JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum Your positive and negative songs.

Ray,

There are plenty of songs that were written before I or you were born. I love many of them. But that doesn't mean the song buying public, most of whom do not care as much about music as a musician or songwriter does, will like those songs. They are looking for songs that are "in style." Now, you may not care for songs that are in style. Then you need to find the market for your songs. Do a search for old country, for neo-traditional country. See what today's artists who sing such songs are cutting. You might find a market for your songs. You might find that Austin, rather than Nashville, is the best city to place your music. You might get a good cut on the Songwriter's Lament.

Everett, Where did you get the idea that songs were supposed to reflect life around us? For one thing, most life is mundane and boring. If you take a camera and follow a songwriter around, like one of those reality shows, you'll still find at least 60% of the time it would be boring. So should we write boring songs? No, songs aren't supposed to reflect life. They are supposed to distill life in a beautiful way. Even happy songs, if they are not beautiful, can be boring. "I love every body, Oh yes, I love every body, happy happy happy, that's my name, la la la" Songs are supposed to make the drive to work better. They are supposed to make people want to dance. No, songs aren't supposed to reflect life, they are supposed to show life in a beautiful way. Even sad songs. Yes there are more sorrows than joys. That's why it's easy to write sad songs and hard to write joyful songs. That's why sad songs are a dime a dozen and joyful songs are gold. And, don't forget: make a joyful noise.