Gents and Ladies:

This is obviously a hot topic for good reason. Mike Dunbar is pointing out something very important - we should be aware of our own attitudes as songwriters, take stock of our body of work.

Songs are emotional, so all human emotions are fair game for songwriters, from the rush of a new crush to crushing heartache. What we feel strongest about makes the strongest material for songs.

I think most of us tend to dwell in the negative because we think it's the hipper place to be. A bitter, jaded attitude seems cooler than a bubbly, optimistic one. Also, we tend to write more slower songs because when you're sitting in a room with an acoustic guitar or a keyboard, it's difficult to keep up the energy level for the hours it takes to wrestle an idea to the ground.

Slower songs tend to be sadder or more somber, more thoughtful, etc. But, ultimately it's about passion. Generally, successful songs have a strong point of view and emotional core - that's what the public relates to first. It's usually not the nuance of the lyric, but more the emotional landscape, the mode, the mood, the vitality. Then the lyric seeps in a phrase at a time.

How else could "Satisfaction" and "Start Me Up" get the same response from Stones fans? One is quite negative, the other positive - but both delivered with the same fervent commitment.

Ultimately, it's a matter of pragmatics. Although all emotions are fair game, during challenging economic times, uplifting, positive music is what always thrives. We can sing about our disappointments and challenges - but, if we don't show a way to overcome those heartbreaks in our song stories, our songs are unlikely to succeed in the present commercial environment.

Plus, I think we have an obligation to shed some light, spread some hope to a challenged world. What d'ya say?

Rand Bishop
songwriter/producer/author Makin' Stuff Up - secrets of song-craft and survival in the music-biz
www.makinstuffup.net

Rand Bishop
Songwriter/producer/author