eph221
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Country Music
So, I'm being told by *the cognoscenti* That my country songs are way too complicated for the country market. This disappoints me both because it's a lost opportunity and because *the cognoscenti* apparently are prejudiced (they do live in New York). The lyrics are too poetic in other words, they need to be more pedestrian. What should I do? I mean I don't write that way. The words and the music come at the same time. Are there any lyricists that want to work together?
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craigb
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/24 20:14:22
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☄ Helpfulby Slugbaby 2016/05/26 16:38:55
eph221
What should I do?
Stop thinking that they really DO know more about the subject than others do? Music that refuses to fit into a label's desired mold is usually the most entertaining anyway. Put it up on various mediums like YouTube, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Feckbook, whatever, then start a crowd-funding to release 500 or so CD's.
Time for all of you to head over to Beyond My DAW!
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craigb
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/24 20:14:53
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Oh wait, you said it's Country???  Nevermind. 
Time for all of you to head over to Beyond My DAW!
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eph221
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/24 20:17:13
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Ya...*islands in the stream: Delos, Mykanos, lesbos...etc*
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eph221
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/24 20:20:30
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I'm crazy for feeling this way I know
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kennywtelejazz
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/24 20:20:35
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☄ Helpfulby Mesh 2016/05/25 10:16:16
How do you expect anyone to ever take you seriously if you always keep going back to the the same old thing ? Kenny
post edited by kennywtelejazz - 2016/05/24 20:48:10
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eph221
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/24 20:42:22
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Craig took me seriously. Not sure what you mean.
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bayoubill
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/24 21:22:49
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Write from your heart and instincts. NOTHING else. Don't compromise. When you compromise your music the music is no longer yours or you. Remember WILLIE!
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eph221
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/24 21:36:12
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Thanks for the words of Becan bill.
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bitflipper
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/24 21:42:46
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I don't think you can go wrong if you write for an audience of one (you). Surely you are not so weird that no one else shares your tastes.
 All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
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bitman
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/24 21:49:37
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It's a hard thing to do coming from genres where innuendo, sound a likes and concepts offer an easier path. I am always dumbfounded at the ability of the writing staffs for country artists to pull off obviously simple yet relevant lyrics that I didn't even think of.  Anyone that thinks country is beneath them should take 3:30 and make a hit that stands up against whats going on now regardless of how bubble gum it is right now.
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yorolpal
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/24 22:09:12
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☄ Helpfulby kennywtelejazz 2016/05/25 00:11:41
While Bit and Bill offer good "artistic" advice, let me demure a bit. Songwriting is both an art AND a craft. Most everybody can easily get the "art" part as that means, on a practical, self-evident basis that you can write whatever the heck you want no matter how self referential or obtuse. And if you don't give a flying frack about anyone who might listen to your magnum opus, and what their takeaway is to it...then proceed on, Sun Ra.
BUT...if you care what others both think of and connect to when listening to your noodlins...then take care and use the CRAFT side of songwriting diligently.
Make sense. Have each new line advance the line that came before it. Have an interesting story to tell. And...and this is very important whether you like it or not...if possible put a "twist" in at the end. Yes...people...even ol curmudgeons...like that. Even though later, on reflection, they might feel a bit of self loathing because they do.
And...most importantly...be friggin concise. If you have to explain your lyrics WITH your lyrics...you have already lost the battle. Both with yourself, and the listener.
Listen to Randy Newman. Listen to John Hiatt. Lennon/McCartney. Lieber/Stoller. Hoagy Carmichael. Steven Sondheim. The list goes on.
And here's one last bit of windbag advice: write about concepts and not occurrences. Unless the occurances represent concepts.
In short...get out of your own tiny head and into the heads of everyone else.
Just my 2 cents.
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eph221
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/24 22:22:36
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Well yourolpal that's how I WAS writing. In fact they said it reminded them of Paul Simon! Which I guess is a veiled...something. They want me to write more like Dolly Parton. I think you missed the gist of the OP. It's good advice nontheless. Sondheim is a little obtuse and self referential. I'd recommend Gershwin and Hammerstein. Oh, and don't use the impersonal you when discussing things with people, it's insulting.
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yorolpal
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/24 23:30:22
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☄ Helpfulby Andy Stone 2016/05/25 11:08:16
I'll be as impersonal as I care to be, thanks all the same, ol stick. Take it as you will.
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jamesg1213
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/25 03:35:16
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yorolpal
if you care what others both think of and connect to when listening to your noodlins...then take care and use the CRAFT side of songwriting diligently.
Make sense. Have each new line advance the line that came before it. Have an interesting story to tell. And...and this is very important whether you like it or not...if possible put a "twist" in at the end. Yes...people...even ol curmudgeons...like that. Even though later, on reflection, they might feel a bit of self loathing because they do.
And...most importantly...be friggin concise. If you have to explain your lyrics WITH your lyrics...you have already lost the battle. Both with yourself, and the listener.
This is very, very good advice.
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Glyn Barnes
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/25 04:22:13
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While I am not a great county fan some if Mary Chapin Carpenter's songs make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Proof county songs do not have to "pedestrian".
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jamesg1213
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/25 07:59:19
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Glyn Barnes
While I am not a great county fan some if Mary Chapin Carpenter's songs make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Proof county songs do not have to "pedestrian".
+1, in particular, 'I Have A Need For Solitude', that's a gorgeous song.
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bitman
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/25 09:13:54
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I think it's in the water down there. My step mom was from Tennessee. They just form sentences differently than the rest of us. 
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bapu
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/25 09:47:50
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eph
What do I do? Stwat it up in Am.
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bitflipper
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/25 10:17:44
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yorolpal
Just my 2 cents.
That's the difference...you've got the 2 cents to offer up - because you get paid for your work. Most of us only get paid in personal satisfaction. However, if the OP does have commercial ambitions, then your advice is much better than mine. Big and Rich go to work in a private jet, and they didn't pay for it with artistic satisfaction points.
All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
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Mesh
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/25 10:25:23
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☄ Helpfulby bayoubill 2016/05/25 12:40:11
Platinum Gaming DAW: AsRock Z77 Overclock FormulaI7 3770k @ 4.5GHz : 16GB RAM G.Skill Ripjaws X 250GB OS SSD : 3TB HDD : 1TB Sample HDDWin 10 Pro x 64 : NH-D14 CPU Cooler HIS IceQ 2GB HD 7870Focusrite Scarlett 2i4The_Forum_Monkeys
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Glyn Barnes
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/25 10:33:34
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Mesh
I need one of those for Prog!
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Mesh
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/25 10:50:32
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☄ Helpfulby bayoubill 2016/05/25 12:40:41
Platinum Gaming DAW: AsRock Z77 Overclock FormulaI7 3770k @ 4.5GHz : 16GB RAM G.Skill Ripjaws X 250GB OS SSD : 3TB HDD : 1TB Sample HDDWin 10 Pro x 64 : NH-D14 CPU Cooler HIS IceQ 2GB HD 7870Focusrite Scarlett 2i4The_Forum_Monkeys
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eph221
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/25 12:09:55
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craigb
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/25 12:11:29
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eph221
Interesting thread!
 Where??!
Time for all of you to head over to Beyond My DAW!
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eph221
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/25 12:17:04
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The whole world laughs at you when you look at yourself...
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bayoubill
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/25 12:25:41
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eph221
The whole world laughs at you when you look at yourself...
I've noticed the whole world laughs at me when they look at me. I Am visually underendowed
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bapu
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/25 12:35:02
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Mesh
Pop Goes The County Blues (c) (R) TM - The Bapu 2016
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bapu
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/25 12:36:21
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I just invented my next song title. 3-Day Weekend coming up. I may have it written by then.
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jamesg1213
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Re: Country Music
2016/05/25 12:54:59
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bapu
I just invented my next song title. 3-Day Weekend coming up. I may have it written by then.
Uh oh...
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