12 Successful Lyrics - Get inspired as a Songwriter (Part I)
Photo: www.adele.com
– by Paula Musique –
In the last post I wrote about the difference between lyricist and composer. We saw that “there are songs with inspirational lyrics that make us want to click on the ‘repeat’ button over and over again.” This fact shows that the lyrics are one of the elements of music that plays an important part in the process of musical creation, and can, definitely, help to define whether a song will rock, or not.
SONGWRITING & OTHER LANGUAGES
Songwriting is one of my favorite areas of study in Music, and there are several ways we can develop ourselves in this area of knowledge. One of them is by analysing the construction of the verses of songs in OTHER LANGUAGES. Just as in the business world it is imperative that the entrepreneur analyze the competition and try to understand why a certain company is successful or not, so it is in the music industry.
THE SONG GRABBER
The songwriter can grow a lot by observing why the public never get bored of singing or listening to a certain song (be it in English or in a different language). Not always the lyrics is the decoy; it can be the melody, the beat, or the choreography, for instance. But if you are a serious lyricist and / or songwriter, you should pay close attention to the chosen words.
If you speak a second language fluently, I suggest that you study rhyming techniques in that language and analyze the most successful lyrics, trying to understand what makes those lyrics striking, as this gives you a new perspective on language use, and even when there are differences in grammatical rules regarding the construction of sentences, for example, even so, I guarantee that you will notice nuances that can inspire you in your writing in English language, making adaptations when necessary.
[I want to share with you, in a specific post about lyrics analysis, innumerable tips on how to “read beyond” and ways for you to develop differentiated lyrics. Coming soon!]
To read about the best songs of 2018, click here.
If you like quizzes, here you find one about Italian word in music.
I made a list of verses and stanzas here that I really like. Some have a more poetic appeal; others go straight to the point. This is the Part II, to read Part I, click here.
“There are songs with inspirational lyrics that make us want to click the `repeat´ button over and over again” – Paula Musique
Thumbs up if you like it. Follow us on our social media.
THE SONGWRITING PROCESS
Sometimes, the singer is only the performer, without having been involved in the songwriting process; but there are artists who are involved in the process, writing together with other professionals (the so-called collaborative songwriting, exemplified in the list by Christina Perri) and there are those who sing, write their own lyrics and music as well – as you will see below with Norah Jones.
Check out my list below and share with us which verses you enjoy. The list is numbered with the name of the artist who interprets the song. If there is nothing in parentheses, it means the artist also wrote the song. In parentheses you will find the lyricists names. I am not sure if these lyricists wrote the music as well.
Note: I did not write the name of the songs, because I want you to guess it ;)
If you write your own songs, take inspiration from these beautiful and creative verses:
Share in the comments your favorite songs snippets.
To take a quiz on musical instruments, click here.
To read about artistic sheet music, click here.
If you are a teacher, then read about teaching-learning activities here.
1. Whitney Houston (Jerry Duplessis / Wyclef Jean)
If tomorrow is judgment day
And I’m standing on the front line
And the Lord asks me what I did with my life
I will say I spent it with you
Photo: www.whitneyhouston.com
2. The Temptations (William Smokey Robinson / Ronald White)
I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day
When it’s cold outside, I’ve got the month of May
I guess you’d say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl, my girl, my girl
Talkin’ ’bout my girl
My girl
Photo: www.thetemptations.com
3. Leona Lewis (Ryan Tedder / Jesse McCartney)
But nothing’s greater than the rush that comes with your embrace
And in this world of loneliness
I see your face
Yet everyone around me
Thinks that I’m going crazy, maybe, maybe
4. U2 (Adam Clayton / Dave Evans / Larry Mullen / Paul Hewson)
With or without you
I can’t live
With or without you
Photo: www.u2.com
5. Oasis (Noel Gallagher)
Maybe you’re gonna be the one that saves me
And after all
You’re my wonderwall
Photo: www.oasisinet.com
6. Aretha Franklin (Carole King / Gerry Goffin / Jerry Wexler)
Before the day I met you, life was so unkind
But you’re the key to my peace of mind
‘Cause you make me feel
You make me feel
You make me feel like a natural woman
Photo: www.arethafranklin.net
(It continues on the next page)
7. Frank Sinatra (Paul Anka)
Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way
Photo: Ted Allan / Capitol Archives
8. Christina Perri (David Hodges / Christina Perri) – exemplo de collaborative songwriting
Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I’m afraid to fall?
But watching you stand alone,
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don’t be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I’ll love you for a thousand more
Photo: www.christinaperri.com
To take a quiz on musical instruments, click here.
To read about artistic sheet music, click here.
If you are a teacher, then read about teaching-learning activities here.
9. Adele (Adele Adkins / Gregory Kurstin)
Hello from the outside
At least I can say that I’ve tried
To tell you I’m sorry for breaking your heart
But it don’t matter it clearly doesn’t tear you apart anymore
Photo: www.adele.com
10. Norah Jones
Come away with me in the night
Come away with me
And I will write you a song
Come away with me on a bus
Come away where they can’t tempt us, with their lies
I want to walk with you
On a cloudy day
In fields where the yellow grass grows knee-high
So won’t you try to come?
Photo: Larry Philpot
11. Lauren Daigle (Paul Mabury / Lauren Daigle / Jason Ingram)
I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough
Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up
Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low?
Remind me once again just who I am, because I need to know (ooh oh)
You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
You say I am held when I am falling short
When I don’t belong, oh You say that I am Yours
And I believe , oh I believe
What You say of me
I believe
Photo: www.laurendaigle.com
12. Frank Sinatra (Bart Howard)
Fly me to the moon and
Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like
On Jupiter and Mars
In other words, hold my hand
In other words, baby, kiss me
Photo: www.franksinatra.com
Which os these song you like the most? What is your favorite song snippet ever?
Follow us on social media and share our content with your friends.
Come back here to visit us soon.
Carregando ...
