Random Musings

Haven’t blabbered on songwriting for awhile, so here goes.

Pardon me for the stream-of-consciousness writing.

As you know, songwriting is one of my favourite topics, so I always have lots of thoughts on the subject.

Some may seem weird, and some may seem strange.

But these are just my own thoughts and philosophies.

To each their own.

…

Chord Progressions

Recently I realised that I have been writing mainly in the descending bass pattern (e.g. C-G/B-Am-G-F…) that is so prevalent in Chinese pop.

I don’t know why also.

It’s just a subconscious thing whenever I place my hands over the keys.

There is a huge tendency to want to go one step down to the VII bass after starting in the I chord.

I guess this chord progression does have a sense of gentleness and predictability to it…which you could say is the kind of style I tend to write my songs in.

I have also recently been fascinated with the I-IV progression.

I think the I-IV change is a very powerful chord change.

To me it’s strong, it’s powerful, and it’s impactful.

I say this because I was jamming some U2 songs lately with my band, and in the song “Where The Streest Have No Name” the I-IV change kicks in when Bono sings “we’re still building then burning down love…”.

It’s a very powerful moment.

This is not the only example of a I-IV change, but it’s the best I can think of at the moment.

Oh yeah, another one that comes to mind is the song “Summer of ’69″.

What, in your opinion, is the most melodically powerful moment in the song?

It’s got to be when Bryan Adams sings “standing on your mama’s porch, you told me that you’d wait forever…” right?

Same thing, the word “wait” is the exact moment when it goes from a I chord to a IV chord.

…

U2 Songs

I may have said this before, but I’ll say it again.

There is a certain sense of epic-ness to U2 songs.

Some might even use the word “spirituality”.

Y’know, there are songs, and there are U2 songs.

They seem to speak of something greater…about life, about peace, about love.

They seem to be larger than life, and they seem to be able to transcend all barriers.

And that’s why U2 is still the greatest living band today.

…

Reasons

I guess we all write songs for different reasons.

The passion is common, but the motivations may be different.

For me the motivation is not to write songs so that I can perform them.

Maybe that’s why my output nowadays for Songcraft is quite low.

I never think of performing my own songs. (Not formally, at least.)

I think I write best when I am clear of who is going to deliver my song.

Having the picture of the particular person(s) delivering my song gives me the motivation and inspiration to write the song.

I guess that’s why I’ve always been more fascinated to write songs for musical theatre and choir, and not for myself to deliver.

My main motivation to write songs is to move the listener.

I have to confess that when I write songs, I’m always on a charm offensive.

I go all out to try to charm the listener into liking my song.

My purpose is to aurally attract the listener.

And maybe that’s why I can’t really write dark or moody or emo songs.

I’m very eager to please.

I know that not everyone approaches songwriting like this.

Some approach it intellectually, in that they have a meaningful message that they want to bring across.

Some approach it emotionally, in that they just want to bare their soul to the listener.

Some approach it poetically, in that they want to convey a particular mood or state of mind to the listener.

But that’s the way I do it.

I go all out to try and win over the listener’s heart, just like how a guy may send flowers and write love letters and dedicate poems and buy chocolates to woo a girl.

That’s me when it comes to songwriting.

I always try to go for the listener’s heart.

Not that I succeed most of the time, but at least the intention is always there.

…

Passion

I was having a conversation with a church friend some time back.

I can’t remember what she said, but my reply to her was that I managed to churn out all these songs for the children’s choir because simply, it is my passion to write songs.

Now passion doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you become good at something.

But passion sure does give you the drive to work on your songs night after night.

This is my third year of writing songs for my church’s children’s choir, and it has been a most enriching experience.

I wouldn’t trade this learning experience and opportunity for anything in the world.

I realise that I have been in a most fortunate position to be able to have the ability and the opportunity to write for the children’s choir.

I think I have written at least 13 songs since the start of 2008, when I first started introducing my own originals for the children to sing.

Some songs were OK, others were horrible.

But it’s all part of the learning process.

You learn as you go along, and after awhile, you’d start to realise what works and what doesn’t work.

A songwriter will always have songs which worked, and songs which didn’t.

That’s what makes it all the more sweet when you occasionally hit on that song that just seems to had fallen neatly in place.

The joy is immeasurable.

…

Writing For Children

Please don’t get me wrong, I don’t write childish songs for the children.

That’s not my approach.

By now I have formed a few guiding principles when it comes to writing songs for children.

Some you may agree with, some you may disagree with.

I think there’s no black & white on this.

Firstly, I don’t insult their intelligence.

I try to write songs that have a certain sense of maturity in both the melody and harmonic progression.

And when I have to teach them the music, I always try to treat them like matured people cos I’ve realised that they are far more intelligent and perceptive than most people think they are.

I don’t try to talk down to them or dumb down or use more elementary terms to teach the music.

I just talk to them as if I were teaching teens or young adults.

It’s amazing how quickly they can absorb a new piece of music.

Secondly, when it comes to songs for children, I believe that rhythm is paramount.

Yes, for adults maybe melody and harmony is key, but because children tend to be restless and have a lot of playful energy in them, songs with strong rhythms tend to capture their interest and attention.

To me, rhythm is a very physical construct, and a song with a strong sense of rhythm allows them room to release all their playful energy.

Of course, occasionally I would also introduce songs that are slower and more melodic, but at the end of the day, I try to give the children songs which have an intriguing sense of rhythm so that it keeps them physically and mentally interested in the song.

Thirdly, I always try to write songs based on bible verses, because I hope that these songs will stay with them as they grow up, and in a way, it’s like they’re keeping God’s word in their heart.

We all know that it’s much easier to remember a song than it is to remember a plain passage of text.

Hence, it is my hope that the children will carry these songs in their hearts and minds as they grow into teens and young adults.

After all, Psalm 119:11 says “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”