10 songs that have made a huge impact on your songwriting

[KIRBIE]

None of my songs sound like the following, but these songs have had a huge impact on ME

Into the Ocean- Blue October
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZES3nJQYJok
This guy is a poetic genious and a passionate performer. Only concert I cried at, and it was during this song

Blurry- Puddle of Mudd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJJsoquu70o
The music in this song perfectly portrays how I feel when I think about the world. Sadness and anger. And the fact there's a child in the video touches me. I'm passionate when it comes to children and the affect our routine ways has on them.

Picture- Filter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX1rzT0-U3E
I don't really know what it is about this song that makes me love it so much. I feel like I can relate to the music. It's like the epidome of what we are, under all this fake crap.

Funny the way it is- Dave Matthews band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew8hmVIGKcM
I love the drums, the lyrics, and the breakdown "...standing on a bridge"...awesome!

Mixtape- Butch Walker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW6mqhyKngs
THis song makes me so so so nostalgic

Jump Rope- Blue October
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZgOw8oV4OM
Children+happiness+innocence+singing= crying kirbie

Goodbye for Now- POD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plGETDmXw5g
just listen to the lyrics: When will we sing a new song? Nuff said.

Amber- 311
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk_WUs-zlNU
THe lyrics and music go together perfectly. It paints an image, a beautiful, romantic image. NOt one thing about this song needs to be changed. In my opinion, anyway

All Around Me- Flyleaf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN0FFK8JSYE
I don't know if it's her passion put together with the music and lyrics but this song really touches me.

Noticed- Mute Math
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBefgm7hdpU
His lyrics really give a sense of wonder at this new feeling he's found and how happy it makes him. I hate this video though...it's not the original version

[mojobone]

That's an interesting list, Kirbie; the only one I'm familiar with is Picture. Reportedly, the writer was tripping on LSD during a cross country airline flight, (take my picture, cuz I won't remember) and removed all his clothes. (think there's a line in there about being naked, too) Disrobing is something people tripping on acid do rather frequently, only God and Jerry Garcia know why. Of course, the whole story could have been made up by a publicist to make the artist seem more interesting, heh.

[KIRBIE]

really!??! I had a hunch he was on acid. I could tell by the lyrics and the music he chose to put them to lol. That's why I love the song, though. He sounds so free and passionate

[motormind]

"The Boho Dance" - Joni Mitchell
It's Joni! With bittersweet, contemplative lyrics. And the combination of bass flute and French horn just works.

"The Model" - Kraftwerk
Deceptively simple. Extremely catchy melody.

"See You" - Depeche Mode
Another seemingly simple song. They were actually rather good at vocal harmonies

"Kaze Sagashi" - Natsumi Kiyoura
Melody trumps all! A lush string orchestration helps too. So does a crystal-clear voice.

"Virtual Insanity" - Jamiroquai
Funky, slightly jazzy, bouncy, fluffy. Great piano and bass playing and an insanly catchy chorus.

"Sailing" - Christopher Cross
The impact of this song on me is simply insane. The guitar, the mood and that voice. Ahhh...

"Paperback Writer" - The Beatles
The obligatory Beatles song. I just love this one.

"Under African Skies" - Paul Simon
A sweet duet with a swaying, softly treading rhythm. Nice break, too.

"Duvet" - Boa
Sweet, melancholic, high emotional impact, especially during the break. What more do you want?

"Message In A Bottle" - The Police
Solidly arranged, nice verses which lead up nicely to the relatively simple chorus. Sting, Summers & Copeland at their best!

[orest]

Katy Perry (Max Martin) Hot 'n' Cold, great hook.

Pink (Max Martin) So What, great hook.

Lady GaGa, Bad Romance, great song.

John Williams, Flying theme from E.T, I like the theme and the orchestra details.

John Williams, The Hook soundtrack, think that is one of his best in my opinion.

Michael Jackson, Beat It, Great hook and a great song!

Peter Gabriel, Mercy Street, A lovely song and great melody line.

Queen, Show must go on, great chorus and the arrangement is so great.

Genesis, The Cinema Show, I LOVE it! The progressive songs from the 70's means a great deal to me!

David Bowie, Life On Mars, great song and the building throughout the song is excellent!

[ernstinen]

Great topic! Sorry I missed it for so long. Man, that's a tough one. I go from Bach to Rock, so I'll give it a go!

BUT, first, it's hard for me to distinguish a "song" from a "recording." A great song may not be a great record, and a great record may not be a great song. Can you tell I'm a Libra!?

I guess I'll have to go from old to new(er):

Debussy: La Mer. The most evocative piece of orchestral music ever written.

Coltrane: Giant Steps. Just so amazing how he can "blow" over those changes.

Four Seasons: Walk Like A Man. Just fabulous songwriting, singing, and arranging.

Beatles: Please Please Me. If that doesn't give you goosebumps, you're not alive.

Beatles: Strawberry Fields Forever. My favorite record of all time.

Led Zeppelin: Communication Breakdown. The original hard rock.

Jimi Hendrix: Fire. Guitars are cranked up, and the first really sensual rock song.

Yes: Roundabout. Maybe the first "art rock" song to hit the top ten.

Neil Young: Powderfinger. One of the most emotional songs ever written.

Nirvana: Smells Like Teen Spirit. The song Lennon would have wanted to write if he were alive.

Notice I barely got into the 90's, but hey, I'm OLD! YOU WANTED "INFLUENCES," SO THAT' IT!


Ern

[Mindsong]

GREAT to see so much beautiful music in one topic

Im listening, and is being truly inspired!

Keep 'em coming!!

[ernstinen]

Jimi Hendrix: Fire. The first really sensual rock song.

Well, after thinking about my statement, maybe I was WRONG! Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls Of Fire," Little Richard's "Good Golly Miss Molly," as well as many Elvis songs and earlier blues songs have that quality. BUT, those songs didn't have the "influence" on my writing like "Fire" did, because those were before my time!

Ern

[charlie2]

Don't hold me to any of these songs or pieces because I'm sure to think of better ones in an hour. Also I can't just do 10.

In random order

1. Starless (both parts) from the "Red" album. King crimson. That recap will blow your hair back. It did mine.
2. 2 songs...In the wake of posidon and exiles (studio version) King Crimson. I always liked Robert Fripp and Pete Sinfield.
3. Led zep. The immigrant song, when the levee breaks? what's the exact name of that great guitar song by them?
4. The beatles. It's only love, Norwegian wood, and your bird can sing and hey bulldog. John lennon's tone color of his voice played an important role on the beatles' success
5. Procol harum. A salty dog. Fires that burn brightly through the nigh, shine on brightly,another great voice tone. (gary Brooker?) interesting harmonies too.
6. Beethoven's 7th sym. 2nd movement. 1st half only. Did my own arrangement of this with my band.
7. Dancing days. led zep. love page's tritone on the les paul.
8. Manic depression. voodoo child,Hendrix. (but it lacks a decent guitar break)
9. Micheal Jackson. shake your body (down to the ground) Dance music is underrated. If I'm not mistaken, Jackson did this song and "don't stop till ya get enough" with a simple I, bVII progression. Like C, Bb.
10. The best guitar break was the guitar lead on dazed and confused when he builts to the accents and then the solo part. It's never spoken about but distorted/fuzz rock guitar took composition onto a new level.
11. Superman theme from John Williams. I did my own arrangment of this with my beginner school band. It was great.
12. The oboe theme (which is done with strings too) of the movie "Castaway". I think the composer is Alan Silvesti. P.S. He also helped Steven Spielberg make a name for himself by providing music to the first "back to the future" movie.
13. Smells like teen spirit. Nirvana. This song took screaming to an aesthetic level!
14. The Moody blues. I can't leave them out. Let's use Tuesday afternoon.
15. Adagio for strings. Samuel Barber
16. Fanfare for the common man. Aaron Copland
17. John William's work on "Born on the 4th on July".
18. Dozens of songs from Jethro Tull. Let's use living in the past. The first top 40 song in 5/4 time
19. Then he kissed me. The best example of phil spector's wall of sound. That bridge, break on the strings was amazing. I suspect Jack Nitzsche, (spector's arranger), had something to do with that. but then, I don't know for sure and I don't want to take away from the composer.
20. Did I say Jack Nitzsche? (Spelling is most likely off) Which reminds me of the film score to starman. That music at the end was great and it was also done by a Nitzsche. I wonder if it was the same person
21. Unchained melody. you've lost that loving feeling. more phil spector productions

There are millions of others, but I can't remember them at the moment.

That's some of them from the 18th century up to the 1990s. What happened since the 90s?

[grandsoul]

Here is a sample of some of the songs that are somewhat an influence on my writing.


"You Must Be Love"-Smokey Robinson/Miracles (grand romanticallity)
"Living For The City"- Stevie Wonder (Social statement)
"Adagio and Fugue in C-Minor"-Mozart (Classical power piece)
"Look Over Yonder"- Jimi Hendrix (My music on my N264 is what he did on the Strat)
"The Coldest Days of My Life" - The Chi-Lites (romantic tragedy that goes through your bones)
"Yesterday" - As performed by Ray Charles (He took a simple song, and gave it unrelentless emotion) and it's B-side "Never Had Enough Of Nothing Yet" A power cheer for those who making it through life is not an option
"Freedom Flight" Shuggie Otis Free flowing echo work (As some would consider "Experimental" (In the 80s, it would have been called New Age)
"Sunny Monday" Booker T. & the MGs (a soul group plays some classical folk) Note: this song was from the album, "Melting Pot" the last album that had this entire lineup) {highly recommended}
"Mother Popcorn" James Brown All-out soul power on this one.
"Stop. Look, Listen To Your Heart" The Stylistics Grand orchestration.


A brief list of some faves

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