| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Jiyra |
Posted - 12/20/2004 : 03:05:12 AM
howdy folks, after a long silence, I'm requesting more help from you people, as the most talented people I know, I was hoping y'all could offer me some help on overcoming this wall between me and putting lyrics to my music! I can't seem to get anything to fit together quite right, and it's starting get me rather peeved, so any helpful advice you can guys can give would be greatly appreciated. Oh, and if it helps, I play fingerstyle, slapping, and two-handed tapstyle...and I'm a tenor, although I'm not sure how that would make a difference. Thanks in advance for any help! |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Fluffy |
Posted - 12/22/2004 : 3:48:56 PM
Always happy to offer some thoughts worth pondering. Glad they helped. And GOOD LUCK will be anxious to see what you do or don't come up with. |
| Jiyra |
Posted - 12/22/2004 : 12:10:39 AM
well Fluffy, that actually helped me alot, especially hearing how hard it can be for someone so talented as TR to put lyrics together, especially since he's been a great force in my music thusfar, and you put my thoughts exactly into words "It's more of a feeling conveyed thru music." and thank you all for chiming in, although nothings coming into this versed versal ungrounded socket I call a mind, I've got two pieces in the works, so thanks alot! |
| Fluffy |
Posted - 12/20/2004 : 2:59:15 PM
Hey St Jude I think I sum that up into one phrase, songs with universal themes. Lyrics everyone can identify with. Although I am not sure I agree unless of course you are trying to write pop music. Of course alot of my fave bands are pop bands so I have no problem with this but it is not the only approach. I also like introspective lyrics that I don't necessarily understand but are almost poetic. Much like Chris Whitley's lyrics. I never cease to be amazed at how for years I could think that a song was about 1 thing to have Chris tell me what he was thinking about when he wrote it and I was way off the mark. He is more of a wordsmith that way. Using expressions or phrases that might hold a totally different meaning for each listener. It is definitely a craft and I am not sure there is a science to it. I seem to feel that the best lyricists seem to say it just came to them that they didn't really have WORK at it. It could be that it is something you are blessed with like poets or painters. Not to dissuaded Jiyra I would also like to say that if your heart is in it I am sure you can do it, but I wouldn't try and FORCE it. Let it come naturally and you might be surprised what you come up with. I know for TR it was and is hard for him to put lyrics to his acoustic stuff. It's more of feeling conveyed thru the music. But as anyone who has ever listened to his electric stuff, he can write lyrics and damn good ones. Maybe it's just that deep in your soul you feel your music conveys the message you want without the lyrics and when you write a song that needs them they will be born to support the playing. I think every songwriter has their own way of finding the lyrics for their music and I am certain that there is not just one way to do that. Maybe what you need to do is see what comes to you. Find your own voice and vision in a way that is comfortable for you. It certainly doesn't hurt to ask for suggestions and it is quite commendable and take these suggestions and maybe incorporate the ones that would seem to work for you but more importantly just open your mind to your music and let it speak to you in a way it will speak to no one else and you will find your lyrics if they are indeed there. Just my opinion, I could be wrong. |
| Saint Jude |
Posted - 12/20/2004 : 09:28:14 AM
if pop music has taught me anything.
you have to sing about one of a few things. Girls/Guys, and trying to get it on with them. Money, and your excess of or lack of. Your parents and how they grounded you that one time. Drugs, and how much they have inhanced/ destroyed your life. Being depressed and how much it sux/rules. But if you can not relate to any of these things to sing about, make it up. And mumble alot. its 10% what you say and 90% how you say it. Ich Ben Ein Berliner. (I am a doughnut) |
| KevinLesko |
Posted - 12/20/2004 : 05:34:07 AM
Hmmm. Well first of all, let me welcome you and say thanks for overcoming your silence.
With that said... this is a tough conversation...(and I'm not sober right now) but with that said (and my spelling appears to be well enough that I think I'm comprehensive) look at lyrics and music as two separate things. I know that some of TR's albums do so. Such as Sanctuary which came from poems that TR had written, so he took lyrics, and formed songs around that. At least I'm pretty sure this is the case for Sanctuary. Personally, I do the same. My roommate is very into digital music, where he composes beats and instrumentation on keyboards, synths, and drum machines... and I have come up with lyrics on my own, without even hearing his beats, and just making the two work together. I hope this makes even an iota of sense. Surely there is writing that you have done. And there is instrumentation that you have done. Find a way for the two to work together. Find a link... go from there.
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