More on music.

[spacebug]

I'm not so good with lyrics.

After never getting leads in musicals in high school or getting solos in choir as a kid, I'm coming to grips with the fact that when I put my mind to it and I'm not super scared to do it, that I can actually sing pretty well. That's a tricky one to overcome. But I also have just as difficult s time getting over the "having something to sing" part as the fear that is having your voice out there. I find the buffer of a physical instrument very comforting on stage- there's something extra naked about singing. So, my vocal stuff is often just textural- because I'm a musician and not a vocalist, I tend to dislike that words in songs most often become the focal point, especially to people who listen to words more than music. Which, I think, is most people.

But I woke up with the beginnings of lyrics in my head this morning.

We'll see what happens with that.

I have more to say, I think, but I need to find my shoes. And a hair tie. And go to work.

Comments

[pied-piper70.livejournal.com]

You and I have had this conversation before, about lyrics and singing...I know that, for me, I'm not naturally a lyricist...a part of me thinks I should just get over and write some...another part of me says that, if it doesn't come naturally, than why do it? Why not collaborate with someone who DOES write lyrics naturally and can sing them as well?

The problem is that, for those of us who are primarily instrumentalists, realizing that much of pop music is centered on lyrics can be a bit of shock ("oh, my god...you mean NO ONE else cares about that synth line EXCEPT ME? You mean, their listening to VOCALIST?")...then again, knowing that is half the battle...it means, then, that you decide whether that matters to you or not; whether you want to write music that needs lyrics or write instrumentals (dance trax, ambient trax, etc.) and be fine with that...

For me, I realized awhile ago that, aside from writing music for projects, much of the music naturally gravitates into songwriting and thus needs lyrics...and I try to write lyrics...and I try to write a vocal line...and while my voice is okay, I'm never REALLY satisfied...and I always know that there's SOMEONE out there who can write better shit than I can...it's just a matter of time before I start searching for them...

You may be in the same boat...or else you may be developing as a composer/songwriter...the point is you're stretching yourself as an artist and that's always a good thing...always a Good Thing...

[spacebug.livejournal.com]

It's funny- I like the way lyrics can sound, but I don't want them to be what the whole thing is about, because it's not to me. And I feel like the music expresses more than I can with words, but I still have urges to use my voice as an instrument. Kind of a conundrum. I need my own crazy moon language or something, so that people won't listen, they'll listen, you know?

Anyway. :)

[sarendipatree.livejournal.com]

The best lyrics are those that don't mean the same thing the first time you hear them as the fourth or sixth. Definitely hard.