“Say You Do” recorded by Dierks Bentley definitely plays fast and loose with a few songwriting rules. In spite of that (or because of it), Dierks Bentley made it to #1 on the Country airplay charts and stayed for a fair amount of time. Even though the melody and lyrics of this song have a decidedly unique slant, it still appeals to radio’s demanding listeners. So if you’re just dying to be a song crafting rebel, check out how these writers did it.
Category: WHAT’S ON THE SITE
Write a song like “Don’t Start Now” – Dua Lipa
“Don’t Start Now” is a great Disco-influenced Club Dance hit that I just couldn’t pass up. Dua Lipa can always be counted on to deliver solid songs that appeal to the Dance crowd and radio listeners as well.
Number 1 on the Dance Club and Top 40 charts, and on its way to a billion listens on Spotify, this is yet another score for Lipa, her cowriters, and producer. So, let’s find a few techniques you can try in your own dance hits.
Song Guide: “Heroes” & “Next Level” by Zayde Wolf
Recently three different songwriters have mentioned the name Zayde Wolf to me. Now, I am a true believer in the “Rule of Three,” and therefore I made sure to check him out. (Ron Fair, former president of A&M records and a top A&R exec, once told me that if three people — any three people — told him about a band or artist, he would be certain to take a look at them.)
So, I spent some time listening to Zayde Wolf and reading his bio, and I’m glad I did. Here’s a guy who has very rapidly garnered hundreds of Film, TV, Advertising, Trailer, and Video Game placements. Naturally, I began to wonder: Who is he? Where did he come from? How many years of dues-paying has he put in? Turns out none of these questions really apply.
A Machine For Making Beautiful Things
I’ve been thinking a lot about the art and craft of songwriting (as usual) and I keep circling back to a couple of obvious facts:
- Every song begins with an idea in your mind.
- Every song takes shape because something in you propels it forward, adding to it, sculpting it, changing, strengthening, and polishing it as it moves along.
It struck me that this process is something like the workings of a machine, a Machine for Making Beautiful Things. And like any machine, it needs a “User Manual.” So here’s my idea of what you might find in…
A MANUAL FOR THE PROPER USE AND CARE OF A MACHINE FOR MAKING BEAUTIFUL THINGS
Congratulations on being the owner of a marvelous Machine. You are in possession of something that is both universal (a creative mind) and yet totally unique to you. With proper care, it will give you a lifetime of remarkable service.
GET TO KNOW YOUR MACHINE
Your Machine for Making Beautiful Things is made of countless shining parts whose angles and planes reflect the world like mirrors in the moonlight. It has conveyor belts and cogs that make unexpected connections between ideas and images. Everyday objects, events, and words become intriguing, alluring, strange, or compelling when the Machine goes to work on them.
Your home for hit songwriting…
My Song Guides take you deep into today’s biggest hits. Learn hit songwriting from the inside!
✓ Listen to the song and try the technique.
✓ Over 50 hit songs to learn from.
I’ll walk you through a step-by-step songwriting process that will help you finish every song you start.
✓ You’ll develop a song from a title.
✓ Learn the power of images.
✓ Discover the melody in your lyric.
✓ Find out where to look for co-writers & resources.
Robin’s Courses & Workshops
From radio-style hit songwriting to film & television songs, I’ll show you how to write expressive songs that listeners will love.
Self-paced. Lifetime access.
A Note from Robin
During my career in the music business as a songwriter, music producer, book author, record label exec, and recording artist, I’ve collected a lot of useful, no-nonsense info and I love to share it!
My books are used in some of the top universities and music schools in the U.S. to teach all levels of songwriting, from beginning to advanced. I’ve written and produced hundreds of songs for television and record albums.
My students and clients have had placements in primetime and daytime television, movies, artist cuts, and hundreds of thousands of streams on Spotify. Join in and see how far your songs can go!
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I hope you’ll enjoy your visit and find plenty of inspiration. And be sure to check out my SONGWRITING BLOG at MySongCoach.com for Song Starters, exercises, and an exploration of the craft and business of songwriting.