From Deseret News archives:

Wit and wisdom from songwriting experts

Published: Friday, March 23, 2007 12:42 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Bat McGrath

• Passion will keep you in the business when success doesn't.

• Be tough but not stupid. You're going to get hurt feelings, but always leave the door open.

• No one can tell you what to write. If you write what other people are looking for, you lose what you do.

• You've got to be honest. You've got to write the truth. But there's a fine line there. You don't need to get drunk to write a song about a hangover.

• If you can speak, you can write. But sometimes you can write better than you speak.

• A great song has a great opening line. It has to make you wonder where it's going.

• It's silly to ignore the rules, but you don't always have to keep them.

• Practice. Take lessons. Don't let the hands hold back the brain.

Rachel Thibodeau

• Songwriting can be like therapy; it can get you through everything.

• Never take any contact or any small event for granted; you never know where it will lead you.

Story continues below
• Write your story in ways others can relate to it; you don't have to tell everything.

• Get feedback from the people who know you best; they will know if it's real.

• If songwriting is in you, it will have to come out — even if you don't make a living at it.

Pat Alger

• Naivete is a good thing; keep it as long as you can.

• Train your subconscious to think about songs as part of everyday life, even about standing in line at a bank.

• Don't go into a song thinking you will change the world; go in thinking you're going to write a song.

• Try to leave people with a feeling of "Yes, I was there, too."

• Don't be too clever. Clever often happens when you're trying to rhyme. But there's no underlying truth. You have to have the truth.

• The best songs have a beginning, a middle and some kind of resolution that make you want to sing the chorus again and feel good about it.

• Luck happens when you have something to be lucky with.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

thank you for the very good counsel.

Oh, yes. I'm sure the church is shaking in their boots about some movie. ...

Text from LDS church on S.L. policy

I am very happy that the church leaders are supporting the non-discrimination...

"Now if only LDS could be protected" Religions and religious have had non...

I agree with the church. No human should be treated differently. But marriage...

Good for the Church, to speak out for fair treatment of gay people, such as...

How is dumping 27 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year "part of...

Zone D giving Jazz headaches

15 ft jumpers and penetration between the defensive players. Can Millsap...

Utah Jazz have a problem at point

can run the team but his floater is a problem and he get's posted. Rondo will...

Coach Mitchell we all want to tell you how much we appreciate what you've...

Advertisements
Advertisement