Has anyone ever told you that your songs “sound a little dated,” or “need to be more cutting edge,” or “have a kinda ’80s vibe” when you weren’t really going for an ’80s vibe? If so, then maybe it’s time to make your songs sound contemporary.
There are times when it’s cool to write in a vintage style, but if you want to pitch your songs to music publishers or Film & TV music supervisors and libraries, you’ll have the best chance of success if you’re writing in a contemporary style.
What does “contemporary” mean?
“Contemporary” is just music industry shorthand for what today’s music listeners are buying, downloading, streaming, or watching on YouTube. In other words: Contemporary songs are the songs that listeners like right now.
Why write in a contemporary style?
THERE ARE MORE OPPORTUNITIES: Today’s recording artists are looking for current-sounding songs. They will rarely cut something with a dated feel because they know it will be harder to get radio airplay. Even if it’s a good song that could have been a hit twenty years ago, it will be hard to market now. Radio needs to keep today’s listeners tuned in by playing the kinds of songs they like.
Today’s lyrics are filled with vivid images and powerful action words. Today’s listeners like melodies with plenty of momentum and rhythmic interest. In the video examples below and song analysis that follows, I’ll tell you more about how to do that.
TASTES CHANGE: Just like fashions in clothes, musical tastes change over time. Are you still wearing the big hair, wide ties, and paisley prints of the 1970s? No? Then why would you still write songs that sound like the ’70s?
Sure, some fashion styles do make a comeback—a retro ’70s look can be very cool. But there’s always a new twist; those cool vintage platform shoes are paired with current jeans and jacket. You can do the same with older song styles. Pair them up with some of today’s melodic twists, rhythm loops, and maybe add a pre-chorus to give them a bigger dynamic build. To hear a great example of this idea, check out “Leave the Door Open” by Silk Sonic.
Song Guide: Listen and learn more about “Leave the Door Open”
SONG USES CHANGE: A decade ago no one thought to use songs as underscore in a TV show. Now there are over 60 prime time TV series using songs. The songs you wrote ten years ago might not work for these uses. Many shows take place in the present and need songs that sound like what you would hear on the radio today.
Find out more about writing songs for film and television.
“But I hate everything on the radio!”
Truth is, you may not hate what’s on the radio, you may just hate radio itself. The chattering DJs, endless ads, inane contests, and having to listen to songs you hate to get to the ones you like is enough to turn anyone off.
Then don’t listen to the radio!
Instead, look through the music charts for current songs. You can find charts at BDSradio.com. (Click on “Select chart here” and choose from the drop-down menu.)
Look for the genre you’re writing in or explore freely until you find something that looks interesting. Make a list of songs and artists, then listen wherever you buy or stream music. You’ll probably find a lot of songs you don’t like before you find a few that you love, ones that are current and inspiring. It takes times and patience but it’s worth it.
If there’s a current artist whose songs you like—someone you think you could write like—listen to their songs on Spotify or Apple Music. Then look at artists that their fans also like to find more. Start a “station” on Pandora or Napster with that artist and they’ll offer similar artists and songs. Or check out Spotalike.com. Enter a song title and they’ll list 30 to 40 similar songs.
But how different can it be?
Is there really a big difference between a song that was a hit twenty years ago and a current hit song? Well, listen for yourself. To make it a fair comparison, I chose two hits by the same artist, Tim McGraw. “Not a Moment Too Soon” was his breakthrough single from 1994. “Highway Don’t Care” was a hit for him in 2013.
See if you can hear differences in the style of the lyrics, melody, and song structure – not to mention production – as you listen to these two songs.
Tim McGraw then and now…
NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON (1994)
HIGHWAY DON’T CARE (2013)
How have the lyrics and melodies changed over time?
LYRICS: Notice how the lyrics in “Not a Moment Too Soon” are leaning on some over-used images (“rainbow” “pot of gold”) and there are lines that make statements about how the singer feels rather than making us feel the emotion ourselves.
The more current lyric style of “Highway Don’t Care” features vivid details and images in the lyrics. Using the cold, impersonal highway to suggest feelings of loneliness and isolation helps listeners understand what the singer is saying because they can feel it for themselves. It gets them more involved in the song and more likely to listen again.
Learn more about using images to add emotion to your song.
MELODY: Melodies have also changed since Tim McGraw had his first hit. Today’s melodies, especially the chorus melodies create more urgency, energy, and momentum by eliminating pauses at the ends of lines, using rhythmic phrasing to grab attention (“But I do, I do”), and using a greater variety of line lengths. You can hear this by comparing the choruses of these two songs.
Studying recent hit songs is the best way to learn contemporary songwriting techniques, tools, and ideas. Join me and read along as I take a look inside today’s top hits in all genres.
But my songs are already recorded!
PITCH TO PERIOD SHOWS: If you have masters recorded from the 1950s to the 1990, you can pitch them to TV shows and films that are set in that era. Check out a music library like Wild Whirled which specializes in vintage masters. TAXI.com runs listings for music supervisors and music libraries looking for vintage masters. Just be sure your recording is good quality.
RECORD AN ACOUSTIC COVER OF YOUR OWN SONG: Songs that work well for the Film & TV market are often those with a barebones, stripped-down approach to production. An acoustic guitar or piano and vocal track can work well for this use. Bass and percussion can add dynamic build. Consider recording “unplugged” versions of your own songs. Update the melody a little. Add more interest to the lyric with fresh imagery. Next thing you know, you’re sounding contemporary yet timeless.