5:50 hit hard. It's literally one of my best friends and I. He's a producer and track guy who doesn't even understand the importance of lyrics. He can produce a song during a week and still have limited knowledge of what the song is about. While I'm here writing lyrics for 25 years. He fails to understand how good I am and that we would be perfect together.
It can take some time to find good co-writers who match with you. And even when you do find them it can take some time writing together before it really meshes for you both. When I first got serious about writing I offered to write with nearly everyone and almost no one would write with me...not even total amateurs with next to no skills. So I've been there. If you stick with it, keep working on your skills, and meeting other songwriters, then you will find people.
I’m so happy to have found your channel, this is the 5th video I’ve watched today. I truly appreciate both of your vulnerability and willingness to share your wisdom !!
As a songwriter and an artist, I, mistakenly, thought that I had to be as good as someone on the radio to present myself as a performer/writer. What I realized, years into it, is that that’s what the journey is about; getting up to that point. Learning as you go and getting closer and closer until someone sees enough to believe in and feels you’re worth helping/signing/taking you on as a songwriter. In other words, don’t think you have to be perfect to pitch. Just keep perfecting til you get there while you network, pitch whatever.
"I'll never be good until I can do that." You just summed up the biggest obstacle that's kept me from actually becoming a songwriter for the past 25 years. I've been waiting until I could actually play guitar in order to do anything, because I don't feel like just writing words is good enough :-(
I have written with Hall of Fame songwriters who wrote lyrics only. They co-write with people that do melody. It's all important. Kepp on Writing if you love to write! ~CM :)
Awesome! Check out our writing community at www.songtown.com we coach writers with courses and mentoring. And you’ll find cowriters if you are looking for that also.
This video is such a great reminder to not try to be a jack of all trades or you could end up the master of none!!! When I first joined ST last year, I thought I had to be great at everything but have since come to understand that I'm definitely naturally a lyricist/idea person - and I'm okay with that! I'm getting better at other aspects such as melody but even so, it's more as an idea person after the melody has started. I've been extremely fortunate to find several folks in SongTown to collaborate with who offset my weaknesses with their strength and vice-versa.
I tend to have the idea , lyrics and a basic melody/ chords but after recording a basic outline song hand it to a friend who is a much better musician and arranger & producer who makes it sound great ( to me anyway ) . Haven’t had a hit song of course but have had great satisfaction in the final product
@@SongTownUSA I'm ashamed to say that although a Prince fan, I did not fully know the depth of his talent/abilities until after he passed away... it just wasn't something I ever thought about when I was growing up listening to him. Now that I'm aware, I'm in complete awe and listen to his music in a completely different way!
It's almost impossible to find people to work with until you have a portfolio these days, though. Or else you're just talking to random people about something and they don't believe you. Unless you can straight up pay money up front over the internet - but even then, some people will turn you down.
My superpower appears to be writing whole songs. I'm willing to write with just about anybody, can even cannibalize from existing songs to create new songs. Nothing is too precious. I have over two hundred in my book and a bunch of scraps lying around the studio. I want to work with folks however, I don't want to have to teach them the basics. They should have some songs under their belt, sort of walked that path some before walking with another.
This is the economic principle of comparative advantage. If you can produce the best cars in the world but only the 8th best airplanes, stop wasting your resources on planes and instead reserve them only for making cars. But how will you get planes? Well you trade some of your cars for airplanes, and only those made by the country that makes the best airplanes. Now each country is maximizing the profits and efficiency of each product. So if you're a great singer but only a good guitarist, find a great guitarist who's tired of playing with only good singers. And all of you need to find a great rhythm section. And hey, if you're still keen on improving guitar, who better to learn from than a skilled bandmate?
Your Life Situation is NOT a Song Idea: How Pros Find Titles: ua-cam.com/video/JoBLY8g-gMs/v-deo.html
5:50 hit hard. It's literally one of my best friends and I. He's a producer and track guy who doesn't even understand the importance of lyrics. He can produce a song during a week and still have limited knowledge of what the song is about. While I'm here writing lyrics for 25 years. He fails to understand how good I am and that we would be perfect together.
I feel for ya! -CM
It can take some time to find good co-writers who match with you. And even when you do find them it can take some time writing together before it really meshes for you both.
When I first got serious about writing I offered to write with nearly everyone and almost no one would write with me...not even total amateurs with next to no skills. So I've been there. If you stick with it, keep working on your skills, and meeting other songwriters, then you will find people.
@@andrewcavanagh3946 Great advice!
I’m so happy to have found your channel, this is the 5th video I’ve watched today. I truly appreciate both of your vulnerability and willingness to share your wisdom !!
Awww..thanks for letting us know. Write on! CM
As a songwriter and an artist, I, mistakenly, thought that I had to be as good as someone on the radio to present myself as a performer/writer. What I realized, years into it, is that that’s what the journey is about; getting up to that point. Learning as you go and getting closer and closer until someone sees enough to believe in and feels you’re worth helping/signing/taking you on as a songwriter.
In other words, don’t think you have to be perfect to pitch. Just keep perfecting til you get there while you network, pitch whatever.
"I'll never be good until I can do that." You just summed up the biggest obstacle that's kept me from actually becoming a songwriter for the past 25 years. I've been waiting until I could actually play guitar in order to do anything, because I don't feel like just writing words is good enough :-(
I have written with Hall of Fame songwriters who wrote lyrics only. They co-write with people that do melody. It's all important. Kepp on Writing if you love to write! ~CM :)
@@SongTownUSA Thank you for that reassurance! Wish I’d had UA-cam and channels like this back in my 20s. This stuff is so helpful 🙏🏼
@@not.bjcary we appreciate you joining in the conversation! Always let us know if you have any subjects you’d like us to cover and we’re glad to help.
Watched 7 videos today so far love the content🤟thanks boys
awww... so good to hear that! Write on! CM
Love your channel!! I've wanted to write songs forever. Now is the time in my life and I FOUND YOU!!
Awesome! Check out our writing community at www.songtown.com we coach writers with courses and mentoring. And you’ll find cowriters if you are looking for that also.
This video is such a great reminder to not try to be a jack of all trades or you could end up the master of none!!! When I first joined ST last year, I thought I had to be great at everything but have since come to understand that I'm definitely naturally a lyricist/idea person - and I'm okay with that! I'm getting better at other aspects such as melody but even so, it's more as an idea person after the melody has started. I've been extremely fortunate to find several folks in SongTown to collaborate with who offset my weaknesses with their strength and vice-versa.
Great approach. Write on! ~CM
Amazing advice and insights
Glad to help! Write on! CM
just found this today..Marty we spoke at NSAI years ago....I will be joining soon
Awesome! ~CM
I tend to have the idea , lyrics and a basic melody/ chords but after recording a basic outline song hand it to a friend who is a much better musician and arranger & producer who makes it sound great ( to me anyway ) . Haven’t had a hit song of course but have had great satisfaction in the final product
Write on! Nothing like hearing your ideas fully realized. CM
I’m a melody guy and can’t write lyrics for crap. Where can I connect with the lyricist?
We have lots of melody writers at www.songtown.com that co-write with lyric writers. ~CM
yeah even michael jackson and madoona needed to work with other people.
Pretty rare are the Prince's who can do it all at a high level..including dancing ;)
@@SongTownUSA I'm ashamed to say that although a Prince fan, I did not fully know the depth of his talent/abilities until after he passed away... it just wasn't something I ever thought about when I was growing up listening to him. Now that I'm aware, I'm in complete awe and listen to his music in a completely different way!
@@Sunshine7978 Genius level for sure!
it makes me think, 'if you had the opportunity to be someone like Bernie Tauplin would you say, no thanks'..
Bernie's superpower was definitely lyrics! All-time legend!
It's almost impossible to find people to work with until you have a portfolio these days, though. Or else you're just talking to random people about something and they don't believe you. Unless you can straight up pay money up front over the internet - but even then, some people will turn you down.
My superpower appears to be writing whole songs. I'm willing to write with just about anybody, can even cannibalize from existing songs to create new songs. Nothing is too precious. I have over two hundred in my book and a bunch of scraps lying around the studio. I want to work with folks however, I don't want to have to teach them the basics. They should have some songs under their belt, sort of walked that path some before walking with another.
Yes, moft often writing with people in your own class is the best.
This is the economic principle of comparative advantage. If you can produce the best cars in the world but only the 8th best airplanes, stop wasting your resources on planes and instead reserve them only for making cars.
But how will you get planes? Well you trade some of your cars for airplanes, and only those made by the country that makes the best airplanes. Now each country is maximizing the profits and efficiency of each product.
So if you're a great singer but only a good guitarist, find a great guitarist who's tired of playing with only good singers. And all of you need to find a great rhythm section.
And hey, if you're still keen on improving guitar, who better to learn from than a skilled bandmate?
Love that! ~CM