Great songs usually have “a moment”. Could be a producers thing or a performing thing rather than a songwriting thing, though... but we should be moment hunters.
Maybe I am setting the bar for moments too low but I think in the old days: song with potential moment = single, song without moment = album track (or failed single)
Nowadays for pop you probably need to try for about three moments at least (see recent Taylor Swift discussion!) - for Spotify etc they just have to keep coming.
The problem is who will recognise our moments: 1000s of teens? A few thoughtful people? other musicians only? Just us? Doesn’t mean those moments aren’t valid, just that our success will be commensurate...
Sorry, channeling my inner Lefsetz today...