Quote:
Originally Posted by tonyytoniitonee
Why wouldn't I be using a resource as abundant as that? All of the amazing songs out there, with all of the amazing lyrics. Why wouldn't I devote some of my time towards reading, and studying these lyrics to find new devices to add to my own lyrical repertoire. What do you guys think? Is this something that musicians should begin practicing? Have some of you already done so, and if yes, has it been beneficial for you?
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I understood what you were asking perfectly!
My answer to your question: yes, musicians should read other people's lyrics...if they want to learn more about the style of lyrics that may appeal to many people and increase the range of possibilities for their own writing.
*I* read other people's lyrics for the very reasons you mention, and I feel this has been beneficial for me.
The fear I originally had about reading other people's lyrics was that I might start to copy theirs more than I wished. However, I now feel that seeing other people's creative works helps me identify techniques I hadn't thought about that I might like to incorporate in my own lyrics as a choice.
Even if you don't read other people's lyrics, you will have been inspired in your writing choices by *something* external to yourself. I feel it is wise to read other people's lyrics to learn more about options you have available to you so that you can have more control over this process. You will always have the choice *not* to follow what you read others doing. In fact, reading other people's lyrics may be especially beneficial because it helps you see what you *don't* want to do in your own!
I printed out Taylor Swift's "Love Story" and Katy Perry's "Hot n' Cold" months ago to study what might appeal to audiences so much about these lyrics, making them catchy. I haven't applied much of what I observed, but I might.
I've also read about typical "pop" song structure. Knowing what "rules" are often followed can be helpful because then you know how to break them better.
Finally, if I like a song then I enjoy reading and studying the lyrics for the simple joy of it, which benefits me by making me happier. I love poetry and so often will read lyrics before listening to a song...and sometimes in place of listening to a song!
Here's a song where I love both the music and the lyrics, which I've listened to very carefully. The lyrics appeal to me because they tell a story, use specifics ("roaches climb the wall"), have a deeper meaning, and use rhyming, repetition, a theme with variation, and the hook ("common people") to be catchy:
Pulp - "Common People"