty good one.

HtownAg92 said:

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Elton John - Tiny Dancer

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That is a great one. Probably one of my favs.

Does "Comfortably Numb" count? Not sure if you can count just one "IIIIIIIII have become comfortably numb" as an actual "chorus".

El Gallo Blanco said:

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HtownAg92 said:

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Elton John - Tiny Dancer

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That is a great one. Probably one of my favs.

Does "Comfortably Numb" count? Not sure if you can count just one "IIIIIIIII have become comfortably numb" as an actual "chorus".

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I was about to post Comfortably Numb, but I didn't know what the **** a pre chorus was until this thread.

Zombie from the Cranberries has a solid pre chorus. I think Wicked Game does too, but I'm not positive on that one.

Wonderwall from Oasis and Don't look back in anger are still my favorites.

Sweet Caroline.....duh

Also:
Rolling in the Deep
Torn (Imbruglia)

The original Layla.

bthotugigem05 said:

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Rex Racer said:

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bthotugigem05 said:

---

Rex Racer said:

---

Don't Stop Believin' by Journey probably has by favorite pre-chorus.

---

Ok but what's the chorus then? I've always thought the don't stop believing part is equal parts bridge and outro, not a chorus.

---

I see that now. Okay, I'm wrong.

---

I don't know if I'm right though. For me the prechorus has always been immediately followed by the chorus.

If you consider the Beatles songwriting model as canon:
Verse
Chorus
Verse
Chorus
Bridge
Chorus

Then I've always logically felt that the typical prechorus model would be:

Verse
Prechorus
Chorus
Verse
Prechorus
Chorus
Bridge
(optional prechorus)
Chorus

But Journey messes with that structure in so many of their hit songs, Don't Stop Believin' could just as easily be

Verse
Prechorus
Verse
Prechorus
Bridge/Solo
Chorus

Just some notes from the Overthinking It Department.

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She Loves You breaks that mold, starting with the chorus first. I had heard that this was new, but then I noticed It's My Party also starts with the chorus, so I looked it up.

It's My Party was released just a few months before She Loves You was recorded. Coincidence?

John Legend - All of Me
Adelle - Rolling in the Deep
Ed Sheeran - Several songs, but let's go with Perfect

In the Garden of Eden By I Ron Butterfly