Songwriting Workshop

[Uh_Me]

I consider myself a songwriter of slightly above average quality.... as long as I do "my thing". I can't seem to write a song worth anything that has any real energy to it. I can write intense songs (think Seven Nation Army). But if I try to do something with a bit of umph to it (think Communications Breakdown), it sounds like garbage both lyrically and musically. How do I break out of this... thing?

[Matximus]

This is a very common problem with a sorta simple solution: You need to either embrace or accept the fact that you suck... and then you stop giving a shit about it.

And anyway, none of that stuff really matters. When you are performing original material in front of people - they don't give a shit about the material itself. They respond to you and how comfortable you are in your own skin. The music matters - but what matters more is how you sell it. And if you don't believe in what you are selling, then that's all that resonates with people.

So you have a better shot as an act winning over an audience having a ball playing a shitty song and not giving a damn about much else than you do than you do being all uptight about not conveying your accurate vision or whatever.

Basically: It's all about confidence. It really is. So get over yourself and just have a good time. That's why you're doing this in the first place.

[Mahuska]

This is a very common problem with a sorta simple solution: You need to either embrace or accept the fact that you suck... and then you stop giving a shit about it. And anyway, none of that stuff really matters. When you are performing original material in front of people - they don't give a shit about the material itself. They respond to you and how comfortable you are in your own skin. The music matters - but what matters more is how you sell it. And if you don't believe in what you are selling, then that's all that resonates with people. So you have a better shot as an act winning over an audience having a ball playing a shitty song and not giving a damn about much else than you do than you do being all uptight about not conveying your accurate vision or whatever. Basically: It's all about confidence. It really is. So get over yourself and just have a good time. That's why you're doing this in the first place.

Such sage advise/input

[Chicken Monkey]

An additional advantage to accepting that you're not doing something well is that it frees you to practice the craft without high expectations. Knowing that the next 40 songs that you write in that style are not going to be very good makes it easier to plow through the learning part and get better before you get discouraged.

[RickDieffenbach]

Uh_Me, My best advice is: Write songs and more songs. Listen to a broad spectrum of music. Get feedback on your songs from others (this board). Give feedback on other's songs (this board). Enter a ranked competition like the ones they do on the MUSE board monthly. There are usually 10-20 submissions, and songs are ranked by votes. This gives you some valuable feedback.*** Hope this helps. Rick

[Canvas]

OP, I don't understand what your problem is. What's the difference between "umph" and intensity to you?

[blue2blue]

I don't have anything to add to the soldierly advice above: just keep writing, you'll get better -- and you'll get better at writing the kind of songs you like. What I'm actually posting about is this phrase, "Seven Nation Army." I searched on it in MOG and found 8 (eight) albums called that, one of which was from a band called that and the rest were album titles from a variety of outfits (and seemingly a bewildering array of styles). I understand from Wikipedia that the phrase comes from a White Stripes song and that Stripes mainman Jack White says derived from his mis-hearing of Salvation Army when he was a child... but what's up with all these album titles? Albums of that name by Oak Ridge Boys, Jimi Fitz, Sampler & Kohari, The Dynamics, Nostalgia 77 and, of course, one by Seven Nation Army, the band. WTH? Is this some kind of meme or something? Surely all these folks aren't covering the WS song and titling their albums that? Or maybe they are. Pop music just gets more out of ideas every day...

[peanutroad]

What I'm actually posting about is this phrase, "Seven Nation Army." I searched on it in MOG and found 8 (eight) albums called that, one of which was from a band called that and the rest were album titles from a variety of outfits (and seemingly a bewildering array of styles). I understand from Wikipedia that the phrase comes from a White Stripes song and that Stripes mainman Jack White says derived from his mis-hearing of Salvation Army when he was a child... but what's up with all these album titles? Albums of that name by Oak Ridge Boys, Jimi Fitz, Sampler & Kohari, The Dynamics, Nostalgia 77 and, of course, one by Seven Nation Army, the band. WTH? Is this some kind of meme or something? Surely all these folks aren't covering the WS song and titling their albums that? Or maybe they are. Pop music just gets more out of ideas every day...

There was already a band named Seven Nations that's been playing about twenty years now. Celto-punk sort of stuff; one of my former GFs was a big fan.

[Mahuska]

over and over again, you steal.THEN find your own vibe

[blue2blue]

There was already a band named Seven Nations that's been playing about twenty years now. Celto-punk sort of stuff; one of my former GFs was a big fan.

I'll have to check them out. I don't know what I was ranting about, exactly. I guess it's a much covered song? I listened to a reggae version by the Dynamics. It was, you know, a reggae version of that White Stripes song. I do have to say that I really like the back story on the title. White can be an amusing guy, though I'm not much of a fan of his music.