JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum What makes you so special?

Hey all,

If you were to name a particular 'Songwriting' skill, that you believe you Excel at,
What would it be?

Are you a master at writing a Bridge?

Are you the Tops, when it comes to Crafting a Melody?

Are you Head of the Class when it comes to Creating a killer Title?

Are you able to tell a Story that is believable and real for the listener?

Can you go through someone's lyric and edit out all the Filler, and leave only what's essential?

What makes you so Special?-Dana

I'm special because my mother told me so.

Hi Ben,

I think we can all agree with her:)
Do you have anything in regards to 'Songwriting' that makes her feel that way?-Cheers!-Dana

My distorted sense of life and being too old to re-train my mind.

John

.

Hi Charles,

Maybe, but if you can't be objectionable about your own work, then aren't you 'Working' against yourself?
I think this is a great question to ask ourselves?-Dana

.

I try not to be 'objectionable', but I do strive to be objective.

Dana, I have a question of my own: What do you actually do with the answers to all the (good) questions you ask? Are you compiling them into a set of guidelines, for instance? (The ex-journalist in me wants to know. )

Also, what do you consider to be your own skills?

Donna

Hi Donna,

Thanks for asking a great question! I learn from them.
Hopefully, other people can read them and also learn from them.
A guideline of everyone's skill is a great example for us to draw on, but just listing them on a thread can be very impersonal and just another "List" to look at.

The more I write, I find myself wanting to know what other people are passionate about in their Songwriting.
I find the more questions I ask, the more I can grow as a Songwriter...

As for as my set skills, before I would say my melodies were really great, now I am learning I have a real way of Turning a Phrase so to speak:)

So I'm really interested in knowing about some of the skills/gifts that others bring to their Songwriting:)
How about you Donna,what would you say would be your crowning glory?
Thanks for posting!-Dana

I am not special just agood all rounder.

Well!
You think I am going to tell you! Now I have never considered myself special but some others have. I even got a letter back from a contact, unsoliciated, telling me I could submit material to them anytime. I always knew I was a good writer, don't you know! And my former Publisher called me last week. We may do something after the first of the year. You know, a dollar here, a dollar there.

If only I knew.

Dana, HI! You sure are the inquisitive one!

For my skills, they are just a combination of musical genes, (thanks mom, dad, grandparents and so on, as I have been told), and, a lot of time, (6 decades), of hearing, playing, writing, and composing on the fly for many instruments.

BUT,,,special? I'm the normal guy in music who just has a lot of time into it, and a gift that makes it seem easy. I see myself as a handy man of music. I can do many things, and get the job done, and on time!: Melodies, their complimentary music, (piano guitar, drums, keys or regular bass, key-horns and strings, etc., chords and all kinds of parts/hooks), and their complementary lyrics/vocals, (if I am writing one of my songs), to have the end result be "effective", as I hear Mike Caro say often.

I don't think I stand out in one as being Special, unless I play piano better than I sing! haha. My mom told me that last year and "again" this one! I just HOPE I have been laying down "special" parts on the big project Sub and I are involved with. (likeable parts).

The thing I have that might be called "special", is my normal way of having "A Lot Of Positive Energy".

I was OUT of everything for a year, having to be out because of my two conditions. I then said, screw those conditions, I got a life to LIVE! That action, for me, was Special, and could be thought of by others as having a special trait. ??? I showed myself I can do whatever I set out to do, that's for sure! (Just with no amps please)!

My Energy keeps my focus high, and has me always ready for anything, with no warning or practice. I can "GET" the music quickly, and sometimes perform that music in my head on the way to grabbing whatever instrument. Brian talked about deadlines: How's 4 minutes for a drum track for a song I never heard before, when they were going to give me an hour?! LOL And, for a hit producer who I just met? So, maybe meeting deadlines would be a special gift I seem to have. I co-scored two short college films with two weeks as the deadline. I worked another job during the day, and did the scoring at nights. 3 nights a week. 6 nights total: DONE in a few days before the deadline, including playing and recording all the music, then mixed all the tons of tracks for each tape, (four of them).

So, just a Musical Handy Man, as I said. Not a Special doctorate in anything. Probably not a Special Masters, with just having musical street smarts. But an all around, get er done, lover of music and people skills.

I don't think about the HOW's or what I need to bring to the creative tables. It all just feels right to me to be working in music, and I think it shows in parts and the little time needed to do them. Basically, I just show up and play!

Good question, Dana.

STILL WRITING AT 74, I FIND IT EASY TO PUT MYSELF IN MY SONG SETTINGS, BECAUSE I HAVE LIVED THE STORIES. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS RELIVE MY EXPERIENCES AND PUT AN ELEMENT OF TRUTH IN THE SONG.

TRUTH HELPS GET THE CENTRAL THEME ACROSS, WHILE TRYING TO MAKE THE FICTION COME ALIVE! WRITING MANY LYRICS THROUGH THE YEARS HAS HELPED, AND I'VE LEARNED THE REST BY TRIAL AND ERROR--AND I'M STILL LEARNING WITH JPF FRIENDS!

Mackie

What makes me special is that I'm a genius. There, I said it. It's my own special curse. If I could be a fisherman I would but I can't be because I'm a freakin' genius!!!

Seriously, I don't know for sure. I'm told I write catchy tunes and write compelling story songs so maybe that's it. Of course I don't come close to Scott Campbell in that regard but I try. I am writing a lot of Gospel Rock (for lack of a better term) lately and the songs seem to prove interesting to some who aren't sure what they believe so that makes me happy. I'd rather give folks like that food for thought than sing simple praise and worship songs to the choir so to speak, not that there's anything wrong with P&W songs in their place. Not sure that alone makes me special in any real sense but God made me special as he did everyone else.

Stevie

Hi Guys,

Johhny,

Yes, I seem to be these days, I hope that's a good thing:)
So many good and modest responses!

I know it can be difficult to "Toot" your own horn, but I think
it's a good way to 'Hone' in that Special Talent to make it better, or even see what others Talent you might wish to tighten up on.

Although, I'm not a musician, reading about the passion that people have who are, is inspiring and makes me a little more open to learning one one day.

Jim, it sounds like you might have similar skills as Jonny, be able to do many things, is quite special to me:)

Hi, Mackie,

I would say being able to put the element of 'Truth' is an essential element that all successful Songwriters must have ya?

Steve, writing catchy memorable tunes with a great story, that keeps your audience engaged is half the battle:)

I wrote the headline, in a way that I thought would make some raise and eyebrow or two lol

maybe I should say, what skill set do you most pride yourself on?
Surely we all must think we are special or skilled in some way that would compel us to take risks by exposing ourselves in such a vulnerable way...

I think it's a brave thing we do, that alone should make us special:)
I'm learning so much from you all, thank you!-Dana

I think I'm good at telling a story and I write mostly from the heart....

glyn

I'm good at rhyming and telling a story.

I don't know what the hell I'm doing, so I come up with a lot of happy accidents -- strange time signature changes and whatnot.
Also, I sometimes tell a story, but sometimes wax philosophically, sometimes I do both simultaneously.
And I can write a decent hook, I guess.
I'm a chameleon homebody idiot savant.

And I write some okay songs, I guess.

Hi Glynda and Everette,

Every song needs a good story right?
How do you go about telling a good story?
Do you map out the plot first, or do you make up
the characters individually?

Story songs can be very challenging to write, some writers
go as far as giving the characters names, addresses, birthdays
tattoos ect. where they were born if they were married, divorced before even starting the first line...

I've yet to go through that great of a detail before I start writing but some of those details are present once I start.
-Dana

Hi PopTodd,

Do you find yourself repeating any of those Happy Accidents, or noticing a pattern in them?
Are you constantly surprised by them?
Thanks for commenting:)-Dana

I used to be a genius!

Ben,

I forgot to mention that my genius years actually ended when my kids were teenagers.

Stevie

My brother thinks I�m special
Because I shared my bike
My sister thinks I�m special
Because we�re so alike
My Daddy calls me special
The apple of his eye
My teacher thought me special
My homework was on time
My doggie thinks I�m special
Because I give her walks
My friends think that I�m special
I�m always there to talk
My mommy called me special
Each time I ate my peas
My husband thinks I�m special
So much he married me!

Because I have unusual subject matter (Creep Repellant, Alien Concubine, Rain Barrel Boogie, Dino Dance, My Girlfriend Is A Zombie, for examples).

Hmmm..Interesting Question, Mz Dana!

Waal...I've Co-written with 7 of the Above Writers over the years...so that's one of my Specialties...I try NOT to be a one-man-band. (Partly because I play Zero Instruments..but can Whistle with the best of 'em, and do sing [mostly] on-key..heh!)

As a former Cartoonist, I pride myself in coming up with some of the Weirdest Hooks..and Concepts..imaginable...& I'm fairly-good at Rhyming/Proofreading/Spelling...(Tho I love to sprinkle-in Capital Letters...etc...just for Fun!) I pen fairly-decent Humor..Love a Good Spicy-One, and generally Keep What's-Offered as Interesting, maybe Controversial..as-possible.

My Weaknesses: I'm gettin'-Older, No Recording Budget, No major Hits/Or industry Insiders in my corner. Miserable Memory, too..heh!

Major Strengths: I have Fun with it. If THIS ONE didn't work, there's always the NEXT one..heh!

Best Wishes & Big Hugs,
Stan

Hi Lynn,

As everyone here already knows, you have a unique way with words:)
So unique, that you really don't have to explain it, it's simply what you do!
Thanks for responding-Dana

Mr, Stan!

I am a Mr. Too! Like Lynn, you have your own special way of writing that is only you:)
The cool thing about this particular question is that I had no idea you were a former Cartoonist, looking back on your work, I can totally see how it might be reflected in your songs.

Love this quote of yours here:)Surely a great trait to have in this medium...

"Major Strengths: I have Fun with it. If THIS ONE didn't work, there's always the NEXT one..heh!"

As always, thanks for responding-Mr. Dana

Hi Andy,

Yes, those are unusual subject matters, but that alone can put you in a class of your own:)
You should post some in the Lyric Forum.
Thanks for responding!-Dana

Major Apologies, MR D!!!

Andy & I Coed on one titled "All The World is an Ashtray" once upon a time...& lemmie TellYa, He's GOOD..he's REALLY Good!!!
(AND..he's got an All-Cartoon-Character BAND..Too!!!)

Haven't forgotten I'd promised to do re-write on that "Parkin' Lot" song...just swamped with Christmas Clock Biz at the moment!

Best Wishes Again, Mr D!!!
Big Guy-Hug Too,
Stan

Great question -

- not expecting that anyone is obligated to like my songs.

Hi Dana,

Special?
I assume that means 'as I compare with other songwriters'.
I seldom compare myself with others because it's pointless. I can always find those better or worse than I am at everything - with the exception of being me. I'm the only one - at least until cloning becomes popular.

Which means that the combination of my filters, life experience, attitudes, philosophy, work ethic, musical skill level and sense of humor are what make me 'special' as a songwriter.

Whether that 'special' combination translates into good songs or not, I cannot say. For the most part, I like what I write, even if no one else does. 'Special' is a word that others give you - not one you would normally give yourself.

Hi Stan!

No worries:) I get it all the time!
I'm loving that Title "All the world is an Ashtray, very compelling!
Yes, I really think you have something 'Special' with that "Parking Lot"
I think you should definitely keep plugging away at it!
Thanks for responding! Mr. Dana lol

Hi Doug,

Thanks for posting:)
I think you can learn a lot when you compare your work with others.

Comparing doesn't have to mean "Better."
Subconsciously, I think most here probably do compare how their songs with others:)

It's like going to the gym and seeing someone with bigger muscles, and you're like geez! lol
It can also work the other way, when you see someone who is not as 'built' as you:)

You noted that Special is a word that others give you, not one you would normally give yourself, true to a point!

But I'm sure those gifted with an Undeniable Gift/Talent
like the Voice of Aretha Franklin or Whitney Houston,
or the playing of Jimi Hendrix, or an Actress like Meryl Streep, These people knew there was something Special about them.

Not saying that any of us here would put ourselves on par with those greats, but it's okay if we embrace what's Special about us.

Thanks again for responding!-Dana

Call it a blessing or call it a curse
But I see all of life in verse!

Lynn, you're perfect!
btw, I loved your verse that you wrote about today's tragedy in Ct.

Perfect I'm not
And never to be
I have flaws, I have faults
That you just cannot see
I simply will choose
To indulge in these rhymes
When responding to posts
For I find it divine
I believe that the reader
Enjoys it the more
But in all honesty
Rhymes are jewels I adore!!

My only claim to "special" is my inate, uncompromising, ability to recognize my own limitations...That means I realize that nobody wants to sit for an hour and listen to me ruin a good story while playing a mediocre rhythm guitar. So, if you were to ever see me play live, you'd find yourself listening to the most talented group of musicians I could find to hide my flaws, and those musicians would be worth the price of admission.

Midnite

I write songs just because I want to. I see it as being engaged in efforts producing meaningful fiction based on my experience of reality. Songwriting is one way to make sense of the world for me, amongst others, and I like doing it. I guess that's what's special, liking it.. you sort of are what you like.

I excel music that keeps me awake, but, unfortunately,
it tends to put others to sleep.


Pat Hardy Lockwood

Unlike over a billion people, I have not seen the Gangnam Style video on Youtube

I haven't seen the Gangnam Style video either.