Dan,

Actually, the Chili Peppers are made up of 5 to 7 individuals and all of them write far different than the Nashville mode. Memo and Rene are in a Tejano Band, Los Bandits and write for that market. Nate has written more rock oriented stuff, as well as Shelagh Brown. Charlie Menshe is an older guy and writes more traditional. Clayton is a lyricst has no specific genre.

The real key of "Nashville songwriting" is clear,concise lyrics, reinforcing melodic hooks,and songs that are less than four minute long. There are many styles under that big tent.

It is fairly amazing to me how many people miss that. And then you go to something like the Frank Brown Festival, where you see and hear writers and artists from every genre there is. In one night I saw New Orleans Zydeco, stone country, an 81 year old blues man, some "New York" Broadway" type songs, comedy, and several hit country songs, all on the same stage, and some times in the same round.

In my own shows I go from contemporary country, blues country, comedy, huge power ballads, and totally insane jokes and wisecracks at the same time. I am an entertainer so it comes quite naturally for me.

But I know that you have to stretch out, get beyond your comfort zone. Sometimes pairing up different styles are exactly what it takes to make for great songwriting. Or sometimes it turns to mud. But you learn from both experiences.

I do know of one number one hit song that was written with an LA rock guy, a New York Rap and hip hop guy and a Nashville primarily country guy. All three had never met each other and actually were never in the same room at the same time. The song was "SAVE THE WORLD" by Eric Clapton. Gordon Kennedy, the Nashville guy, told me the story when we went to Congress in 2006. So each of them got out of their comfort zone.

That is what I push people to do.

MAB