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Jason Blume has written a wonderful new tool (that is what great books are) for songwriters around the world, and today we have a small excerpt to share with you. The book is called 6 Steps to Songwriting Success: The Comprehensive Guide to Writing and Marketing Hit Songs (Billboard Books). For a while I have been thinking about doing a story on keeping your lyrics original (i.e., saying the same old thing in a new way). When we discussed what to run as an introductory story for Jason's inclusion on our Mentor list, I chose the following chapter and exercise from his book, which does just that. Give this a try!
KEEPING YOUR IMAGERY FRESH By Jason Blume
"What I look for in a song is kind of like going on a blind date. You can describe the perfect mate and be given that but still something could be missing. So for me, it's what excites me, makes me passionate, twists my guts in knots, it's a feeling. More technically, (I look for) an interesting lyric. How many ways can you say "I love you" without using the word love?"
-Judy Stakee (VP of Creative Services, Warner Chappell Music Publishing)
There's a fun game called Scattergories. The players are given a printed list of categories (i.e., a boy's name, a foreign capital, etc.). A multifaceted cube that has the letters of the alphabet on it is rolled. Whichever letter it lands on is the first letter of the items the players will list for that round. A timer is set and you've got to be quick. So, for example, if the letter is "R," for a boy's name, the first thing that pops into your head might be "Robert" or "Richard." For a foreign capital, you might think of Rome. But there's a catch -- if two or more of the players come up with the same answer, they don't get a point.
Songwriting is similar. If you come up with predictable, obvious lyrics, thousands of other writers will likely have the same idea -- and you won't get the "point" (i.e., the publishing deal, the cut, or the hit). To win at the game of songwriting stay away from trite and overused cliches and overused phrases and dig deeper to find fresh, new ways to express yourself. If your lyric included lines such as "Holding hands under the moon," "Make a brand new start," or "Under the stars above," why should an artist choose yours over the thousands of others that are typically submitted for a major recording project?
A word of caution: While you need to use detailed, specific, fresh images, millions of others still need to identify with your song. Your lyrics will not be effective if the images you choose are out of the realm of normal experience. For example, when deciding on a unique setting for your song to unfold, the following locations might be effective: at the top of the Ferris wheel, in tenth grade chemistry class; or in the very last row of the movie theater. Avoid locations that are so unusual that no one will realistically be able to relate to them, such a sitting by the glow of the nuclear reactor in Chernobyl; albatross hunting in New Zealand; on the operating table in the cardiac ward. Find that happy medium that straddles the line of being fresh and distinctive, while still sounding natural and conversational.
Time for a creative EXERCISE:
USING FRESH IMAGERY
Replace the title and lyrics that follow with a new title and images that are fresh and detailed and natural. For example:
Sitting in this place
With these thoughts
At this time
Having this feeling
Might be expressed with fresh imagery and detailed as:
Sitting cross-legged on the hardwood floor
Thinking of us growing old together
And as the grandfather clock chimes two
I've got a feeling it's the start of forever
Now, as above, replace the following title and lyric with detailed, specific images. You might want to repeat this exercise several times, each time using a new title and additional imagery. You may be surprised at your ability to generate "pictures" within your lyrics. I was.
"I Love You"
Verse 1:
Here in this setting
In this frame of mind
Doing this stuff
Here's what I want you to know
Chorus:
I love you
This is how much
This is how long I'll feel this way
This is how it feels
So in case you are wondering
I love you
Verse 2:
In the future
If you have any doubts
Remember this time
And you'll know
(Repeat Chorus)
(Member Opportunity: If you write something particularly interesting, please post it on our new Lyric Feedback Message Board in the Just Plain Folks Networking Section. (JPFolks.com)We'll run the best lyrics posted in a future newsletter! )
Thanks to Jason for this very productive exercise. To meet and learn from Jason first hand, please check out his upcoming seminars. Jason will present full day seminars in Los Angeles on March 4 and San Diego on March 11. Workshop topics include lyric and melody writing, music "business" and publishing, Q. & A., and song critiques. The following day, Jason is available for private sessions.
For full details, visit: www.jasonblume.com.