@hazwady
Part 1 - Meaning( and a whole lot of my thoughts as well)
Meaningful songs, kind of hard to hear those two words nowadays. I would not like to point out specific artists or songs, because I don't believe I have the right to judge their songs( who the **** am I anyway) but most of the bullshit that the MTV is feeding me with are catchy choruses, nice sometimes great vocals belting out lines that are so crappy that Gordon Ramsay would say " I wouldn't even serve it to a fucking dog".
Yes I have to admit that what I learned in the School of Music and Arts is that an attractive intro and a catchy chorus sells but for example...( damn i hate to do this but for explanation purposes) the song "Im blue da ba dee da ba da...bla bla bla". The key word is BLUE. The key phrase is I'M BLUE. If my english is correct, that means I'M SAD!!!. And we the got 2 cheeks of an **** singing it in a fucking happy tune. Yes catchy. Yes It sells thousands or even millions times more successful than my songs but what the ****. Are people to dumb enough to understand that it is stupid, meaningless and a whole bunch of crap. But wait maybe the song is trying to represent a creature who is colured blue...
My bad... sorry. But **** out. A blue creature!!! OH **** ME SENSELESS. That song is at most presentable on Sesame Street as a theme song for fucking cookie monster. But enough on my frustrations as I think i get my point straight. Now on techniques to write a meaningful song.
My basic technique to write a meaningful song is to start writing the lyrics 1st. Thats how i write songs actually,. And when you start writing lyrics, write the chorus 1st. the chorus is the most basic foundation to start your song. It is the success factor. If your chorus is ****, your song is ****. But before you start wrting lyrics you must get the idea first.
The idea which is what song are you going to write about. A love song, song a bout family, etc etc.
Once you get that, you brainstorm on the chorus. Remember music theories, melodies or tunes must not come in first. To give an example I will try to write a chorus out.
The idea : No Freedom
Chorus
Fear the bars that will trap you
the locks that will bound you
the chains that will tie you
from running away
From this place that wil haunt you
these signs that will taunt you
the darkness surrounds you
your freedom for pain
-Now by writing the chorus you have actually the base of a song. a place where you can refer to if you might write out of point. This part is most important because from this chorus you can then, start to compose your tune, set the rythm and tempo to fill the mood of the song. To make sure that the tune, the verses, intros and bridges actually are in sync with the chorus meanings. Important thing to remember what you wrote could be edited right after you get the tune for the chorus but it must still be of meaning to the idea and do not get drastically way out of that idea. REMEMBER A GOOD SONG IS WRITTEN, A GREAT SONG IS RE- WRITTEN.
I think that should be simple and basic enough for anyone to write meaningful songs and to top that the chorus I just written, I could just make a song out of it so listen out when it comes out. Cheers.
ughhhh ,, all that thought and procedure boggles my mind and weighs me down.
I just bang out in a manic mess - , i dont think about any rules. i hate most rules. Maybe this is why i've never been a success.
One thing for sure,, i used to try to write to a certain audience ,, or try to rope in a hook etc. but now, ive come to the simple stance ,, that nothing matters.
- i really relate well to Nigel's comments. ditto. I dont necessarily start with lyrics,, or start with this or that.
My songs all just happen in their own ways.
I have have any rule, it is this,, i do not chase after lyrics. In stead ,, i let them come up on their own. If i have title in mind for a song,, i never work to that. I let bthe song take it'sa own direction, and often,, the song wants a different title than i had in mind. The song is the boss.
I think I totally forget to add that and what terentek say is true, yes there is no one "right" way to write a song. This is just a suggestion, a technique I taught myself so that I don't write verses and choruses that have no meaning to each other. Thanks for your comment, very much appreciated
Mmm...
Interesting lyrics...
Inspired by perhaps your blog 2 ?
I am not convinced that there is any one "Right" way to write a song.
I very seldom write the lyrics first.
I prefer to let the music suggest to me the ideas.
Sometimes,lyrics and music come together in the writing process.
I will rewrite lyrics,but I seldom rewrite music,because I do not go with it to the lyrics stage unless it is working for me.
I agree completely on the vast majority of mainstream music
Suffuce to say,I pretty much don't listen to mainstream any more.
It bores me.
The ideas are re re re hashed ideas for the latest action figure/popstar.
With a shelf life of a few monthes,and no musical depth at all.
I believe in being honest when writing lyrics.
To not be afraid to go into the dark or sing to the sun.
Doesn't mean I am any good of course,just that I remain true to myself.
Fascinating reading.
Thank you
Nigel.