Which songs are easier to write; bright or dark ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter grimtraveller
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Actually . . . the OP posed a really interesting question.

It lead to me to get thinking about which songs are "dark" and which ones are "bright". Obviously, No Quarter by Zep is a dark song, and I Wanna Hold Your Hand is bright . . . but there's so many cool songs that straddle the middle ground.

Wooden Ships by CSN isn't a dark song, but it's hauntingly uplifting. This Boy by The Beatles isn't bright per se (being a song of longing and loss), but the lilt and harmonies gives it a positive tone. Those are the songs I'm drawn to more than others . . . the ones I call "change-ups" . . . interesting songs that don't really fit into a category (usually found on Side B, Track 3 of most albums ;)).
 
This is a tough one.. I'm the happiest person I know. Seriously, my life is perfect (for me). However, anything that I have to say doesn't match the music in my head.. I just love minor keys. I think they're beautiful. As I've been an instrumentalist my whole life and am just getting into writing lyrics, I'm sticking to telling stories that aren't necessarily reflective of what I'm feeling inside. I figure maybe I can write a good song by telling a good story.
 
Sudsy100 said:
Also interesting because it's one of the only topics on the board that no-one can argue about . . . yet
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I'm glad you put the 'yet'......there have been people here {and possibly still are} that could argue with the water in their bath or the milk on their cereal !
I don't think HR has a single unarguable topic......
 
IMO it really depends on how you're feeling during the moment. Also weather and environment plays a big part which brings me back to "Depends on how you're feeling"
 
Yeah, I guess it works either way. Thinking about Slade's "Merry Christmas everybody", Noddy Holder says he had the melody from about 6 years earlier. He had a completely different set of lyrics, real "stoned hippie from Walsall" summer of love outtake stuff. But by 1973, Britain was in Crisis with the government about to be brought down by the Miners' strike, the three day week and power cuts etc. He says the country was in it's gloomiest phase since things had begun getting hopeful in the mid 60s and he deliberately set out to write a cheerful pick me up.
He did !
I actually remember the first time I heard it. I was 10 and on holiday from school and it was on the radio. I thought it was a fantastic song. I still do and I listen to it at every point in the year. It so sums up the day in a British family "back in the day". I love the song even though I don't do christmas at all.
If I had written it though, it probably would've been tinged with reflective darkness, if one could be bothered to look below the surface......
 
I find it hard to write happy songs that don't make my skin crawl later. There are many that I love to listen to, but whenever I write it I'm not a fan. I generally love more upbeat music with an edge to it. Think "If It makes you happy", upbeat song - but still has an edge to it. I also like this song a lot.. peaceful melody, messed up lyrics

Third Eye Blind - Slow Motion - with lyrics - YouTube
 
I don't write alot but I find dark power ballad-ish with a touch of bright and happy lyrics to be easiest. If I write a really bright happy song, usually the next day I don't usually like it as much.
 
I think also that many "happy" songs are actually quite dark. It's definately easier to make dark songs. But I'm Finnish, so I guess that explains it. ;)
 
I think bright songs, happy songs are harder to write. 1. I think people start writing because they are NOT happy, looking for someway to vent it or make sense of their problems. 2. Happy songs are less believable, somebody says "the world is so wonderful" nobody believes it, the news tells them otherwise. 3. Sad songs are easier to Make up. Most alternative rock is based on fabricated negative emotions, and yes, that is an opinion.
But I see the guys making millions on their "hit" songs all complaining about life, and saying, yeah dude try never selling a record, and talk to me about being unhappy. They write that way cause it's expected, not cause they feel it
 
im guessing it would depend on what type of mood your in.. if i'm in dark mood its easier to channel dark energy and vice versa. i couldnt see myself writing a dark hit the night of my honeymoon ya know.
 
In my case I would have to agree with Barry's first point...I use writing as a way to work thru issues so it is much easier for me to write a dark song. My upbeat songs are more fun fluff than anything and nowhere near the depth of my sad songs.
 
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