The Songwriter's Workshop
The Songwriter's Workshop
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How Randy Newman writes songs
Randy Newman, one of my favorite songwriters, is this subject of this video. We explore how Randy's uses the "mask" of his characters in his songs, his approach to writing music, and what his song's say about himself as we explore Randy's songwriting. The information from this video comes from Randy Newman's American Dreams by Kevin Courrier, Maybe I'm Doing It Wrong by David & Caroline Stafford, and Greil Marcus' essay on Randy from his book Mystery Train.
TikTok: @thesongwritersworkshop
Instagram: thesongwritersworkshopyt
Email: thesongwritersworkshop@gmail.com
00:00 TSW Intro
00:20 Randy Newman Intro
03:57 Part One: The Mask
11:06 Part Two: The Music
17:06 Part Three: The Man
21:49 Come Home, My Boy
#randynewman #songwriting #howtowriteasong
Переглядів: 2 334

Відео

The songwriting guidance of Lamont Dozier
Переглядів 860Рік тому
This video looks at the songwriting process of Motown legend Lamont Dozier. Using the songwriting methodology Lamont employed with his writing partners Eddie and Brian Holland while working at Motown, writing for groups like The Supremes and the Four Tops, I examine the lessons in songwriting Lamont has learned throughout his long career as a creator. The research for this video comes Lamont's ...
How Graham Nash learned to write songs
Переглядів 1,2 тис.Рік тому
This video looks at the songwriting process of Graham Nash. I look at how Graham grew as a songwriter over the years, from his early efforts with the Hollies, through his evolution with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and how the people he created with influenced his songwriting. The research for this video comes mostly from Graham's autobiography Wild Tales. TikTok: @thesongwritersworkshop Instag...
The songwriting genius of Brian Wilson
Переглядів 7 тис.Рік тому
Brian Wilson, the creative force behind the Beach Boys, is often regarded as a songwriting and recording genius. His ability to create complex, meaningful song from simple idea and his equally complicated mind created a unique and era defining sound. But how did he create his music? I look at Brian's autobiography, I Am Brian Wilson, along with interviews and documentaries, to try and unravel h...
How Tom Waits writes songs
Переглядів 13 тис.Рік тому
Welcome to The Songwriter’s Workshop. This is the series where I attempt to write songs based on the process and techniques of famous songwriters. Each video looks at a different songwriter’s writing habits, musical inspirations, and creative process while also including an original song written using those techniques. In this video, I look at the writing techniques of Tom Waits as told in inte...
Tori Amos and the universal creative force of songwriting
Переглядів 1,1 тис.Рік тому
Welcome to The Songwriter’s Workshop. This is the series where I attempt to write songs based on the process and techniques of famous songwriters. Each video looks at a different songwriter’s writing habits, musical inspirations, and creative process while also including an original song written using those techniques. This videos looks at singer-songwriter Tori Amos and her connection to the w...
How music works (according to David Byrne)
Переглядів 4,8 тис.Рік тому
Welcome to The Songwriter’s Workshop. This is the series where I attempt to write songs based on the process and techniques of famous songwriters. Each video looks at a different songwriter’s writing habits, musical inspirations, and creative process while also including an original song written using those techniques. In this video, we will look at the songwriting process of David Byrne and hi...
Who is Harry Nilsson (and how do you write a song like him)?
Переглядів 1,6 тис.2 роки тому
Welcome to The Songwriter’s Workshop. This is the series where I attempt to write songs based on the process and techniques of famous songwriters. Each video looks at a different songwriter’s writing habits, musical inspirations, and creative process while also including an original song written using those techniques. This video looks at a songwriter once dubbed "The American Beatle"; Harry Ni...
How to write a song like Dave Grohl
Переглядів 12 тис.2 роки тому
Welcome to The Songwriter’s Workshop. This is the series where I attempt to write songs based on the process and techniques of famous songwriters. Each video looks at a different songwriter’s writing habits, musical inspirations, and creative process while also including an original song written using those techniques. With the release of his movie Studio 666 this week, I decided to cover Foo F...
The songwriting insights of Janis Ian (and how to write a song using them)
Переглядів 9952 роки тому
Welcome to The Songwriter’s Workshop. This is the series where I attempt to write songs based on the process and techniques of famous songwriters. Each video looks at a different songwriter’s writing habits, musical inspirations, and creative process while also including an original song written using those techniques. At Seventeen songwriter Janis Ian is the subject of this video and the insig...
How to write lyrics (the Jimmy Webb way)
Переглядів 1,9 тис.2 роки тому
Welcome to The Songwriter’s Workshop. This is the series where I attempt to write songs based on the process and techniques of famous songwriters. Each video looks at a different songwriter’s writing habits, musical inspirations, and creative process while also including an original song written using those techniques. In this video, we return to the songwriting techniques of MacArthur Park wri...
How Phil Collins writes songs (and made me a better songwriter)
Переглядів 7 тис.2 роки тому
Welcome to The Songwriter’s Workshop. This is the series where I attempt to write songs based on the process and techniques of famous songwriters. Each video looks at a different songwriter’s writing habits, musical inspirations, and creative process while also including an original song written using those techniques. In this video, I look at drummer and songwriter Phil Collins and the insight...
How to write one song (according to Jeff Tweedy)
Переглядів 71 тис.2 роки тому
Welcome to The Songwriter’s Workshop. This is the series where I attempt to write songs based on the process and techniques of famous songwriters. Each video looks at a different songwriter’s writing habits, musical inspirations, and creative process while also including an original song written using those techniques. This video looks at Wilco songwriter Jeff Tweedy and the songwriting techniq...
How k. d. lang writes songs (and how it helped me write one of my own)
Переглядів 1,6 тис.2 роки тому
How k. d. lang writes songs (and how it helped me write one of my own)
How to write a song using Ben Folds' techniques
Переглядів 4,6 тис.2 роки тому
How to write a song using Ben Folds' techniques
Writing a song using Anaïs Mitchell's songwriting techniques
Переглядів 2 тис.2 роки тому
Writing a song using Anaïs Mitchell's songwriting techniques
What I learned from Lenny Kravitz's songwriting process
Переглядів 5 тис.2 роки тому
What I learned from Lenny Kravitz's songwriting process
How to get started on a song using Jimmy Webb's songwriting technique
Переглядів 4,2 тис.2 роки тому
How to get started on a song using Jimmy Webb's songwriting technique

КОМЕНТАРІ

  • @Pabloisradical
    @Pabloisradical 20 годин тому

    This is fucking horrible. All of it.

  • @rolandhicks1874
    @rolandhicks1874 23 години тому

    Love that song

  • @hermancharlesserrano1489
    @hermancharlesserrano1489 3 дні тому

    I’m getting more of a Grace Jones vibe, I like it!

  • @normaleehi
    @normaleehi 4 дні тому

    Kathleen Brennan.

  • @HoratioLindez
    @HoratioLindez 13 днів тому

    Brilliant advice, but really distracting background loop🫨

  • @matapichones
    @matapichones 13 днів тому

    Perfectly placed setting in the narrative of the song, man. I'll prolly be sending people links to this video if they ever mention "Fortunate Son."

  • @fuckgoogle8661
    @fuckgoogle8661 21 день тому

    So then why doesn’t this include booze, Cocaine and hookers in the late evening? That’s how he wrote in the early years. He’d be f@cked up and listen to what people say and try to write it down after he woke up from being passed out. You can’t do the later period after because those songs are written w/ his wife.

  • @LindaLeyble
    @LindaLeyble 24 дні тому

    Fantastic! I always loved his songwriting. You nailed it in yours. Love all your videos!

  • @LindaLeyble
    @LindaLeyble 24 дні тому

    I thought this was great! I bought Jeff’s book during the pandemic…yes, it really helped write some different kinds of songs that I had never tried before. I have to go back to the book again ‘cause I’m in another songwriting time when feelings and struggles are trying to escape from my pores. My husband passed away last year - so I’ ve been trying to write about my feeling about this. It’s been very hard - every time I write something that’s too close to my emotions…I start crying my eyes out. So, I’m thinking I should write some other songs that I can finish without too many tears. Thanks so much for this video - I’m getting the book out again. Your song was great! I subscribed!❤

  • @yak7414
    @yak7414 27 днів тому

    incredible video!!! lots of great insight. would love to see one on lcd soundsystem/James murphy

  • @dynamicalan
    @dynamicalan Місяць тому

    I think if I remember correctly that a 2nd inversion should have the root doubled and it's ok to have the 3ed doubled in a 6/3 a 1st inversion triad.

  • @ibendiben
    @ibendiben Місяць тому

    3.14 no harmonic complexities? That strikes me as a very silly comment from them about him. "A lot of the time he's happy letting V follow II and I follow V...." Yeah duh. Now let them try and cover a song by him or Ray Charles including the piano and in case of Randy also the orchestra without using more then 3 note harmony... Apart from that, rythm, feel and timing is huge in music. It's not simple. Randy can say that about himself. But no one else imho.

  • @jeremiahhankins3372
    @jeremiahhankins3372 Місяць тому

    I really like your analysis! I can definitely hear more of the singing through a megaphone sound, or maybe just some more percussive buisness going on in the first one. I was making up my own background vocal choir parts (and strings too) while listening to the second one. Very good, both of them!

  • @jeffthevideoguy23
    @jeffthevideoguy23 Місяць тому

    Well, I'd rather be dead, than to wet my bed

  • @wyshwood
    @wyshwood Місяць тому

    His songs, and yours always seem a little 'hymn' like to me. A story shallow buried beneath an accessible tune. Hidden depths, though. Keep listening and there's more going on. Nice job.

  • @jameslightningappleby
    @jameslightningappleby Місяць тому

    Brilliant! Should do Roger Waters.

  • @TheJety
    @TheJety Місяць тому

    Great song! And excellent résume of Randy´s life

  • @KatShotz
    @KatShotz 2 місяці тому

    How cool , but not all have words playing in their mind continually.

  • @EmilioExploring
    @EmilioExploring 2 місяці тому

    Nice job dude!

  • @acoustically9201
    @acoustically9201 2 місяці тому

    I've watched a fair few of you vids now and your model is a great way to exemplify the 'greats' different musical approaches. One of the most interesting channels on songwriting out there. Many congrats. One thing I have to say...I'm still surprised by just how many people hold Lennon/McC as the greatest ever (including industry people - who should ''know'') .....I mean they were essentially playing covers all day every day and then magically wrote 200 songs in a few years in a range of styles....the majority of which are now standards. Literally everrything they released went to number 1. After the Beatles, neither could really get close to that level again. George Harrison's ''best of'' is probably a far more pleasing listen than the other two's. So ....they clearly had ''help'' (ironically!) or they didn't contribute much at all. At the very least, G. Martin must've ''influenced'' the clever middle 8s. Some of their songs are complex and they had no formal training (Michelle?). Anyway, I leave it there. Personally, I am far more interested in the styles you have included in your videos. Diverse writers, all who sat down and wrote as a ''job'' and were working on their craft for decades. PS I think Neil Finn might be a decent candidate for a look, Robert Smith too....for 15 yrs his output was fantastic - thereafter not so convinced, but I'm pretty certain these two wrote their own. Elvis Costello's best work is outstanding. Very few make it past a decade of exceptional level output... Elton John a good example of this. Jethro Tull's first decade or so (Ian Anderson's writing) was groundbreaking.

  • @jamestulk5111
    @jamestulk5111 2 місяці тому

    Your song has a strong jazz feel/

  • @tuneytwosome
    @tuneytwosome 2 місяці тому

    👍 Thanks for the motivation to get Tunesmith and work through improving my song Good Morning to You My Sweetheart NEW SONG by Mary Kay Aufrance - Now, instead of a short little ditty with just Verse-Verse-Chorus twice through, I included: - a prolog with a fun little bass line and accordion accompaniment, - an introduction with lyrics that set the stage, - a couple of 7th chords at the end of the intro, with the last of these being on the 2-chord, to peak the listener's interest, - a bunch of short little fills throughout the song, which I played on my happy little accordion, - a bridge that I also played on my accordion, to lead into the second verse, - a bass line. These days I think songs just really gotta have a bass line, - vocal harmonies on the chorus, for Tom to sing with me. That's a lot! It was a lot of composing and twiddling on my part, but it sure was fun to put the suggestions in the book to work.

  • @MattDelahunt-nl1gd
    @MattDelahunt-nl1gd 2 місяці тому

    Can you please do a video on how counting crows write there songs thank you.

  • @JoshWaters-mu5tl
    @JoshWaters-mu5tl 2 місяці тому

    for me it's the lyrics are the hardest any advice?

  • @soxymoon
    @soxymoon 2 місяці тому

    i love tom waits so much and i got to the end and got the best surprise heheh

  • @languagechallenge
    @languagechallenge 2 місяці тому

    Great content, although this is essentially a lyric writing video not a really songwriting one. I came to this vid looking to move beyond reams of words and form some into songs but this video doesn't really cover that much... more generating lyrics in the first place.

  • @tuneytwosome
    @tuneytwosome 3 місяці тому

    Your Songwriter's Workshop is a really nice presentation and I am looking forward to all of your videos. What a nice song, using the techniques presented inTunesmith and encouraging. I have been doing the same with that book, to gussy up my songs. Currently, I am getting into Chapter 6 chords and progressions, and since I never had patience with that stuff I appreciate how Jimmy Webb inserts encouragement to stick with his exercises even though progress will seem glacial and frustrating. This time it is finally sinking in! As a piano player, I imagine you worked through the chording stuff years ago, eh? Lastly, please check out my most recent song that I augmented with Tunesmith recommendations. It is youtube video Fk1RtFz_9GA

  • @RegularSean
    @RegularSean 3 місяці тому

    Sometimes I come here just to listen to Josephine. Dig the lyrics.

  • @GingerWaters
    @GingerWaters 3 місяці тому

    I would have guessed, that the song was cover version of Talking Heads song I haven’t heard before. I have noticed the same thing, that one chord songs develope groovy rythms.

  • @GingerWaters
    @GingerWaters 3 місяці тому

    Interesting. Awoked thinking: ”if you think if to make it short or long, shorter is better.”

  • @465marko
    @465marko 3 місяці тому

    I feel like you ended up with a Queen song!!! haha..... It's good.

  • @nicoledelcastillo8443
    @nicoledelcastillo8443 3 місяці тому

    Absolutely fantastic. Thank you for being so generous with sharing your demo. It really gives others inspiration and permission to do the same!

  • @TristanMiller1
    @TristanMiller1 3 місяці тому

    Incredibly impressive! Great song I host a podcast about Randy Newman would you wanna be on an episode?

  • @82pythons85
    @82pythons85 3 місяці тому

    This guy’s a fraud.

  • @bille77
    @bille77 3 місяці тому

    Ok, this isn't about songwriting but lyrics writing.

    • @robertwynkoop7112
      @robertwynkoop7112 3 місяці тому

      Yes, writing music and writing lyrics are different things. Writing music and writing lyrics provide different challenges. Most musicians are more comfortable and more adept at writing melody and music, less so with lyrics. It is the inspired, emotionally consistent integration of these two art forms that make up the songwriting art form….

    • @bille77
      @bille77 3 місяці тому

      @@robertwynkoop7112 That's true. 😊

  • @kevinjoseph517
    @kevinjoseph517 3 місяці тому

    Dumb click track. and start is 3 minutes of PC bio.

  • @morbogast
    @morbogast 4 місяці тому

    I think you don't get Tom Waits.

    • @greenvelvet
      @greenvelvet 16 днів тому

      Okay? Care to expound? Not very helpful or constructive. I'd like to see you putting yourself out there.

  • @ibm_businessman6033
    @ibm_businessman6033 4 місяці тому

    Thanks for this!

  • @kevinnolan6579
    @kevinnolan6579 4 місяці тому

    I really liked your video. I am very influenced by waits' spirit of songwriting. Here: ua-cam.com/video/mOyho3O8Puw/v-deo.html&ab_channel=KevinNolan

  • @wanderingdrew
    @wanderingdrew 4 місяці тому

    My favorite part is the slide. It sounds very langy.

  • @davebella298
    @davebella298 4 місяці тому

    There's something I love about this song. Good work man

  • @pauldritsas6047
    @pauldritsas6047 4 місяці тому

    Luv it!! Absolutely Brilliant!

  • @melanielynne0414
    @melanielynne0414 4 місяці тому

    Newman wrote the music and lyrics and sang the theme song for the TV Detective "Monk". His best in my opinion.

  • @kevintarrant5854
    @kevintarrant5854 4 місяці тому

    Just like Tom you wrote the songs using 8 bar phrasing, I’ve never heard him use anything else.

  • @andrewtea
    @andrewtea 4 місяці тому

    Love your song!!

  • @PBeetheFox
    @PBeetheFox 4 місяці тому

    Jeff: Write freestanding couplets to help spark ideas. Me looking at my google doc of lyrical ideas: Yay! I'm such a good songwriter! Jeff: Don't let adjectives make you think you're being poetic. Me looking at my google doc of lyrical ideas: Wait, wut......

  • @kablefransen6849
    @kablefransen6849 4 місяці тому

    Terrific vid. Cool song. Thank you

  • @GingerWaters
    @GingerWaters 4 місяці тому

    Thanks for good video essay. Song was quite ok. You voice needs to grow stronger. Good luck!

    • @robertwynkoop7112
      @robertwynkoop7112 3 місяці тому

      This is about the act of creation, not performance….

    • @GingerWaters
      @GingerWaters 3 місяці тому

      …performance is the second act… …audience reaction is the third act.

    • @GingerWaters
      @GingerWaters 3 місяці тому

      I’m writing songs too. Practicing them to be performed in the way that they awoke and keep the audiences attention appears to be whole an other challenge.

    • @robertwynkoop7112
      @robertwynkoop7112 3 місяці тому

      @@GingerWaters Agree. Keep writing, I write and sing/perform also, as part of a local Songwriter Circle

  • @KanTasia98
    @KanTasia98 4 місяці тому

    Nice job with the song at the end!

  • @jppj101vids
    @jppj101vids 4 місяці тому

    Great demonstration of the songwriting process from start to finish!

    • @robertwynkoop7112
      @robertwynkoop7112 3 місяці тому

      This is about the act of creation, not performance….

    • @jppj101vids
      @jppj101vids 3 місяці тому

      @@robertwynkoop7112 ?