Mahindra current affairs magazine
Mahindra current affairs magazine
published this article page no 6 Alex Forbes The main ingredient that
distinguishes a perfectly respectable "album cut" from a hit song is the
presence of a killer hook. But if hooks like that were so easy to
create, wed all be millionaires! How can you enhance the impact of your
songs hooks to appeal to both audiences and the People Behind Desks?
Read on! To make this article more useful, gather up your 3 strongest or
most recent titles, hooks or choruses, so that you can apply what were
discussing to the "real world" of your material. Tap Into Your Personal
Experiences For "Nuggets of Truth" Its my firm belief that the old
adage, "write what you know" is applicable to songwriting as well as
prose. Although some of us prefer to believe we can write about anyone
and anything, our most meaningful and successful songs usually spring
from "real life" experiences, and our responses to, and interpretations
of, those experiences. Each day we spend on the planet, observed through
the prism of songwriting, offers innumerable creative possibilities.
The seeds of brilliant songs often lie just beneath the surface, but the
writer must be willing to nurture their growth. Lets say youre starting
with a blank slate: germ of an idea brewing, recording device turned
on, and instrument, voice or blank page ready and waiting. How do you go
about extracting the proverbial Killer Hook from your precious "nuggets
of truth": First, ask: what is true, real, intensely felt RIGHT NOW
in your life? Be attentive to those flickers of realization, your "aha!
moments." What experiences do you have a burning yearning to share?
What contribution do you want to make to the world? What makes your
angle on life unique, compelling, interesting? In the movie "Walk The
Line," Sam Phillips asks Johnny Cash what song hed sing if he was dying
in a ditch on the side of the road and only had 3 minutes left. What
hook would you sing in that situation? How can you arrange words
and/or musical notes to get your "soul" down in song? Get crazy, be
bold, bare your deepest truth or your silliest notion. Your job as a
songwriter is to express what others cant express. Go overboard! Now
take a few minutes and blurt out what comes up for you. Really dig in
there and fearlessly sing, write or play something, anything, as long as
it rings true. This is a great exercise to try any time you have 10
minutes to spare. Next, start to put that spark of inspiration into song
form. Stay connected with the essence of your personal experience as
you begin to experiment with lyrics and music. Ways to Enhance the
Impact of Your Songs Hook(s) In the Verse/Chorus song form — the most
common form these days — the chorus, and especially the hook, is where
you "deliver the goods." Its the equivalent to the summation to the
jury, the punch line of the joke, the revelation on the mountaintop.
Every verse, every pre-chorus, every bridge, every line and every note
leads up to this ultimate payoff. A great hook (and chorus) is packed
full of meaning, fun, passionate intensity... or all three! It cant be
overemphasized that your hook has to really Rock Their World. But first,
it has to rock YOURS. It has to ring true to you. Boil your Big Idea
down into the smallest possible expression of its essence: your hook.
Stay simple-yet-elegant. Less is usually more. Dont pussyfoot around.
Be bold and risky. Always take a strong point of view! A great line
bears repetition. If its worth saying, its usually worth saying again.
Make your song move rhythmically. People want to be SWAYED in more than
one way by your song. Think of it this way: your hook is the hub of
the wheel, and the other song elements are the spokes. Marry your
melody to your lyric so that each intensifies and deepens the other.
If you are thrilled by your hook, "they" probably will be too. And if
youre holding back, they probably will too! Show off your "money"
note, your slammin-est groove, your cleverest line, your most unusual
concept in your hook. Aim for the bleachers, emotionally and creatively.
Give Your Hooks Mass Appeal Singles are distinguished from album cuts
by their catchiness, accessibility and freshness. And the hook is the
key to that mass appeal. Most listeners and People Behind Desks couldnt
sing all of a songs verses back to you if they tried. But most CAN
remember a killer hook or chorus. For those of you who are driven by
thoughts of financial gain, singles are also where the money is. (But
remember: selling doesnt mean selling out!) When you get to your main
hook, hit us with fresh language, chords and melodic movement to wake us
up physically, emotionally and spiritually. The might mean: An
impassioned title or lyrical line: a twist of phrase, an unforgettable
image, or an emotional outpouring that rings true A peak moment for
the vocalist. This could be a high note, a long note, a rhythmically
cool pulse or movement, a fresh interval, a repeated pattern or melodic
sequence, etc. A catchy-as-hell instrumental riff or chordal pattern
An underlying rhythm or groove that sweeps up all in its path Enough
repetition to be catchy without becoming boring A striking contrast to
whatever comes before and after (verses, pre-choruses, bridge), so that
your hook stands out in an obvious way Remember, more
Hooks-Per-Square-Inch is better! In this day and age of sensory
overload, listeners thrive on intense songs that cut through the
clutter. We WANT to be moved on all levels. Were hungry for depth, for
truth, for emotion, for humor. Strive to discover the universal within
the personal, the specifics of real life. Make your song paint a picture
or create an environment people can live in. By following these
guidelines, and learning from songs that are hits in your chosen genres,
you can make your songs more accessible, satisfying and commercially
viable. Happy songwriting download mahendra current affairs magazine buy!
Mahindra current affairs magazine