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| re: Topic "Stop Looking Inward" | |
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rockfenris2005 03:56 am UTC 06/11/07 |
| In reply to: | Topic "Stop Looking Inward" - Bright_Eyes 03:37 am UTC 06/11/07 |
> > What do you think he means when he says “stop looking > inward”? My interpretation is that his songs are larger-than-life and could be sung by mythical figures. A lot of songwriters write from a biographical point of view > > > Do you think he just means to not feel restricted to your > own life experiences when you're choosing the storyline? I don't know. I still think it should be biographical in a way otherwise you won't feel what you're writing. But if it's biographical, it should be heightened? > > Do you think it has to do with a need to write Archetypal > stories? Examples? > > Do you think it has to do with a need to write Universal > stories? Well, biographical songs can still be universal as well. It depends > > Do you think it has to do with a need to write > larger-or-better-than-real-life sort of stories? I think that has a LOT to do with it > > Do you think this comment was a protest/complaint against > some style of song that has been popular? If so what type > of song? Which writers or songs might be representative? Jim was hated by Warner Bros. from the time he auditioned "The Dream Engine" cast album. They had a lot of acts like Joni Mitchell etc. who were very popular at writing sorts of biographical songs. > > What might be examples of songs by Jim Steinman that do a > good job of “not looking inward”? It's hard to say. Unless it's in the context of a musical i.e. "Die Unstillbare Gier" > > What might be examples of songs by Jim Steinman that do > not do a good job of “not looking inward”? While I think his songs are heightened, I also think they're very personal. He must have felt they were personal too or he wouldn't have been able to write them > > What might be examples of songs not written by Jim that do > a good job of “not looking inward” and that Jim would > presumably like for that reason? All that 50s rock he grew up on, Phil Spector particularly. Some of The Beatles. Also, he would have grown up on musical theatre which was very big in those days. Broadway musicals are, of course, very heightened > > What might be examples of songs not written by Jim that do > a poor job of “not looking inward” and that Jim would > presumably not like for this reason? Joni Mitchell lol I wonder what he thinks of Carole King? > > If Jim taught about songwriting, what do you think the > other lessons might be? Other than “stop looking inward”, > “WRITE LYRICS FIRST ” and “WRITE IN THE VOICE AND TONE OF > A CHARACTER, VERY SPECIFIC! Or maybe iconic! BUT song > speaks as the person speaks!” I think he would tell everyone to start with the image of a character onstage. Not only is that character in an enormous stadium but it has to be heard by every single person. > > Do you think Jim has always written lyric first? If not, > when do you think he has not? He said in his 70s interview that he always starts with the lyrics. Even "The Confidence Man" (lyrics by Ray Errol Fox) was lyrics first, which then made an interesting scenario when Jim wrote "Future" and "For Sarah". > > In which songs do you think he may have violated his rule > about writing in the voice and tone of a character? I'm going to answer this more complexly (is that a word? lol) Since I can't imagine any of his popular songs that don't fit in "Neverland", I don't think he's violated this rule. | |
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