From 101 Tips and Tricks of Successful Songwriting
WRITING
Diana Williamson ’ s music has appeared in over 50 films and TV shows , been performed on The Tonight Show , featured on the cover of Billboard , and recorded by artists on all the major labels . She ’ s written two number three Billboard Hot Club chart songs , had cuts with Grammy-winning writers , and was the recipient of the Los Angeles Music Award for Female Singer-
Songwriter of the Year . As a producer , her credits include the albums Love Song to New Orleans and Modern Christmas Classics ( featuring Ali Woodson of The Temptations ). She ’ s also the founder and president of TheMusicLibrary . org .
By Diana Williamson
Five Quick Tips
From 101 Tips and Tricks of Successful Songwriting
1 . What ’ s Your Message ? Songs have changed lives . They ’ ve comforted people and stirred them to action . It ’ s up to you to decide what kind of message to send .
Some writers have gotten flak for writing songs that demean women and promote violence . Some say that they are just using artistic license or writing about what they ’ ve experienced . Whatever you think , there ’ s no question that many people look up to artists . Ideas in songs are often picked up unconsciously and stick in the listener ’ s brain like Velcro . We ’ ve all seen audiences singing along to every word .
While there ’ s a place in the world for all types of songs , there ’ s something special about ones that inspire the listener . “ Over the Rainbow ,” “ Let It Be ,” “ Dream On ,” Pink ’ s “ Perfect ,” and U2 ’ s “ Beautiful Day ” make you feel better about life by sharing positive messages about love and standing on your own two feet .
What kind of message do you want to share ? The choice is yours .
2 . Use Songs as Vehicles for Protest & Change “ Strange Fruit ,” recorded by Billie Holiday in 1939 , was written by Abel Meeropol about the lynching of two black men . The title refers to the men ’ s bodies hanging from the trees . This metaphor was so powerful that Time voted “ Strange Fruit ” the “ song of the century .”
At first , Billie was afraid to sing it for fear of reprisal . It would take three decades for the practice of lynching to be curtailed in the South , but this song really launched the protests .
Skillful writers can bring about social change by using their craft to not only entertain , but also educate . This intention can lend fire to your writing . Just listen to U2 ’ s “ Sunday Bloody Sunday ” about a massacre of peaceful protesters in Northern Ireland .
Something to think about , but be creative – no one wants to be preached to .
3 . Break the Rules Do you think that Jimmy Page and Robert Plant were thinking about the rules of songwriting when they wrote Led Zeppelin ’ s “ Stairway to Heaven ?” It ’ s one of the most played songs in the history of American FM radio and clocks in at 8:03 .
Radio people said one of Sting ’ s biggest singles , “ Desert Rose ,” would never work . They said you couldn ’ t start a song in a foreign language . After being prominently featured in a Jaguar commercial , it became a radio hit . People were begging for it .
There are many statistics on how song length , tempo , and where the hooks and bridges come in can make a hit . These are good guidelines , but once in a while you have to throw out the rules and start riffing about yellow submarines , yellow brick roads , or yellow ribbons . Your uniqueness is your advantage and signature .
4 . Give Yourself Goosebumps Ever hear a song and have to snap off the radio because it stirs up too many memories ? Or maybe certain snippets of music coming from a passing car bring you back to a special place and time ? That ’ s what it ’ s all about . You want to make your listener laugh or cry or , best of all , be inspired .
Arousing deep emotion is the ultimate for a songwriter . “ The Way We Were ” is such a touching , evocative song that it ’ s been voted one of the top 10 film songs of all time on every list imaginable . It was not only a hit on radio but had an unforgettable visual connected to it . Every time you hear it you can picture Barbra Streisand meeting up with Robert Redford , her heart broken as his new young lover waits in the wings . Strive for emotional impact . If you can make yourself weep while you ’ re writing , you ’ re bound to move others as well .
5 . Dig Deep to Strike Gold A brilliant song says something that everyone thinks about but can ’ t put into words . Gotye ’ s “ Somebody That I Used to Know ,” about a former lover becoming a stranger , is something everyone can relate to . In fact , it ’ s one of the best-selling digital singles of all time . The person you used to kiss goodnight and good morning is now someone you see on the street and try to avoid . That is strange and powerful stuff .
“ Cry Me a River ,” performed and co-written by Justin Timberlake , is so lyrically passionate and melodically gripping because Justin was channeling breakup angst after he and Britney split up . When you get in touch with those strong feelings like love , hate , and jealousy , you can hit nerves around the world .
Fluff is fun but deep stuff resonates long after the song is done .
These tips are excerpts from 101 Tips and Tricks of Successful Songwriting by Diana Williamson , available from Amazon . com and through her site at : www . 101tipsandtricksofsuccessfulsongwriting . com .
58 • CANADIAN MUSICIAN