Arts Entertainments

Try writing a fun or novel song

If you’re a composer, sometimes you may feel like you’re stuck, like you’re still thinking about the same basic ideas and situations to write about. One way to get out of this endless loop is to purposely write a song that is about something light, funny, or just plain weird.

Let’s be honest. Most pop and rock-type songs are about a single theme: old-fashioned LOVE. That’s right, in music there is always a boy who meets a girl, a boy loves a girl, a boy loses a girl, singing all the time. There are songs about being alone and songs about being trapped. There are songs about good relationships and even more songs about each other. And of course there is the physical side of things.

In ancient times (ie, the 1950s and early 1960s), most songs were about love, but there were always two or three “new songs” on the charts and on the radio. The first song I remember learning to sing was David Seville’s “Witch Doctor,” with its evocative chorus, “Oo ee oo ah ah, ting tang, walla walla bing bang.” Good material. There was also “The Purple People Eater,” written by Barry Cryer, about a creepy alien who … well, remember? And who can forget the squirrels? (Especially since they are apparently still around.)

Some songs were basically about love, but with a fresh take on the subject. Does anyone remember Dodie Stevens singing “Pink Shoe Laces,” written by Mickie Grant?

She wears tan shoes with pink laces

A polka dot vest and man, oh man

Brown shoes with pink laces

And a big panama with a purple hat band

It’s a bit hard to imagine the guy he’s singing about, but you have to admit, they are novel lyrics!

Laugh at me

There just don’t seem to be that many funny or novel songs anymore, unless you’re looking for laughs in the wrong places. As a songwriter, you can take it as a challenging exercise to write at least one song that has a remarkably light touch. But where would you get an idea for such a song? Do not make me laugh! There are ideas everywhere. The next time your friend makes you laugh, make a mental note of what you were joking about and what they said. You can most likely build a song from that! (I’m serious. This works).

If someone (maybe you) tells a funny story that has everyone in stitches, guess what? That is another possible theme for a song. You must have heard the best song ever, “Alice’s Restaurant” by Arlo Guthrie. Your story doesn’t have to be as complicated as that to make a good song. And feel free to manipulate the facts! It is a song, not a testimony. Use your imagination. Beautify.

People on television always say things that could be song titles or song lines, if you just put your ears to hear them. I have written many songs based on things that people said on television. One of them is “Shut up and dance,” which was something someone said in an otherwise lame sitcom I saw one night. You can listen to the song here.

As soon as I heard that phrase, I thought it would be a good chorus of call and response, going back and forth between “shut up and dance” and something else. Once I started writing the verses, I wrote everything right away, which is rare for me. I usually have trouble with the third verse, especially when there is a tight rhyme and rhythm pattern. I really became this frustrated guy who just wants to dance. I could have written even more verses if I needed them!

Something that may be interesting to you about this song is that the chord pattern on the bridge is the same as the chord pattern. I can’t remember if I did it on purpose (probably not), but I can’t remember another song where that’s true.

Anyway, the point is that if I can do it, you can too. Unless you’re in a Norwegian death metal band or something like that, your music is sure to benefit from a touch of humor, a pinch of wit. Go for it!

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