Songwriting
I started writing songs at 18. Believe it when I say I was no prodigy.
My first song was called “I can see through you (like a window)” It was less than stellar. Elvis Costello was a big influence at the time… and I loved how cynical and intelligent his lyrics were. I possessed no such skill, yet… but had such a desire to GET good that through mimicking him and other writers, found my own voice, my own signature.
Now I doubt anyone would listen to one of my records and say ‘oh i’ll bet he was an Elvis Costello fan!’. That’s how copying works. Bach was a copyist before there were electronics, and would work through the night by candlelight to finish. It’s no coincidence or sheer genius that he ended up being the greatest composer of all time. So aware of the works of his day being a copyist, he was able to borrow, avoid and overall learn from the greats before him.
The library is where I started. Each day i’d walk there and read, keeping a notebook and writing down lines that felt rhythmic or unique in a lyrical way to me. I still have them in a trunk somewhere, and there are many… filled with lines from Anne Sexton to John Fante, Langston Hughes to Neil Young. Anything was game as long as it opened up the window of creativity. So with 46 years of experience, here’s a few tips for new songwriters.
- Be agile. Allow all your walls and floors to move. Never get so married to an idea that you can’t bend it. This is the greatest way to end up with little pieces that never see the light of day.
- Don’t try to re-invent the wheel. In other words, don’t try something chordal or melodic, lyrically or structurally so outside the box, you find yourself outside of the realm of platforms in which to be heard.
- Use anything and everything for inspiration. I used to play a C on the piano with my middle 3 fingers… but quickly learned by changing bass notes on the left hand, a new universe of chords were possible. Hits are usually made of interesting chords. Not C-D-G.
- Use cheats. If your brain isn’t feeling too creative, open a book of poetry, other lyrics even, and let the single words and images provide you with some inspiration. I.e., Bob Dylan from the album ’Street Legal’-
“I stepped forth from the shadows to the marketplaceMerchants and thieves, hungry for powerMy last deal gone downShe’s smelling sweet like the meadows where she was bornOn midsummer’s eve near the tower”For me, the words that stand out here are marketplace, merchants, thieves, meadows, tower… but whatever may grab YOU is key.“In the marketplace, that’s when I saw your face – On a hot summer night in the city”See how I use the word marketplace and borrow ‘midsummer’ and made it ‘hot summer’ instead?It’s not rocket science, but when we’re blank for words, this technique can kick-start your thinking.Just don’t plagiarize. Nobody likes that.
- Don’t bore us, get to the chorus. It’s not fun to watch someone look in a mirror, or to listen to an artist with a 1 minute intro. They’re both masturbatory. Stop it. Become a good editor. If you have a re-intro, make it half as long as the first. Cut the solo in half. Try starting the song on the lyric. Where radio used to love intros so they could do their ID’s up until the vocal starts… nobody’s listening to radio anymore, so get on with the song.
- If you’re not a natural hit melody maker, topline writer as they call it now, cowrite! There’s a reason Robert Fripp is an exceptional musician but not a hit writer. Melody isn’t his thing. He’s into notes and difficulty. Whole ‘nother skillset there. McCartney is a walking topliner.
- Stay away from trite. Nobody wants to hear “You broke my heart, when you told us we’ll part”. It’s not 1952. Don’t do that. Instead use false rhymes, new words, contemporary themes. Study people, become a good listener and write down what you hear that grabs you. You’ll be surprised how creative it gets when you start writing down anything/everything.
- Write the song before you start zooming in on the track. One way to lose sight of a well written song is trying to produce the track too soon. Get off the DAW and stick with your piano or guitar until the song is realized. Then, the possibilities are endless on where to put the beats and all the bells & whistles.
- Sometimes that thing that makes us feel self-conscious is really our signature trying to find it’s way. Lean into that. If you sound like John Mayer or Adele, remember there’s already one of those. Be brave enough to suck a little. My bet is something original will start to emerge.
- Know there are no rules. Everything I’ve just stated is not an absolute. Lennon was a great rule breaker, but he trusted his gut. We’re not all blessed with the same killer instincts, and Lennon didn’t have as many hits as Max Martin or Dr. Luke… but if you have a unique enough idea that makes you feel something deeply when you sing or play it, then to hell with rules.
How Important Are You?
How important are you?
One of the patterns we can see from years of educational brainwash is that we are one in billions, maybe trillions of planets. Meaningless.
They speak of UFO’s, but honestly, it’s a bit like bending a spoon with your mind. They show these things in movies, but no one’s actually ever seen a UFO or been known to mentally bend a spoon. Now with holograms, I wouldn’t trust a UFO if it landed in my own backyard. They’d have to take me up into space and show me something unearthly to make me believe.
Has anyone noticed that Netflix movies almost always have someone vomiting now? I think in the last 20 shows i’ve watched on that channel, 100% of them have someone visibly throwing up. Not to mention the word ‘fuck’ is written into scripts on an habitual and obsessive level. Like, someone had to read it and ‘ok’ it. Who? I’d like to interview this genius.
What would be the benefit for those who control money and governments to make us feel sick, dirty and insignificant? Of course the answer is simple. They become our Gods.
So when I see a field of grass, I’m reminded of how important we all are. Is one blade so? Yes.
It may be disposable, but how many can be removed before you have a cancerous patch of dry earth? And how fast can that dead patch spread?
When one blade of grass needs to grow larger than the collective, it causes the neighboring blades to die from lack of sun. Also, it tends to die young itself from too much exposure. In a sense, it’s no longer a healthy piece of grass. It’s a weed.
I wish to be a blade of healthy grass. Don’t need to stand taller. Enjoy just being. Don’t gossip or ridicule. Don’t hate… but learn to fight with conscious awareness of your lethal foe. Life is a precious, rare, beautiful wonderful gift. People are magic, but have learned to be otherwise. Our collective consciousness has to change now.
I admire musicians on YouTube who can do nothing but talk about music, but honestly, it’s just not at the forefront of my mind. I don’t think music is that important anymore. I know… it can put you in a good mood, make you feel angry, powerful etc. But it’s temporary like a new car. The feeling fades and we’re left with ourselves.
Most of it’s manipulative, you know… tough voice, sincere voice, sexy voice, babydoll voice… it’s almost all meant to seduce you and gain your vote… much like a documentary. Much like a film. Big sports as well. In truth, we are what’s important, not the distractions.
I care about people, our country, all countries. I care about civilization. I see what they’re trying to do via all the channels they have of groupthinking us, and am disturbed to see how many just swallow it and wash it down with the next big lie.
Get in touch with nature, from the grass to the trees, from the birds to all forms of natural beautiful life. Just because we’ve come up with names for things, doesn’t mean we understand them. We know very little about who we are, where we come from and ultimately where we’re going.
Jude
About A Band
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1148440722997100
In this clip on FB today, Ringo took the words right out of my mouth. To save you the watch, he was asked by Dan Rather how he managed to stay grounded, being one of the most famous people in the world. Ringo’s response was that they saw Elvis when they first started, and Elvis had no one. On the other hand, they had the band at all times, and together would keep each other in line. If one started acting like a big shot, another just needed to give them that look. Growing up in Silvis/East Moline was like that.
In essence, this is one of the empty pockets of my life in music. I grew up in a blue-collar town playing in bands, and had a lot of friends from the same social status who could give each other ‘that look’. When I got to LA, I continued as a sideman for different artists. Tried to get a few LA friends to join me in getting a record deal, but they wanted to be paid. Since there was no money to pay them, it was time to get busy and make it happen on my own, solo.
My gear in a 500 SF single apartment in 1985- A Yamaha acoustic guitar, 1982 Fender Strat, 1968 Fender Bass, Roland TR-707 drum machine, Panasonic boom box and a stereo with cassette deck.
I’d record the electric guitar, drum machine and live vocal to the boom box. Then take that cassette, slip it in the stereo deck, put a new one in the boom box and record bass and harmony, and/or acoustic gtr. This is essentially how I was signed to Warner Bros. There were other more professional tapes too of course, but the song that earned the contract was Walls That Bend, done precisely as above.
After signing, it became painfully aware this was a lonely job. Decisions for photos, videos, you and a director/photographer. What’s on the rider? You decide. What to wear? Ask your girlfriend. Flight to Dallas? Alone. Backstage? Alone. Meeting with record company where their ideas really don’t match your own? Be diplomatic, it’s one against 10. Great review? Read it to your mom. Bad review? Crumble alone.
Today I can look at the past with little to no emotion. I became a manager for 25 years, so it’s easy to look at my career with a different hat and healthy distance… but it’s plain to see I was never hungry for fame because frankly, it was a lonely gig. I was born and raised a band guy.
Today I enjoy making records, end of story. I’m loathe to go to a show. I find older men walking around with bellies hanging over Les Paul’s unbearable. If they start doing that 70’s dance-walk thing i’m liable to slit my wrist. I think the rock & roll culture is antiquated and kind of sad, but much prefer pop artists, young artists, or if they are older, have modified their act with grace and a sound that matches their age. I just never got in the business to see a bunch of grumpy old men. McCartney, Clapton, Sting and a few others managed to do it right. Very few though. And they were superstars. Much easier to be forgiven with solid hit songs that were a soundtrack to millions of lives.
Anyway, not to belabor the point but pop music is best right outta the oven. And for sanity when you’re young, best to be in a band! In the words of the great Ringo Starr, peace & love ❤️
