http://servethesong.net/political-songwriting-tips/ Songwriting Tips and Music Production Ideas Sat, 24 Dec 2011 15:31:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 http://servethesong.net/political-songwriting-tips/comment-page-1/#comment-4335 Talkin' 'bout a Revolution | Let's Get Lyrical 2011 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 10:48:58 +0000 http://www.servethesong.net/?p=912#comment-4335 [...] tipster Brian Casel may be of some help for budding political songwriters:: “The best place to start is the lyrics. This is what defines your song as taking a political [...] [...] tipster Brian Casel may be of some help for budding political songwriters:: “The best place to start is the lyrics. This is what defines your song as taking a political [...]

]]> http://servethesong.net/political-songwriting-tips/comment-page-1/#comment-209 Susan Wenger Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:52:14 +0000 http://www.servethesong.net/?p=912#comment-209 Coming late to this, but I agree with both commenters. Nothing turns me off faster in a political song than lyrics that spell out every detail of the cause. F'rinstance, I think we need to improve health care in this country, but if a song has the term "health care" in it, there's about a 98% chance I'll hate that song. Coming late to this, but I agree with both commenters. Nothing turns me off faster in a political song than lyrics that spell out every detail of the cause. F’rinstance, I think we need to improve health care in this country, but if a song has the term “health care” in it, there’s about a 98% chance I’ll hate that song.

]]> http://servethesong.net/political-songwriting-tips/comment-page-1/#comment-208 Whatnot Fri, 15 May 2009 20:33:46 +0000 http://www.servethesong.net/?p=912#comment-208 This is a tough one... I agree with Dhruv, political songs that leave something to the imagination are more appealing than ones that say something bland or inarguable like "War is bad." The best practitioners IMO are Warren Zevon and Randy Newman. Both use satire and first-person POV of unsavory types to get a point across. It's worth noting that some writers who are celebrated for their daring political/social commentary are/were basically apolitical in life (John Lennon, Joe Strummer). I also think it's a good idea to know your subject from different angles. Test political material by running it by a neutral party (a freshman poly-sci major, for example). If you can't defend your POV in conversation, your song will likely be pedantic and easily dismissed by all but the choir. This is a tough one… I agree with Dhruv, political songs that leave something to the imagination are more appealing than ones that say something bland or inarguable like “War is bad.” The best practitioners IMO are Warren Zevon and Randy Newman. Both use satire and first-person POV of unsavory types to get a point across. It’s worth noting that some writers who are celebrated for their daring political/social commentary are/were basically apolitical in life (John Lennon, Joe Strummer). I also think it’s a good idea to know your subject from different angles. Test political material by running it by a neutral party (a freshman poly-sci major, for example). If you can’t defend your POV in conversation, your song will likely be pedantic and easily dismissed by all but the choir.

]]> http://servethesong.net/political-songwriting-tips/comment-page-1/#comment-207 Dhruv Govil Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:47:39 +0000 http://www.servethesong.net/?p=912#comment-207 Good article for the most part, but I would like to add to the whole 'making the message clear' bit. Some of the best political based songs are those that are obscure enough, causing people to actually go an look it up and understand. The biggest example would be tool in my opinion. Maynards lyrics are almost cryptic leading fans to research in the hope of understanding him. The Pot is a great example of this. Good article for the most part, but I would like to add to the whole ‘making the message clear’ bit. Some of the best political based songs are those that are obscure enough, causing people to actually go an look it up and understand.
The biggest example would be tool in my opinion. Maynards lyrics are almost cryptic leading fans to research in the hope of understanding him. The Pot is a great example of this.

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