What makes a melody particularly memorable?

There are a
few things which render a melody particularly memorable:

1)The
mood it evokes.

Many of us enjoy good movies, and
extraordinary movies often feature memorable music. During crucial scenes, it is often the
accompanying music that inspires the audience with the necessary emotions to become further
invested in the plot. Very often, major characters in a movie are endowed with their own music
theme when they appear in scenes. Thus, the audience comes to associate a certain melodic
progression in a song with the character in question. In other words, the melody becomes part of
our sensory experience while we follow the story. The melody moves us to
feel.

Take for example, the character of Jason Bourne in the
Bourne series. He's a spy framed for a crime he didn't commit. His theme
song is frenetic in rhythm and punctuated with urgent, staccato beats. Very often, this song is
played when he is being chased by unknown assassins who are out for his blood. Thus, the
intense, energetic melody in Jason Bourne's theme is memorable because it embodies the nature of
his struggle for redemption and vindication.

Hear the Piano Guys take on
Jason Bourne's theme here.

2)The motif becomes the prominent
feature of the melody.

The motif of a melody is usually made
up of a few, repeated notes. In other words, this motif is a little musical 'idea' that comes up
repeatedly in a piece of music.

It is also combined with shorter and longer
melodic phrases that add to the character of the piece. One of the most famous classical
symphonies, Beethoven's Fifth, is readily recognizable the world over because of its iconic
melody. The four note motif (G-G-G-E flat), played in three successive, short bursts and ending
in a long, ominous tone, has become so popular that it is used in movies, advertisements, and
plays.

Interestingly, the story follows that, during World War II, this four
note motif was associated with the Morse code for victory. Read NPR's article about Beethoven's
famous four notes.

3)Memorable melodies use specific chord
progressions.

Many strong chord progressions involve the
fourth and fifth chords.

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