Talk:Songwriter
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[edit] Songwriters and not
The wording of this page is too benign and generic.
There should be a distinction between someone who writes a few lines or a few words for a song, rather than wholly contributing to the song. If someone writes the lyrics and the music to a song, and someone rewords or adds a few lines, that doesn't make a songwriter. If Emeril LaGasse cooks a new meal and I add the salt, that by no means means I am now a chef. I am a songwriter and the title of songwriter is thrown around much too freely. MsEames
- Done. Hyacinth 08:08, 9 December 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Vocal range and key
Whilst agreeing completely about the importance of the intended singer's vocal range, I question that singers favour a particular key. Surely it depends only on the pitch range of the notes in question. For example, I can best sing John Lennon's "Jealous Guy" in the key of C but I can't sing his "Imagine" comfortably in that key, simply because its higher notes approach my upper limit.
Also, looking at the songs of a prolific singer-songwriter, such as Paul McCartney, for example, reveals a variety of keys, without any clear favourite emerging. It does, however, also reveal a group of keys that are not favoured, e.g D flat and B, but this is for other reasons, such as suitabilty for intended instruments and nothing to do with vocal preference.
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- I agree with your research completely. The reason singers prefer some keys over others, is that even though a certain key might be within the singer's vocal range, it might still be a difficult key to sing in as compared to a different key (which was also within the singer's vocal range like the first key). If both keys are within a singer's vocal range, then why does he find one easier to sing in and the other a little more difficult? It is because of the intervals between notes of the key. For example, because of the biology of the singer's voice box, it might be easier for him physically to make the jump from let's say notes three to five in key X rather in key Y. Individually, the singer can sing the third and fifth notes of both keys without a problem. But when sung in succession, for whatever quirk of his singing abilities, the singer may find it easier to sing the third and fifth notes of key X in succession, rather than the third and fifth notes of key Y. Please note, that I'm using note three (III) and note five (V), only as an example. It can be any notes of the scale of the key.
[edit] Too general
This article is too general and doesn't go into specifics enough.
The line:
'A rock song in contrast, would never have its music played by pianos and banjos' is flat-out wrong - listen to 'November Rain' by Guns n' Roses for example - I'm sure there are many other others. I understand the gist of this comment, however it needs elaboration. Rock songs should not be restricted to certain instruments.
- That section "Parameters a songwriter has to keep in mind when writing a new song" was an addition by 202.165.255.18. I removed it. I also removed the "Useful technique for writing music for musical instruments or singers" section by 193.251.135.126. Hyacinth 11:01, 11 December 2005 (UTC)
[edit] New article?
I propose to write a sister article entitled "Songwriting". Thoughts? It looks like at various times, people have tried to add information to this article that are about the act of songwriting, not about songwriters per se. I could take some of this info, as well as information I am researching about songwriting and make an article. Aguerriero 19:41, 29 March 2006 (UTC)
- That's a good idea. However, I wonder if such an article would belong under Musical composition. I'm a songwriter, and I know a lot of songwriters and songwriting teachers. It's hard to write about the actual process (not just the history of it) without being either POV or boring. Bufflo 09:33, 22 June 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Copyright law
Removed intellectual property reference as songs are only covered by copyright law and not trade mark law, patent law or trade secret law. Also added short explicit info on what you need permission for. Copying and public performing of a work.
- Please sign your posts on talk pages per Wikipedia:Sign your posts on talk pages. Thanks! Hyacinth 21:55, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
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- Sorry about that. Created an account. Peope 23:39, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
[edit] External Links Section
I have just removed quite a few of the ELs on this article. The reasoning is that they are not directly about songwriters, but instead were links to commercial companies that offer services that might be related to songwriting. I also note that the article on Music publisher also has these links, and if anywhere, I feel that they are more appropriate there. It would be good if we could discuss this here before reverting. Thanks. -- Alucard (Dr.) | Talk 17:28, 22 January 2007 (UTC)
- Yeah, people keep coming here to post commercial links. Not much to do about it , other than to delete them over and over I guess. Bufflo 02:34, 23 January 2007 (UTC)
