Writing Hit Songs - Myths

Mark Kaufman · Post by **Mark Kaufman** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:16 am

Quote:Seriously though, no one I know ever liked that song....and they turned the channel every time it came on, so I'm hard pressed to understand why it was a hit....maybe it's just the novelty of it as you say.I hear ya...I'll even help you hold the Uzi. But it reached #4 on the singles charts in 1976, so it sold like a monster. That's really why I am bringing it up: do people like us understand why this song was selected, produced, invested in, marketed...and why it is STILL played on radio?I still say that wasn't luck...that was smart "out-of-the-box" thinking.

matto · Post by **matto** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:44 am

Quote:But it reached #4 on the singles charts in 1976, so it sold like a monster.1976?? Aren't those the good old days of meaningful music Glenn so adores?

squids · Post by **squids** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:48 am

Uh......I was fixin' to graduate from high school the next year and I'm tryin' to remember if I heard any meaningful music. ?? I know I wasn't playin' any.

sgs4u · Post by **sgs4u** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:11 am

Muskrat love was one of the first times I noticed a re-make of a tune. It was also on that America's greatest hits album, that I bet a lot of us had. Neil Sedaka actually wrote it.Truthfully , I liked Muskrat Love, sorry Lyle. I fancied myself a bit of a Captain, like the Captain and Tennille. I just googled Captain and Tennille. Pretty great website and personality to it. Worth checking out. Interesting blog on their too.http://www.captainandtennille.net/tonis ... :Uh......I was fixin' to graduate from high school the next year and I'm tryin' to remember if I heard any meaningful music. ?? I know I wasn't playin' any.

Mark Kaufman · Post by **Mark Kaufman** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:12 am

Quote:Quote:But it reached #4 on the singles charts in 1976, so it sold like a monster.1976?? Aren't those the good old days of meaningful music Glenn so adores? This is very meaningful...it is a treatise on both marriage and nutrition. I have no idea why people poo-poo this song. This makes me weep...How can you not be affected by this passage:Nibbling on bacon, chewin' on cheeseSammy says to Susie "Honey, would you please Be my missus?"And she say yes with her kissesOMG that is just so touching...

ggalen · Post by **ggalen** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:33 am

Quote:Quote:But it reached #4 on the singles charts in 1976, so it sold like a monster.1976?? Aren't those the good old days of meaningful music Glenn so adores? I can't say I was a fan of Muskrat Love as a song......but later I did vaguely suspect that the title might be hinting at something a little...well...umm..earthier...

squids · Post by **squids** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:02 am

It's totally ironic that we're even talkin' about Muskrat Love is what I think. I'd like to pretend that they jes did Love Will Keep Us Together and leave it at that. And how come when I think of Muskrat Love, I think of the band America? Please do NOT tell me they did a tune with the word muskrat in it. They didn't, right?

ggalen · Post by **ggalen** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:51 am

Quote:IAnd how come when I think of Muskrat Love, I think of the band America? Please do NOT tell me they did a tune with the word muskrat in it. They didn't, right?Fortunately, I don't believe they did. I think A Horse With No Name was challenging enough to my lyrically sensibilities.

Mark Kaufman · Post by **Mark Kaufman** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:58 am

Hate to be the devil himself, but yes...America covered the song in 1973. It was written by some other dude in 1972.

matto · Post by **matto** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:07 pm

Quote:But I would say the Spice Girls are one LUCKY bunch of lasses!Let's put this theory to the test then... The idea for the Spice Girls was hatched by a management duo who observed the success of Boy Bands and noticed the absence of "Girl Bands" (luck?). They put together a maketing plan which was strong enough to attract financial backing (luck?), then held auditions to find suitable candidates. The 5 original members were chosen our of hundreds of applicants (luck?). They then moved into a house where they lived and worked incessantly on recording and performance, living partly on unemployment benefits (luck?). Two of the girls couldn't take the hard work and were axed, and replaced by two new members who again were chosen over tough competition (luck?)At some point they felt the management team that brought them together wasn't working as hard, and in the same direction, as they were, so they persuaded them to set up an industry showcase. They worked their asses off to knock one out of the park at that event (luck?).After the success of the showcase they realized they had options, so they stole the masters from the management companies offices (probably against the law but definitely NOT luck )They signed with a new manager who was impressed with their showcase performance at work ethic (luck?) and kept working on demos, performance and dance routines. The manager introduced them to a production duo, who were again impressed by their drive, "star quality" and work ethic (luck?) and eventually introduced them to Simon Fuller (now a household name thanks to the Idol shows but even back then a "veteran" producer)...who was again impressed (luck?) and took them on as his clients.After about 1 1/2 years of working incessantly, and fulltime on their career they got signed to Virgin, and another 9 month later their first single was released (luck?).To me this looks like a classic case of perseverance and hard work, not "luck". Sure, they got their "breaks", but so does everybody, most just aren't prepared to take advantage of them. But they also faced adversity, as does everybody, but most are not willing or able to work thru it.Quote:Talent SHOULD do it, but there are many fine musicians and songwriters out there - better than some who are enjoying fame, who don't get the breaks, and sadly never will. Should talent alone really do it? Should people who are not willing to put in the hard work to take advantage of the breaks they get be successful, based solely on their talent? Would that be fairer? I don't know, but I can pretty much guarantee you that they won't.I think there are very few talented people who don't get any breaks...but many are not able, or willing, or, sometimes, even interested in taking advantage of them.I also think there are very few people who make it on luck alone, or even mostly on luck. In most cases by far there is a behind the scenes story that's very similar to the one above.matto

Writing Hit Songs - Myths

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