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Just Plain Songwriting Do's & Don'ts
Mentor: Alan O'Day Mentor Page: Alan O'Day
Hello again, all you wonderful Folks! These tips are primarily aimed at writers who are attempting to procure cuts on their songs by other artists. I'm saying this because these may not apply to material written for ourselves (writer/artists have more creative freedom), or for special situations (your aerobics class or Uncle Duffy's birthday).
Alan's Songwriting DON'TS:
On your early lyric drafts, don't think & analyze too much. Let your creative juices pour out in any direction, as prose, poetry, pieces of unrelated ideas that may not seem important. Be not afraid of temporary chaos! Don't stop to search for rhymes. Save the editing & straightening for later.
Don't "preach" or "whine" in your lyrics. Listeners like to come up with their own emotional reactions, rather than be "directed" how to feel about the subject matter.
Don't be too quick to write in a style with which you're not familiar. Gotta keep it real. Using "'hood" or "homeys" doesn't guarantee an authentic hip hop song, just as "Mama" & "Boots" don't make it country! (Reader: "But Alan, how am I supposed to grow as a songwriter if I don't try new arenas?" Alan: "What I mean is, your abilities & time are better served by focusing on your strongest forte. That way, you have a head start. Beyond that, of course, experiment. Try anything!")
Don't get hung up in production until the song already holds up well. This doesn't mean don't write with grooves & loops, they can be valuable in punching up your 'tude. But heavy production chops do not a strong song make.
Alan's Songwriting DO'S (I put these last because I like positive endings)
DO familiarize yourself with the lyrics & structure of songs you enjoy. And learn professional respect for successful songs that you don't personally care for. By the way, have you noticed "I WANT IT THAT WAY" has two bridges? Why does it work so well? Make it your business to have a well thought-out opinion!
DO sing your lyrics out loud as you refine them, even if you're not a singer. Be aware where the syllable accents fall. Is there enough space among your lyric lines so the listener has time to digest them as they go by? Does the music have room to contribute?
DO ask yourself if there is a shorter, more concise way to express a lyric line, without losing it's emotional tone. A songwriter once said, "Don't write me a letter, send me a telegram!"
DO carry a notepad, PDA, or micro-cassette recorder ALL THE TIME. Ideas seem to pop up when they please, & it's too easy to lose them. Also, the habit of always honoring your muse encourages it to blossom. This is very powerful stuff!
Lastly, DO learn to love the process of songwriting. There are many ways to define success; one of the nicest is spending most of your time doing what makes you happy! ©1999 Alan O'Day