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Tom O'Brien
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2/14/2021 3:44:58 AM
A realization about songwriting
Recently, I realized that my intended audience is actually myself. In other words, I am writing to please myself first. This seemed kind of selfish. After all, music is intended for everyone. So I started thinking that all I really want to do is for people to have 3 or 4 minute's entertainment. It's a simple thing, really. And maybe for those 3 or 4 minutes, we're sharing a deep experience of being human. And maybe that feeling will last. At least I hope so.
So, lately, I've been writing with the everyman in mind. There are just some musical experiences that are universal, and I'm trying to find more of those. I used to think that the content of the lyric was the whole point of the song, and that music was there to support the voice. But, now, after listening to countless songs where the music is catchy, but the words are nonsense, I'm realizing that it's the sound to which people first react, and only after that works will people pay attention to the lyrics. I know you guys here appreciate good lyrics, but they're often lost on the average Joe.
I often listen to music from the thirties and forties, and all those cats in those bands sound like they're having fun. That's what I'm after - I want you to have fun listening. Sometimes we take ourselves too seriously.
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Bob Elliott
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2/14/2021 4:30:26 AM
Good post
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Verity Keen
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2/14/2021 6:29:08 AM
couldn't agree more
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Chandra Moon
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2/15/2021 8:31:00 AM
Great post Tom - I so agree. Half the time people have no idea what the lyrics are about anyway or they reinterpret them to suit their own mood and experience.
Personally I try to keep my lyrics super simple even if what inspired them is deep and meaningful in that way anyone can enjoy them and sometimes it will made the listener have a deep and meaningful experience of their own quite different than the original meaning - if that makes sense haha!!
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Barnabas
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2/16/2021 10:41:27 PM
I tend to write down to the lowest common denominator as that poses very little challenge for me. It come quite naturally, not a stretch at all.
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Larree
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2/17/2021 2:55:41 PM
I've been doing a lot of writing lately. I write what I want. I never think about who may or may not like it. Heck, I don't even care if I don't like it! I just let it flow. Now, things may change if the songs make it to the rewrite and polish phase. But I just don't worry about it. And that doesn't mean I don't want people to dig it; quite the contrary! But I don't allow that to be the thing that drives the process.
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Tom O'Brien
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2/19/2021 3:12:31 AM
Yeah, I get you, Laree. I'm not saying you should sell out to the tastes of the masses - God forbid! You should always please yourself in the end. But, if you can somehow take more people for the ride by finding those universal musical places, that's good, too.
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Larree
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2/19/2021 3:18:15 AM
I agree. The more people who want to ride on the bus, the better. But the beautiful thing about music is that there is always another bus in ten minutes if my music (or anyone's music) is not a listener's thing. :)
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Ben Elliot
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2/19/2021 3:58:17 AM
Really interesting. I've been having this battle with myself for many years, and a few years ago thought... Fuck it, I enjoy it more when I am selfish and just wrote for myself. I feel like I've come up with some of my favourite stuff on that basis. But I never totally get rid of the 'what will other people think' worms. Afterall, whether we admit it or not, validation is a basic human desire.
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Barney
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2/20/2021 4:28:28 PM
---- Updated 2/20/2021 4:29:08 PM
I find my best writing comes between sunset & sunrise, I guess that sorta makes me a night person in a sense. A full moon with thunder and rain with the occasional sound of hounds baying in the distance creates the perfect background for musical creations. Ah yes..
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Richard Scotti
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2/20/2021 8:38:22 PM
---- Updated 2/21/2021 7:07:06 PM
I think there is a danger to over thinking things a bit when it comes to song writing. Write something good and don't be concerned if the audience is you or others. You are others and others are you, goo-goo-ka-choo! Keep the music catchy and the words interesting. Sometimes we take ourselves too seriously and sometimes we don't take ourselves seriously enough. There should be a balance. The music matters and the words matter. They are bonded together. Basically you have to write whatever makes you happy. If that makes other people happy, you win the giant teddy bear on the top shelf. If not you still can have a good time at the fair.
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Bob Elliott
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2/20/2021 11:50:30 PM
I move toward dancing
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The Jay Dyall Project
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2/24/2021 11:43:34 PM
---- Updated 2/24/2021 11:44:35 PM
Well said Tom, and I totally agree!
Many songs out there today don't make sense lyric-wise,
it's just a repetitive hook, or foul language to create shock value!
But they aren't saying anything interesting or relatable to the general listener.
But many are sung to a catchy rhythm and beat, so it makes you wonder sometimes why try so hard writing lyrics?
But me, as a songwriter, I can't let that deter the way I write.
I can't stop, it's my addiction, lol.
Nothing wrong with writing/recording some songs that are personal to you, but it has to,
or at least it should, resonate with others to be meaningful.
Otherwise what's the point of releasing it if no one else gets what you're trying to say?
I used to have a musical partner years ago, with most of our collaborated works written very well (as I was the main lyricist). But a lot of his own songs, while great musically, you'd get lost trying to figure out what he's singing about. Some of his songs had me perplexed and having myself repeat "What??". Only he knows what he is singing about. I guess he does it for his own satisfaction and doesn't care if anyone else can relate or not.
(Some people here know of whom I speak of, lol)
I myself prefer to write for the general public. It's my primary reason I do what I do.
Even if it's inspired by a personal incident in my life, I write it in a way
that anyone can relate to it. You don't know the pride I feel when someone tells me,
"Jay, that song (add Title here) was written for me (or about me). That's how I feel!"
It's a good feeling to have when you know you've reached someone with your song!
And then there are songs I write telling a story. I guess it's my niche'.
In various topics, various approaches, various genres. It's a story from start to finish. And there's always someone to tell me they can relate personally,
or know of someone who fits the descriptive of the song.
Whether it's a love song, a break-up song, a fun song or a social commentary.
A story.
I try not to get into politics, but if I do, it's usually bi-partisan, or non-partisan.
(And I never mention any politician's names if I do write that type of song.)
But it tells a story or a point of view from the eyes of the general public.
Bottom line, Write, write, write. Whatever comes to mind, whatever feelings you have at the moment, or even if you had a dream and want to express it, lyrics are magic!
We may not always get recognized, or rewarded, God knows I haven't, lol,
But we do it for the love of it. Because it is part of who we really are.
Songwriters! :-)
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Stoneman
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2/25/2021 3:59:48 PM
Great Post man! I agree 100%! As a writer it has always been important to me that my music makes me feel something. I don't consider that to be selfish I consider that to be the evidence that others may enjoy it. If a song stops being pleasing to me I chuck it in the ready file for disposal. Even if others like it I don't care I just get rid of it. Now, that is where my selfishness comes in. I refuse to display music that I personally am not proud of. I have literally thrown away thousands of ducks like that. Sometimes its the message and other times its the music itself that I don't like. But yeah, I have chucked a many duck in my time. It took me many years of study, practice and performing for me to get to the level I am at. I don't consider digression and option. When I get too old to maintain the level I have achieved I will retire and leave it all for the young bucks to handle. Respect, Stoneman
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