Songwriters at all levels of financial success and skill should understand that even the most talented songwriter may not be able to create a song that sells. It may help to see this as a game of percentages. Of 100 good songs written by various songwriters, a small percentage will actually become hits or have significant impact in the world of music. 

 

Of course there are incredible talents such as Lennon/McCartney, Van Morrison and others in pop/rock. There are great popular-music writers such as Burt Bachrach and Steven Sondheim. Some talented musicians who are commercially successful may not be the best songwriters or may not feel comfortable with writing songs. In fact, famous singer/pianist Elton John seldom contributed songwriting in his amazing career.

 

So, what are the necessary steps for creating a song that will be memorable as well as commercially successful? First of all, don’t compromise on any part of the song at first. Write with passion and make sure the lyrics will send a clear message to the listener. If you can maintain what you believe is the strength of the song and get a good “hook” into it comfortably that will be a plus. 

 

Don’t force the hook into the song. Rather, it’s best to let it develop as part of the overall process. But most commercially successful music has an easily remembered chorus or a line that sticks with the listener. The hook may be in the instrumentation rather than in the words. Some songs have survived in fans’ memories because of a string of guitar notes or a certain drum beat. (Consider the old rock song “Wipeout” or “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple.)

 

A great writer named Mark Twain (not a musician!) said the difference between a word and the “right” word is the difference between lightening and the lightening bug. Don’t just say it’s nice or that it felt good. Show the listener with the words. Warren Zevon’s classic “Werewolves of London doesn’t say the guy at Trader Vic’s had nice hair. The lyrics tell us “His hair was perfect!” 

 

In more general terms, a song must be understandable and also must touch the emotions of the listener. Songs that do well in money terms will touch the listener so that the song becomes part of their life. It should be part of how they look at the world. A songwriter can tell a story that is too narrow and personal, so that it will not reach a large group of listeners. 

 

Last, but certainly not least, try to make things rhyme. Don’t force the words that rhyme into the lyrics, but let the story dictate which words will be used. Songs that sell have patterns and rhymes because people buy on emotion. Keep that in mind as you write songs with the intention of making money.

 

Jim Hale, 

Contributing Author,

http://www.YouMusic.com

 

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