Tag: lyrics

Hit Songwriting: “Carried Me With You” by Brandi Carlile

If you could ask a question of any successful hit songwriter, what would you want to know? You’d probably ask how they do it. In fact, you can ask that question and get an answer… just by taking an in-depth look at their hits.

WHY THIS SONG?

Brandi Carlile is not only a Grammy Award winning songwriter and performer, she has also written and performed songs featured in a wide range of motion pictures—from Barbie: the Movie to Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants—and hit television shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Ted Lasso. (Visit Tunefind.com for a long list.) “Carried Me With You” was written for the Pixar film Onward and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media.

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Hit Song Guide: “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus

WHY THIS SONG?

Not only is this song a huge worldwide hit but it’s also a great example of solid song craft that combines a well-written lyric with a catchy melody and cool dance club groove.

But wait, there’s more! This track features a smooth blend of successful old and new music styles. If you crave that ’70s vibe, you’ll love the Disco-happiness of this tune with its Funk bass and soaring strings mixed with today’s tight, punchy drum loops.

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Hit Songwriting: Using Trigger Words

Every songwriter’s dream: A total stranger stumbles across your song on YouTube, falls in love with it in the first 30 seconds, and immediately dashes over to iTunes and actually buys it. Then, your new fan sets aside an evening, turns off the phone so they won’t be disturbed, puts on headphones and curls up in a comfy chair to ponder every syllable, every note, and every nuance of the brilliant masterpiece you slaved over. 

We wish. The unfortunate truth…

You manage to get your song in front of listeners any way you can. Maybe you covered a hit song in a unique way. A listener who is a fan of that song stumbled across your version on YouTube and decided to check out your other stuff. While they’re doing that, they’re half-watching a TV show, snacking on pizza while surrounded by kids, roommates, or siblings, and getting a half-dozen texts from friends. Although they may hear your song, they’re not thinking about what they hear. 

That’s the harsh reality, but just remember every other song gets pretty much the same treatment. And once you know that, there is something you can do: Use trigger words.

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Americana Songwriting: “And It’s Still Alright” by Nathaniel Rateliff

FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 22: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats performs onstage during day 2 of the 2019 Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival on September 22, 2019 in Franklin, Tennessee. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival)

“And It’s Still Alright“ is the kind of song you won’t find on the Top 40 Pop music chart but with millions of streams it clearly has plenty of appeal.

Rateliff has the ability to write powerful songs about common emotions that are shared by many, just the kind of emotions that show up in television scenes. His songs have had TV placements in Roswell, New Mexico; Yellowstone; Lethal Weapon; Grace and Frankie; Nashville; Fargo, NCIS: Los Angeles and more. Let’s see how he does it.

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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.

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