The thing that makes a life situation a song idea it a good line. A good line can lead to a good string of words or a memorable phrase. You could write a song about being a military brat or a salesman's kid who sees a u-haul truck outside and knows that there is a new school, new teachers, loss of friendships that were built and starting over based on that moving van idea. EDIT: I may try to write that.
@@SongTownUSA I want to acknowledge that my increased understanding of Nashville, songwriting, alternate tuning, in the last year have come from digging in and watching a lot of your content. I put out my first three tunes on all streaming platforms and YT a little over a week ago. If you have a minute to listen, I would appreciate it. Thanks for everything you do, John L.
I've been guilty of trying to turn a life situation into a song, and each time it's not been a good result...lol. Thank you for this--greatly appreciated!
It can be done for sure, just have to find that angle on it that makes it a song idea. Sometimes a little distance later on down the road gives us just the perspective we need to be able to pull the song out of what happened to us.
I'm both a visual artist and an author and I sooooo appreciated your chat. Titling (oh! apparently that's a real word!) is a challenge in both those fields, especially the visual as many artists (I, among them) may approach the same subject in a variety of ways. I have about four paintings that are around the "Omega" and the image is the most obvious thing about all of them... that was a real challenge and I'm only really pleased with two of the titles. I continue to ponder.
Great advice guys. Writing About a situation is one thing but finding that unique angle that speaks to and for the human condition is where the magic lies 👍👍
What about the tired old 'beginning, middle, and end of life' for the moving van from the perspective of life-long neighbors: young hopeful couple moves in, daughter moves out to college, mom lingers awhile after husbands death, but now the 'realtor sign is on the lawn and the moving van is here again'
I wonder if you like this idea, guys: The moving van idea makes me think about the people telling the story: like, what big changes have happening in their lives between each new set of neighbors? Maybe the narrator was best friends with the first neighbor and watched that marriage fall apart whereas his and his wife's got stronger learning from his neighbor's mistakes. Then the 2nd neighbors' kids were best friends with the narrator's kids (maybe even a 1st love who moved away and broke the narrator's son/daughter's heart). Then maybe the third set of neighbors is when the narrators are moving into middle age. Etc etc. It would follow the major life stages of a relatable family contrasting with the changes going on around them. THAT sounds more like a song to me than anything purely about the neighbors across the street. Maybe not a hit, but decent filler, which albums seem to need more and more these days...
I think the issue with this title is that it’s coming from the POV of the neighbor not the people it actually effected. Hard to write a song from a 3rd person unless it’s about you too.
Can you talk about ways to work and collaborate? Is it common to work together? What is a songwriting room? How do you work? How do you deal with each other's ideas? What about bad ideas? What attitude must you have? Greetings. Love listening to you. Thanks.
Im into experimental art rock and other left of the dial weirdo music. Very interesting to hear these perspectives from more mainstream, traditional songwriters. The artists i listen to routinely(and successfully imo) do all the things you say they shouldn't do haha.
12:49 yeah i've been thinking the same thing, having a hit when you're already a superstar is one thing, having a hit when you're a "nobody" is something very different. do you think any of the last albums from taylor swift would have been hits if she wasn't already a megastar? i doubt it.
The Moving Van Is Here Again COULD be a good song idea, but you have to think outside the kind of boring scenario of divorce, remarriage, divorce. A different spin that would also be relatable to a particular segment or segments of the population would be this scenario: A military brat, who's had a hard time building relationships and a hard time with trust issues because "The moving van is here again/Differnt school/and different friends/Gotta figure out/where I fit in/because the moving van is here again." If you wanted to add a layer of complexity, have the military brat forge a pact with the foster kid that manages to last through years of both moving around. Hell, make it a love song!
I like to tell aspiring songwriters that (a)anything can be turned into a song, and (b) imagination is their best friend. An example I give is when I passed a woman on the sidewalk on her phone, and overheard her say "Just don't mention waffles. I'll see you soon". As my wife said later, "Only you could write a song about that" because I went home and tried to imagine a story behind it. So I give you: Just Don't Mention Waffles My mama and my daddy don't like you very much. They don't think that you're good enough for me. I haven't told them yet that we've moved in together. I'm just waiting for the right opportunity. So just don't mention waffles or other breakfast food. If you do, it's sure to put my daddy in a bad mood. He thinks of me as the little girl he bounced on his knee before. What my daddy doesn't see is I'm not that girl no more. There's more of course, but you get the idea!
Subject matter doesn't really matter as long as you can put an original spin on it so the listener can also relate. In song writing as in all art, there are no rules, really.
or... You could look at it like this. Yes, there are rules. A major scale has so many notes. A triad has three notes. A classic song form is AABA or VChVChBCh...But learning rules and knowing when to break them create your true power as a musician.
Ok when you can write the gunfighter ballads then call me 🤙 or Charlie rich song The most beautiful girl in the world .. Kenny and the gambler .. Devil went down to Georgia!! That’s real songs
Although I understand ya'lls opinion, I have a different perspective. There is a large percentage of people that don't listen to song lyrics. They just listen to the instruments and groove. So you can have a song with terrible lyrics about "the moving van is here again" with awesome music, and that song is light years better than a song with thought provoking lyrics and shitty music behind it. Sometimes it's not about the lyrics. And besides, most of the time you can't understand what the singer is saying anyway.
Thx for sharing! We personally don’t aim for what a certain group of people may or may not like. Our focus is on great songwriting. The vast majority of classic songs had technically sound lyrics. Unless we are talking about party songs which lyrics just need to support the groove. And any other occasional exception. Songs are lyrics and music, so aiming high is what we’re about. And there’s a huge swath of colors available in that. :) CM
The moving van is here again Maybe this time I shouldnt tell my friends She cheated and its time for this to end Now im stuck in this cycle again The moving van is here again The moving van is here again Yeah doesnt really work xD
The weeds are growing wild and long Around the brand new neighbor's lawn Maybe this time I'll make a friend that moving van is here again Each time I go and get the mail The same old convo without fail When will this damn heat wave end The moving van here is here again Oh why don't we start an HOA? They just moved in not yesterday already I have filed a noise complaint Back when folks like me had some say We kept the peace with no dismay I miss when this couldesac was quaint I guess I'll go and make amends before that moving van gets here again
Why Good Songs Fail. ua-cam.com/video/uV0qjmo18Rs/v-deo.html
I've heard enough dumb love songs, but it's a charm to find an intelligent love song that actually dissects the feelings behind an encounter.
The thing that makes a life situation a song idea it a good line. A good line can lead to a good string of words or a memorable phrase. You could write a song about being a military brat or a salesman's kid who sees a u-haul truck outside and knows that there is a new school, new teachers, loss of friendships that were built and starting over based on that moving van idea.
EDIT: I may try to write that.
Good ideas!
@@SongTownUSA I want to acknowledge that my increased understanding of Nashville, songwriting, alternate tuning, in the last year have come from digging in and watching a lot of your content. I put out my first three tunes on all streaming platforms and YT a little over a week ago. If you have a minute to listen, I would appreciate it. Thanks for everything you do, John L.
@@John-Lorraine Awesome!
@@John-Lorraine that's amazing. Thanks for letting us know. Love hearing that. Write on! ~CM
I laughed out loud the moment I read the title of this episode - probably at myself. So much good advice in this one.
Thx! We are all guilty of this at times 🤣
@@SongTownUSA Tell that to Billy Joel :) My life however fits this video title for sure.
I've been guilty of trying to turn a life situation into a song, and each time it's not been a good result...lol. Thank you for this--greatly appreciated!
It can be done for sure, just have to find that angle on it that makes it a song idea. Sometimes a little distance later on down the road gives us just the perspective we need to be able to pull the
song out of what happened to us.
I'm both a visual artist and an author and I sooooo appreciated your chat. Titling (oh! apparently that's a real word!) is a challenge in both those fields, especially the visual as many artists (I, among them) may approach the same subject in a variety of ways. I have about four paintings that are around the "Omega" and the image is the most obvious thing about all of them... that was a real challenge and I'm only really pleased with two of the titles. I continue to ponder.
Great advice guys. Writing About a situation is one thing but finding that unique angle that speaks to and for the human condition is where the magic lies 👍👍
#100%
What about the tired old 'beginning, middle, and end of life' for the moving van from the perspective of life-long neighbors: young hopeful couple moves in, daughter moves out to college, mom lingers awhile after husbands death, but now the 'realtor sign is on the lawn and the moving van is here again'
I wonder if you like this idea, guys: The moving van idea makes me think about the people telling the story: like, what big changes have happening in their lives between each new set of neighbors? Maybe the narrator was best friends with the first neighbor and watched that marriage fall apart whereas his and his wife's got stronger learning from his neighbor's mistakes. Then the 2nd neighbors' kids were best friends with the narrator's kids (maybe even a 1st love who moved away and broke the narrator's son/daughter's heart). Then maybe the third set of neighbors is when the narrators are moving into middle age. Etc etc. It would follow the major life stages of a relatable family contrasting with the changes going on around them. THAT sounds more like a song to me than anything purely about the neighbors across the street. Maybe not a hit, but decent filler, which albums seem to need more and more these days...
At 5:43 you explained the moving van situation becoming a song.
I do believe a song like "The Moving Van Is Here Again" could work in the style of Pistol Annies. Kind of small town gossip style.
Write on, Write it!
Could be!
I think the issue with this title is that it’s coming from the POV of the neighbor not the people it actually effected.
Hard to write a song from a 3rd person unless it’s about you too.
Can you talk about ways to work and collaborate? Is it common to work together? What is a songwriting room? How do you work? How do you deal with each other's ideas? What about bad ideas? What attitude must you have? Greetings. Love listening to you. Thanks.
Great channel guys! There can never be enough UA-cam channels about songwriting!
Appreciate you watching and joining the convo! ~CM
Im into experimental art rock and other left of the dial weirdo music. Very interesting to hear these perspectives from more mainstream, traditional songwriters. The artists i listen to routinely(and successfully imo) do all the things you say they shouldn't do haha.
Ha! You don’t have to do everything right in a song. Just enough good things to keep the audience listening. Write on! CM
12:49 yeah i've been thinking the same thing, having a hit when you're already a superstar is one thing, having a hit when you're a "nobody" is something very different. do you think any of the last albums from taylor swift would have been hits if she wasn't already a megastar? i doubt it.
Good point… We’ll never know! She’s a very talented writer either way.
@@SongTownUSA yes she is, and your songwriting skills are far more important than your voice. and don't forget the people she's working with too.
@@bjarnyg absolutely!
@@SongTownUSA yeah she could probably write a song about toads mating and it would still be a hit.
We NEED more channels like this! Easiest sub ever🙌🏼 can’t get enough of this kind of content ❗️
Write on! Glad it's helpful and good to have ya here. ~CM
great channel, I hope ya'll never stop!
Appreciate it. Write on! ~CM
Here's a good title: Should Have Worked A Little Harder(And Played A Little Less). Once I had that, the song wrote itself!
The Moving Van Is Here Again COULD be a good song idea, but you have to think outside the kind of boring scenario of divorce, remarriage, divorce. A different spin that would also be relatable to a particular segment or segments of the population would be this scenario: A military brat, who's had a hard time building relationships and a hard time with trust issues because "The moving van is here again/Differnt school/and different friends/Gotta figure out/where I fit in/because the moving van is here again." If you wanted to add a layer of complexity, have the military brat forge a pact with the foster kid that manages to last through years of both moving around. Hell, make it a love song!
"HELLO WALLS" Willie Nelson :)
Great tune! One of the best. ~CM
David Ackles did Moving Van
I like to tell aspiring songwriters that (a)anything can be turned into a song, and (b) imagination is their best friend. An example I give is when I passed a woman on the sidewalk on her phone, and overheard her say "Just don't mention waffles. I'll see you soon". As my wife said later, "Only you could write a song about that" because I went home and tried to imagine a story behind it. So I give you:
Just Don't Mention Waffles
My mama and my daddy
don't like you very much.
They don't think that
you're good enough for me.
I haven't told them yet
that we've moved in
together. I'm just
waiting for the right
opportunity.
So just don't mention
waffles or other breakfast
food. If you do,
it's sure to put my
daddy in a bad mood.
He thinks of me
as the little girl
he bounced on his
knee before.
What my daddy doesn't
see is I'm not that girl
no more.
There's more of course, but you get the idea!
Life is like a trampoline
Full of ups and downs
You gotta bounce back
even when you hit the ground.
You're welcome!🤪
Always writing from common threads.
Subject matter doesn't really matter as long as you can put an original spin on it so the listener can also relate. In song writing as in all art, there are no rules, really.
or... You could look at it like this. Yes, there are rules. A major scale has so many notes. A triad has three notes. A classic song form is AABA or VChVChBCh...But learning rules and knowing when to break them create your true power as a musician.
If there is a great song called Witchita Line Man, what about Witchita moving man? 😂
Ha!
Ok when you can write the gunfighter ballads then call me 🤙 or Charlie rich song The most beautiful girl in the world .. Kenny and the gambler .. Devil went down to Georgia!! That’s real songs
Great songs! Write on!
Although I understand ya'lls opinion, I have a different perspective. There is a large percentage of people that don't listen to song lyrics. They just listen to the instruments and groove. So you can have a song with terrible lyrics about "the moving van is here again" with awesome music, and that song is light years better than a song with thought provoking lyrics and shitty music behind it. Sometimes it's not about the lyrics. And besides, most of the time you can't understand what the singer is saying anyway.
Thx for sharing! We personally don’t aim for what a certain group of people may or may not like. Our focus is on great songwriting. The vast majority of classic songs had technically sound lyrics. Unless we are talking about party songs which lyrics just need to support the groove. And any other occasional exception. Songs are lyrics and music, so aiming high is what we’re about. And there’s a huge swath of colors available in that. :) CM
The moving van is here again
Maybe this time I shouldnt tell my friends
She cheated and its time for this to end
Now im stuck in this cycle again
The moving van is here again
The moving van is here again
Yeah doesnt really work xD
The weeds are growing wild and long
Around the brand new neighbor's lawn
Maybe this time I'll make a friend
that moving van is here again
Each time I go and get the mail
The same old convo without fail
When will this damn heat wave end
The moving van here is here again
Oh why don't we start an HOA?
They just moved in not yesterday
already I have filed a noise complaint
Back when folks like me had some say
We kept the peace with no dismay
I miss when this couldesac was quaint
I guess I'll go and make amends
before that moving van gets here again
Ghost in this house by Hugh Prestwood.
Great song!
You mean to say,,,I left her because her annoying fiddle playing daughter isn't a good song idea,,,
haha!
@@SongTownUSA it's a true story and it led to me writing my biggest song,,,