Hooks, hooks, hooks. Songwriters are obsessed about them, and rightfully so. Hooks serve like doors into the building that is your song. Hooks grab people’s attention and make them remember. Hooks are important. Creating hooks doesn’t have to be the most important goal of your songwriting. But it’s great …
Melody is like the face of a song. That’s where listeners’ attention goes. Writing great melodies isn’t the only way to write a great song. But if you write quality melodies, you’re half way there. In this video I discuss two key concepts in understanding melodies: Directions …
What does an “album” mean in today’s music? An album is a bigger collection of songs. I think it still has a meaning. As audience you just don’t get as excited about singles or even an EP. An album is significant. It’s a statement. “Revolver,” “Dark Side of the Moon,” …
With such a vast catalog, it’s nearly impossible to pick any one song as the quintessential Beatles tune — but “All You Need Is Love” may be a strong contender. With a playful attitude, idealistic (if tongue-in-cheek) lyrics and colorful orchestral arrangements, it has many of the characteristics that they became …
What made the Beatles such an enduring icon wasn’t their cute boy looks, vocal prowess, or catchy melodies. It’s those combined with their adventurous, experimental and convergent (as in converging different genres) music. Together with producer George Martin, they wrung every drip of potential out of each song, to create albums after albums …