How easy is it to write a song?

[ALLWritety]

Hi guys & gals

Just wondering how easy it is to write a song. For those that don't know I live in Taiwan who are obessed with "CUTE" things such as Hello Kitty. Their TV shows are just as bad if not worse.

Anyway just for the fun of it. I am writing a "Song" for this land. It is a cutesy love song which is just what they love over here. I am sure you HARDCORE musians will just love this song!!! Only joking, put - the - guitar - down!

I have got the basis for the chorus, Verse 1 & 2 - Still nothing for V3.
I sat down one night and churned this out. It is still in it's very rawest form. (It will either make millions or go down as the crappest, cheeseyest (sp) song ever!!)

Just wondering how to finalse the song? I have convinced, well OK conned my musian friend to help me with the music and possibly the words too.

Any advice. YES this is my 1st song and prob my last too. ;-p

Kev.

[hubbabubbs]

wow, first song. I remember mine, I was sure it would be the next smash hit. But then, personally I haven't done a lot with my music. I have written over 70 songs (orchestral works not included) but only recorded five of them. But none of them are "cute." For me, songwriting is therapeutic. And it sounds you're more interested in "jingles".

Anyway here's my process if I want to get a song recorded.

Play it over and over again until I'm happy with it. There's no hard and fast rule how verses/chorus/bridges there have to be. The Manic's "Autumn Song" just had 1 chorus and 2 verses which Bradfield sang in different order/registers so you wouldn't notice, and then threw in a pretty decent guitar break. I normally end up with 2/3 verses, a chorus, some sort of bridge and sometimes I will throw in a pre-chorus.

Once I have the overall down, I go back and focus on the lyrics. I generally go for passionate, visual and metaphorical with a clear through line. This is one song. It should be about one thing.

If I'm happy I do a rough live recording with just guitar and vocals.

I'm a DIY guy so if you have computer, recording software and some mics you can record it yourself as a home demo.

Once I have that I play it back and start working on the other tracks, such as drums, organ, bass, strings, etc. Stuff you can do with midi and VSTs.

Then I record everything from scratch starting with the drums, bass, etc. Once I have the gist of that down I do the guitar and vocals, this time on different takes. Then add all the rest of the stuff. And mix it down.

Finally enter it in online competitions or post it on member sites such as broadjam for feedback. Or you could try to get it into an execs hands, but chances there are really slim since, almost universally, they don't accept unsolicited material.
Or you could start gigging. Build a local fan base.

[ALLWritety]

Thanks Hub
Wow i am impressed so talented.

My song is a fun song but also a romantic song. I am doing it coz it just begs to be done! I am going to have fun writing this. As for it seriously getting made or onto the music scene over, I don't know. I do have a couple of ideas and who kow might just pull it off!!!

Kev.