Alcohol and Songwriting

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bdenton said:
I'm not talking about getting shit faced-black out drunk. I just mean a couple shots to get buzzed or so ...

And then one night "a couple shots" just won't get it going so you have five or six, and on and on...

Want to know what a new Porsche looks like? Look up my nose...I put one up there several years in a row.

If somebody wants to drink or do drugs, it's their life. And if they try to rationalize drinking or drug use, it may well be a short one...
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maybe but it really varies from individual to individual.
I drink a couple of drinks most gigs ........ very rarely more than a couple and I've been doing it for 42 years.
When am I gonna feel the need for more to 'get me going'?

Some people have a problem with it right away ..... some people never do.
It varies far too much to be able to make any blanket statements about it.
 
grimtraveller said:
Personally, I find the blues, lyrically, to be among the most boring, predictable, repetitive, self pitying, moany form of music going.
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So true! :D

I think with blues lyrics...the trick is NOT to try and write a traditional blues type of lyric...rather, just write it straightforward like other songs, and without that signature repetition of lines...but then set it to traditional blues music. More "modern" blues tunes tend to step away from that stereotypical blues flavor.

Of course, if you wanna do the ole black man Delta blues style...then you pretty much have to follow that recipe, that's what it calls for...and alcohol, drugs, guns, and loose women that done you wrong...all gotta be in there! :D
 
I'm a big fan of heroin. It's not for everybody, though.
 
Drugs are just Gods way of telling you that you have to much money!
 
>Moderation is key with anything in life.<

>>That may be so but it has little to do with the subject at hand.<<

Uhhh... In what way does moderation not have to do with the subject at hand? Moderation absolutely applies to everything, in my opinion.

I don't doubt that the bewz and other 'illicit' substances hold merit for their perceived enhancements to songwriting abilities. The thing to remember, though, is that it's not like there's one, dedicated 'songwriting' section of your brain that requires 0.2mL/m of any specific substance to get you 'into the zone'. I know most of you realize this, but it does seem to me that some people get carried away with their symbols to the point of taking them to have literal meaning.

One of the keys to good songwriting (for me) is knowing yourself as deeply as possible and how your moods affect your abilities, and if you can utilize anything - substance, routine, mental exercises, literally almost anything can color your perspective if you're focusing - in a way that you honestly feel is productive, then you should.

Moderation is relevant because it prevents catastrophic failures with this (and any) methodology. I've also found that it aids in my sense of taste, having a great effect on my ability to appreciate what they call in some secluded circles "subtlety."
 
StringFlinger said:
>Moderation is key with anything in life.<

>>That may be so but it has little to do with the subject at hand.<<

Uhhh... In what way does moderation not have to do with the subject at hand? Moderation absolutely applies to everything, in my opinion.
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The question posed is whether or not great songs are come up with while under the influence of booze. I agree with moderation being key etc, I already said that. But the statement of moderation being key has little if anything to do with whether or not people come up with great sounding songs while not excercizing moderation, ie being 'under the influence'.
 
I don't think any substances help me much. Different story 20 years ago.. of course they probably hurt as much as helped.

I seem to come up with the best lyrics and stuff, or at least am most inspired when I am falling asleep Or just when I wake up - or wake up in the middle of the night.

I don't seem to play much differently when I have had a few beers. I don't think I ever tried to write any lyrics or even music - maybe I will give it a try :P
 
Alcohol and songwriting

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.
 
I always write songs when stuff's happened. But that's usually when I've been under influance. Normally after, not during tho.

But I find it hard to complete my songs the day after or so : (
 
Never wrote a good song drunk and it does not bother me in the least that I never have.
 
The problem is when you over-do anything.
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Right. There is a real danger of addiction with any drug which should be taken seriously.
 
i find that weed is all you need to write a good song...it makes the mind work far more efficiently.... chronic i find helps to view oneself and the world around more subjectively... in a studio environment smoke some weed. In a band situation, drop some acid, trip your head off and see where that takes you...
 
Well, the thing is, I find myself more brilliant when not under anything. However, when under something, I am more likely to accept what I've thought out and just get on with it. It's sort of guaranteeing 50-60% of my potential instead of having the slim (10%) chance of unleashing most or all of it. Also, like many people, I've written many, many songs under uncontrollable emotional duress, which generally will work the same way for me. What I find the best is when I can write songs under well-controlled emotional influence.
 
If you need to take something to enhance your creativity, then you have no business creating - you're a hack. That's my opinion.
 
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