Complimentary coffee & donuts in hand, attendees got a page full of good stuff from the very beginning. "Start with knowing who you are"…"Express your intent"…""Move on, don't go back"…
Pat explained that both the title & the song must connect to yourself to capture YOUR unique vision. Nobody can write about your experience or point of view better than yourself. You are unique.
Use your senses. His term is "Sensebound writing". Use your own senses to describe what's happening, the look. The smell. The taste. Every thing you can do do bring the listener into the
picture so they can share in the experience.
Avoid preaching. Nobody likes to be told what to do. Instead, share your perspective. Tell your
story in a way that the listener can say "yeah, me too". Try being conversational by "room testing" your lyric.
If it doesn't sound like something you'd say, maybe it's best said a different way.
A primary point that was constantly emphasized was "Respect the Shape of the Language".
Words have a cadence & melodic structure all their own. When reading fine literature or
listening to rap where there's nothing but the beat & the words, it becomes clear that the choice of words, the texture of the sound, the placement of the plosives.
There's a "shape" to how the words connect & flow together that needs to be respected to have an impact.
Just as in ergonomic design where form follows function, much of that same concept applies to
songwriting. It's also important to note that good lyrics & good poetry do not often use the same shapes or flow. Although all art is subjective, there are certain tools & forms that make your art
easier for a wider audience to understand and appreciate, and these were also discussed during the day.
Even during the lunch break, the discussions were about music & the industry as the seminar
eased back into how Nashville session writers often work while some of those present were still munching their burritos. Pat explained how for at least the first 15 minutes of a Nashville
session, it was always time to complain about the industry, & then getting to know/catch up with the personal issues of your co-writer.
It's important to establish a point of view for that day, that moment in time, which will inevitably effect the course & direction of the session.
Good titles are critical to getting someone to listen to your song. Just as a book (or CD) is often judged by it's cover, a potential listeners first impression of what's in store is the title. If they're
not familiar with you or your previous work, the title is the reason they either pickup your song to have a listen, or move on to something more interesting. In this day & age of digital
downloading, single songs are more important than full albums, & often all you have to capture your audience is the title.
The things that make a good title were discussed, how a good title can be easily exploited & how bad titles are parasitic & only get their value from what they're attached to.
The importance of point of view was emphasized, & ways to be sure the song is not confusing the listener as to their place in the moment. Examples such as Ervin Drake's classic "It was a
very good year" were analyzed, & the flavors & colors of the words & the analogy to fine wine & personal experiences were run through in detail.
The use of rhythm were noted, as Pat pulled out his drum machine & proceeded to demonstrate how key rhythms & BPMS can create emotional impact & suggest lyrical content in itself, and
how the rhythm of certain words works with the groove.
& when those words are placed in the correct positions in the lyric, the meaning & impact of the overall work becomes very clear.
The day was finished off with the attendees suggesting & selecting song titles, & taking one of those titles (Red beans on Monday) all the way through to a rough song form, ready for detailing
& finishing.
Working with a master like Pat, with so many great concepts & new directions presented, & new ways of looking at old concepts, it was easy to see why his classes at the prestigious
Berklee School of music are among the most popular, & his books & online courses are in such high demand.
A perfect way to complete the L*A*M*P songwriter's series, illuminating the way to better
songwriting!
Pat Pattison brought the TRUTH about
what makes songs work to the all day event @ The music connection theater on April 10th.
