JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum Gaining Traction (a game plan)

I cannot believe that someone printed such BULL.
And even worse that people fall for it.

First off songwriting is not about painting by numbers....
I have not heard anything NEW or INNOVATIVE in the charts for many years. Just the same old rehashed cliche driven drivel. I think the reasons why are obvious...people are following the BULL formula that was just printed. So why, apart from chasing a dollar sign, would any musician want to write to such a formula?

Who says that collabs are the way forward? and who says that we should all write for other artists to perform?......many people write for themselves to perform or are capable of writing a whole song all by themselves.....OK there is a place for writing for others and collabs and some partnerships produce great songs but it is not the be all.

Next.... most people should write from inspiration not to a formula...whilst some can sit down and allocate time to writing songs...some prefer not to write to a timetable but when the mood and inspiration takes them....that IMO is when the best songs occur....everyone is different, so any such rules about when and how or who we write with can actually restrict or limit rather than encourage or hone the craft.

Music is an art form and should be treated as art with each person writing NEW songs from the heart in styles they want to write in about subjects they want to write about...the minute business rears its ugly head or we write to a formula...the art disappears. musicians are restricted by such rules and we then have to suffer the bull and mediocrity that I mentioned in my first point.

My last point is that there are plenty of yes men who are willing to join a staff team or collab with them...sadly the people who would bring something new to the table....would not be given the chance for various reasons. Few of these people who hire and fire give originality any chance is probably the main reason.

I also would urge people to write as often as they can...to venture outside their comfort zone.....BUT for heavens sake write original stuff and stop thinking that these music sages actually know what they are talking about.

If you think you write great songs..... then produce them yourselves.....get a decent performer to perform it if you cannot yoyrself and market it yourself....not only do you stand a better chance of making any money but also you will help in breaking down the inpenetrable wall of mediocrity that surrounds us all.