Let tell you a jig about song writing. Not a jig, because well I am not going to dance for you. I just completed writing the tenth song for my bands album. Yes, we have a records worth of songs, and yes it is going to be recorded this summer. I know only a select few people actually read this so I figured I'd spill the beans here before we do May 22 at the Clubhouse. Riot Act will be going into studio July 20 to record a ten (10) track record. The cost, not as bad as you would think, we'll leave that out. Recorded by who, someone who saw us in show and is a big Rise Against fan and has a $100,000 plus recording studio that he is going to let us use. networking rocks. Also doing a cover of "Give it All" can turn heads if you do it right.
Anywhoo...
I just finished writing the lyrics for the last song. Here are the lyrics:
"Streetlights"
We don’t know what they’re saying
These voices once so loud have gone
It’s like a song that just keeps playing
The broken message just goes on
I’ve heard this all before
“No need to disobey”
(Whoa--)
We stand back, and watch it burn down
(Whoa--)
Our hearts ignite, under the streetlights
To picket lines, and questions unanswered
To the deserts to follow in the lies
I don’t think they get it
Everywhere let our fists fly to the skies
All it takes is one to speak out
Their dominos will cave in
(Whoa--)
We stand back, and watch it burn down
(Whoa--)
Our hearts ignite, under the streetlights
We aren’t the chosen, even if we try
We won’t wait for another day
(We have enough now)
I’ve heard this all before
“No need to disobey”
(Whoa--)
We stand back, and watch it burn down
(Whoa--)
Our hearts ignite, under the streetlights
(Whoa--)
We stand back, and watch it burn down
(Whoa--)
Our hearts ignite, under the streetlights
These voices once so loud have gone
Now some people think writing ten songs is tough, not really. Think this. If you look at the insert of most bands records they say "songs written between (as an example) June-October 2007." Most albums are written between 3-4 months, and we are doing just 10 tracks, now mind you this we practice around 16 hours a week, on writing weeks we may practice 20 hours a week. Now pro bands will be in studio to write for maybe 40-60 hours a week, mind you we are all students, and not a pro band. So that takes away from that. I find writing lyrics very easy. I learned recently how to more so freestyle write, and as we put it "frickashawna," or basically making weird noises over the instrumental and picking words out of it. Actually, the chorus lines "We stand back, and watch it burn down/Our hearts ignite...." actually came while I was just basically singing gibberish, I wanted to say those words. Same thing with our last song we wrote "Exit Strategy." They come very easy. The instrumentals take about two hours two write sometimes, that is even on a higher side, most of the time the music, or part of is written away from practice. Then we record the instrumental, now with me singing a melody, and I listen to it and write lyrics. Not that hard.
Composing music too isn't that hard. If you are making it hard on yourself, you are doing something wring. Tom Gabel does it best. He'll string three chords together, and make it sound great. It is really that simple. People will say that takes originality out of it, not really. It is also about what is said. To write weird lyrics that don't make any sense, or self centered lyrics are not really that exciting. Give a listener something that they can picture themselves doing. The song that is above is about the rage, passion and emotion of protest against what is keeping you down. It can also be taken other ways if you want too. I'm not saying my songs have to have one meaning. I also like ironic songs. I have one song that is probably going to be the second single that's title is the opposite about what it is about. Then another track, which I believe I have posted here On Edge has about three or four meanings. Look at it politically, or emotionally, and you will find something there. That is what this band that I am in is about. Getting through to the listener to let them know that they are not the only one who's life has been fucked up or screwed over. Most band now a days really do forget the listener. I won't let that happen anymore.
To sum it up. Song writing is easy, adn don't over complicate it. Goodnight.-SP
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