Comments on: Revisiting Earlier Songs… As A More Experienced Writer

By: My Take On Rewriting Older Songs | All About Songwriting

My Take On Rewriting Older Songs | All About Songwriting — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 03:21:58 +0000

[…] came across an article by songwriter Tony Conniff titled “Revisiting Earlier Songs… As A More Experienced Writer” and he discusses how the more experience he gains as a songwriter, the more opportunities he has to […]

By: Geroy Davis

Geroy Davis — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 16:27:14 +0000

Annie Dinerman, (if it’s okay for me to reference her reply), mentions frequently getting stuck with 2-4 lines left in her rewrite process, and then finishing those lines after trying many versions and ideas. I like her use of versions, but with my own spin: I like to write whole versions of a song, sometimes written from the perspective of other characters in the song. Annie Dinerman further expounds upon her reasons for not revisiting older songs, saying, ” I tend to think that the older songs don’t represent who I am now, and that’s the me that’s writing today, so I usually start fresh.” I think the exact opposite…I often write olds songs from the new, and more experienced version of myself. To me, that is starting ‘fresh’! It is “fresh inspiration” happening now. A song is never completed…that’s my perspective as a songwriter. Thanks to Annie Dinerman for her thoughtful and inspiring comment that triggered my own comment.

By: Annie Dinerman

Annie Dinerman — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 18:41:29 +0000

I do plenty of rewriting before I decide the song is done. I have a habit of getting stuck with two or four lines left, and I go through many versions and ideas until those last lines are finished. (Just a pattern, I guess.) So I don’t usually rewrite old songs.

I tend to think that the older songs don’t represent who I am now, and that’s the me that’s writing today, so I usually start fresh.

But I did take out one song that I felt had failed, and I rewrote it. That song won me the Abe Olman Award. So I’d have to say, let’s take a look in the trunk when fresh inspiration isn’t happening. You never know…

By: Annie Dinerman

Annie Dinerman — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 18:41:13 +0000

I do plenty of rewriting before I decide the song is done. I have a habit of getting stuck with two or four lines left, and I go through many versions and ideas until those last two lines are finished. (Just a pattern, I guess.) So I don’t usually rewrite old songs.

I tend to think that the older songs don’t represent who I am now, and that’s the me that’s writing today, so I usually start fresh.

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 04:55:23 +0000

In reply to Wayne Somerville.

True, Wayne! Thanks for reading and commenting.
Best wishes,
Tony

By: Wayne Somerville

Wayne Somerville — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 13:11:53 +0000

I have a big “trunk full” of old songs and song ideas that weren’t going anywhere and I do think it’s the new perspective and distance from the song that is the most valuable asset when it comes to re-writing them. I love finding an old cassette with a song idea near the end of the tape that I had forgotten about. I think I remember an article about Steely Dan digging out old song ideas and re-working them. We all know the feeling of getting “stuck” with a part of a song and getting nowhere. When you hear the song now you’re not weighed down with all those failed attempts and it makes it much easier to move on.

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 20:01:30 +0000

In reply to Gil.

Great to hear, Gil.
Thanks for reading and writing!
Best wishes,
Tony

By: Gil

Gil — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 13:43:26 +0000

I recently rewrote one of my first songs that was a good song, and now it’s a GREAT song, and one of my favorites to play for others. Nice post, Tony.