hitsongs chord progressions

there are so many hit songs with the same chord progressions, it's scary!
maybe it's the secret formula hit writers use.
make a song with a good melody and use the chords C G Am F..
here are couple of examples:
'like a prayer' madonna 'so lonely' police under the bridge' rhcp learning to fly' say tonight (eagle eyes cherry)
'you are always on my mind' (elvis...)
where is the love (black eyed peas)
etc etc

most of these songs are kindof old songs, but new songs have it too in one way or another...
the songs might be in a different key , but transposed to c they end up being C G Am F.. i found a couple of other hit formula's...any people got some idea's on hit formula's maybe also in relation to melody use...i'm curious to hear your opinions..

Just started playing that and was singing "So Lonely" by The Police

"No Woman No Cry" Bob Marley
http://www.soundclick.com/cliffjonesmusic.htm

Only certian chords sound good together, you can fight it and go off in a direction where you use strange chord combinations or ones that don't transfer as well if you want, but in the end there are only a few progressions that work the best, like it or not. The key is two fold, find and original melody to go over top, thus keeping the obvious and most satisfying (spelling?) chord progressions sounding fresh and new or from a composing standpoint come up with original riffs, phrasing ect.. The best guitar riffs use all the same old notes and progressions, the original phrasing is what makes it sound different and exciting and like it hasn't been done a million times before. Famed producer
Andy Johns once said there are only 11 songs, every song is just a variation of one of those eleven. I understand what he means, but have only been able to pick out eight types.

Many writers lacking a strong melody get up to all sorts of tricks out of the chord box, but you can't wrap fancy chords around a dull melody, because no-one is gonna hum your chords.

As in 'you can't polish a ...'

<One little well

First surprise is getting 'them' to hear past the first verse
If 'they' listen to the whole song, and request another copy, you're doing something right...

I tried it in fruity loops and it sounds like all the songs I've ever heard on the radio. That is a trip.