Hook
Especially memorable musical or textual phrase that sticks in the memory.
What it means
A hook is an especially memorable musical or textual phrase that sticks in the memory. It “catches” in the ear and makes a song unmistakable. A hook can be a melody, a rhythm, a riff, a line of text, or a particular sound.
Musical use
In popular music, rock, soul, and hip-hop the hook is a central means of shaping. It often stands in the chorus or at the beginning of a piece and is repeated several times so that listeners remember it and like to sing along. Composers and producers work deliberately on hooks because they largely determine the success of a song.
The hook should be distinguished from the refrain, which is a whole formal section, and from the motif, the smallest unit that also occurs in classical music. A hook is defined precisely by its memorability and recognisability, not by a particular length.
Performance practice
If you write yourself, give the hook a clear, simple outline that is easy to sing and let it return several times in the piece in slightly different contexts. When playing, bring out the hook clearly so that it reaches the audience.