Songwriting Craft & Inspiration
ROBIN FREDERICK TAKES YOU INSIDE TODAY'S HIT SONGS.
“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.
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.
“Highway Don’t Care” is a great example of Contemporary Country songwriting. The lyric paints a vibrant, detailed picture of the characters and situation, offering an original approach to a familiar theme. And even though we all know “lyrics are king” in Country music, the melody played an equally important role in sending this song to the No. 1 spot on the music charts.
Songwriters: Mark Irwin, Joshua Kear, Brad Warren, Brett Warren
TECHNIQUES TO HEAR AND TRY:
As a songwriter in Nashville, Maren Morris has always expressed what was on her mind and never pulled punches. Her demand for honesty from other women in “Drunk Girls Don’t Cry” is forthright and refreshing. An edgy sense of humor and fresh Hip Hop-style rhymes light up the lyrics of “Rich.” And she successfully combines elements of the Rock and Blues genres in songs like “My Church” and ‘I Wish I Was.”
So it shouldn’t have come as a total surprise when Maren agreed to lend the power of her voice and attitude to Pop/Dance smash “The Middle,” helping to make that song a #1 Pop smash. Now here she is back in the Country genre with another big hit single.
Songwriters: Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz
TECHNIQUES TO HEAR AND TRY:
If you could ask Imagine Dragons a question, what would you want to know? You’d probably ask how they do write their hit songs. In fact, you can ask that question and get an answer… just by taking an in-depth look into their biggest hits.
Songwriters: Daniel Wayne Sermon, Daniel Coulter Reynolds, Benjamin Arthur McKee, Daniel James Platzman, Robin Lennart Fredriksson, Mattias Per Larsson, Justin Drew Tranter
TECHNIQUES TO HEAR AND TRY:
Imagine Dragons is one of the most successful Alt Rock, Pop/Rock bands of recent times. They’ve topped the music charts with hit after hit, blowing way past the billion mark in sales and streams. They have consistently created bold, memorable melodies and emotionally authentic lyrics with themes that engage the listener’s emotions.
“Believer” was the band’s third top ten single and a worldwide hit with five times platinum sales. Its powerful lyric theme and emotion-driven chorus have been successfully featured in commercials, film trailers, and TV series.
