Melodies are what make songs pop. Melodies give life and vibrancy. Melody makes music memorable. This could be seen as bad news for chord progressions. Melody (and its intimate friend harmony) are the glitz and glamour of song-writing. Chord progressions, though, should not be taken for granted. They form the structure on which melody plays. Notes without a chord progression underneath are just melody. With a chord progression, they’re a song.