writing songs has the added dimension of actually being performed. While poetry may always benifit from being read aloud, most authors can only hope for that. Song writing on the other hand, if its any good, will always be heard rather than read.
Also, there is of course the musical element. While some lyrics read just like poetry, others really have no rythem in and of themselves. Mixing words with cords, dynamics, harmonies, etc. makes it not only more complicated, but more powerful as well.
As far as tips for getting started...im probably not the best person to ask seeing as most of songs are really just poems with ego and haven't actually been set to any kind of music.
When my band and i were writing songs (all of two lol) we started with basically a guitar riff. Then another... then maybe a base riff. After that my co-singer and I wrote some lyrics to fit with the mood of music. Once we had a melody (which we just made up) the drummer and pianist filled in the background. its definitely easier when you have a lot of people all of which have at least mediocre talent and a commen goal.
EDIT: also, practice practice practice. Sometimes all you can do is try and fail and try again to figure out how the music flows from you, and then keep trying until you actually get something decent.
__________________
"Not remotely! Because iocaine comes from Australia, as everyone knows. And Australia is entirely peopled with criminals. And criminals are used to having people not trust them as you are not trusted by me, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you."
|