From Lyrics to Music: Quiztime
Try describing a song literally, within a sentence or two. This creates a point of reference which either establishes a basic perspective of the song, or grounds a more adventurous sort of analysis of it.
It's also good fun.
Here are some (edited) examples which I have found on a thread on Reddit titled: "What's your favorite song? Don't tell us the name, TL;DR what its about. Let's see if we can figure them out."
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1) Having trouble dealing with reality, a young boy is forced to confront the fact that he's a murderer. As he's tormented by his demons, he tells his mother not to forget him.
2) A joker and a thief discuss the meaning of life.
3) A misinterpretation of a Lewis Carroll poem, chosen for its psychedelic imagery.
4) I'm writing this song to steal my best friend's wife from him. He also happens to be a Beatle.
5) She's hot, but I didn't knock her up.
6) I'm fucked up, but the show must go on. A little pinprick will do the trick.
7) Girl caught in an abusive relationship asks to be beaten repeatedly.
8) I read the news this morning and started daydreaming at work.
9) A young man is hopelessly in love with a young woman, and wishes they were older so they could have a more serious relationship with each another.
10) Welcome. This place is wild. You won't survive it.
11) You can change things. Take a chance at love. If the sorrowful songs you listen to can be made better, you'll feel likewise.
12) There's a dark underbelly of the American Dream where excess is rife. Having disguised itself well, it entraps a weary traveller.
13) A girl and I were drinking at her place. She didn't sleep with me. When she was gone, I burned her house down.
14) Music might never be the same again after 1959; society has changed radically. God knows that the three men I admired most are singing drunkenly somewhere about mortality.
15) My key won't unlock the door of your house anymore. Fuck that, I'll do your sister.
16) I'm living someplace out of this world and I want to see my spouse terribly. I'm not who people think I am.
17) A young, uneducated hillbilly turns out to be a musical prodigy.
18) I, being familiar with romance and knowing the guidelines thereof, explain my anticipation and plans to you about staying with you forever.
----
Any guesses?
Have fun.
[fin]
----
"From Lyrics to Music" is a series on good songwriting.
It's also good fun.
Here are some (edited) examples which I have found on a thread on Reddit titled: "What's your favorite song? Don't tell us the name, TL;DR what its about. Let's see if we can figure them out."
----
1) Having trouble dealing with reality, a young boy is forced to confront the fact that he's a murderer. As he's tormented by his demons, he tells his mother not to forget him.
2) A joker and a thief discuss the meaning of life.
3) A misinterpretation of a Lewis Carroll poem, chosen for its psychedelic imagery.
4) I'm writing this song to steal my best friend's wife from him. He also happens to be a Beatle.
5) She's hot, but I didn't knock her up.
6) I'm fucked up, but the show must go on. A little pinprick will do the trick.
7) Girl caught in an abusive relationship asks to be beaten repeatedly.
8) I read the news this morning and started daydreaming at work.
9) A young man is hopelessly in love with a young woman, and wishes they were older so they could have a more serious relationship with each another.
10) Welcome. This place is wild. You won't survive it.
11) You can change things. Take a chance at love. If the sorrowful songs you listen to can be made better, you'll feel likewise.
12) There's a dark underbelly of the American Dream where excess is rife. Having disguised itself well, it entraps a weary traveller.
13) A girl and I were drinking at her place. She didn't sleep with me. When she was gone, I burned her house down.
14) Music might never be the same again after 1959; society has changed radically. God knows that the three men I admired most are singing drunkenly somewhere about mortality.
15) My key won't unlock the door of your house anymore. Fuck that, I'll do your sister.
16) I'm living someplace out of this world and I want to see my spouse terribly. I'm not who people think I am.
17) A young, uneducated hillbilly turns out to be a musical prodigy.
18) I, being familiar with romance and knowing the guidelines thereof, explain my anticipation and plans to you about staying with you forever.
----
Any guesses?
Have fun.
[fin]
----
"From Lyrics to Music" is a series on good songwriting.
Labels: music, songwriting
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