Memory and metamemory for songs: the relative effectiveness of titles, lyrics, and melodies as cues for each other

• Published in: Psychology of music Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 47 - 61
• Main Authors: Peynircioğlu, Zehra F., Rabinovitz, Brian E., Thompson, Jennifer L.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England Sage Publications 01.01.2008; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Cues (Musical); Experiments; Lyrics; Melodies; Memory; Music Psychology; Semantics; Songs; Titles (Creative Works); feeling of knowing; music; recall
• ISSN: 0305-7356; 1741-3087
• DOI: 10.1177/0305735607079722

We explored semantic memory and feeling of knowing (FOK) for titles, lyrics, and melodies of songs as well as the effectiveness of these three components as cues for each other. Melodies and titles were recalled equally well and better than lyrics, but lyrics were the better cue for both. Lyrics were also better cues for titles or melodies than vice versa. When recall failed, lyrics were given the higher FOK ratings, especially with the melody cues. In addition, titles elicited stronger FOKs for lyrics, melodies elicited stronger FOKs for lyrics, and titles elicited stronger FOKs for melodies than vice versa. Accuracy data also showed asymmetries between these three components. In addition, in recall, lyrics cued subsequent lyrics and melodies cued subsequent melodies, although melodies elicited stronger FOKs than did lyrics. Possible explanations for the findings are discussed.