JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum Ande's Lyric Writing Tips

About ticks? Well, maybe it's a camping thing...it doesn't creep me out...sort of cracks me up. But when you spend time in the woods, that's eventually what you do. Now, checking for lice or crabs...that's a bit different. Anyway, I haven't seen the video or heard the music yet, but the write looks good (just read it on a lyrics search).

Someday I intend to write a Chuck Berry-style song called "My Little STD". Hands off--I've staked my claim!

I admire original and well written songs, I do admire "ticks"
I mean to think of making a song like that and then actually pull it off takes lyrical writing skill plus the music just tops it off

Hi Again Bill

Okay...It's a great idea to discuss these kinds of things I agree, It's hard to leave personal opinions out of discussions like this but being open minded and a professional helps. I'll try best I can to be both lol...

My biggest problem with this song "Ticks" was the entire concept as well I walked away from hearing it twice and nothing stuck musically. His other song "Online" at least had the hooks and the idea was far better. Although I'd die before using
"My Space" in my lyrics, besides nothing dates a song faster than mentioning technology lol..

Now back to this song... It's just not appealing. And someone said to themselves lets figure out someway of using "Ticks" Very nice image right? yes Ticks and Limes Disease turn me on....as a way to write another song about sex and alcohol
Aren't we clever? I wanna check you for ticks to see you naked... Lame! period. Ticks are just not romantic, sexy or funny in anyway so what it the purpoes? Bad Bad Bad! I can't be convinced otherwise lol...

I clicked on another video of Montgomary Gentry "What Do You Think Of That" liked everything about it......

Okay lets put up these lyrics

Every time you take a sip
In this smoky atmosphere
You press that bottle to your lips
And I wish I was your beer

Okay It's like my Pap Smear / Beer line I wrote above...
Anyway of using "Beer" in a Country song.. like forcing this right down your throat.
"I wish I was your beer" That kind of talk is corny & lame lol...

In the small there of your back
Your jeans are playing peekaboo
I'd like to see the other half of your butterfly tattoo.

Okay These are the best lines in the song... clever and could be used in [b]any song that has nothing to do with "Ticks" right?[/b] Could of used them without any reference to Ticks.

Hey that gives me an idea
Let's get out of this bar
Drive out into the country
And find a place to park.

Again back in the bar sex & alcohol, fine just leave out the "Ticks" and you're okay. Nothing special at all but that's okay.


'Cause I'd like to see you out in the moonlight
I'd like to kiss you way back in the sticks
I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers
And I'd like to check you for ticks.

If this was me I would look at my writing partner laugh histerical smile because we came up with a joke novetly like Weird Al and drop this whole concept due to self respect.


I'll keep you safe you wait and see
The only thing allowed to crawl all over you when we get there is me.

Yes real guy talk! Girls would laugh at a guy who talked liked that in my neighborhood

Okay the point is for a regular fun sexy light hearted song it's all fine... Any of us non established artists write it we get rejected by the publisher on the spot.. but that's another story.
The whole Ticks thing is a real desperate stretch at trying to be unique and orignal... which I give the song credit for being it was a unique idea but a bad one...

Hey Achy Breakey Heart looks like a 10 year old wrote it with a crayon, but I can totally still see how it was a hit...

Maye it's just me and I'm alone in my feelings on this one?

I see the thinking...and I'm ignoring a lot of my own preferences as I learn to write country, believe you me...but when a song reaches number one with a bullet...

...how much money is that worth? And in order to reach number one, people need to purchase the song, right?

I think a lot of people like the song. This is probably one of those perfect lessons about REALLY reading the market...

Any of you guys ever check your wife for ticks? I have, many times. We did a lot of camping early in our "courtin'" days, it was a wonderful, necessary excuse to be very intimate. If a new bride was a shy little wildflower, as my baby was, she'd want to turn out the lantern and snuggle in the sleeping bag. As youngsters, lots of ladies are teasers while us guys are explorers.

"Come on, baby," I'd frown, looking for excuses, "it's warm under this sleeping bag."

"Uh uh, honey, I get a chill, just cuddle here next to me."

"OOH, baby, looka this! I think I got a tick! How'd it get way down there?"

"Aaaah. Honey, don't say that, I'm itchy all over!!"

"Well there's another one. These must be the one's that are immune to OFF."

She'd squirm and rustle under the blue L.L.Bean bag with the red paisley (honest to God...it was paisley) lining. "Honey," she'd say, "Can you check me."

I'd light the candle in the tent lantern and gently caress her skin in the flickering glow, making sure I didn't leave out the tiniest bit of surface.

Brad Paisley's "Ticks." It made me laugh and it made me remember. What a great song!

Pulling it off only takes being a Mega (Country Only) supertsar.....

Hey Mike D - For Real?

Gotta agree. Like I said, I'm the outdoorsy camping type.

100%

Art, good art, never fails to surprise. We can all agree that the ball either went into the basket or not, but we can't all agree on the color of the ball.

Hi Guys
I was taking myself out of this topic as I am at a loss for words.

But my wife (over my shoulder) is not LOL.... I can't stop laughing

To Quote her -
"Yes there's nothing like having your new boyfriend check the crack of your ass for ticks"

Hi
Boy we've hijacked Ande's thread for sure.

Also the different back grounds and locations come into play.....
Anyway It's all in good fun..... no offense is intended - even to Brad lol....

That's not where you find 'em...

Hey, how 'bout a song about nitpicking?

I bought a bottle of RID
Yeah that's what I did
'Cause I'm a nitpickin' son of a gun

(insert twangy Tele lead)

From what I gather, It sounds like a pick up song to me
Like he's trying to pick this girl up and maybe he's a hick and that's how the character thinks and talks
It certainly sticks out that is for sure, which is a good thing

I think a lot of it has to do with attitude and schtick, for however unmusical one musician or another may seem to whoever.
Getting into mostly angst driven rock in my youth, it is the guy that says if told they suck that the other guy sucks more, and point out anything at all in their songs that I see as a weakness that get more attention.
The humble that admits their weaknesses sadly are not going to be considered one of the big boys or in the chin stokers column in the given group.
To market something, I would have to do a product and have all belief in it regardless of what everyone else thinks.
There are people that have the audacity to market recordings I would never think of marketing.
But maybe it works for their act.
90% of the population dislikes even the biggest musicians.

But if I was'nt out for critique purposes, I would'nt be as humble.
The difference between now and then though is I would'nt feel the need to tell someone else they sucked.

I don't know if simply judging the music or lyrics is enough.
You could look up members pro or not that have been to different music sites and find total contrary opinions to the same recordings.
Maybe much of the good responses are not from pros or some artsy fartsy magazine publication.
But who are we supposed to be marketing to, anyway?

I have a vision of what I want to do musically.
It may be even more far off than what the pros would do.
I used to get in the defensive with any unfavorable response there was with what I would do.
Until I discovered that I am taking something I started out with for a love of doing and turning it into a pissing contest.

Yeah, in a way it is like men with women.
Down to the agressive attitude commonplace with posing musicians.
Hopefully we can draw strength from our little ticks.

Mike that's was the best laugh I have had in months. That was pretty much my wife's take on it too. Big Hugs to you and your wife. How you feeling these days? Better I hope.

Hey Bill

Well you won't lose my respect for speaking your mind Bill. Maybe what me and Mike meant wasn't that it was a badly written lyric (as far as structure goes) and it does try to make itself seem like reasonable idea.

But if I get Mike's reaction correct and it fits my own I would say the problem is the subject matter. I agree it is rather a bold idea but I don't personally know a lot of girls who would turned on by the idea of a guy asking if he could check her for ticks. I kinda think the only reason a girl or woman would like that is because of this song.

That said I think that was mine and Mike's point it wouldn't work except that he made it work. Before this song asking a woman that question would have got you slapped at best(might even still).

So my point on this is that it's a well written lyric in real poor taste. But then that's only my opinion let's hear what others have to say.
Derek

Edit ok I guess I got late in on the conversation here lol. I see what others think and I'll gladly accept it and mosey away for a while with an amused look on my face.

I think the un-sexiness of the hook is geared for laughs on purpose... and because he's bold enough to say something so stupidly un-sexy, he becomes endearing to the right listeners. The guy makes his way right back to sexy. Sharp cookie, I think.

And a #1. You have to remember that was no fluke. How did he know?

He's Brad Effin' Paisley
Wildflowers grow taller when he's around!

Hi Guys, Thanks Bill I'm glad you got the humour lol...
How far away are we now from Ande's original post sorry Ande

Let me tell ya about my little expierence with Country Music.
Of course when i was a kid it was mixed into the mainstream with other popular songsYes "Rose Garden" & Glenn Cambell songs were on the same charts as other genres of music, before the word genres lol....

But really I was working as a house painter in the early 80's and my boss an all Greek man named Gus (of course) was a Country Music Freak! So he would leave that station on 8 hours a day while we painted.
Now this was nerve racking to a Rock N Roll & Classic Soul freak like me lol...
And in that decade I was heavy into jazz'rock fusion as well.

But I love pop music big time and love any music that appeals to me in some way.
So needless to say my favorite Country songs & artist are probably in that decade.
Not all but I like a lot of songs I heard while working.

You won't believe this but ME my own wedding song was a Restless Heart song called "I'll Still be Loving You" I was actually working for the post office the first time I heard it. It literally froze me... The acoustic guitar and opening melody is staggeringly great. And the acoustic guitar solo sends chills down my spine till this day. The harmonies and feel those guys laid down wow! and it had all the great things that, Great Cat Stevens songs or JT's or Croces or Chapin songs would have.. yes I know all those guys songs of course.

So that was my wedding song believe it or not, and everytime I hear it it also makes me say " Man this should have been one that I wrote. I can see myself writing this" That kind of song... a Grammy winner as well. I would never be embarrased to have written that.. it's simply beautiful.

I really liked Ronnie Milsap then as well...

Now back to Brad Efin Paisley (that was a good one Airun)

Personally I think Vince Gill blows him away in every regard,
Vocally for sure, Vince never came off like a goofball, Plays the guitar every bit as good, And is just better all around musically. So there is somebody in his own world that he can take a lesson from.

I may never be able to come up with a Witchita Lineman sublime! great song..
But neither can Brad so why should we treat him like has done so he's a talented guy no doubt I'll leave it at that...

Hey Mike

Totally with you on the early 80s country. Restless Heart was a favorite band for my dad and I Saw them in concert twice as well. And I think there are others they penned that are equally great. Hears where we might differe a little. I think of restless heart as being less country and more pop rock. That said I think they did some awesome music. I just don't see them as fitting the country genre. Then again as you mentioned about the early days of country it wasn't always about genre's. Another good one from Restless Heart was Fast Movin' Train. I get chills whenever I hear that one really emotional song great melody and harmonies. Ok now that I am completely off track lol.

What I meant earlier about the Beatles wasn;t that they made huge mistakes musically. I meant that if you or I had written the songs on Magical Mystery Tour we'd been laughed off the stage. Sometimes an artist makes the song. Could you hear anyone else getting praise for singing about a guy in a bar picking up a lady with a line as odd as "Well excuse me but I think you got my chair?". But with George Strait singing it people (mostly women) Are like whoa yeah that's awesome. His delivery on that song I feel are some of most well delivered lines. Now take the get er done guy and have him sing the same song. Doesn't work does it? Would anyone else have been able to get away with the mumbo jumbo of Blinded by the light"? Bruce didn't need that little gem to make his career he didn't even need "Born to run". But with those songs he made himself that much bigger. Of course everyone remembers Manfred Mann for singing Blinded but I hope you get my point. So maybe what we have here with "Effin Brad" is a guy who can do no wrong in some peoples opinions will he last? Who knows I do know this though if I'd written "ticks" and posted it on board 3 I'd be chased off of JPF lol.

Ok now that I have said way more than a mouthfull I'll try and let this settle back into being Ande's lyric writing thread.
Derek

Hi Derek

Yes Restless Heart did have rock influnences but that's when the trend started happening and now it is very rock influneced. Country's Grammy winner and biggest artist (Keith Urban) is A Bon Jovi clone. Now some folks will come on and say hey that's not really Country... Okay but that's what the rest of the world thinks Country is because that's what they shove down everyones throats.. everytime we see anything to do with Country music that guys face is all over it. That is not opinion lol....

Restless Hearts "That Rock Won't Roll" and "Wheels" sounded pretty country to me. But also pop.... very very catchy songs with not lame lyrics trying to get cute by liteally explaining everything a human being has in there face all day....
Let Tim MCgraw keep singing about people dying and the fatally ill... And do it so literally... turns me right off brother. That guy has always been a poser anyway in my mind.

Again can't talk about The Beatles If we wrote one song from Mystery Tour we would never ever be laughed off the stage. Even if they wrote a silly song The Beatles sense for melody and counterpoint was BEYOND Belief...
This is all I will say about The Beatles.. If Beethoven was alive today he would walk over & right by Brad Paisley and many many many others like myself.. He would adore The Beatles. I would bet my life on it. Paul MCartney is so good it's not even fair to the rest of us. Beethoven was the pop superstar of his day, which also entailed being brillant at the same time. Stevie Wonder shares that unique position.

And finally - If I was bitten by a vampire and could roam this earth for centuries I wouldn't be able to come up with the equal to one Beatles album, never mind the miles of great work they did in - ready only ( SIX YEARS)

Bruce - He did kind of need "Born To Run" it defined him and remains his masterpiece.Top Ten all time records ever.. Mike A told me great stories about those days and that whole Manfred Mann thing.... Great version of that song by the way. Everyone who coverd Bruce's songs did great with them.. Patti Smith "Because The Night" her biggest hit
The Pointer Sisters, Manfred Mann etc.... You already know my partner Produced that album right?

ThunderRoad is a song to marvel at. Makes any songwriter or anybody go... wow! If you can't spot that greatness it's time to see the head doctor

All kidding aside, If anyone hear wrote "Ticks" we would all be happy and most very impressed. We all know the sole songwriter trying to sell a song game. So we take nothing for granted, But what we are saying is Okay - Is this the best you got out there? #1 Your rich beyond belief and my hard work and dues & talents can not even put food in my or my familes mouth....The gap is a tough thing to swallow sometimes.

Everytime I put on Stevie Wonders "Songs In The Key Of Life' I wanna quit music and realize how much I don't have... everytime! he makes everyone seem tiny bro! Then after a few songs I get inspired all over again by him time and again. And realize what it's really all about, the guy is pure gold man.

Brad won't allow himself to ever even be an ounce of that,especially playing inside that box he's in. Hey I'm still a muisc lover and fan And don't mind looking up to people.

Oh and Beethoven might have stopped to give Hendrix a second look

Derek you're a good guy, all the best pal!

Hey Mike

I'll be the first to say if the Beatles were getting back together(kinda impossible now) I'd quite my job and wait in line for 250 days never caring to shower just to have the opportunity to get a ticket. Might even sell my own mother! lol. That said I think sometimes we all get a little big about ourselves or others. My point is this the Beatles were great and probably will never be surpassed as far as a musical group goes. Does that mean we shouldn't try? Hardly for every Beatle fan out there, there is a stones fan or a jefferson airplane fan. Now as much as I love the beatles and as sick as I am about the stones getting back together every few years. I gotta admit the stones were a lot more edgy than the beatles could ever have hoped to be. Not to say the Beatles didn't have their own edginess as well.

At any rate I agree I think the Beatles were awesome. However agreeing to disagree I still think some of what they did was subpar and I still think if you or I were to write it, it wouldn't have the same effect or have gained the same noteriety. This again is only my opinion but I still feel some bands transcend good or bad just by who they are. I want you to know I am be no means comparing the Beatles to Brad Paisley. He is not worthy to lick the bottom of their feet let alone be mentioned in the same conversation oops :O . Well at any rate I think we agree on most of this so I'll leave it at that. Hope thinga are going well for you brother and your in my prayers daily! I really dig hanging out and chatting with you.(even if it is just online lol)
Derek

Hey, good timing for this article about paisley and other writers for the tick song

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071130/BUSINESS11/71129051/-1/RSS05

In other words, Paisley still worries how his material will be received by fans and at radio. And he and fellow songwriter Tim Owens admit neither was sure how well "Ticks" would be received.

Owens said the writers were particularly worried about the lines "The only thing allowed to crawl all over you when we get there is me," and "Don't worry, babe, I've got your back, and I've also got your front."

"We were like, 'Brad there's no way,' " Owens said. "We were convinced it wouldn't work at the time. (Paisley) said, 'Oh, it will.'

"It's so fun to write with him because you think he won't go there, but he does. Writing with Brad, you have an opportunity. Some artists you write with have a certain thing they do and they don't go outside of that box, but Brad reinvents himself all the time."

"I'm still nervous about it," Paisley said of "Ticks." "I still wonder how it's going to go over, but I look forward to it every night in concert now. It's one of those songs that's very reactive. I've had more people than I've ever had willing to tell me they hated it. I guess, after eight years of recording, they felt like they could say they didn't like something if they didn't. But when something is that polarizing, people love it just as much as they hate it. I'm glad that we weren't completely insane."

Owens said that although "Ticks" did get tweaked several times, the initial song was written in about a day. That's in stark contrast to "Online," which Lovelace, Paisley and DuBois said took weeks to complete.

Moral is we shouldn't be afraid of going outside the lines,

Human nature.

Folks complain that Nashville doesn't take risks. Then someone takes a big one, is wildly successful at it, and...folks complain.

Hi Air

This was great thanks for sharing it.

Yes I knew that they had to have some concern, my gut told me so.

Brad is smart enough to know he'd better be established some before he try's to get over with the "Tick" song. Again what do we talk about when we say "The established artist" If you have the money to advertise people will buy anythng if you are already popular and hot it's even easier selling them on something.. Just a fact of life and business. Phil Collins who is deep talented [/b enjoyed the same kind of success in the 80's with songs like [b]"Susudio" But first listen to his work
on Genesis's oh lets see "And Then There Were Three" awesome!

The funny thing to me the refernces to "outside the box" what's going on over there is anything but "outside the box" They mean a little more tiny bit risky than
exactly what the others are doing.. They don't know what breaking rules are about at all, but all genressuffer that fate currently. Or do they they think they are the only ones writing silly songs, about sex & alcohol that people bop up & down to? Take a look around you... Write a seven minute number one hit song.. that's breaking rules...
Congrats to all for another #1 hit

I think we're picking on a risktaker.

Writing a three minute song for Phish...now THAT'S thinking out of the box. Or there's checking the box for Ticks?

Hi Lyle

Actually I'm the only one picking on him, and it's largely to do with being in a foul mood lately, the kind only doctors and lawyers and dentists (teeth) can put you in lol...

Like I said the businees is different today for sure. But really I'm mean your a Beatle knowlegible person. Now knowing they those guys once they got passed the statring gate of doing everything Brian Epstein wanted them to.. weren't they real risktakers? You better believe it.
Tell ya what Brad STOP touring completely after your second year in the business and still out sell and out do everyone else in the entire industry Shall I continue on what else they did first or maybe we don't need the history lesson. Or maybe we do.... yes when your very popular you can bend the rules Brad is VERY popular but how is he bending any?

It's very simple if the Beatles are the ultimate rule breakers(and they were) I hope I don't have to make a list... than how do you put Brad Paisley anywhere in that conversation or sentence? I hate to use the Beatles for any examples but this one fits....

I give up, you're right. Brad Paisley's not the Beatles he's...uh...whatever it is you want to think he is. Now, tell me why I shouldn't like licorice?

Lyle,



We're tisking on a tick picker.

Hi Ya Mike

I didn't mean to skip your resonpses It's funny you know how a new post can come on the board before your able to finish the one you're writing lol.....

Please,please forgive my foul mood I probably shouldn't be writing posts at times like these but I can't go out, and I can't play, And That's how I wound up watching current videos the other night, and started this whole Tick discussion LOL. I repsect the heck out of you Mike in every regard.

Nobodies the Beatles of course... And I love some of the silliest sappiest songs ever written. I'm a 70's pop music freak as well as other styles. I just always question the people who confuse the two and talk about them in the same sentence. (It makes me curious) Epecially when we start out talking about what we should do when submitting songs etc...and talking shop...
Bill Rocker was talking shop then he split for a while, he'll be back

I don't even do all the things I'm talking about most of the time. I write alot of really catchy, simple minded pop/rock tunes. My goal is write something that can put food on the table and cover my bills and medical costs. Big Accomplishment right? lol.. Then once I have that write and play songs mostly intrumentals and do what ever the heck i wan't musically. But I do write radio friendly songs out of love as well
I have always loved pop tunes...

Now the difference to me is my licorice pop hit gonna be as killer as lets say "Fooled Around And Fell In Love" or The time capsule hit "Still The One" by Orleans or is it gonna be like "Ticks" by Brad Paisley, Brad your the genuis guitar God player, listen to the guitar in both those pop songs then burry your head pal I listened to his whole CD and thought someone had the guitar tracks muted

If you get a chance or have time go back to that Orleans song.... Mike
I can't believe it, what an incredible arrangement..muiscally & vocally. And that intro outro is fantastic.

Love ya Mikey D

Our dance band has played "Still the One" every weekend for as long as I've been with them. When it came out, in the early seventies, I was teaching at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. The folkies in Chicago thought "Still the One" was pop fluff, not serious music like Pete Seeger or Tom Paxton, but romantic, sell-out commercial nonsense like the Beatles.

I used to defend popular music against the traditionalists back then. Looks like I'm still doing it now

I love you too, Mikey, it's fun arguing music. You never have to quit arguing because nobody wins, nobody's wrong, nobody's right. There's only you and me and we just...

Just..... disagree! Dave Mason Love It!

I knew you'd love that Orleans song... To me that song could be put in a time capsule and be in a hit in any decade it gets let out in period..

Mike if you like "Your still the one" by The Orleans have I got a song for you. Listen to another one of there's (it's sorta obscure) called "Let there be music" I'll give you and excerpt of the lyrics.

The Orleans

When the world was in trouble
And it looked like there'd be hell to pay
Fire fire everywhere
And the news got worse each day

Well people really wondered
Just how long they could hold out
God looked down from heaven above
And he began to shout

Let there be music
Let it shine like the sun
Let there be music
Everybodies gotta have some fun

And you wanna talk about an awesome guitar arrangement whoa! Blew me away the first time I heard it melody and harmonies are excellent as well man this one puts "still the one" to shame and that's hard to do. Another of their great ones is "Dance with me" shoot wish I could make an acoustic sound that good!
Derek

Hi Derek

Cool I have to hear that one! And "Dance With Me" really wow what a melody that song has huh? Catchy has the day is long and really really good.... So memorable
Hooks that never end....

I love "Crazy Love" by Poco as well.. it's in that same world.

Boy I will always be at battle with myself deciding which decade is the best 60's or 70's I guess I'll have to say I love them equally. That just had it and did it all.

Wow Mike you are bringing back memories.

How bout "The things we do for love" or even Firefalls' "Just remember I love you" full of cliches but wow great song. I think one of my favorites from the 70s was Summer Breeze by Seals and Crofts awesome little guitar lick in the middle interval in the chorus. Boy now things are coming back like Amy/ Falling in and out of love with you by pure prarie league. That opening solo for amy is incedible. Also bread man they could do some great melodies I think "If" is also a longtime 70s favorite of mine. The Letter was also and incredible song in my opinion very good lyric and the singing was great as well (though I think that might have been the 60s). So many great band so little time to listen to them all. Hope things are well in your world and let me know what you think of that Orleans song. I'll tell you this much when I'm in the dumps it's a total mood lifter better than any drug the second verse is pretty darn awesome as well. Take care brother thanks for helping me reminisce.
Derek
Derek

looks like y'all had a great discussion
no worries

ande

Just ran across this and wanted to say thanks for the effort and posting of this Ande.

KAC

you're welcome
hope it helps you write well crafted lyrics
that melody writers drool over

ande

THANK YOU MIKE!!!!!! This says it all.

One more round on 'Check You for Ticks"...that someone said, and I paraphrase, "I think it's well written, but I think the concept is bad", makes my day. This is a songwriting forum and I get frustrated here because it seems more often than when people talk about a 'bad song' they aren't referring to a 'poorly written song'. This distinction, between 'a song I don't like', and 'a poorly written song' is crucial in my humble opinion.

I think not liking the song is not a problem...but on this one more country fans did than didn't as evidenced by it's chart successs (and please don't start with the unfair record company marketing influence crap...even if got a jump start, it had legs of it's own). What I believe made this song a hit is that it accomplished the ultimate goal that we as writers are trying to accomplish. It said something that everyone already knows, but in a new, fresh, and highy entertaining way. Checking for Ticks is restating the idea that no guy is ever at a los for thinking up new ways to try to get women to take their clothes off. The mind is always working...always thinking...always scheming...and of course, rarely succeeding...which is what makes it SO DAMN FUNNY!!!! The desperation at work in what formulates what a guy thinks of as a 'good idea' when it comes to the art of seduction, is nothing short of hilarious! What stuns me is that people commented on this as him actually being SERIOUS in his ploy to see her naked. The girls point of view is clear without ever being said: "Check me for ticks??? What, are you KIDDING ME??! (slap) Do you think the girl said "Hey, that sounds like a great idea!!!" Of course not! She rolled her eyes and found another seat at the bar...but you better believe she was awestruck by the ingenuity, charmed by the tongue in cheek shoot from the hip confidence that comes with the 'I'll try anything because you're beautiful' and I know I can get away with it without you thinking I'm some kind of perv 'cuz I'm just that cool' twinkle in his eye. She's a girl who's more than just a little bit flattered. Girls WANT guys to WANT them to take off their clothes, even if they don't want to take off their clothes. This affirms that whole age old thang in flying colors. It makes girls feel good, makes guys look funny and not so clever as they think they are, yet very male (can you say 'unflappable virility'? ugh...sorry)

Love it, hate it, no problem here. But it's a damn good 'song' in accomplishing what a good song is supposed to accomplish. Well crafted. And of all the songs that came out that week on records, THIS one became a hit! What are the chances??? ;>)

br
www.writeTHISmusic.com

it's funny how opinions vary about songs
seems to me that songwriters are the harshest critics of songs
I liked Ticks, it's a cute song

have you seen the live performance
http://youtube.com/watch?v=L4JFul5Ff50

edited it a little

did a little editing today

Ande

Hi Ande

I am only a beginner with songwriting, and I wasn't very good at school, but what you have posted, I find easier enough to understand, so I was wondering could you email it to me, so I can print it out, that would be fantastic. My email is elliza1@bigpond.com.au, and thanks a bunch, I need all the help I can get.

Michele
Aussie girl from down under

Hey! I just wanted to say hey and thanks for the tips in a concise and organized format. I would also like to mention that I liked the lyrics to "eventually"- I could identify with them and appreciate them. However, the person who tried to rewrite it, I do not think did a good job. I could not relate to the "smiley face tshirt" as much as I could to the orginal song. thanks for your help and keep it up!

Thanks a bunch Ande for emailing it to me, very easy to read & understand. Cool, I am not so dumb after all.



Michele
Aussie girl from down under

Hi Michele,

you're welcome
I hope they help you take your writing to a new level

Ande

Hi Chasen,

you're welcome
thanks for your kind comments on eventually
We got a new female vocal for it
http://www.songramp.com/mod/mps/viewtrack.php?trackid=61657
and continue to hope that someday an artist will come along and want to cut it

ande

got a nice email the other day from someone who thanked me for writing these tips

ande