06-12-2024, 09:14 AM
“I do find it a little concerning that you can tell someone their lyrics aren’t lyrics but you also can’t articulate the rules you are using to make that call.”
Me, too.
I’m telling you, point blank, full stop, I don’t know what lyrics are. Nobody knows what lyrics are. I don’t know how to be clearer on this.
I have no access point, no starting point to even begin the conversation. Here’s a brain dump. I could do this six different ways.
Let’s say someone asked me how to write lyrics. I’d say there are three approaches: mumble, hymn, and inspiration. Mumble lyrics are written to a repeat track. This is most common in rap lyrics writing, but it can work with any genre. There’s no way to write to 1/16ths without mumble, and it’s rather useless for whole-note writing. Hymn is best for the initial conversion of a poem from feet to beats in lyrics. This is good for rock/pop/country because you’re fitting, generally, poetic feet to 1/4 notes. Lastly, you have genius/inspiration, where the words and melody “arrive” together. These lyrics frustrate their authors who want genius to write the whole song. Most typically, after a verse and chorus appear via genius, subsequent versus and the bridge require some elbow grease. Genius is the often the slowest means of producing a full song. Sometimes it prevents the song from ever being finished. That said, it is uniquely useful for the production of musicals and for coauthorship, generally.
Half a good set of lyrics is a good start. It’s fine to let someone else finish, especially if you’re stumped.
In reality, these songwriting methods are not entirely indistinct. Usually, genius occurs when your ear hears a melody that snaps your idle thoughts into words.
Now, what you need to figure out is how you can use editors notes as primers without feeling coauthored.
First, become an editor. give as much feedback as you can. Second, learn to write a dozen drafts. In my experience, 1/3 of the time, the first draft is best, 1/3 of the time, the last one is, and 1/3 of the time, it’s one of the middle drafts.
Me, too.
I’m telling you, point blank, full stop, I don’t know what lyrics are. Nobody knows what lyrics are. I don’t know how to be clearer on this.
I have no access point, no starting point to even begin the conversation. Here’s a brain dump. I could do this six different ways.
Let’s say someone asked me how to write lyrics. I’d say there are three approaches: mumble, hymn, and inspiration. Mumble lyrics are written to a repeat track. This is most common in rap lyrics writing, but it can work with any genre. There’s no way to write to 1/16ths without mumble, and it’s rather useless for whole-note writing. Hymn is best for the initial conversion of a poem from feet to beats in lyrics. This is good for rock/pop/country because you’re fitting, generally, poetic feet to 1/4 notes. Lastly, you have genius/inspiration, where the words and melody “arrive” together. These lyrics frustrate their authors who want genius to write the whole song. Most typically, after a verse and chorus appear via genius, subsequent versus and the bridge require some elbow grease. Genius is the often the slowest means of producing a full song. Sometimes it prevents the song from ever being finished. That said, it is uniquely useful for the production of musicals and for coauthorship, generally.
Half a good set of lyrics is a good start. It’s fine to let someone else finish, especially if you’re stumped.
In reality, these songwriting methods are not entirely indistinct. Usually, genius occurs when your ear hears a melody that snaps your idle thoughts into words.
Now, what you need to figure out is how you can use editors notes as primers without feeling coauthored.
First, become an editor. give as much feedback as you can. Second, learn to write a dozen drafts. In my experience, 1/3 of the time, the first draft is best, 1/3 of the time, the last one is, and 1/3 of the time, it’s one of the middle drafts.
A yak is normal.