Lyrics on Steroids…(Part A)
I’ve received a VERY good article by Stephen "Realis Vir IV" :-) …which I think everyone will benefit from. There are 7 tips on total, and to help you digest the info better, I will split the article up into three chunks (A, B and C) …and therefore I will post three times on this blog, over the next few days.
Let’s dive in. Read, absorb, take action …oh, and enjoy. 
Bear in mind that when you’re writing you’re essentially writing for an audience — whoever is going to hear or read your lyrics. Now, there are usually four basic types of personality, although depending on what aspect or angle they will be classified differently; in the case of the four temperaments they’re sanguine, melancholic, phlegmatic and choleric; in the case of the zodiac they’re fire, water, air, and earth; in the case of work/functionality personality type diagnosis there may be analytical, etc. You get the idea.
So think how this relates to your songwriting with the song listener in mind. You can write in styles that appeal to each of them. Here are some styles outlined that appeal to one, or even more than one of the groups, listed below:
Writing objectively - This kind of lyric writes it like it is. It uses down to earth story telling, that conveys directly to a person so they can relate. It may consist of lines like, "We were driving so late at night, and my silence I continued to keep, for while you traveling consciously, I was right beside you asleep."
This appeals to people’s humanity, the ability to feel they are in the song watching it happen with their fives senses. It talks about everyday life, but gets you into a story so it’s interesting. It might also describe objectively what was going through people’s minds and their surroundings.
Like, "I put down my coffee cup; I didn’t feel like drinking anymore. I had lost all appetite when you left yelling, slamming the door."
Examples of objective down-to-earth type story-telling lyricists include artists like Ani DiFranco, Colbie Caillat, Avril Lavigne, etc.
Writing mysteriously, artistically, philosophically - This kind of writing style does the opposite. It appeals to the "what if?" and the how. It asks questions, imagines other realities, may write in surreal terms, or use a lot of metaphor, artistic description and analogy. It appeals to the curious scientist and detective experimenter in us.
Examples of writing like this would include stuff like "You awakened the hero in me. A man with honor and compassion. Your lips spoke volumes to me, with just one action, a kiss unparalleled you did fashion, a kiss so simple, but with complex passion."
…Or it may use elemental and exciting metaphor, "what happens to the organs once the heart can’t lead them anymore? A fire you fed in my blood red organ of cardio-vascular tension, is now a flame doused and unaroused by your sudden twist of lack of interest, hurling me headlong to another dimension. Is there a mind out there that can possibly understand this unique a feeling of despair?"
Examples of this kind of songwriter appear in 30 Seconds to Mars, Linkin Park, Styx’s song "Domo Arigatou, Mr. Roboto", Blue October, Evans Blue, etc.
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Ok, more to follow on that in a coupe of days. Good stuff huh? What do you guys think? Leave a comment below.
Shamir
June 25th, 2009 at 11:34 am
Excellent. Think of the audience.
Those who have a partner and those who want one.
Happy or miserable or contemplating.
I’m always trying to escape generalisations and get into practical description.Like the classic song sung by Patsy Cline - Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray. As authors are told, ’show don’t tell’. I write comic poetry and I’m trying to branch into successful songwriting.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Very helpful, thanks Shamir
June 25th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Great stuff! now we’re cooking -this is what I want more of. I think that most of us keen songwriters have already realized one of these tips or another, however it is great that all of these tips are being made available in a structured way including the breakdowns and related topics. -I really appreciate the assistance.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Awesome! Cool stuff! I like the objective. I think that what people tend to listen to most of the time. Stuff that they can relate to!
June 25th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Great tips, I am pretty much a begginer at songwriting so this article will hopefully be useful when I write my songs
June 25th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
superb article, cant wait for the rest!
June 25th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
well i am sooooooo glad to be reading your mail .
Each time i read it to my astonishment i write songs in correct formats ,
and seem to be doing it right witout even knowing ! It has given me great satisfaction and look forward to reading more!!
June 25th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
it’s in the blood!!
June 25th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Thank you, it’s really helpful.
June 25th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
thanks, I can understand this E-mail
June 25th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
I always write whatever comes to me, I’m not like, am I going to be objective or what else today?
June 25th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Thats More like what am Lookin for
Thanks
Lovemore.
June 25th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
ever thought of somethings but don’t really know how you’ll explain or put it down into words..this blog just hit the nail on the head..can’t wait for the next issue..
June 25th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
indeed a Good stuff man.
am a lucky person.
do your thing man,
Thanks hommie
June 25th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
i am glad to haveread this e-mail it helped me alot
June 25th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
awsome, thanks alot, this page has really helped alot, i love writing my music, but sometime i am lost for inspiration, i always write about the same thing, (relationships), but this has opened my mind to a new form of writing, thanks again
dan
June 25th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
wow really great info!!!! i think my type of writing so far is the “Writing mysteriously, artistically, philosophically” but can’t wait for the next articles!
June 25th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
iam so glad , this info is really great icant wait to the next articles
June 25th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Hey Shamir,
That’s a very great article, extremely important subject.
It helps to identify the lyrical forms, and also gives a new vision when writing the lyric, so that you can plan it much better before starting.
Congratulations, keep it up!
June 25th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
That is a very inspiring article. I am trying to learn how to write a song. I’ve been through alot and I know it can relate to others as well and draw them into a world that some understand. I know this reading will help me discover my calling!
Thanks Shamir
June 25th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
good stuff to think about and very helpful.
You always have useful helpful info.
June 25th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Very inspiring and thought provoking
I write metaphorically often and use a combination of both of these examples
Mixing metaphor with objectivity gives an understanding of an event though leaves the reader with a choice of meaning.
Thanks for this Shamir
June 25th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
I didn’t learn anything from this. This is meant for people who don’t have a clue about writing lyrics, which is fine in itself. However, the examples of lyrics are really bad - cheesy, forced rhyming, grammatical errors, etc. Not a good example for budding writers.
June 25th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Thanks a lot Shamir for your emails and especially this article and the other parts to come, your great and thoughtful to share your knowledge to fellow writers, these tips will certainly help me and my band write music, thanks a lot
June 25th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Yes, I’m really gaining from this post… looking forward to the next installation!
June 25th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Very interesting ! Looking forward to reading more !
Thanks a mill,
CK
June 25th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
More!
June 25th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Shamir! Please don’t delete any of these articles. I constantly keep coming back to study this wonderful information you are offering.
Thanks!!
June 25th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
SHAMIR…I’M A FIRST TIME RESPONDER…WON’T BE THE LAST.
I ALMOST ALWAYS GO FOR MEANING…
I WANT TO CONNECT WITH AN AUDIENCE.
DON’T GET CARRIED AWAY WITH YOURSELF.
WRITE FOR OTHER PEOPLE AND NOT FOR YOURSELF.
GEORGE SLADEK
June 26th, 2009 at 3:36 am
Thanks Shamir!
This helps alot, and I hope the rest of this article helps too!
June 26th, 2009 at 4:00 am
great one shamir….hmmmm you have been wonderful and your like this charge that sets my bulb flikering and gets me set everymornin when I leave for my studio……
great job buddy….
June 26th, 2009 at 5:09 am
Hey Shamir, thanks for hosting my article; I appreciate it :)!
June 26th, 2009 at 5:15 am
Great stuff, however I don’t believe that songwriting requires such tips as this. Songwriting is usually constructed of the subconscious ideas that appear in the conscience; the short-lived ideas that must be written down on a notepad before forgotten in the middle of the night. Songwriting is usually the art of capturing and harnessing these “ideas” and putting them to pen and paper in a way that they will sound lyrical with the precise mood of music. That said, you really can’t “teach” songwriting persay, but you can offer inspiration to stimulate the ideas that compose a song. My advice is to write an article teaching ametuer musicians how to conjure these abstract ideas, and how to logically piece them together to form a song.
June 26th, 2009 at 5:19 am
love these songwriting tips. always so inspiring and such great ways of looking at songwriting. luv it! It’s the songwriting class that I always wanted to take! Enriching indeed!
June 26th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
What are these tips if not teaching how to conjure abstract ideas?
June 26th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Dear Shamir,I need some help.I can not understand what a theme and an idea are for writing songs and what you do with them for that matter.Please help.Thankyou.Alexander.
June 28th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
That’s great! I’ve always supported this idea, even if it was less articulated… thanks for these songwriting tips: they’ re always useful and stimulating
June 30th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
that info is really goood and useful the songs i am trying to write thanks shamir
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:43 pm
I THINK THIS IS LIKE TELLING ME HOW TO START BUILD A HOUSE FROM FOUNDATION IN ITS SIMPLIEST TERMS. VERY SUBSTANCIAL TO ALL MUSICIANS AN TO ME…THANKS FOR THE POST AS IT DID A LOT AN GOING……U BROKE IT DOWN…LOL…FO REAL
July 4th, 2009 at 12:36 am
Thank you for sending me this info….I know it will help me to write better songs…..I am just thrilled with this….
July 7th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
[...] Anyways, I’d like to continue with this. For those of you that don’t remember the previous article (shame you on …lol) you can find it here: http://www.songwritingtipsonline.com/blog/06/lyrics-on-steroidspart-a [...]
July 7th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
[These kind of tips are good in that they break down the types of songs that are out there, and they show the different categories in which you can place your songs. But I think that sometimes you can write songs mixing the categories. Like someone mentioned above, you can write objectively but with 'mysterious' lines that can leave listeners hanging on what could be deeper.
I agree with Jesse G above in that songwriting is the art of capturing ideas, and I would benefit from her suggestion of writing tips about how to capture these 'abstract ideas', but the rest should just flow. ]
July 8th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
/its cool to get an idea of the types of songs I am drawn to writing, this will help me to know where I can expand and try new things.
July 10th, 2009 at 3:27 am
I can’t believe you are rely give all these tips for. I must confess these have change my idea totally about songwriting and more insides and inspiration.i love it.thanks alot Shamir
July 10th, 2009 at 3:29 am
I can’t believe you are rely give all these tips for free. I must confess these have change my idea totally about songwriting and more insides and inspiration.i love it.thanks alot Shamir
July 10th, 2009 at 11:43 am
I can’t believe it. I have change my idea totally about songwriting and more insides and inspiration.I love it. Stay healthily Shamir!!!!!!
July 13th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
[...] http://www.songwritingtipsonline.com/blog/06/lyrics-on-steroidspart-a [...]
July 29th, 2009 at 11:53 am
GREAT STUFF!
Thanks Shamir
August 1st, 2009 at 4:01 am
wow shamir. hope you liked the song I emailed you! email me back! you are amazinga! I wrote that song and I’m only 12!
August 13th, 2009 at 12:20 am
you i write song of encouragement and hope. you are doing a great deal. yhanks and be strong.
shamir
August 13th, 2009 at 12:31 am
i write song of encouragement and hope. you are doing a great deal. yhanks and be strong.
shamir
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