Don't Go Straight To The Chorus...

Hi all,

After taking some advice from a Songwriter, (who's been doing it for decades) I've started to write in the following format:

* Verse
* Pre-Chorus
* Chorus

What do I mean by pre-chorus? Here's a snippet from the Veteran Songwriting Secrets Interview:

http://www.songwritingtipsonline.com/
Snippet_Veteran_Songwriter.mp3
(right-click above and choose 'save as' and then save the file).

He tells us that an effective way of grabbing a listener is to put in a 'link' between the verse and the chorus.

It actually works like a charm :-)

In fact, he shares a whole TON of idea' and secrets that will turbo charge your creativity.

You're seriously missing out if you haven't got a copy of this...

http://www.songwritingtipsonline.com

Grab it now while you get the chance.

Talk soon...

Calvin Rele


Related Tags: songwriting tips, verse, chorus, how to write a chorus, how to write a hook, song structure

Zimbabwe: International Songwriting Competition Opens

The ISC are taking things to even higher heights with the all new songwriting competition opening in Zimbabwe.

It's all happening for 2006 and you can check out the article on it here (below).

Calvin

THE 2006 International Songwriting Competition that provides opportunities for bands, artistes and songwriters to gain exposure is now open.

The competition also gives artistes a chance for their songs to be heard by some of the most influential members of the music industry internationally.

In Zimbabwe, so far, Chiwoniso Maraire, is the only artiste who participated and emerged second in the 2005 competition.

The 2006 competition has two new categories, many new judges and has also increased the cash portion of its Grand Prize to US$25 000, which makes it the largest cash Grand Prize in any songwriting competition.

ISC gives away over US$150 000 in cash and prizes, including an Overall Grand Prize package of US$25 000 in cash and over US$20 000 in merchandise, unmatched by any other songwriting competition.

Click here to finish reading the article.

Source http://allafrica.com/stories/200608180525.html

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Arctic Monkeys plan new songwriting style

The following news is directly taken from http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds35917.html





Matt Helders has revealed that the Arctic Monkeys are planning to reinvent themselves.
The band's drummer has warned fans their second album will break away from songs based on growing up in Sheffield.
"I don't think we're going to do that again and that's why we won't - because we've already done it.," he told the Daily Star.
"We've changed our subject matter; but it's still about actual circumstances and people we've met. We've got 13 or 14 songs we've been trying at soundcheck."


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The Songwriter's Way of Thinking

Is there ever a 'right time' to write a song?
So many songwriters have asked me, "can you write whenever
you want?" -- well, the answer is a resounding YES. You can
indeed.

But let's be real, what if your mum was in hospital or
you just went though a divorce.. then what? What if you simply
weren't in the mood? Well, here's the secret.

First of all, let's switch the word 'writing' with the word
'creating'. In theory we are 'writing a song', but in
practice we're actually creating something. Just think about that
for a second. We're 'CREATING' something here.

So if we are creating something, we need to fuel that creativity
with something. We fuel that creativity with INSPIRATION.

Before we even THINK about what to write about, what structure
the song should be, what melody to use, etc, we need inspiration.

I can hear you already... "what if I don't feel inspired?",
well this is exactly why you need to 'switch' your mind.

I can't even begin to tell you how important this is.

Let me explain -- stay with me here...
Here's a typical a scenario. You wake up early in the morning to
go work, you miss your train and when you get there your boss
gives you a hard time for being late.

Because you're late, you're made to work through your lunch hour.
When you do, you eat some crummy old sandwich which makes your
stomach upset. Despite the fact that you're now not feeling well,
you carry on working -- dying for the day to end.

Work is finally over. You get home, and cook yourself some food.

It's the best meal you've had all day. You're feeling a little
better knowing you can finally relax and watch some TV over a nice
beverage.

But guess what, you're too tired to write a song. You've had such
a mad day, you just can't be bothered. You don't know what to
write about. You just don't feel inspired.

Now here's where you 'switch' your mind. Everything that has
happened in your day are a series of events all leading up to
writing a song. How many events can YOU draw inspiration from?

The answer is ALL of them. You can write about your whole
'bad day' but the key here is to pick one or two events and
elaborate on them.

For example, we can do something with 'being late for the
train' and 'late for work'. You could structure it in a way were
your verses would be about getting up late, how your breakfast
was burnt, when you left it was pouring with rain and you left
your umbrella, the trains were running late, you were late for
work again.

In fact, that could actually be your hook -- 'I'm Late Again'.
The song can be structured in a way were you are simply stating
how you are always late! (It doesn't matter whether that's the
truth or not! It just has to flow well, that's all).

Songwriters who write constantly understand how to harness the
power of inspiration. The above example was quite a negative day,
but if was the opposite, then you would write about just that,
(ever heard of 'Lovely Day' by Bill Withers?).

Structure your song so you are keeping your listener interested
in where your song is taking them next.

More on structure in the next issue...(only available via email)

Sincerely,


Calvin Rele

PS: The above was taken from my online newsletter called
songwritingtipsonline.com. If you would like, you can subscribe for
more tips in the form at the top of this blog.

When Sam Cooke sang a Bob Dylan Classic

I get a bunch of emails every month asking me how to write for a particular style. While there may be difference in musical arrangement for different styles, my answer has always been that a vocalist (and/or his/her band) will convey the song in their style - whether it be pop, rock, soul, country, R&B, Jazz or whatever. And this will ultimately define the genre it may sit in.

The example here is Sam Cooke who sings Bob Dylans classic 'Blowin In The Wind'. The song itself is a great one and BECAUSE it is, it allows singers of different styles to put their own spin on it, giving it a new flavour. For what was originally a great Dylan folk song (which I love) Sam Cooke; with his soulful voice has transformed it into a more gospel orientated offering.

I've always --and will continue to say--... focus on writing a good song. Then worry about if it's punk rock or R&B later.

Calvin

Folk love Seth

Fiddler Seth Lakeman is helping to make the F-word a little more attractive in music land.

The Brit folk hero has just finished a sell-out UK tour.

Plus he has just switched to major recording label Relentless, in order to re-release his third album, Freedom Fields .

But Seth reckons that some people find his brand of acoustic songwriting hard to define.

The 29-year-old's last record, Kitty Jay, was nominated for the 2005 Mercury Music Prize.

Made on a tight budget, he says he's still blown away by its success.

His latest single, Lady Of The Water, a mythic tale of love and loss, has already hit the airwaves.


[The above news was taken directly from www.itv.com]


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California Student Wins Songwriting Contest For Teens

I always find it a refreshing change when there is an even for teenagers specifically. Here, we have a songwriting contest in California for 16 year old teenagers. Giving them the oppertunity to shine in front of a panal of judges which include the likes of Alicia Keys, Damisn Marley and Sara Evens to name a few.

Check out the article and the winner. (below).

-------------------------------------------------------------

Laurel Dammann, a 16-year-old high school junior from Arcata, Calif., is the winner of the 2006 Songwriting Contest for Teens sponsored by Billboard and USA Today.

Inspired by the theme "come together," Dammann's song "Through the Fall" beat out more than 5,000 other student entries from across the country. Her song was chosen unanimously by the panel of celebrity judges -- Alicia Keys, Damian Marley, Bow Wow, Hoobastank and Sara Evans -- as the best of 10 finalists (the first unanimous vote in the contest's five-year history).

"It's about prejudices and stereotypes. Everybody has them," says Dammann of her winning song. "The problem is, some don't look past the differences to see the person and, if they're in trouble, help them out."

As the winner, she receives a trip for two to the Billboard Music Awards in December in Las Vegas, where she'll hang out backstage; a $1,000 U.S. savings bond; and a Sony DVD/CD burner and production software. Runner-up Nathan J. Campbell, 14, of Brooklyn, N.Y., who gets USA WEEKEND in the New York Daily News, wins a $500 savings bond and Sony software.

Perhaps the biggest prize, Dammann says, is having her words printed in a national magazine. "I'm definitely excited about winning," she says. "It's given me more confidence because I've never really let people read [my music]."

Source www.billboard.com / Chris M. Walsh


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Lemar Meets and Greets Fans At Rock FM

Soul singer-songwriter Lemar has gone through quite a journey from the 'pop idol' days. He has now sold a boastful 1.5 million records from his first two albums, Dedicated and Time To Grow.

His latest offering The Truth About Love is set to be released on September 11th and he has been promoting the first single at Prestons Radio Station Rock FM.

Check out the article.

Calvin






The soul singer was at Rock FM to promote his new album The Truth About Love which is out on September 11.

The 27-year-old, who was a special guest at last year's Red Rose Awards, was also plugging the first single from the record, called It's Not That Easy, which is released on September 4.

He recorded an interview with mid-afternoon DJ Rick Vaughn which will air later this week.

And he made time to meet up to 100 fans who turned up at the radio station's St Paul's Square headquarters.

Click here to finish reading the article

Source http://www.lep.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=73&ArticleID=1680272

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Ferdinand Plan New Material Only Singles

The following news is directly taken from www.pr-inside.com...


Scottish hitmakers FRANZ FERDINAND have vowed to only release new material on singles in future.

The TAKE ME OUT rockers are convinced reverting to 1960s practice, when it was inconceivable for a band to release an album track as a single, will boost their creativity.
Frontman ALEX KAPRANOS says, "Putting out new singles is very good for the progression of a band's songwriting."

Songwriter Chapin Set to Perform at Café Arabica in Morristown

Jen Chapin is a New York-based singer-songwriter on the rise. Her 2004 Hybrid Recordings release, Linger, has earned the highest praise from sources as diverse as National Public Radio's All Things Considered, People, The Today Show, and Entertainment Weekly. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel lauded Linger as being "smart, observant, lyrically deft, politically aware and emotionally intuitive" while The Boston Globe called it simply: "addictive."

Now, 2 albums on, she is getting lit up to promote her new and highly anticipated album, 'Ready'.

She is set to perform at Café Arabica in Morristown on September 9th where she is accompanied by her trio band - including her husband Stephan Crump on acoustic bass.

Check out the article. (below)

Calvin

New York singer-songwriter Jen Chapin shares tastes and values with her husband, bassist Stephan Crump, when they work together on various music projects.

"We always set the ground rules early on as far as not stressing one another out," she said. "We try to keep things light and fun because we can both be pretty intense. But it gives both of us this arena where we can interact and share and respect each other's work ethic and artistry."

Chapin will perform with her trio (Crump on acoustic bass, Jamie Fox on electric guitar) at Café Arabica in Morristown Friday and again Sept. 9.

"It's all about performing with people you enjoy as individuals, not just as musicians,"she said. "The trio is a really great setting for being able to listen and respond to each other. There are enough elements to have richness and variety to the sound, but there are also moments where it's sparse and almost silent. We all have a great time."

Click here to finish reading the article

Source www.dailyrecord.com / by Robert Hicks

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Simon Fuller Not Sitting Idle

Music industry Mogul Simon Fuller has his sights on taking things to 'higher heights' with his vision of incorperating a songwriting competition in the pop idol show and producing it for the next 'American Idol' to sing.

Pop Idol - despite being a cultural phenomenon has had more failures than success, in terms of producing 'winning hit-making artists'. The successes of artists such as Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood are a display of what the show 'can' produce - but on the whole there is more hype then musicianship.

Still, this won't stop Fuller from world domination. He's approach has always been one to admire - regardless of whether you like his public persona, or indeed despise the man.

Check out the article here. (below)

Calvin

THE Mogul Who Swallowed Pop Culture is perched in his office high abovebustling Sunset Boulevard, scheming. His groundbreaking project is thebehemoth that has come to rule not only television, but also much ofthe entertainment landscape.

Butif you thought Simon Fuller, the British creator of "American Idol,"would be sitting back by now celebrating his success, think again.

"I'm hungry," he says, and he's not talking about his next meal.

Nextitem on his agenda: taking the unscripted talent show to, yes, evenhigher heights, this time with a songwriting competition that will beincorporated into the show and produce a song that will be sung by thenext "American Idol."

After that, he plans to revolutionize the entertainment arena furtherthrough his production company, 19 Entertainment, and otherpartnerships. He wants to start using unique strategies that, in hisview, will change the way talent is developed and exposed.

Click here to finish reading the article.

Source www.latimes.com / by Greg Braxton, Times Staff Writer

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Songwriting Service Provides Quick Connections to Music Publishers, Record Labels, and Others in the Music Industry

After you've written your best songs, and you feel you want to pitch them, there is a very frustrating and often long period before anybody with high importance actually gets to listen to it. And even then, it's not just about listening to it, but 'doing something with your song' that will enable you to finally have some sort of career in songwriting.

Songwritingconnection.com is a songwriting service that 'connects' songwriters to artists, publishers, record labels, managers and agents. As simple looking as this website may look, it's impact is pretty huge.

They would send email or postal queries for songwriter to music publishers, record labels, managers and agents and help you write a powerful 'query letter' and target companies according to the location, genre or size. It's a way to fully maximize your chance of getting a response with your material.

In fact, they don't deal solely with songwriting - but also book publishing and pitching scripts for TV.

Read a recent article on songwritingconnection here.

Calvin

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Nashville Folk Festival Returning For Third Year

The annual American Folk festival is one which has only been around for a few years, yet it has grown into one of the most upscale and laidback music festivals in the Nashville area.

Even though the festival is a one-day event, the performers are allowed to bring their families and given lakeside cabins for the weekend.

Check out the article...

------------------------------------------------------

Kaleidoscope Media and Nashville Scene announce that the third annual Americana Folk Festival will be held Oct. 21 at Montgomery Bell State Park in Dickson.

Legendary singer/songwriter Patty Griffin is the headline artist for this year’s festival.

With at least 30 musical acts in bluegrass, Americana, folk and jazz, an arts village and a beautiful Tennessee state park as the backdrop, the 2006 festival will be one to remember, organizers said.

Ask any musical artist about their influences, and it’s a sure bet that Griffin will be named within most everyone’s list.....

Click here to finish reading the rest of the article.

Source www.dicksonherald.com

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James Morrison Could Never Have Been a Van Driver!...

Pop newcomer JAMES MORRISON is thrilled with his burgeoning chart career, because it takes his mind off losing out on his original dream - driving vans.

The YOU GIVE ME SOMETHING star was sacked for crashing several of the vans he was being employed to clean, because he simply couldn't resist getting behind the wheel.

But he became so depressed after being fired, he immediately turned to songwriting to channel his woes.

He says, "In many ways, getting the bullet was the best thing that ever happened to me.

"They gave me the boot because I crashed a couple of vans." A friend adds, "He was devastated when he got the sack, but it worked out well because it inspired him to write this album (UNDISCOVERED)."

Source http://www.pr-inside.com/morrisons-white-van-misery-r13742.htm

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A Quick Chat With Chris Carrabba...

Few recent singer-songwriters have injected their audiences with as much fervor for the song as Chris Carrabba. His troubadour revues under the stage name Dashboard Confessional are showcases of youthful longing come lyrically alive.

To watch 2500 of his fans sing along to every tune at the top of their lungs is to behold a catharsis seemingly unmatched in alternative pop-rock circles since the mid-'80s heyday of the Smiths.

Over here, VH-1 link up with the man for a quick chat...

Calvin

VH1: How old you were when you started writing songs and what were some of your early inspirations?

Chris Carrabba: I began writing at about age 15, because that'swhen I was given a guitar, but I noodled with melody all the time.That's the one gimme I got: I had to work hard to become a good playerand singer, but hearing melody and harmony has come prettyeasily to me; it's something I'm really interested in othersongwriters, that added thing that draws me into a song, really deeply.When I start to take pieces apart, I realize that the part that grabbedme was this strange harmony.

VH1: What's a good example of that early in your life?....

Click here to finish reading the 'quick interview'.

Source www.VH1.com/news

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Using Musical Hooks in a Song

There are of course many example of songs where different types of hooks are used. Using different musical hooks can make a song irresistibly interesting.

Madonna's multi-platinum hit 'Music' (from year 2000) is of those songs that exposes nearly nothing but hooks.

The song hits an underlying musical hook (reminiscent of the organ riff in The Animals '60s hit, 'It's My Life') combined with an unstoppable groove created by Miruais Ahmadzai (who co-wrote the track with Madonna).

Of course too many musical hooks can spoil a song, but over here you have some pretty cool lyrical content (though not clever - simply 'cool') to even out the pitch.

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, tips, online, madonna, record, demo, publishing

Nirvana: Using the ABCABCABC Song Structure

When you write a song, you have one of a few ways to structure it. In a few posts ago, I mentioned a very common song format 'ABAB' which the soul singer Alicia Keys used in her songs 'Fallin'. In that case, 'A' would be the verse and 'B' would be the chorus.

In this example, Nirvana pull out all the stops and use the 'ABCABCABC' song format. This is where 'A' is the verse, 'B' is the pre-chorus (ie. the link to the chorus) and 'C' being the chorus itself.

This gets even more interesting when they add an instrumental after the second chorus.

Of course the thing that strikes me most about this song is what the song is about. To this day, I'm still trying to think of one meaning.

It's a fine example of how powerful melody can be. Check out the song....

Calvin

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, tips, online, record, demo, publishing, nirvana

Singer/Songwriter Derek Webb To Give Away Mockingbird CD!

Now this is what I call good a good business strategy. While it's certainly not a new one, it's definitely one to score with in the music industry.

Singer songwriter Derek Webb is set to GIVE AWAY his 'brilliantly reviewed and controversial' album, Mockingbird. It will be announced and launched on the website www.freederekwebb.com and anybody will be able to go online and listen & download the album.

And that's not all. We are able to SHARE the album as well. It's a very clever way of dealing out your songs, and I believe will pay off big time for future.

Check out the article here.

Calvin

"Derek has always been an innovator and forward thinker in his life, songwriting and musical endeavors, and this FREE DEREK WEBB campaign is an example of such creativity," commented INO Records' President Jeff Moseley.

"We fully support Derek and this brave idea and are looking forward to watching fans react to his efforts."Mockingbird tackles many sensitive issues including poverty, war, and the basic ethics by which we live and deal with others in a raw way that has made some people uncomfortable. But that's okay with Webb. "I'm not trying to push buttons or make people upset," he......

Click here to finish reading the article.

Soruce http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060731/clm069.html?.v=43 / Derek Webb

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Songwriter Guy Hill -- A Texas Treasure

When you throw enough mud on the wall, some is bound to stick.

The statement holds true of songwriter Guy Hill who never stopped writing since the age of 18 and never left his guitar - wherever he went.

Check out the article...

Calvin


Guy Hill has been a songwriter for 33 years. Hill's songs have had the interest of several major country recording artists. Greenville, TX (PRWEB) July 31, 2006 -- Guy Hill has been writing songs for 33 years. Hill was born in Austin Texas and now lives in Greenville, Texas, about an hour from Dallas.

Hill has caught the eye of several major country recording artists as a result of his songs being pitched to them through LucKi Entertainment, LLC. Artists such as Gretchen Wilson, John Anderson, Hank Williams, Jr., Kentucky Headhunters, George Strait, Chris LaDoux, Cimarron, Pam Tillis, George Jones, Dwight Yoakum, Steve Holy, Chris Cagle, Dolly Parton, Ricky Skaggs, George Canyon and Randy Travis, and others.

His earliest musical influence was Hank Williams. Hill used to listen to his records as a small child. Hill also listened to his AuntÂ’s 50Â’s rock and roll records. Hill began making up songs to entertain himself at a very early age.

When he was 18 he got his first guitar. Hill taught himself to play. He practiced constantly taking the guitar with him everywhere he went. The first song he learned to play was "DonÂ’t Be Angry" by Stonewall Jackson. It was then he began songwriting in earnest. By this time Hill's musical influences were Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, the Eagles, Gram Parsons, Rodney Crowell, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, George Jones, EmmyLou Harris, and others.

Click here to finish reading the article

Source http://www.prweb.com

Michael Jackson: An Overlooked classic...

Leaving aside all the hysteria that surrounds Michael Jackson, he still remains a great pop songwriter.

Here is one of his most over looked singles, 'Stranger In Moscow'.

According to Jackson, he wrote the song while on tour in Russia.

The song was a successful European hit but is all too forgotten because of the dance remixes that overplayed the original version.

Here's the video - which might I add captures the essence of isolation and loneliness, beautifully.








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