Songwriting & Beyond…

OK everyone, here is the last ‘chunk’ of the Lyrics On Steroids series by Stephen "Realis Vir IV".

If you want to check out the previous 2 chunks, (and you really should if you haven’t already, because they are equally as brilliant as the one below) …here they are:

http://www.songwritingtipsonline.com/blog/06/lyrics-on-steroidspart-a

http://www.songwritingtipsonline.com/blog/07/lyrics-on-steroids-part-b

Intellectual lyrics: These lyrics focus on the smart in art, or the art in smart I suppose since the word art is in the word smart :p. These lyricists usually like to use sophisticated English (or w/e language they’re writing in), rely on wordplay and advanced aesthetic phonetics (alliteration, complex rhyme schemes, internal rhyme, etc.)

They also like to write profound thoughts and new and creative subjects that make you stop and think, or else are just general food for thought. This ties into the 2nd writing style to a degree, as all of these styles are or can be combined to a degree or at least mixed. Think of lyrics like "A long life lived with little regrets, is a short life to its liver. Because no matter how many accomplishments he begets, he’d live it all again forever."

Lyricists like this are: Thrice, Taking Back Sunday (second style they’re mentioned in :)), Evanescence, Guster to a degree, etc.

You, a perfect lyricist: These groups aren’t all-inclusive of every possible style or descriptions and some aspects could be split apart or regrouped depending on how they are viewed. It’s up to you to find what you’re most comfortable with or find your own combination’s. For instance, even two things which seem incompatible like the objective lyricist and the mystery/creative lyricist styles can be carefully and cleverly combined by talking about concrete down to earth things but in somewhat artistic or stylish or creative fashions and that combined with other elements mentioned.

"I called it, it was a tear, in your eyes was a fluid fear."

Lyricists who combine or alternate between ALL of these kinds or styles lyrically also appeal to a lot of different people with very different emotions/personalities, and that’s why they’re successful! Songwriters in my opinion who encompass all these different styles, albeit even if in different songs or mixtures in certain songs, would include:

Parabelle, Breaking Benjamin, Evanescence, Linkin Park, Patrick Wolf, Taking Back Sunday, YellowCard, ColdPlay, etc.

These are all very successful where they are known within the circles that like their genres. Now it’s your turn. Try to incorporate those styles, get inspiration from the sample examples, or browse lyrics from those artists to get inspired. Don’t plagiarize, but as long as you make it your own you’re good!

The sample example lines were all written by me, Realis Vir IV, 2009, all rights reserved. Check out my url if you want at www.myspace.com/RealisVirIVmusic

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Well, that about wraps up this series. If you feel you have cool articles like the one above, please send them to
yoursongwritingtips@gmail.com along with your name and which country you are in. Next thing you know, they’ll appear on this blog.

Good stuff huh?

Shamir

If you remember, just over a week ago, I said that I would post three ‘chunks’ of an article, spread over the next few days. Apologies for diverting away from the plan, I had to make a post in-between (about MJ’s passing, as you’ll remember).

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

It had received some GREAT feedback, so let’s carry on with another bite from Stephen "Realis Vir IV".

Writing pathetically - No, this doesn’t mean doing a bad job on purpose. This means writing with pathos; in other words, appealing to emotion and the human psyche. This includes *subjective* feelings (versus the objective feelings in type 1 songwriting) and emotions; it has to do with understanding or trying to understand another person being addressed in a song, as well as conveying how the lyricist feels; it also conveys other feelings and appeals to strong psychological language and artistry. "I understand where you want me to stay. I guess we never were exactly on that page. I guess you never exactly felt that way"

Examples of pathetic songwriters are (versus apathetic): Billy Corgan, Good Charlotte, Saosin, After Midnight Project, etc.

Intense songwriters - Similar to writing pathetically but it can contain other elements that pathos lyrical style might not go into and it’s more about intensity. It may use commands or forceful questions, or even just intense descriptions. "Stealing my heart from under the very nose of me! Did you think I would like that? When you’d capture then break it? Now how would you take it back? Tell me!" Usually, it’s also more about the mood rather than the lyrics. It’s about how the genuineness in the voice is conveyed, whether it’s truly happy, truly sad, truly angry, manic, depressed, w/e.

Examples of Intense lyricists are Adam of 3 Days Grace, Element Eighty, The Drama Club, Taking Back Sunday, etc.

Happy light lyrics - These lyrics can be superficial, or just very euphoric, or just idealistic. They talk about perfect versions of things, or power-punch lyrics. It may go like "With my own themas of sunshine, I’ll refresh myself in dark times, you better believe I’m going to have myself a very good day. With my carefree reckless attitude, and my timeworn necklace beauty jewel, I’ll have to admit it’s a rather good way."

Examples of this kind of songwriting can be found in: The Killers (especially in a song like Human with lyrics like "are we human? or are we dancer?"), a song like Accident and Emergency by Patrick Wolf, or Patrick Wolf’s song The Magic Position, the song Perfect Day, a lot of mainstream pop, etc.

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I love the article. I have one more chunk to go and I’ll post it very soon. Your thoughts? Post them below.

Shamir