verse-chorus form
The most common song structure in popular music, alternating verses with a repeated chorus.
In Depth
Verse-chorus form dominates pop, rock, country, and R&B. Verses carry the narrative with changing lyrics, while the chorus delivers the emotional payoff with a memorable, repeated melody and lyric. Variations include adding a pre-chorus, bridge, or middle eight. The form's power lies in balancing novelty (verses) with familiarity (chorus), creating a satisfying cycle of tension and release that keeps listeners engaged.
The verse-chorus structure became dominant in the 1960s with the British Invasion; before that, AABA (Tin Pan Alley) form was the pop standard.