What is the musical portion of the song--usually in the middle (and brief)--where the instrumental treatment is featured?

[HLeae]

What is the musical portion of the song--usually in the middle (and brief)--where the instrumental treatment is featured?

 

[CTListener]

The bridge.

 

[HLeae]

Wow!

Thanks a lot, CT.

 

[kevtronics]

It's also called the "middle eight", so named because it usually lasts for eight bars:

What is a Middle 8? - Musician Wave

A middle 8 is a section of a song that differs in melody and lyrics and helps the song develop naturally by providing contrast to what was previously playing in the song, usually set after the second chorus. In this article, we’re going to explain this commonly misunderstood song section in more...

www.musicianwave.com

 

[davideduardo]

It's also called the "middle eight", so named because it usually lasts for eight bars:

I did not know that! I learn something new from you, even at my age.

In Spanish, it's called "the bridge". In some music, like salsa, the bridge may include improvisation and can be quite long. I once went to the Vallenato music festival in Colombia, and the bridge in that popular type of music can be a huge part of the song, mostly an accordion solo, particularly in live performances.

Example (with two separate bridges):

Another live TV version

 

[Kelly A]

As Robert Plant asked: "Where's that confounded bridge?"

 

[raccoonradio]

When George Harrison and Eric Clapton were working on a song, one if them scrawled "bridge" on paper with lyrics and chords. The other thought it said "badge" and it became the title of the song.

 

[TheBigA]

As Robert Plant asked: "Where's that confounded bridge?"

A reference to a line in a James Brown song Sex Machine.