Comments on: Looking For The DNA Of A Lyric? Try Your Song’s Title

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 18:51:19 +0000

In reply to Annie Dinerman. Great point, Annie! TC

By: Annie Dinerman

Annie Dinerman — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 15:12:53 +0000

Tony, I found this post to be much more cerebral than any of your earlier posts. Personally, when I am stuck, I check to see whether I’m steering clear of the emotion in the song. We all have days when we want to write to express ourselves but we also want to protect ourselves. Expression has to win out or the song’s all in your head. I want my songs to happen in the listener’s heart and body!

Sometimes, if I’m stuck, I look to see whether there’s any sense imagery. If there isn’t, it’s a sure sign I’m thinking way too much. Time to get back to the feeling. Sense imagery is a really creative way to express the emotions in the song. It can also further the story.

Your point about the whole song setting up the hook is a really great piece of advice. If I am stuck while writing a verse, I try to make that verse lead naturally back to the hook, which is usually in my chorus. I wish I could always do that!

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 17:40:38 +0000

In reply to Todd Bird.

Todd,
Will do (of course!).
TC

By: Todd Bird

Todd Bird — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 06:14:25 +0000

In reply to Tony Conniff. haha...Thanks Tony. Well, keep me in the loop of your upcoming classes and maybe you will get your wish :) Enjoy your week. Todd

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 03:57:52 +0000

In reply to Todd Bird.

Todd,
Stop me before I write… another post or song…
Your method is a classic one; it can be really effective. Thanks for sharing it.
I haven’t heard any of your songs in a while; hopefully we can remedy that soon!
Best wishes,
Tony

By: Todd Bird

Todd Bird — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 02:56:01 +0000

Thanks again Tony. Another gem on the craft of songwriting. Lately, my process has been come up with a catchy chorus melody with some nonsensical words and then try to turn the nonsense into something clever. Often it is frustrating, but if you sing enough fake lyrics you often get a cool phrase that you may not otherwise have thought of. When that happens, I take the phrase and build upon that.

Your articles always inspire me to write a new song. I guess what I am saying is stop writing so many articles, otherwise I will never finish another song…haha. Just kidding of course.

Todd

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 20:24:26 +0000

In reply to Connie.

Connie,
Great insights; thanks!
Personally I don’t see anything inherently wrong with a 3rd verse…
Best wishes,
Tony

By: Connie

Connie — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 15:02:45 +0000

Thanks for this. I received a great critique once about a song I was very proud of from NSAI but it took me two months to appreciate it. I wrote a song with three verses ( okay, I know that in itself is wrong) but I was certain that the song was perfect. Not sure what I was thinking back then but that third verse came out of nowhere (I thought I was being creative and adding an ironic twist,,,ha)but it had nothing to do with the title. Nothing! The more I look at it, even a year later, I cannot believe I thought it did. I finally discerned that I wrote that third verse first, then the title and chorus came. Once the title and chorus came, the song wrote itself. The two verses and bridge flowed freely but I did not know what to do with that original verse so I inserted it and called it “irony.” Funny, right? I just could not see it back then. Brain freeze or ego! Ego can be our greatest obstacle to greatness! Songwriting is a process! A natural process! Thanks for sharing!