Most popular music follows a common structure with sections like introductions, verses, choruses, and bridges that are typically divided into phrases of 4, 8, or 16 bars. These sections contrast melodically and through other musical elements to maintain interest. While most songs change harmony between verses and choruses, some like "Stand By Me" use the same harmony. Structure can also be delineated through polyrhythms, as in "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin, or variations in meter.

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Elements of Music
Stan Hawkins Article

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The vast majority of popular music has a specific
structure.
Common terminologies we use in popular music
include Introduction, Verse, Chorus, and Middle
Section/Bridge.
Most popular music consists of 2 or 4 bar phrases, so
the sections are often divided into 4, 8 or 16 bars.

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For Example:

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Intro: 12
Verse 1: 6+6+8 – what else could it be?
6+6+6+2? 6+7+7? (Why/Why not?)
Chorus:
Bridge
Verse 2: 6+6+2

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Sections usually contrast with one another melodically to
sustain interest, but also harmonically, texturally, lyrically,
dynamically and rhythmically (or any other ‘element’
potentially).
Listen to examples below, how do the above factors change?
Sigor Ros – ‘Fljótavík'
Melodically
Harmonically
Texturally
Lyrically
Dynamically
Rhythmically
Snow Patrol –
‘Chasing Cars’
Melodically
Harmonically
Texturally
Lyrically
Dynamically
Rhythmically

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‘The Pretender’ Foo Fighters

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Look for changes of harmony between sections.
Although most use different harmonies between verse
and chorus, others use the same. For example:
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‘Stand By Me’ Ben E King (1961)

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Self Evident: discuss

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‘Sloop John B’ The Beach Boys (1966)
Note how this consists of only one section, so
variety of texture is vital)

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‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’: Elton John
version (1974)

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As well a metre being used diachronically, it
can also be used synchronically. Example:
‘Kashmir’ Led Zeppelin (cover)

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Introduction: content usually used somewhere else in the song. Not
always incorporated, but always introduces the song.
Verse: Recurrent harmonic pattern, but different text and texture etc.
Usually occurs after the introduction, but sometimes chorus can occur
before it (Example “I Shot the Sheriff”, “Rock and Roll Music”)
Chorus: Usually a recurrent harmonic and lyrical pattern.
Refrain: Not a distinct section, but part of a verse or chorus.
Can end or start a section. Consists of a repeated subsection, often with
same lyrics. For Example:
“I Saw Her Standing There”: The Beatles (After Verse)
God Only Knows: The Beach Boys: (note how refrain repeats at end)
“Want To Hold Your Hand”: The Beatles (After Verse)
Bridge: Connects two other sections.
Normally occurs once, if twice, usually has same text.
Sometimes called the ‘Middle 8’.
Bridges can be instrumental: “Nights in White Satin”
Outro: Content usually derives from elsewhere in the song. Always ends
song.

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Examples of
Uncommon Structures
Polyrhythm
Rhythm Delineating Form
Metre Delineating Form