JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Why don't Lyricists learn an Instrument?

Donna

It seems to me from your comments that you exhibit the view that, notwithstanding the fact that musicians have gone to the trouble and time to learn to read, write and play music, that while they might be able to write words they are of course no match for 'professional lyricists?

Us musicians mostly know how to scribble! Some of us are actually literate, believe it or not! Obviously just because 'musicians who write lyrics' have achieved all they have, that doesn't make they 'any good?' when compared to those specialize whether or not they have ever taken the trouble and time the other elements of their trade!

Yeah Donna! Run that one by Bruce Springstein or Randy Newman and see how you get on!

Much more importantly Donna I believe you are blinkering yourself to the simple point I was trying to make. I'll say it again!

Lyrics posted on the Lyrics Forums - without an associated MP3 or some indication of the actual musical beat or rhythm of the intended melody are simply inaccessible to criticism regarding meter! Period!

Most (Not All) of the posters on this thread seem to think (for whatever reason) that I am talking about or in some way demeaning their ability (good or otherwise) to write lyrics. I AM NOT. I never did! I never said that!

In my view Brian should address your comments regarding your belief regarding the questionable ability of skilled and trained musicians to write lyrics with equal detain as he appears to have addressed my innocent suggestion, aimed at including the quality and experience of collaborations between people who like to write words and people that like to write music!

On the Lyric Forums - posters will often suggest 'dramatic improvements to lyrics' without even asking whether the song/melody is played in 4/4, 6/8 or 3/4 time or whatever! But then why should they? What do musicians know, other than the technical fact that you can't sing Chuck Berry's 'Johnny B. Goode' to the Strauss Brothers 'Blue Danube Waltz'. without either changing the melody or changing the meter of the lyrics!

Now maybe Donna that's because (as you believe) the question is irrelevant - the lyrics should stand up on their own! Or maybe it's because they don't understand the relevance of the question?

Again Donna, my suggestion has no bearing on the way 'pure lyricists' produce their work. My issue remains the way pure lyricists comment on and suggest corrections to the 'words of songs already written! That is my ONLY point of contention! My ONLY one!

Here's another way, the third version of the question which concerns this thread!

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LYRICS WRITTEN TO BE PUT TO MUSIC AND LYRICS ALREADY PUT TO MUSIC?

An answer to my earlier response is this:

'I know your name'

and

'I [stroke] - [stroke] - know!'

where the '[stroke]' marks the 2nd and 3rd beat of a (4/4 time) bar have the same beat!

While

'I know your name!' and 'I know!' as 'pure lyrics' have a different meter. 1 -2 -3 -4 as opposed to 1 -2 (1 -2)

My suggested solution to the conclusions of this thread is as follows:

1. MP3 Forum

2. Songs Forum (no MP3's)

- - Specifically for lyrics of whole songs already written - -

3. Lyrics Forums

Thanks to Brian, Donna, Dottie, Roy, Big Jim , Dave , John, Polly, Tom, Stan and everyone who has taken the time to contribute here. It's a critical issue for JPK's and therefore argued about here in the hope of reaching a genuine consensus which suits all members.

Sorry if my words have offended any of you and remember all this is my own perhaps badly informed personal perspective.

Many thanks to you all

Regards from Ireland

ColmT


P.S. Special thanks to Donna for sticking to her guns!