June 2021
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 26, No. 06
Live meetings are Cancelled due to CoronaVirus.
However, we will be having on-line Zoom meetings.
We will send details under a separate e-mail,
and an announcement on the Facebook group page.
We expect it to be scheduled for Sunday June 6th at 5pm.
If you want the zoom meeting details, please e-mail us
at isgorlando@gmail.com
Any Details not in this newsletter are at:
If you wish to join our Facebook group, please check us out at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/831814850193553/
WebChatter
by CyberToad
We have been forgetting to ask members to renew their dues. It costs only $5 per year, and it helps us to defray costs for the zoom meetings.
We have 2 methods of payment. Either paypal to our treasurer Asli Goncer's paypal account. The paypal access is at aslivision@gmail.com
or you can mail a $5 check to
Asli Goncer
2849 Babylon Court
Oviedo, FL 32765
Either way, we appreciate your continued support.
Here's a video about mapping out your song so there's no confusion.
Still Restless
By Jackie Mason
Last month I began to analyze a Taxi TV interview between TAXI president Michael Laskow and the very popular songwriting
coach Jason Blume. It was published on May 15th 2020. It was titled “Write A Hit Melody.” I’m going to continue analyzing this interview.
I encourage you to click the YouTube link to better understand this article. My articles, in this form, are more like treasure quests.
There are a lot of places along this quest where you may stop and contemplate the material. Do listen to the songs in conjunction with the main video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEbV9Y2HgRI&t=1854s
I am going to repeat a quote from my last article, “Jason believes 1000% that melody is more important than lyrics.” I know some people
will struggle to accept this assertion.
In this interview, Jason talks about Ryan Tedder producing Australian singer/songwriter Sia. Ryan says that in one 45 minute session
she recorded 45 approaches to a backing track. Ryan said “this is modern songwriting.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-26848897
“Ryan Tedder: Songwriter Shares His Rules Of Pop” The standard way of writing songs is to write to a backing track and very often there
are multiple writers. Jason says there are “plenty of hit songs with mediocre lyrics.” Here is my favorite quote, so far, from Jason,
“No one bought an Abba song for the words.” Although I interject to say that I liked the words to “Fernando!” I do, however, get his point!
Jason maintains that most listeners could not tell you the words to the second verse of a song. He cites the second verse from
“Old Town Road” by Little Nas X and Billie Ray Cyrus, as an example. “Ridin on a tractor, Lean all in my bladder.” Jason wants to know
what that even means! I have a good idea but I refuse to address it in this forum! I am not even from the countryside. I am a city person.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ae5Ap77b7k Little Nas X and Billie Ray Cyrus
Jason asserts there are no rules in songwriting. The only rule is Repetition, Repetition, Repetition and the Number One Tool is
“incorporating repetition into the vocal melody.” I have heard similar advice from songwriting coach Robin Frederick.
https://robinfrederick.com/learn-how-to-write-a-song/
Jason says to speak the rhythm and repeat the rhythm in every song line. You must have the exact same syllables. His next song
example is “God Whispered Your Name” by Keith Urban.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXN-Kq-Y60o
You can hear the repetition in the chorus lines. There’s a little variation on the last line of the chorus. There are four writers on this song.
Maybe one is writing the verse, another the chorus or someone else is working on a bridge. However you want to divide the work up.
Jason stresses “you need something to repeat,” something “to stick in your brain.” He next talks about the Pop/Country crossover song
“Meant To Be.” This song features Florida Georgia Line and Bebe Rexha. Once again the chorus repetition is particularly strong. It’s the title
line “meant to be” that really gets the treatment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOP5HrIkTrA Florida Georgia Line and Bebe Rexha. He then talks about a Sam Hunt song, “Body Like A Back Road.”
The title track is repeated six times.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQD6ic15zT4 Sam Hunt.
I could call this article “How To Create An Ear Worm” although I’m still restless. Country isn’t really my wheelhouse. How did it come to this?
Kid’s songs can be my bag. Think nursery rhymes and you’ll be on the right track! What about “Baby Shark?” I’ll be honest, I’d never heard of it
until last month! I know why it works! I think I have been living on the moon! No, it’s just Covid. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOznx1KLN7U “Baby Shark.” Here’s a quote from Taxi member Lisa Dunn in the chat room that day.
“Noooo Baby Shark is a serious ear worm!!! I teach kids and have heard that song too many times. The staff even dressed up as sharks for
Halloween and danced to that song!”
This idea works in other languages too. I’ve seen crowds go crazy for this next song. ”Despacito” by Justin Bieber, Luis Fonsi and
Daddy Yankee. It’s very popular in Orlando.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whwe0KD_rGw
Now we get to our current repetition champions! In the song “Uptown Funk” the line “Don’t believe me just watch” is repeated 18 times!
The line “Uptown Funk gonna give it to you” is repeated 26 times! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeYuFSBkkVw Our last song is the
current champion. “Havana” sung by Camila Cabello and Young Thug. The scat line “ooh-na-na-na” is repeated 75 times!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsSK1DccV_Y It’s a very pretty song.
I will leave you with this quote. “Simplicity can be your friend. I’m not trying to be Tchaikovsky, I want to write melodies that children,
listeners of any age, and non-singers can sing along with—melodies that insinuate themselves into listeners’ brains and stay there.”
Jason Blume from this article for BMI.
https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/are-your-songs-too-repetitious-or-not-repetitious-enough
Stay safe everyone.
ISG Bulletin Board
Meeting space graciously provided by Central Florida Musicians Association,
Local 389. You are invited to join the largest union in the world, representing the
interests of the professional musician. Visit their website at afm389.org for more
information. You may reach them by phone at: 407-894-8666.
Why isn't your gig or live stream announced here? Members in good standing call SusieCool
with your appearance schedule! 407-760-2153 or e-mail her the details at isgorlando@gmail.com
If you are interested in open mics in the Central Florida area, SusieCool has compiled a list.
Steve Hodak hosts several newly listed open mics on the East coast.
https://sites.google.com/site/susiecoolsongs/Home/open-mic-directory-central-florida
SusieCool is the admin for a Facebook group called "Orlando Creative Music Network"
where we give out info on songwriter meetings, playing circles, open mics, workshops and concerts.
We have a Facebook page for this group if you want to join.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/274152179716552/
No Critique scores for May, since no live meeting.
New members and guests are always welcome!
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