Interim Dr. Dave Pittman

Transcription

1 Interim Dr. Dave Pittman The Psychology of Lyrics: Personality type & brain dominance in songwriting. Goals: 1. Learn about personality types as related to productivity - focusing on creative lyric writing 2. Learn about brain dominance as related to personality and cognitive tasks 3. Learn about the components of successful lyric writing - compose original lyrics About Me Dr. Dave Pittman, Assistant Professor of Psychology B.S. in psychology from Wofford in 1994 Ph.D. in neuroscience from the Florida State University in 2001 How to contact me: Office: Black Science Annex Room 1 pittmandw@wofford.edu phone: ext off-campus:

2 Course Requirements MANDATORY ATTENDANCE If you miss a class: Must contact me prior to missing the class (4644) Must be excused absence You can fail this interim for missing class. Respect your classmates Give them your full attention Be supportive to be a successful lyricist you must be vulnerable Come to class prepared Course Grading Criteria PASS with HONORS Beyond the normal expectations PASS Based on classroom performance: Attention, contribution, and quality of work Based on classmate evaluations within each small group FAIL attendance and attitude do not try me on this one, I will fail you.

3 Weds Evening and Thurs Morning: Guest Artist Peter Mayer Lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter in Jimmy Buffett s Coral Reefer Band Joined in 1989 for the Off to See the Lizard recording Co-wrote Blue Guitar Wrote 2 songs on Beach House on the Moon Wrote 6 songs on Banana Wind Co-wrote 10 songs on Barometer Soup Weds Evening and Thurs Morning: Guest Artist Peter Mayer Leads independent band: Peter Mayer Group Born in India - influenced by culture & early rock music such as the Beatles 10 independent PM Group recordings since 1985 Piece of Paradise #8-88 Taught jazz guitar as a faculty member at Webster University

4 Peter Mayer CD: Romeo s Garage Romeo s Garage Listen to the CD and choose several songs that you would like to do a lyrical analysis of for inclass presentations on Wednesday. Lyric Fundamentals What makes a good lyric?

5 Lyrics a special form of writing Confusion between poems & lyric: share features of words, meter, rhyme Two types of lyrics pop lyrics and art lyrics Art lyrics more like poems but less likely to get radio play / become popular mainstream songs Pop lyrics are very different from a poem Poetic made by used as an accolade for writing quality of lyrics but shouldn t be confused to mean that good lyrics are the same format or style as poems Differences in Form and Function Poems Lyrics Designed to be read Readers have an infinite time to stop, reread, examine, look up definitions, etc. Can vary in length from one stanza to several pages Can be complex in language Contain complex or foreign words Ambiguous in meaning Designed to be put to music, sung, and heard by the audience Songs exist in time and are propelled forward by the music Must be CLEAR and ATTENTIVE Meaning must be clear Words should be easily understood and easily sung

6 Content and Style Content can be similar between poems and lyrics, it is the style of presenting the content that differs Who, what, when, where, & relation to feelings Poems STYLE: Can be abstract and philosophical Lyrics STYLE: Must be personal and conversational 2 requirements of successful lyrics Relate the song to singer and/or the audience Who, what, when, where, & relation to feelings Edwin Arlington Robinson - Richard Cory - Paul Simon Whenever Richard Cory went downtown, We people on the pavement looked at him: He was a gentleman from sole to crown, Clean favored, and imperially slim. And he was always quietly arrayed, And he was always human when he talked; But still he fluttered pulses when he said, Good morning, and he glittered when he walked. And he was rich-yes, richer than a king- And admirably schooled in every grace; In fine, we thought that he was everything To make us wish that we were in his place. So on we worked, and waited for the light, And went without the meat, and cursed the bread; And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet through his head. They say that Richard Cory owns ½ of this whole town With political connections to spread his wealth around, Born into society a banker s only child He had ev rything a man could want: Power, grace, and style. But I work in his factory and I curse the life I m livin And I curse my poverty and I wish that I could be, Oh, I wish that I could be, Oh, I wish that I could be Richard Cory The papers print his picture almost ev rywhere he goes Richard Cory at the op ra Richard Cory at the show And the rumor of his parties and the orgies on his yacht! Oh, he surely must be `happy with ev rything he s got. But I work in his factory and I curse the life I m livin And I curse my poverty and I wish that I could be, Oh, I wish that I could be, Oh, I wish that I could be Richard Cory He freely gave to charity, he had the common touch And they were grateful for his patronage and they thanked him very much So my mind was filled with wonder when the evening headlines read Richard Cory went home last night and put a bullet through his head.

7 Essential Features of a Winning Lyric There are always exceptions to the rules but in general, successful lyrics have all of the following: Identifiable / Universal Theme strike a common chord, understood by all, axioms Memorable Title marketability of the lyric both to a producer, singer, company and the audience Strong Start must grab the audience and make them want to hear the rest of the song Payoff / Conclusion lyrics should go somewhere and evoke an emotion in your audience at the end Appropriate Form subtle, almost subliminal analysis of a song requires a familiar format Identifiable / Universal Theme Axioms universal truths clichés Sources for universal themes: Newspapers Social / Economic Climate Current Events / Settings Books Real People Own life experiences

8 Memorable Title This is what will get your lyrics noticed! First impressions are important Antonyms You re so good when you re bad. Alliteration Bump, Bump, Bump Conversation / Colloquialisms Now or Never Sooner or Later Your Place or Mine Maxims, Adages Easy Come, Easy Go Don t Mess with My Man Paradigms Hurts so Good One word Beautiful Landslide Mesmerize Strong Start 1 st line Question Do you know the way to San Jose? Suggestion / request Come, stop your crying Time Frame It s 9 o clock on a Saturday Provocative statement I ve been alive forever and I wrote the very first song Situation My bags are packed and I m ready to go My child arrived just the other day Setting - On a train bound for nowhere Visual Image All the leaves are brown & the sky is gray Occupation I make my livin off the evening news

9 Strong Start 1 st Verse Establish the Who, What, When, & Where If possible include the character in the first line or if not as soon as possible (can be a pronoun you, I, me, her, him) Within 2 lines there should be a desire to continue in the lyrics intrigue, wonderment Payoff / Conclusion Tension build up to a climax then resolve Conflict heartbreak, society Question Who stole my heart away? No one but you Turnabout final line reverses the title/start I got lost in his arms but look what I found Twist Richard Cory example Coming full circle Desperado warns of riding fences at the end says come down from those fences before it s too late

10 Appropriate Form Related to changes in the melody Can be related to changes in point of view or emotional content Verse / Chorus most pop songs allows repetition and stressing of the chorus AABA Verse, Verse, Bridge, Verse Bridge = contrast to other components different melody & additional information AAA Verse, Verse, Verse Verse 4 or 8 lines Chorus 4 lines Successful Lyrics Within each song, you should be able to tell: Who What When Where Relation to feelings / emotion Most of these should be identifiable although it may not be necessary to have all.

11 Analyzing lyrics - Format Have lyrics typed out on a paper for the presenter or on a power point file AND make copies for the class (free - see me) Identify each Essential Feature: Identifiable / Universal Theme Memorable Title Strong Start Payoff / Conclusion Appropriate Form Top Ten Writing Principles Simplicity: 1 idea, no subplots Clarity: include pronouns to identify parts, use transitional lines if change in time or setting Compression: eliminate unnecessary words Emphasis: short, strong words, end with lines with important words and active verbs Consistency: maintain tone & language (figurative or literal meanings) Coherence: precede reactions or effects with a cause or reason songs moves forward

12 Top Ten Writing Principles Specificity: use particulars versus generals; concrete instead of abstract; show emotion rather than tell it Repetition: allows emphasis, encourages memory, keeps it simple Unity: components should be given the appropriate length in the song be aware of how much of the lyrics are devoted to parts Genuine Feeling: write what you know Analyzing lyrics - Format Use guide sheet for each component Identifiable / Universal Theme Memorable Title Strong Start Payoff / Conclusion Appropriate Form Point out use of Top 10 Principles Group Exercise Lyric Analysis

13 Key Decisions in Writing Your Lyrics Choose the gender: Select viewpoint: Decide on voice: Define time frame: Set the scene: Identify the tone: Pick the diction: Determine the form: Awareness of character / audience connection: