ARE YOUR SONGS REAL OR REALLY CLEVER?

Perhaps the most common songwriting mistake that I’ve seen kill a song. If I had to choose one songwriting mistake I’ve seen over and over in publishing and mentoring sessions through the years, it would be “writing clever instead of writing real.” Throughout the entire writing process, I am asking myself, does this feel real? Could this have really happened? Does this sound like something would say or does it just sound like a clever line? When someone hears your song for the first time, real hits them first before they even fully understand what your song is about. Nothing loses the listener faster than a line in song that’s not believable or sounds “written.” Here are a few ways to make sure your song is “Real.” 

Always write true statements. “Everyone knows love is just a game” is not a true statement because not everyone feels that way. But- “Some may say that love is just a game” is true because some people feel that way. This may seem like a small point, but it is huge. 

Always write true statements. People can’t argue with truth. It’s real and affects people, even if they don’t like it, it affects them. Even if you’d want to use metaphors in your lyrics, use them the way that sounds real. Stay away from unnecessary exaggerations and be frank with yourself, defining if you’re writing real or just trying to be clever. 

Write the songs truth and not your truth. If you start out writing a song about something in your life that has happened. A breakup, etc; don’t insist on writing your own story exactly the way that happened. Maybe your own story be the perfect fit, but it is not a “must” to use your story if it is not that impactful. The song is going to have its own heart and soul and you must learn to follow the song’s truth. Again, this is a subtle difference but one of the most powerful things to remember. The song is the king. Always. Learn to listen for the truth in the song. Letting go and being flexible will make you a better writer.
 
Follow your voice. Every successful writer I know has a voice. Not a singing voice, but an inner voice. A style of writing that is unique to only them. And it is the most honest place a writer can come from. It’s a deep real place. How do we find our voice? By experimenting. Writing as much as you can and paying attention to the way your songs affect the people who hear them. We are not an island. We need feedback to grow, so play your songs for your peers, band mates, or co-writers and think about the feedback they give you. Compare it with your initiation of writing that song and find out how close the result is to the voices you had in your head. The closer you get, means the better you’re delivering your message. 

Author

Hangi Tavakoli is our in-house established and professional music producer with more than 17 years of experience in songwriting, music production, mix and mastering. He has produced more than 3,000 and written more than 4,800 published songs to-date, including some major hits in international scale.