1.Good, expressive melody
2. If a song, singable lyrics
3. a beat/tempo that encourages body movement, whether fast or slow.

Relatable lyrics.

For me, it is the emotion it brings about. Some of the older songs bring up good memories that I have associated with those songs.

I love that each taps into a different vibe.

All kinds of things:

Beat
Melody
Good lyrics
Inspires emotions
Takes me out of current mental/emotional state
Makes me want to dance
Good vocalist

I like songs that have one to any combination of the above. I’ve been known to a like a song for just a really good bridge or a tempo change.

Lyrics, the way I can relate to them.
Instrumentation. I like stuff with more than just drums, I like guitars and also other instruments like saxophone or something.
The melody and the beat.

There is a cool website for people who listen to music on spotify. It shows a sun and some mountains, and the colors and how many mountains you have are dependent on what you listen to and how active of a listener you are.

I have 3 mountains because i am a very active listener on spotify, and my color scheme is pink because I have been listening to more happy and energetic songs. It also says that I tend to listen to music in the key of F

So maybe the key the song is in also makes it sound good to me. I check the website every once in a while and I always listen to songs in that key it says.

I listen to a lot of Deep House and Chillout Lounge music. It’s like a slower tempo, more relaxed version of EDM. Something you might hear in a swanky NY lounge, which is much classier than your average bar.

Good music for me:

* Conjures and stirs up moods and emotions… moods and emotions that I like or am interested in experiencing, especially when they strike chords in my own moods and emotions.

* Involves ideas, humor, personality that I like or relate to.

* Entertains the musical part of my brain, and has it repeating the tune in an enjoyable way.

* Is beautiful or aesthetically appealing in various ways.

.
Bad music for me:

* Has the opposite of those qualities and effects on me, and or…

* Has messages or perspectives I disagree with and/or find loathsome and/or contemptible.

* Has a style I dislike.

* Annoys me.

If I like it it’s good. If not it’s bad. I know that’s stupidly simplistic, but I dig what I dig – for reasons I could never quantify or intellectualize.