Bobby Gallup: ..." after reading an interview in which you indicated that the focus of JPF has now shifted to performers and artists (many of whom do not write their own material), it feels like that shift has pretty much relegated us songWRITERS to second class citizens. While I may be the only one to admit openly to feeling that...I know there are a lot more who think it but won't say it."

Bobby, songwriters have always been and will always be second fiddle to the artist. But we are reconciled to that aren't we? Wouldn't most of us be completely content to be sitting in a restraunt with our song playing on the radio and NOT feel the urge to stand up and flap our hands and say "look at me, I wrote that!" For us it's more like the proud Momma watching her kid kick the winning soccer goal. We can't take credit for the goal or the skill or strength it took to win but it is our kid. The truth is that it is the artist and only the artist who manifest the song. Until then, it is a thought, an idea, a potential- but not song.

There is a whole other world right here on this website that is largely unexplored and I include myself amoung those who haven't left shore but my observation about lyric 3 forum and the mp3 forum is that each have a hell of a lot to teach the other. Many lyric only folks need a heaping dose of reality training in the musical arts and most of the musicians in the mp3 forum are just plain inattentive to the lyric-

And about the possibility that lurkers are ripping off ideas right and left? No doubt in my mind. The ripper-offers are skilled craftsman who can strip you clean and you won't even know you were robbed. Why? Because they are serious craftsmen with years of experience. It isn't their hobby. They are like master carpenters building houses on the "lots" you leave when you post. The lot is the central idea- you've got it and they can build on it. You don't stand a chance because they have

1. blueprints (commercial song form),
2. Tools (musicians, cowriters, studios etc)
3. Materials (metaphors, rhymes insider informatiion)
and eventually, they have the deed to you property.

We can beat them but not unless we are as good as they are. That's why I think we need less "attaboy" comments and more HONEST CRITICISM.

I'm not a fool about what goes on in the forums. I know that it is part social club and part serious songwriting. I wish it could be separated somehow but that is not realistic so we have what we have and as long as we are learning, growing, sharing and hopefully succeeding, then it has a meaningful purpose.

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Music is spiritual. The music business is not.
* Van Morrison

[This message has been edited by nashvillecat (edited 11-28-2006).]

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein