Right Lyrics, Wrong Music.... Help

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mjk6string

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Hey all,

Need some input. I wrote a new song about 3 months ago when I was going through a really tough time with my art. This one bled out of me. As I was forming and writing the lyric, the meter took on its own life (which happens quite frequently when I write) and a particular melody formed as well. The unfortunate part is that I should have stopped myself right there, but didn't, because the meter and tone of the song is very upbeat while the words are quite the opposite. So instead of stopping this song in my head, I went as far as to fully write the music, laid down a basic recording of it and worked like this for about two weeks on the song.

The problem I have is that the lyrics and the melody are now locked together in my head but they don't work together. Now every time I sit down to recompose the music, I can't erase in my mind what I already worked on.

Two questions: has this ever happened to anyone? And What can I do to stop this inconvenient association?

I'd rather try to figure this one out on my own with little outside input because this one has special meaning to me. But if need be, I will post the lyrics and see what you fine folks can come up with.

Much obliged.....

Mike
 
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You know, sometimes a downbeat lyric delivered to an upbeat melody can work extremely well....

Goodbye to Love
Anyone Who Had a Heart
Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town
Love Hurts
 
it's very true..

actually sometimes it gets just too cliche to write a sad depressing song with sad depressing lyrics.
 
Freddy said:
You know, sometimes a downbeat lyric delivered to an upbeat melody can work extremely well....

Goodbye to Love
Anyone Who Had a Heart
Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town
Love Hurts
Click to expand...

eeb said:
it's very true..

actually sometimes it gets just too cliche to write a sad depressing song with sad depressing lyrics.
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Very true, but believe me when I say, the music for this song is way too upbeat and stuck in my head like two dogs stuck to each other, with no hose in sight. lol....

Thanks guys.
 
I don't know it can't be any more upbeat then "the one you want" by the get up kids

listen to the lyrics.. they're not happy AT ALL ... the music is excrutiatingly happy.. it's rediculous almost yet it works well i think.

http://www.myspace.com/thegetupkids
 
eeb said:
I don't know it can't be any more upbeat then "the one you want" by the get up kids

listen to the lyrics.. they're not happy AT ALL ... the music is excrutiatingly happy.. it's rediculous almost yet it works well i think.

http://www.myspace.com/thegetupkids
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You're right, it def works for that song. Wish mine did. I'm gonna have to post it and get some feedback.

Thanks eeb
 
yeah that would be the easiest way..

honestly sometimes you can be you're own worst critic.. it seems you have it set in your mind that the lyrics and song don't match.. getting some feedback from a neutral party is a good way to confirm what you're thinking.. sometimes i write something that and I think something is wrong with it... but then i let a few people listen and they all love it.. (or they confirm what that there's something a little off)
 
eeb said:
yeah that would be the easiest way..

honestly sometimes you can be you're own worst critic.. it seems you have it set in your mind that the lyrics and song don't match.. getting some feedback from a neutral party is a good way to confirm what you're thinking.. sometimes i write something that and I think something is wrong with it... but then i let a few people listen and they all love it.. (or they confirm what that there's something a little off)
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I usually use LightiningMP3.com but it is not recognizing my file format (don't know why, it's an MP3 like any other???)

Can you recommend another site where I can upload it?
 
you can always just send it via yousendit.com

just email it to yourself.. and you'll get a link.. post that link up and we're in business
 
eeb said:
you can always just send it via yousendit.com

just email it to yourself.. and you'll get a link.. post that link up and we're in business
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Okay,

Here is a VERY ROUGH Version.

I'm not that great, but really enjoy doing what I'm doing. So just listen to the lryics (I've attached a copy) and let me know if you think the music doesn't match.

http://download.yousendit.com/8A50349F32260DEB
 

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honestly.. I think it works well..

maybe if you could slow down you're picking a little bit.. change it up a little too.. the whole songs seems to have the same rhythm and it gets a little repetitive. Maybe the bridge can be just strumming the chords once or something of the like..

Not a huge fan of the long solo but now i'm just getting into a genre thing..

I think you can still work on it but don't scrap the chord progressions and melodies cause they do work..

You've got that great country twang in your voice :D good stuff
 
eeb said:
honestly.. I think it works well..

maybe if you could slow down you're picking a little bit.. change it up a little too.. the whole songs seems to have the same rhythm and it gets a little repetitive. Maybe the bridge can be just strumming the chords once or something of the like..

Not a huge fan of the long solo but now i'm just getting into a genre thing..

I think you can still work on it but don't scrap the chord progressions and melodies cause they do work..

You've got that great country twang in your voice :D good stuff
Click to expand...

Appreciate the feedback. I will certainly keep working on it. Like you said, maybe just slow it donw a little. I def get the repetitive comment too. Not quite ready to let this one go. Like I said, this one was personal.

Thanks again for you input. Good bad or indifferent, I like to hear it.
 
I think it works too.

Think Dylan, and It's a Hard Rain.. that was no less upbeat, as were many songs.

The tempo is fine. This could turn out very well with the right arrangement.
 
Thanks Freddyj

Freddy said:
I think it works too.

Think Dylan, and It's a Hard Rain.. that was no less upbeat, as were many songs.

The tempo is fine. This could turn out very well with the right arrangement.
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Thanks man, appreciate it. I'm actually working on it now.
 
I myself .....

I myself have been trying to write a country song for eons. The problem I have always had is kinda like what you are talking about. Everything starts with the melody and lyrics nice and clean, but instead of keeping it there I start to add more and more stuff to fill the emptiness I heard. Sooner or later it goes into a light rock, but nooo can't stop there. Needs dynamics. Need interest. Needs blah blah blah. Never done. What I have learned to do is record anything and everything that comes to mind. Hence the 8000 unfinished songs we have. Try not to desire a finish to them. Just get the general idea down. Maybe even the composition. Then do another. Do that for about a week. Then take a day break....good luck, but anyways take a day break then scroll through the songs you have'nt finished with the idea to delete the one's that will probally not go anywhere. You may find this will help you find and follow your original design. You go into it, not start it, but go into it with the idea to either finish it or throw it away. That's the hard part. Good luck
 
mjk6string said:
The problem I have is that the lyrics and the melody are now locked together in my head but they don't work together. Now every time I sit down to recompose the music, I can't erase in my mind what I already worked on.

Two questions: has this ever happened to anyone?
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Oh, yes... same thing happens to me ALL the time... I know exactly what you're talking about.
 
Honestly, if you played a melody that was any less upbeat, the lyrics would be unbearably downbeat.
 
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