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Discussion: ATRL Songwriter's Thread | Jacktrus gain dual #1
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 3,812
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I wrote a few songs, recorded them and made a demo EP but I'm yet to play it to someone 
Btw... How do you start writing? You write the melody first or write the complete lyrics first and then try to write fitting music?
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Member Since: 7/15/2012
Posts: 30,915
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Quote:
Originally posted by Jackson
Well I don't really try that hard to make my songs personal or relatable, I guess I just write about what's going on in my life. Sometimes my more metaphoric songs are even more personal, like Acid Reign and Savior. I think I try to disguise my feelings behind metaphors sometimes so I don't feel like I'm showing everything, but then it makes the meaning even cooler. And sometimes I write songs about how I want to feel. For example, my new song After Hours is a love song I wrote after my most recent breakup about how I wanted my next relationship to be and how I wanted to fall in love again, and as I'm starting to date this new guy I'm finding everything about the song describes how I'm feeling which is really cool. I guess I do have a pretty interesting life though. I've fallen in love multiple times, had some struggles, and have been through a lot that has shaped who I am and who I don't want to be, so that's made writing personal songs really easy.
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Oh I totally know what you mean. I do the same thing with metaphors and poeticism because I don't want to be boring, banal or tepid. Where's the fun in that. And I appreciate the mystery a lot. I remember when I submitted Rose Body for PH, TT thought it was a song about losing a loved one but it was actually about virginity! There's a lot of fun in open meanings. I get what you mean about this After Hours song. That was kinda what a lot of Enigma was for me, so I'm really interested in hearing this song  and yes, I think, with what I know of your life, you have a lot of experiences which lend well to songwriting as great themes
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 7,105
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Quote:
Originally posted by aaron511
I wrote a few songs, recorded them and made a demo EP but I'm yet to play it to someone
Btw... How do you start writing? You write the melody first or write the complete lyrics first and then try to write fitting music? |
It depends. Sometimes I'll come up with the production (or piano chords) first, then come up with the lyrics and melody after. Other times, I'll come up with a lyric and find a melody, then continue on writing the song.
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 16,409
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Quote:
Originally posted by Colton Haynes
That's sort of how I'd describe my music,
except it doesn't have that much urban influences and it's a little more synth pop-y.
I was working on a project for a couple of months,
but things got ****ed up, so now I'm starting all over  |
Well if you have the time I'd love to hear about said project if you can talk about it.
How often do you write music ? 
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Member Since: 7/15/2012
Posts: 30,915
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Quote:
Originally posted by KeshasFansRose
No, everyone always gives fair and helpful feedback to everyone but once again the rude and obnoxious Pears is here. It all makes sense now
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Well then be thankful you received some fair and helpful feedback from the "rude and obnoxious", yet knowledgeable, Pears!
I'm glad it all makes sense now. I should hope that you can learn from this and write good songs from here onward. A final word from me to you would be to take your own stan goggles off and actually look what you have written after a session is finished. Make every line count, have meaning and make every line make sense. When it doesn't, it's noticeable. Adding in metaphors to give a song meaning is not how it works and is sloppy. A song should already have its own meaning, which metaphors only slightly assist, not provide the entirety. Like I said, best of luck.
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Member Since: 2/4/2014
Posts: 7,207
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why did my post get lost on the last page at the bottom. this always happens to me
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 37,384
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Quote:
Originally posted by keshaspearsxo
Oh I totally know what you mean. I do the same thing with metaphors and poeticism because I don't want to be boring, banal or tepid. Where's the fun in that. And I appreciate the mystery a lot. I remember when I submitted Rose Body for PH, TT thought it was a song about losing a loved one but it was actually about virginity! There's a lot of fun in open meanings. I get what you mean about this After Hours song. That was kinda what a lot of Enigma was for me, so I'm really interested in hearing this song and yes, I think, with what I know of your life, you have a lot of experiences which lend well to songwriting as great themes |
Yeah I always try to be poetic even in my most poppy or universal songs, I feel like it adds some form of originality to my writing. But for me I also see it as sort of an emotional mask to keep some distance between myself and my song, and to avoid revealing my innermost thoughts to listeners. I think the whole dreamlike Enigma thing is really cool and definitely something I can relate to
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Member Since: 2/4/2014
Posts: 7,207
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How do people in this thread feel about songs that have no structure at all? This is generally how I write all my songs. I sit in a state of mind and I just write down whatever comes to mind and keep it all, because that's how I feel my emotions are best captured. I don't sit there and think "now what would be good to rhyme with this word?". I just write ****ed up poems about how I'm feeling. I think it would find it hard to submit a song in this thread (and also a reason why I never signed up for PH) because I would find it heartbreaking for someone to tell me that something is bad when everything I write means so much to me. My songs could be considered bad in a sense that they don't have any structure whatsoever and they just sound like emotional ramble but there's wreck behind every word and when I read my songs back, I can feel exactly how I felt when I wrote them.
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 3,834
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Quote:
Originally posted by mxtthewdelrey
How do people in this thread feel about songs that have no structure at all? This is generally how I write all my songs. I sit in a state of mind and I just write down whatever comes to mind and keep it all, because that's how I feel my emotions are best captured. I don't sit there and think "now what would be good to rhyme with this word?". I just write ****ed up poems about how I'm feeling. I think it would find it hard to submit a song in this thread (and also a reason why I never signed up for PH) because I would find it heartbreaking for someone to tell me that something is bad when everything I write means so much to me. My songs could be considered bad in a sense that they don't have any structure whatsoever and they just sound like emotional ramble but there's wreck behind every word and when I read my songs back, I can feel exactly how I felt when I wrote them.
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Well Taylor's blank space was just a bunch of her random lines she'd come up with, so since finding that out I think they're great. And I agree, a lot of the songs that do well in PH read more like a poem than actual songs you'd hear on the radio, which kinda defeats the point of the competition. Most of them I struggle to see how they'd translate into a song. But maybe that's 'cause I listen to just pop music
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 16,409
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Quote:
Originally posted by mxtthewdelrey
How do people in this thread feel about songs that have no structure at all? This is generally how I write all my songs. I sit in a state of mind and I just write down whatever comes to mind and keep it all, because that's how I feel my emotions are best captured. I don't sit there and think "now what would be good to rhyme with this word?". I just write ****ed up poems about how I'm feeling. I think it would find it hard to submit a song in this thread (and also a reason why I never signed up for PH) because I would find it heartbreaking for someone to tell me that something is bad when everything I write means so much to me. My songs could be considered bad in a sense that they don't have any structure whatsoever and they just sound like emotional ramble but there's wreck behind every word and when I read my songs back, I can feel exactly how I felt when I wrote them.
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I think having a mixture is important but then again it depends on the song really. Whenever I write my pop music I usually write those songs more structured than anything else because I think it helps with it catchy factor. But yeah, I like to keep a balance.
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Member Since: 7/15/2012
Posts: 30,915
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Quote:
Originally posted by mxtthewdelrey
How do people in this thread feel about songs that have no structure at all? This is generally how I write all my songs. I sit in a state of mind and I just write down whatever comes to mind and keep it all, because that's how I feel my emotions are best captured. I don't sit there and think "now what would be good to rhyme with this word?". I just write ****ed up poems about how I'm feeling. I think it would find it hard to submit a song in this thread (and also a reason why I never signed up for PH) because I would find it heartbreaking for someone to tell me that something is bad when everything I write means so much to me. My songs could be considered bad in a sense that they don't have any structure whatsoever and they just sound like emotional ramble but there's wreck behind every word and when I read my songs back, I can feel exactly how I felt when I wrote them.
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Songs, pretty generally, should have a form of structure. You are probably more so writing spoken word / poetry. Things can't really be sang well if they don't have a structure. Of course, there are no RULES in songwriting - you may do whatever you please, so if you think what you are writing are songs, then they are. But that'd be some pretty alternative stuff. The music we listen to has structure for a reason.
Quote:
Originally posted by KeshasFansRose
Well Taylor's blank space was just a bunch of her random lines she'd come up with, so since finding that out I think they're great. And I agree, a lot of the songs that do well in PH read more like a poem than actual songs you'd hear on the radio, which kinda defeats the point of the competition. Most of them I struggle to see how they'd translate into a song. But maybe that's 'cause I listen to just pop music
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It is.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 37,384
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Quote:
Originally posted by mxtthewdelrey
How do people in this thread feel about songs that have no structure at all? This is generally how I write all my songs. I sit in a state of mind and I just write down whatever comes to mind and keep it all, because that's how I feel my emotions are best captured. I don't sit there and think "now what would be good to rhyme with this word?". I just write ****ed up poems about how I'm feeling. I think it would find it hard to submit a song in this thread (and also a reason why I never signed up for PH) because I would find it heartbreaking for someone to tell me that something is bad when everything I write means so much to me. My songs could be considered bad in a sense that they don't have any structure whatsoever and they just sound like emotional ramble but there's wreck behind every word and when I read my songs back, I can feel exactly how I felt when I wrote them.
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I think structure is an important element of a song. Without structure it turns into poetry at best (or just a jumbled mess). That being said, that structure doesn't have to come in the form of a verse/chorus song structure or conventional rhyme scheme. Ideas, rhyme schemes, and meters all work as a form of structure. I've written songs that are just a verse and a chorus, just a long verse, etc. Not all of my songs rhyme or have perfect meter, but they all have some form of structure, and yes you will be dragged in PH if you don't have ANY form of structure. Still, the judges know that all songs are different and allow you to be creative and innovative within the rules of songwriting.
Quote:
Originally posted by KeshasFansRose
Well Taylor's blank space was just a bunch of her random lines she'd come up with, so since finding that out I think they're great. And I agree, a lot of the songs that do well in PH read more like a poem than actual songs you'd hear on the radio, which kinda defeats the point of the competition. Most of them I struggle to see how they'd translate into a song. But maybe that's 'cause I listen to just pop music
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PH is perhaps a misleading title because the purpose of the competition is to write a good song, not a hit song. We don't care if its pop, rock, rap, a dijeridoo operatic concerto, as long as its a good song. And remember that all we see are lyrics so how you hear your song in your head doesn't matter to us
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 12,615
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PH is definitely about writing pop songs. (Structurally)
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 3,834
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Quote:
Originally posted by Jackson
PH is perhaps a misleading title because the purpose of the competition is to write a good song, not a hit song. We don't care if its pop, rock, rap, a dijeridoo operatic concerto, as long as its a good song. And remember that all we see are lyrics so how you hear your song in your head doesn't matter to us
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Yeah, that's my only issue I had with the competition. Like on some feedback I'd get comments about meter and stuff but if they could actually hear it, they'd find it works to the melody etc. But that's not their fault since it is a lyric contest. Change the title 
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 3,834
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Quote:
Originally posted by keshaspearsxo
It is.
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And I suppose once again your exquisite taste makes you that much more superior, in terms of writing a poem
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 4/3/2014
Posts: 18,319
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Jackson will you still be my coach next season? 
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Member Since: 7/15/2012
Posts: 30,915
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Quote:
Originally posted by KeshasFansRose
And I suppose once again your exquisite taste makes you that much more superior, in terms of writing a poem
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Well I certainly don't think if I submitted your pop songs that I would still be a Platinum Hit Finalist.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 37,384
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Quote:
Originally posted by 8thPrince
PH is definitely about writing pop songs. (Structurally)
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As a judge I always look at structure in the way I outlined in my post on the last page. I always appreciate challenging or creative structures
Quote:
Originally posted by ceremonials
Jackson will you still be my coach next season? |
I'm sure I'll be able to coach you in some form
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Member Since: 7/15/2012
Posts: 30,915
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Quote:
Originally posted by Jackson
I'm sure I'll be able to coach you in some form
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When will the panel choices be contacted
I am waiting
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 3,834
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Quote:
Originally posted by keshaspearsxo
Well I certainly don't think if I submitted your pop songs that I would still be a Platinum Hit Finalist.
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Because it's more of a poetry competition than anything else.
Whoever's in charge, just rebrand it as "Platinum Poetry"
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