JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum Is a lyric ONLY person really a songwriter?

Oops... this is the one that I meant to delete!

[This message has been edited by RobertK (edited 09-06-2005).]

I'll give you that... there's an undeniable and rare magic when both words and music reach the level of 'excellent' in a song, wherein BOTH head and heart are satisfied.

Three examples come to mind immediately, all from musical theatre, where both words and music were sustained at high level throughout:

Stephen Schwartz in "Wicked"
Frank Wildhorn/Nan Knighton in "Scarlet Pimpernel"
Stephen Sondheim in "Company"

As a pithy example of the ability to turn a phrase, I think it was Sondheim who once remarked that songwriting was a "tedious hobby", in commenting about the level of recompense given for the amount of effort expended.

[This message has been edited by RobertK (edited 09-06-2005).]

Post deleted 'cause it really doesn't matter!

Interesting topic/debate....

I am a lyricist, I am part of several songwriting teams.

I am also a poet, I've written a book of poetry, and self published it.

They are very different, not all peoms are lyrics, but all lyrics are in effect poems.

However, that being said, I get a little irked when someone calls one of my lyrics a poem, because being a poet first, I had to learn the art of lyric writing, and it's harder than it may seem to cross over from being a true poet, to a true lyricist.

I understand that non songwriters can easily make that mistake, but I'll usually speak my mind when a songwriter calls a lyric a poem. lol, because they are different.

I am not a songwriter, even though I do play piano, I do not compose my own melodies.
but I do make up part of a songwriting team.

RobertK, I'm more likely to remember most all the words to a song, than the exact melody, because I Identify with words more, with a story more than the actual music itself.
I think it depends on who you're asking that too, as to what answer you would get.

Sharon

lots of interesting thoughts...

I'd have to say, when a lyricist's words resonante in me... and inspire music... they become part of the reason the music exists... the words give rise to something unseen, they are the muse that leads me... in effect the lyricist makes me the composer, and without that catalyst, I would never have gone where I ended up :-)

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Vikki Flawith, Canadian Singer/Songwriter & Voice Teacher

This bird sings at:
www.vikkiflawith.com
Vikki on MySpace

The Shy Singer-Songwriter's Blog

HiDee RB!

I;mn time-crunched this AM...but in reply to your Question...

Perhaps. Yet SOME Lyrics Folks write SONG Material...which frankly doesn't Structure like your Average Poem..IMO.

I'll counterpoint ya by sayin' some Musicians write Only Music...thus excludin' THEM from bein' Songwriters unless they team up with their Lyricist.

Ya Can't Have One without The Other.
(If you heard a Melody behind this line, you understand what I mean...)

Big Hugs,
Stan