JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum Excellent Lyricist Seeks Excellent Country And Rock Cowriter(s)

Roy I had listened to that song prior to your post, and it wasn't bad; not ever gonna see the charts, but like you said--I got a kick out of it.

I don't know exactly what happened either, but I'm pretty sure it was at least half my fault. I don't take certain criticisms well. Technical critiques I love, personal ones...not so much.

As for what you've seen on my MySpace page: I NEVER hold those up as shining examples of what I'm capable of--Send Me One More Soldier (I agree) is the best cut, and that's why it's at the top. The deal is, I asked previous collaborators to demo a lyric and co-own it. Usually I get well-intentioned and decently talented people who feel it's their job to revise the lyrics (mistakenly thinking THAT'S what makes a song both of ours), and when it's all said and done, I get whatever I get.

On Send Me One More Soldier there was an extensive back and forth about every aspect of that tune; I had total creative control, even to the point where I could help shape the melody. When a guy (or girl) is willing to listen to me, and try really hard to understand the sort of groove and melody I'm looking for it comes off well. If not...who the hell knows what I'll end up with, but I post 'em anyway, like everyone else probably does too.

If I can pick an artist who I believe to be sympatico with my style(s), I'm more likely to just turn him or her loose and trust that it'll be better than I could've envisioned. When I write a lyric, it's playing in my head as though it were coming from the radio; I hear the full arrangement as I write, and it usually kicks butt! Translating that to a cowriter is a challenge. I'm going to see if I can find a couple willing and gifted guinnea pigs to experiment with my work, and then we'll see what shakes loose. I get that from THEIR point of view--I may be the guinnea pig, but that's fine too.

I've probably set myself back a lot by going berzerk-o in this forum. I don't know if that can be repaired. If not, I'm willing to accept that I made my own bed, etcetera. I vow to not dig myself any deeper; I want to do great things here, and I'm going to be more open, and try to contain myself. That's the best I can do.

JD