For the country writers:

[matthoggard]

I miss the mullet!

[claire]

No lyrics, no song.You're right

[claire]

It's all about the music.Doc Haley----------------------------------Now wait just a second there, Doc - I thought you said it was all about the lyrics...(just pullin' your leg)

[cameron]

Nov 22, 2008, 5:26pm, claire wrote:No lyrics, no song.You're right Hey... keep me out of this!

[squids]

I think both developed around the same time, myself. It was only until composers evolved that things got sticky. Heh.

[squids]

Nov 24, 2008, 11:36am, twilsbach wrote:De Do Do DoDe Da Da DaIs all I've got to say to you.

[squids]

Well, doc, so far you've said that workin' hard in music is the equivalent of workin' hard in life and should equal the same success. Not very realistic. You've also made claims about radio that aren't realistic either and now what 'should' apply to a song. You can do some homework and google this stuff (I strongly suggest that if you want folks to keep responding) but here's a small bit of education (last one fo free! Charges incoming! ):An acapella song is still a song. Voices are not considered instruments by musicians at large, no matta how many times singers (especially good ones) bitch about it. Instruments (barring cool new synths) cannot use a verbal language to express themselves so it was decided that vocalists would define whether something was a song. Also, it was an insult from instrumentalists to vocalists, but that was almost 1500 years ago so we're over it now. A classic example: Bobby McFerrin's acapella albums. No one considers them compositions. They're songs. Why? Even though he doesn't use words anyone understands, he's scatting a majority of the time (You know what that is, I'm assuming), it's precisely because his voice is now uttering syllables, vowels, consonants, that defines it as a song. And it won't matter how much time you spend on this subject, these things aren't going to change. Aren't there bigger, more important issues than arguing (or trying to win arguments) about how things should be, rather than workin' hard with what is? Maybe writin' or gettin' an education online about music history would be a betta focus of your energy. I amended this post. Good thing.

[squids]

Well, it does care about genres but only in the sense it's jes easier for them to decide if the song fits their format. Love that packaging!

[hummingbird]

Nov 25, 2008, 10:31pm, rivercitymusic wrote:Nov 24, 2008, 8:58pm, mojobone wrote:But a capella, one still has a melody, and so, a song.mojo,i agree with you. here is what i had said.without music you have something called accapella? (spelling) singing without music? so you can have a song with only a voice and lyrics with no music. existed way before the first instrument was ever invented.sounds the same to me.Doca song does not need accompliament to be a songif one is singing a melody, with words, that is a song

[matthoggard]

Thank you Aaron for finally getting this thread back on topic.I think weve taken the song/lyric/melody thing as far as it can go. Ill agree that the songs are clever. Achey Brakey Heart is a clever song for its time. It was one of the biggest hits by any country artist ever. They even played it in dance clubs for years.Badonkadonk is a fun song. I really only like it because the "Master" Jamey Johnson wrote the biggest part of it.Ticks, umm well you know what I think of that song. Although it is well crafted and clever. I personally feel that its just plain stupid. I have to draw a line somewhere for myself. Maybe if I hadnt seen the big inlfatable ticks in Paisley's stage show I might feel differently about it.It is personal opinion.I completely agree with your statement about medicority. There are way too many songs from then and now that are just rehashing the same story. Problem is, these are the subjects that most average people relate to the most. Songs about country boys and girls are the staple of people who live in the small towns and rural areas. And these people account for a huge part of the listening/buying public. I work in a small community outside of Oklahoma City.The people I work with are from further out in the rural areas and let me tell you, Hank Jr's "A country boy can survive" is still their anthem. Rhett Akins "Kiss my country ass" is now a huge hit with these people and its a great song.I tend to write alot of the "fake" songs you elude to but believe me, I write them from experience and love of that emotion that gets people in the heart and gut. Those are the songs that grab me and make me think.I think youve got a song idea here about soccer moms and volvo's. Might sound like a cliched subject but I think you could write a really good song that soccer mom's would really relate to. One of my favorite songs right now is "Chicken Fried" by the Zack Brown band. Very original and downhome and relatable. We need more songs like this. And "Just got started Loving you" by James Otto. Kind of cliched but well written and has an excellent hook and melody.And of course, If you really want some schooling in crafting songs, Get Jamey Johnson's latest album "That lonesome song". Its a freakin incredible album and has 2 Waylon Jennings songs on it. It hasnt left my truck cd player in months.Im glad people like you/me and these folks here are trying to rise above the mediocrity. Its gonna be a new day in the country music world before long.Paul simon said it well in a song once."and all my words come back to me""in shades of mediocrity""like emptiness in harmony""i need someone to comfort me"(Homeward bound)M~