Do you know when it's good?

  • Thread starter Thread starter James HE
  • Start date Start date
Getting back to the root of the thread I'm with jvasey on this one. i.e. more feeling than craft. The great songs should be able to be performed with just say an acoustic guitar. You don't have to be a Steve Vai (although I accept that sometimes it may help). I admire him but he doesn't inspire me or leave me feeling inadequate. I start writing on acoustic then I layer with other instruments but the real buzz is coming up with the original idea and never, I mean never straying too far from it.
The temptation is to over-craft it, if you see what I mean. Then before you know it - its gone. That original spark has been all crafted out.
If its only three chords, so what! Have a listen to 'The Wind' by Cat Stevens - you'll get what I mean. Its a stunning little song and in 2 minutes and 10 seconds he says more and delivers more emotion than a lot of so-called concept albums I've listened to.
When does it feel good to me? When I can't improve on it.
It may not be a potential million seller or a classic like 'Tracks of My Tears' but who am I out to satisfy..........easy ME!
If you are toiling with it then leave it alone for a while then go back to it later. This works a lot with me. It should never be a chore. We write songs because we love to.
Sorry i came to this thread late but I hope to have added to the discussion.
Regarding the "Who did what first" discussion, does it really matter. Sure arguably we Brits have had our periods of greater innovation but the Yanks have had their moments too. We should all just be grateful that people continue to push the boundaries of music farther and farther in the search for new tunes and sounds. I must admit however that things are a bit stale at the moment but hey you just never know whats round the corner............
Jonboy
 
I can agree with most everything folks have written here and wanted to add my two cents (if it's worth that much!)

Robert Frost saw the 'rules' of poetry as a challenge, then broke the rules only when he thought it necessary. Writing lyrics is the same way: Learn the craft, try writing songs within the parameters, THEN break the rules all you want. There's nothing sadder than a rebel without a clue.

You have to respect / learn from those that mastered the craft, which is not to say 'steal'...but LEARN.

Take it from me, I've written more than a hundred songs and there are maybe 20 that I'm really happy with. BUT, without those 80 terrible tries, the great songs would never have lived. It's all in the process -- write a bunch of crap, just keep writing. NEVER, EVER STOP.

"Just let it come, don't bang the drum" -- Mike Scott
 
I Don't know who to agree/or disagree with. So I wont do either
When I hear the word craft, I think of someone making kitchen cabnets or sum tun.In 72 when I struck out for Nashville,I heard words like hone yer craft,and a bunch of outher words i cant even
spell.But after my secound day and
night of sleeping in my old beat up what ever it was,I had the same
feeling I had when the c-130 landing in VietNam,,What the hell am I doing here!!Well the fourth
day I was signed with ABC/DoT records.I was to be a staff writer. The first day I was with
the top staff writer,and he was saying sum-tun about honeing my
craft.I did'nt hear the rest of what T/W was saying as I walked
out the door,Got in my beat up what ever it was & headed home.
Thats been awhile back in the past
But I cut one gospel album, and had 3 cuts done by outher artist
I still write by what I will call
from comes from the heart & sole
I have'nt honed anything that I
know of,Liz Anderson did tell me
when I was with their pub/co that
I need to try and spell beter.
But craft,honeing and so on,they
are no more than fancy words.
But now thats for me.It may have
a diff/meaning for you.
 
I Don't know who to agree/or disagree with. So I wont do either
When I hear the word craft, I think of someone making kitchen cabnets or sum tun.In 72 when I struck out for Nashville,I heard words like hone yer craft,and a bunch of outher words i cant even
spell.But after my secound day and
night of sleeping in my old beat up what ever it was,I had the same
feeling I had when the c-130 landing in VietNam,,What the hell am I doing here!!Well the fourth
day I was signed with ABC/DoT records.I was to be a staff writer. The first day I was with
the top staff writer,and he was saying sum-tun about honeing my
craft.I did'nt hear the rest of what T/W was saying as I walked
out the door,Got in my beat up what ever it was & headed home.
Thats been awhile back in the past
But I cut one gospel album, and had 3 cuts done by outher artist
I still write by what I will call
from comes from the heart & sole
I have'nt honed anything that I
know of,Liz Anderson did tell me
when I was with their pub/co that
I need to try and spell beter.
But craft,honeing and so on,they
are no more than fancy words.
But now thats for me.It may have
a diff/meaning for you.
 
Weel sed Rusty,
Songwriting should not be about building blocks, although I accept that arrangement, coloration et al can be important integral parts of producing the finished article. Even if the song is not about the heart it should be written from the heart. Mean what you sing and sing what you mean. As the genitally-challenged bishop said to the actress when she asked, "Who are you gonna satisfy with that?".......ME!
Its about achieving your own goals, not trying to re-invent the wheel or out-Dylan Dylan etc. As I said in a previous posting I write songs for me - not necessarily about me - but for me. If I like em then thats the goal achieved. If you or anyone else dont like em, hell who cares.
Keep on truckin.
Jonboy
 
Making good art is all about knowing when to get out of the way.

-jhe
 
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