What is the difference between a track and a song? To the average listener, nothing -- the terms are often used interchangeably.
But for music freaks -- DJs, producers, obsessive fans and critics -- the distinction is somewhat clearer. A song is organized, structured and historical. The pattern of verse, chorus, verse has changed little since Stephen Foster penned "Oh Susanna" in the 19th century. Melodic hooks gives songs their ingratiating quality, as anyone who has found themselves humming the "Titanic" theme song in the shower can attest.
A track, on the other hand, is amorphous and lawless, built on loops rather than chord changes. Its structure is formed on the whims of its creator. Though a growing number of bands and producers are exploring the fuzzy boundaries, the basic categories still hold: Aphex Twin makes tracks; The Strokes write songs.