How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Here musicians can talk to each other about making music etc. Of course if you are not a musician you are still welcomed to this board, but the topics should somehow be about making music.
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adrian9
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by adrian9 » Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:51 pm

ggonza43 wrote:
Arkash wrote:But I believe the title and the chorus are the most two important things in a song!
I think the title can be worked out while you're composing the song
agree, I just have a dozen on .txt files with names like "Ideasong11" "gasdhbasia_idea12" and stuff like that, and as the song is getting done, I dare to give them a title.
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by Arkash » Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:10 pm

Well, I'm not a musician, just a singer and a writer, so I dont compose the music, I dont really mind about the music when writing. I have ideas of the global atmosphere or direction I want to give the song but I mostly write my lyrics like I'd write simple poetry!
Through the storms we've wandered
Many mountains we have climbed
But all the bad times are behind
The road is free - I'm coming home

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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by hiro23 » Fri Dec 24, 2010 11:37 pm

Arkash:don't shortchange yourself, if you sing your a musician, too many people think that being a musician means you have to play an instrument, if you are making music you are a musician.

As far as lyrics go you have to go with what seems natural to you, for me I like to write about life situations or epic themes(stuff like fantasy,science fiction, you know the usual get away from reality stuff)
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by Arkash » Sat Dec 25, 2010 12:45 am

hiro23 wrote: As far as lyrics go you have to go with what seems natural to you,
This!!! This should be the only rule!!!

And thanks for your encouragement to see myself as a musician, I think you're right... but I'm gonna need time to accept it!

:lol:
Through the storms we've wandered
Many mountains we have climbed
But all the bad times are behind
The road is free - I'm coming home

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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by hiro23 » Sat Dec 25, 2010 7:13 am

believe me I used to think the same way, that the singer was just the singer and they really didn't contribute much other then their voice, however many people look at it in the wrong kind of light, first off you have to think of your voice as your instrument and like an instrument you must treat it well and not ruin it.

My vocal teacher has gone over this many times with me, don't strain your throat or else your never going to have a long term career, you've got to keep your Larynx down, most of the time if we haven't had much training what we tend to do is let our throats get as high as possible, unfortunately when your throat gets so high your mind thinks you want to swallow and then that's when you crack and start sounding like crap.

Another thing you can do to help with the songwriting process is maybe record some melodies you may have in your head, even if your just saying "na na na" or something, just try and see what you can come up with, some of your idea's may surprise you.

Hopefully when you look at it in this light you will start to see yourself as more of a musician.
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by Arkash » Sat Dec 25, 2010 3:02 pm

Never took a lot of singing lessons (even if I start trying clean vocals, I'm more of a grunter), but what you say apply to any kind of "singing", and those are really good advices.

The most important one in grunting is "drink a lot!!", never let your throat go dry!!!

For the "na na na" thing, yeah, I shall do this too!!!!
Through the storms we've wandered
Many mountains we have climbed
But all the bad times are behind
The road is free - I'm coming home

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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by Kosmo » Sat Dec 25, 2010 6:48 pm

If i ever began to write lyrics for real and not just when i'm bored, i'm sure my method would be getting the name of the song first and sort of the overall theme and after that start working on the lyrics. :)

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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by hiro23 » Sun Dec 26, 2010 6:04 am

Arkash:That's very true, don't let your throat go dry, keep some water nearby.

It's fine if you do the grunting vocals, the only thing I would say to watch out for is straining your throat, remember your voice is your bread and butter and you want to treat it well.
Regardless of what you are going for vocally if you end up damaging your throat your career could turn out very short.

in the end treat your throat like you would a vintage Les paul or Stratocaster, do everything you can to make it last.

Kosmo:you never know though, some of the best songs have been written out of boredom.
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by ggonza43 » Mon Dec 27, 2010 4:49 am

And also songs can be written after an unexpected events. Don't know if anybody remember how "Against The Wind" was written =P
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by hiro23 » Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:31 am

ggonza43 wrote:And also songs can be written after an unexpected events. Don't know if anybody remember how "Against The Wind" was written =P
Actually I'm not familiar with the story come to think of it, what's the story?
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by Arkash » Mon Dec 27, 2010 12:36 pm

Yeah, curious too!
Through the storms we've wandered
Many mountains we have climbed
But all the bad times are behind
The road is free - I'm coming home

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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by ggonza43 » Mon Dec 27, 2010 4:46 pm

I've read that TT wrote the song after having his car broke down in the middle of nowhere, and he had to push it up to a hill, walking against the wind...Although this story might not be true, I always found it very interesting to see how lyrics can eventually come up like this :)
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by adrian9 » Mon Dec 27, 2010 5:51 pm

ggonza43 wrote:I've read that TT wrote the song after having his car broke down in the middle of nowhere, and he had to push it up to a hill, walking against the wind...Although this story might not be true, I always found it very interesting to see how lyrics can eventually come up like this :)
yeah I read that somewhere on this site I believe; although I remember that TT´s car broke down, and he has to walk up until the next town over a frozy winter..or something like that
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by ggonza43 » Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:46 pm

It was on their old site, in the "lyrics" section. I tried to look it up but it kind of "vanished"
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by hiro23 » Tue Dec 28, 2010 6:48 am

Well even if it isn't true I think it should be, they always say when you have to choose between the myth of something and the reality of something always go for the myth.
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by ggonza43 » Tue Dec 28, 2010 5:32 pm

That's a werid saying if you ask me :D, but I think it must be true: Besides that section of the site had also the meaning of the lyrics from "Black Diamond" and "Eagleheart", and as far as I recall they sounded legit to me
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by adrian9 » Tue Dec 28, 2010 8:28 pm

yeah I think I remember that, but was so long ago, is difficult to get back those memories.
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by Damien Thorn » Tue Dec 28, 2010 9:06 pm

Kosmo wrote:If i ever began to write lyrics for real and not just when i'm bored, i'm sure my method would be getting the name of the song first and sort of the overall theme and after that start working on the lyrics. :)
Believe it or not, but that's how Jerry Goldsmith, one of my composer heroes, approached the art of writing music for film. He would watch the footage or read the story, and then he would focus on writing a basic theme. (It sounds easy, but it often took him weeks.) That theme then led to other subthemes and ideas.

Personally, I think that one of the main conditions for making good art is being switched on and open. Don't obsess, but explore, play and... work. Be curious!

Here's an example of what Jerry Goldsmith could do. Perhaps you will agree with me that this man was and still is (RIP, Mr Goldsmith) a brilliant composer and a very creative artist...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDgBGtIBVVg

Another very good version of the main theme to The Final Conflict: Omen III...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRNh7vNYhkA

Enjoy!

Damien
Trite
Rhetorical
Cliched
Inane

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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by ggonza43 » Tue Dec 28, 2010 10:05 pm

adrian9 wrote:yeah I think I remember that, but was so long ago, is difficult to get back those memories.
...And get the old site to actually work. It seemed TT did one last thing before leaving and stole the meaning of the lyrics with him 8)
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by hiro23 » Wed Dec 29, 2010 7:17 am

I tend to listen to classical music or my favorite metal bands for inspiration musically.

As far as lyrics I write whatever comes to my mind, I tend to like the more fanciful type lyrics.
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by Kosmo » Wed Dec 29, 2010 12:26 pm

I think my favourite lyricist of all time is Tony Kakko. 8)

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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by hiro23 » Thu Dec 30, 2010 11:17 pm

I like anybody who has lyrics that tell a story or something significant to say
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by ggonza43 » Thu Dec 30, 2010 11:19 pm

On the other hand, I enjoy lyrics that makes you think about them, and helps you overcome difficult situations and to move on in your life :)
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by hiro23 » Thu Dec 30, 2010 11:21 pm

ggonza43 wrote:On the other hand, I enjoy lyrics that makes you think about them, and helps you overcome difficult situations and to move on in your life :)
you just said what I said but worded it differently :lol:
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by ggonza43 » Thu Dec 30, 2010 11:25 pm

I was refering the difference between myth & fantasy lyrics and meaningful ones, I should have said that before :D
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by hiro23 » Fri Dec 31, 2010 8:14 am

ggonza43:myth and fantasy can be meaningful if you know how to convey the message, take for instance "Theatre of pain" from Blind guardian
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by ggonza43 » Fri Dec 31, 2010 5:34 pm

Very true, but it still doesn't make the difference...At least to me :?
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by hiro23 » Sat Jan 01, 2011 12:22 am

apples and oranges my friend
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by ggonza43 » Sat Jan 01, 2011 7:11 am

Yeah, because oranges rule :x!
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Re: How to write lyrics?!! (Help)..

Post by Kecos » Sat Jan 01, 2011 7:24 am

a
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