Comments on: If Marvin Gaye Can Do It, So Can You

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 18:53:43 +0000

In reply to Annie Dinerman.

I love that too!
Thanks,
Tony

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 18:53:03 +0000

In reply to wallace collins.

Great point, Wallace!
Best wishes,
Tony

By: Annie Dinerman

Annie Dinerman — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 15:35:56 +0000

Tony, I agree wholeheartedly with this blog entry! I’ve been saying for years that Sammy Cahn had a great mouthpiece and that was Frank Sinatra. Now, I’m writing R&B for other singers, not planning to sing or record the songs myself. It really frees me up to write lyrics that are more emotional. I am more excited about songwriting than I’ve been in awhile and I think it’s because it’s more emotionally fulfilling for me now. And that’s because I wrote a song with Sharon Jones in mind. I imagined her singing it as I wrote it. When I sang it in a workshop, I could feel a charge of energy in the room. Whether Sharon Jones ever records the song is out of my hands (although I did get the demo to her). The important lesson for me was that I could think of someone almost as a musical instrument who could play my words and music.

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 05:40:36 +0000

In reply to Joyce Rogers.

Joyce,
Can’t go wrong!
TC

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 06:32:30 +0000

In reply to Joyce Rogers.

Joyce,
If you’ve read about Marvin’s life and personality, the shy, insecure, submissive guy may have actually been closer to the ‘real Marvin’ than the confident love man.
Thanks for writing,
Tony

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 06:30:10 +0000

In reply to Jimi Yamagishi.

True, and well said, Jimi. Thanks!
Best wishes,
Tony

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 06:29:36 +0000

In reply to Connie.

Connie,
Thanks for your thoughts. I think if I’m writing to reflect someone else’s life, I’ve got to find something of myself in them… like writing a character for a novel, play, or movie. It’s not me, but I have many sides, and I find something in me that can connect in an authentic-feeling way.
Remember, at heart it’s ALL ‘makin’ stuff up’.
Best wishes,
Tony

By: Joyce Rogers

Joyce Rogers — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 12:28:31 +0000

In reply to Connie. some things are timeless, and it seems like a big crap shoot, so you just got to be true to yourself

By: Joyce Rogers

Joyce Rogers — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 12:25:21 +0000

Perhaps Mr. Gaye pulled this out of some old stuff when he was very young and shy and revisited it. Just a thought

By: wallace collins

wallace collins — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 15:50:16 +0000

In modern popular music it is understandable that current artists are effectively midgets standing on the shoulders of giants in order to reach new heights… and some similarities are bound to appear in the new works so created. However, when it comes to the particulars and technicalities of copyright law, emotions (particularly envy and jealousy) are usually not well-suited to reaching a correct resolution (and that applies to the jury as well as the many public opinions that abound on this case).

By: Jimi Yamagishi

Jimi Yamagishi — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 15:03:56 +0000

Authenticity is also important.
I can’t tell you how many times in our workshops how non-urban types come in with “rap” (when they call it that, you KNOW it’s gonna be a problem!) or “country” songs with words like “variable analysis” or “Personify your disorder” in ’em.
If you’re gonna go there, make REALLY sure you understand where it REALLY comes from & research the context of the genre before committing yourself to the song, unless of course, you don’t mind being a parody.

By: Connie

Connie — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 13:58:58 +0000

Love your analysis! I went to a songwriting session at NSAI in Nashville which I valued greatly and was told that when we write songs, they have to be “real” for the artists or they will not record. I was told that only persons who experienced divorce would record a song about divorce. I was also told that artists, especially in Nashville, only wanted sweet songs, kind songs. Yet even sweet Taylor Swift writes songs about guys being “mean” and saying that they’re “never ever getting back ” and they were hits! Band Perry says that the relationship will last until death, one way or the other, in my translation. Sweet, happy Carrie Underwood sings songs about love gone wrong, but I was told that songs needed to be “sweet love songs” to sell. I kinda’ think like you. I write songs from a man’s point of view, songs about a mother getting fed up with her husband and leaving, a woman saying that her husband is having an affair, and sweet love songs about love. “I’m Walking The Floor Over You” and “You Ain’t Woman Enough To Take My Man” and “Whoever’s In New England” and “Earle Had To Die,” were they all “real” or “true” or “sweet” for the artists singing them? Surely Dixie Chicks did not commit murder? And was Reba’s wonderful husband having an affair that the tabloids miss? I love what you said about breaking the norm, but how do we get them to artists who will sing them if it is true that they will only sing songs that resonate with them as true to their lives? How can we know the intricacies of an artist’s life and even if we do and we write a song about it, unless it’s Taylor Swift who successfully writes her own “song diary” then where do we place them? I watch real life and write what I see but has the music industry become of such that artists no longer just want a great song but songs that typify their real lives? I STOPPED submitting after then to try and understand this new industry. I just write songs…and they are good. They aren’t real to my life but they reflect someone’s life. Interested to know what you think.