Theory on melody and lyrics

[suzdoyle]

Dang. I'm not sure why it's not working. . . . . . . . . Howza bout we'll re-post it when we get it to the next stage . . . ,Suz

[wignelson]

Leon, you are absolutely right. You do believe that there is only one lyric for every possible song. And you will continue to believe exactly as you do until you learn to think laterally. It's not for everyone. If everyone was like you, some people like Paul McCartney would forever be stuck with scrambled eggs.Wig

[squids]

Sept 22, 2008, 8:51am, sgs4u wrote:Sept 22, 2008, 8:33am, lyle wrote:Here's more food for thought: the first version you hear of a new song will forever bias your ear to the following versions..... Once we like something, it's hard to let it go.This is so prevalent it's amazing more people don't realize it. I have a theory on it. You can't possibly compare the new version of something with the previous version of something, until you've listened to the new version at least a multiple of 5 times more than the first. The first version has all the emotional excitement of a new thing, it has all the energy of the initial creativity attached to it. It's almost impossible for someone to be objective unless they are hell bent on being completely objective. Until you learn not to judge the new stuff with predictable expectations, and replace them with wide-eyed openness to change. Ever watch a producer and an engineer sitting around listening to a new take lokking at each other. They're saying, "I dunno, what do you think," back and forth. Most people have to work very hard at being objective with new ideas being integrated into their song. I find lyric writers to be the toughest in general, but that's a generality that could get in the way of objectivity as well. You just have to plan to not be surprised when you're not impressed with a new version of a song or an added overdub, and allow the new version to grab a hold on your subconscious in a different place, so it can have equal footing with your previous emotional attachment to a mix or version. I love stuff like this tho. The emotional reactions to music, are totally part of the big picture and why I've always loved music. The reactions every person feels are like snowflakes, and none of them are exactly the same. They also melt and diffuse when they are exposed to a new environment. And they nourish the earth. I know I'm weird with this stuff, but does anyone relate to what I'm talking about?Yes. And it's quite true. We are predisposed to prejudice once a thing is learned. It's jes inherent in our nature (and cellular structure in terms of how we process memory) that we're going to prefer the older version over the newer one fo a bit. New doesn't mean betta but hearing it as its own work takes effort.I'm like Aub, I'm not particular. Lyrics first or melody first or the entire music first and then fit the lyrics around it. I do disagree with him about one thing; I get along with composers really well (still breathlessly waitin fo mazz and matto to call me, though!! ) but that's cuz I'm already set in my mind to work around their piece. I have to, actually; I wouldn't be collaborating with them if I didn't already love their stuff so I ain't gonna complain about anything they give me. That said, if I have a particular line that jes won't fit and I need to do a lil somethin' with the tune, they don't quibble either. I don't overdo though cuz I'm jes not into controlling a song that much, which I think is different from more commercial writers who craft their work deliberately rather than lettin' it graze all over everyone else's yard. I'm into experimentation so that might be part of it.