Corey StewartWhat’s The Definition Of A Bad Song Anyway?
I ask this question because it seems to me that we, as songwriters seem to be real experts at naming which one of our creations are ‘bad’. So much so that, for some songwriters it stops them from creating altogether.
Here are some thoughts I have on the subject.
Call me strange, call me weird, but I personally don’t look at any of my songs as being either good or bad. They just are.
At the end of the day my songs are put into one of two categories:
1. Songs I perform
2. Songs I don’t perform
Of course the songs that I perform are pieces that I am very comfortable with sharing with the listening public and/or other musicians
The songs I don’t perform can then go into one of two more categories:
1. Works in progress (to be completed for performance)
2. Archived songwriting ideas (for later)
I never throw anything away. Everything that comes from my head is created into something or recycled to be created into something else in the future.
Lets face it, the more songs you write, the more ‘good’ songs you’ll write. For every good song written there are at the very least ten ‘bad’ ones lurking in the wings.
So, no matter how much you think your songwriting ideas are ‘bad’, write them down anyway. Besides, where does it say in the rules that you have to pitch or perform every song that you write anyway?
If you want to write ‘good’ songs then writing ‘bad’ songs are inevitable and besides, what makes a song bad? A ‘bad’ song from one songwriter could be another performers treasure. What do you think?
There’ll be songs you write that are meant to be performed and some songs will be stepping stones towards other songs.
Can you see where I’m going with this?
When you think about it, the concept of a song being ‘bad’ is created from a subjective opinion and really, is proclaiming one of your songs as being ‘bad’ your call anyway?
Here is a exercise to try on yourself. Try deliberately writing a ‘bad’ song and see how you go. It’s like asking a seasoned musician to play like a beginner.
It’s harder to do than you think. Just a thought.
Until next time, happy writing,
Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician
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A while back I decided to let go of the whole bad song mindset when songs that I thought were crap were the ones that people said, “Why don’t you play that one?” or “That’s my favorite of yours!” about.
It was way too confusing.
I notice the very same thing with my stuff Nolan.
It just goes to show that perhaps we’re not the best judge of what’s good or bad afterall.
Yes. If there is no real mistakes the song may be youre best even if you dont see it. Songwriter is an expert in listening music but audience isn’t. They just like it or not.
Because we, as songwriters are so close to the music we sometimes miss out on the simple appreciation of the song as a whole.
From time to time I ask non-musician friends what they like in a particular song and all they can say is that they “like the beat”.
I wish my tastes can be that simple sometimes.
I feel that some of my songs are way too personal to share with an audience, even though they may be my very best songs. That’s why it’s so important to ask someone to listen to a song from an unbiased perspective.
Usually I feel my latest song is my best song…