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Deconstructing The Love Song: How And Why Love Songs Work

https://apple.news/AYo3p5CJ4R12ByALfXrDp6g

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Bob Dylan once said that he never says I love you in a song, because research shows that when people say it, they dont mean it, they mean something else. So in order to be truthful he doesnt say it.

Really, you should never say I love you in a song anyway, it doesn't mean anything. I hate you doesnt mean anything either. I like you neither.

Show dont tell.

Ive always thought that troubled love songs are more believable than happy love songs. I think thats why people relate to them, when you're happy you dont have time to
worry about songs, you're out living.

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Hey, a new post by Ande!!! It's about time guy, great to see you pop in!

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Thank you for posting this.
I write these kinds of songs and really appreciate the info.
I scanned it and I'm going to come back to the article when I have time to sit and relax and get immersed in it.

Martin

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Originally Posted by Fdemetrio


Ive always thought that troubled love songs are more believable than happy love songs. I think thats why people relate to them, when you're happy you dont have time to
worry about songs, you're out living.



I have always read that negative emotions are more behavior compelling than positive ones. And that ambivalent emotions with the mix heavier towards the negative side are the most compelling.

Dunno what's true. But seems right.

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Originally Posted by Martin Lide
Originally Posted by Fdemetrio


Ive always thought that troubled love songs are more believable than happy love songs. I think thats why people relate to them, when you're happy you dont have time to
worry about songs, you're out living.



I have always read that negative emotions are more behavior compelling than positive ones. And that ambivalent emotions with the mix heavier towards the negative side are the most compelling.

Dunno what's true. But seems right.


Yeah, and they lend themselves to "cooler" musical vibes. How do you have a distorted guitar slashing and pulsing for a song that says "you are the sweetest"

Im accused of focusing on the negative, I dont mean to but I learn from the past and sometimes being negative is very useful. Trusting people can get you in trouble but not trusting prevents it. Maybe somewhere in between is the best place to be

I love Joe Jacksons music. He was ngative but always with sharp wit and a dose of humor.

He nails this song about "Happy Loving Couples"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUTdIRPfRRw

Last edited by Fdemetrio; 03/01/19 11:21 AM.
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Humm,
Writing Love Type Songs is as hard as writing any other type song. Perhaps the ultimate love song is UNCHAINED MELODY, first recorded by Al Hibbler AND COVERED BY SEVERAL OTHERS.


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Originally Posted by Martin Lide
Originally Posted by Fdemetrio


Ive always thought that troubled love songs are more believable than happy love songs. I think thats why people relate to them, when you're happy you dont have time to
worry about songs, you're out living.



I have always read that negative emotions are more behavior compelling than positive ones. And that ambivalent emotions with the mix heavier towards the negative side are the most compelling.

Dunno what's true. But seems right.



I actually would very much dissagree with that. The negative songs are far more prevalent but far less successful. You don't play a negative song at a wedding. You don't pay for the CD or streaming on things that depress you. There might be some genres ,some form or rock or rap, hip hop, that feed on anger, but that can be a destructive force in itself. And again, when everyone is doing a certain thing, the last thing you want to do is the exact same thing. Angry, negative songs are easy to write because more people go through that than the happy times.

But they embrace the love songs because most people either fall in love or want to fall in love at some time or another. The negative or angry songs are more likely to send them to their cell phones to find something else, more than anything. More of a self therapy for songwriters. If you've ever wanted to listen to someone else complain about life, that is your ticket. Of course as a writer trying to get artists to record your songs, they are more likely to embrace their own pain than yours.

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Originally Posted by Marc Barnette
Originally Posted by Martin Lide
Originally Posted by Fdemetrio


Ive always thought that troubled love songs are more believable than happy love songs. I think thats why people relate to them, when you're happy you dont have time to
worry about songs, you're out living.



I have always read that negative emotions are more behavior compelling than positive ones. And that ambivalent emotions with the mix heavier towards the negative side are the most compelling.

Dunno what's true. But seems right.



I actually would very much dissagree with that. The negative songs are far more prevalent but far less successful. You don't play a negative song at a wedding. You don't pay for the CD or streaming on things that depress you. There might be some genres ,some form or rock or rap, hip hop, that feed on anger, but that can be a destructive force in itself. And again, when everyone is doing a certain thing, the last thing you want to do is the exact same thing. Angry, negative songs are easy to write because more people go through that than the happy times.

But they embrace the love songs because most people either fall in love or want to fall in love at some time or another. The negative or angry songs are more likely to send them to their cell phones to find something else, more than anything. More of a self therapy for songwriters. If you've ever wanted to listen to someone else complain about life, that is your ticket. Of course as a writer trying to get artists to record your songs, they are more likely to embrace their own pain than yours.


Rock music at least is known to be downer lyrics with a backbeat. Thats part of the reason people cling to it, it identifies with their struggles, while at the same time uplifting them with a good beat.

I agree with you that alot of the successful songs are positive, weddings will only have those kinds of songs, but there is always a sense of struggle in most of them. Very few are picturesque from start to end.

Actually, If you take a look at I will always love you..... Its very sad aside the humungous chorus.

If I should stay, I would only be in your way
So I'll go, but I know
I'll think of you every step of the way
And I will always love you
I will always love you
You, my darling you, hm
Bittersweet memories
That is all I'm taking with me
So, goodbye
Please, don't cry
We both know I'm not what you, you need
And I will always love you
I will always love you









Last edited by Fdemetrio; 03/06/19 05:16 PM.
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Rock music can have very negative undertones in a lot of music. It has been built on anger for many years and that continues a lot to this day. I attend a LOT of songwriter shows, and there are always some very interesting things. Every time when you have a group of writers on stage, either in "rounds" (several people playing at the same set) or solo, one at a time, you can see such a HUGE difference in the music and reactions. In most cases, the new young upstarts, write songs that are self absorbed, and mostly have a negative tone. They are always about some form of break up and how bad everything is. It's like an angry therapy session.

After a little while (like about the second or third line) you start to see "glow songs" where the audience goes to their cell phones to see what else they are missing. And one negative song after another begins to take on the effect of Charlie Brown's teacher, "wah, wah, wah wah....."

Then, usually there will be someone that is a hit or established writer that may have cuts or hits and there is a world of difference. The songs are inclusive, memorable, easy to sing along with and the phones are usually changed to video what that writer is doing. It's an interesting slice of what is going on. Even in a "break up" or "negative" toned song, it usually has a moral of a story,a "rope of hope" or "twist on the tale" that takes the listener in a place they didn't think of.

So yes, there are plenty of songs and artists out there that emphasize all the negative elements of life. Like we don;t have to watch television, listen to radio, view the internet to see plenty of that. There is never going to be one way. A lot of songs, artists and writers out there. At the end of it all they have to decide the image they want to construct. For me, the angry, bitter songs are a dime a fifty thousand. But I guess if everyone likes to play follow the leader, who am I to suggest anything different?

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Originally Posted by Marc Barnette
Rock music can have very negative undertones in a lot of music. It has been built on anger for many years and that continues a lot to this day. I attend a LOT of songwriter shows, and there are always some very interesting things. Every time when you have a group of writers on stage, either in "rounds" (several people playing at the same set) or solo, one at a time, you can see such a HUGE difference in the music and reactions. In most cases, the new young upstarts, write songs that are self absorbed, and mostly have a negative tone. They are always about some form of break up and how bad everything is. It's like an angry therapy session.

After a little while (like about the second or third line) you start to see "glow songs" where the audience goes to their cell phones to see what else they are missing. And one negative song after another begins to take on the effect of Charlie Brown's teacher, "wah, wah, wah wah....."

Then, usually there will be someone that is a hit or established writer that may have cuts or hits and there is a world of difference. The songs are inclusive, memorable, easy to sing along with and the phones are usually changed to video what that writer is doing. It's an interesting slice of what is going on. Even in a "break up" or "negative" toned song, it usually has a moral of a story,a "rope of hope" or "twist on the tale" that takes the listener in a place they didn't think of.

So yes, there are plenty of songs and artists out there that emphasize all the negative elements of life. Like we don;t have to watch television, listen to radio, view the internet to see plenty of that. There is never going to be one way. A lot of songs, artists and writers out there. At the end of it all they have to decide the image they want to construct. For me, the angry, bitter songs are a dime a fifty thousand. But I guess if everyone likes to play follow the leader, who am I to suggest anything different?


"Even in a "break up" or "negative" toned song, it usually has a moral of a story,a "rope of hope" or "twist on the tale" that takes the listener in a place they didn't think of"

That's what I mean.

Last edited by Fdemetrio; 03/07/19 12:14 PM.
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Aren't all songs about Love or the "lack thereof"? (smile) Either in ourselves or others? The trick is that the MELODY has to deliver the lyric and many times it doesn't. You've never heard anyone say, I just love that lyric, but I hate the melody, ya know why? Because unless the music gets into your ear, you never hear the lyric. People don't "read" songs. the music "delivers" the song.


"It Mattered to THAT One"

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