Recently I had an electrocardiogram. I was lying on a table, hooked up to a machine by wires attached all over my body. Carol was sitting there watching.
When the technician had me sit up, Carol blurted out, “It’s aliiiiiiiiiive!!!”*
We got so cracked up we were rolling about with laughter. I’m sure we disturbed the other patients. Carol often cracks me up.
So when I was writing this I thought— It’s possible to write songs that are technically correct in every respect—all the bits and pieces are sewn together properly, yet the song lacks warmth, wit, artistry and humanity— in short . . . life. (I think I’ve done that on occasion.)
These songwriting tips we share with you are not rules but principles, aimed at helping you bring your message to life.
The same applies to other arts, as well. As one critic wrote: “The technical perfection of the novels of Mr. ………… do not prevent them from being faultlessly dead.”
The artist Marc Chagall said, “If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing.”
We’ve shared occasionally our “Cardinal Rule” for message songwriting:
Make all the elements work together to enhance the feeling of the message.
What do we mean by the elements of songwriting?
There are at least nine definable elements that make up most songs:
The Intangible elements: message, style, atmosphere, and mood
The Tangible elements: form, melody, harmony, rhythm and lyrics
This may not matter much in songs written only for dancing where the theme or words aren’t important, but in any song with message, it is paramount.
Why the feeling? Because songwriting is an emotional medium. If we can help our listeners feel our message, we will have created an experience that might help change something in the way they live. Otherwise we might as well just give them a list.
We don’t write songs mechanically by following instructions or formulas or rules.
We absorb the principles of great songwriting by analyzing great songs.
If a song has lasted for many years and has had many recordings by many artists in many styles, the question we ask is Why?
We dissect it and study it: What is there about it structurally, melodically, lyrically, harmonically, etc., that makes people want to hear it again and again? What is the prevailing feeling that comes through? And technically, in what ways is that feeling created and sustained?
Then, out of our improved understanding we’ll instinctively write better songs.
We invite you to surf back through our previous songwriters’ articles. By now we have over 100. We hope they help you bring your songs to life.
Blessings,
J&C
(*In case someone missed it, “It’s aliiiiiiiiiive!!!”were the words of Dr. Frankenstein.)
Written by : Jimmy & Carol Owens
