the AMP Issue 29

"Songwriting is a very mysterious process. It feels like creating something from nothing. It's something I don't feel like I really control." 
— Tracy Chapman

In This Issue... [XX pages, approx XXish minutes to read] You'll Get...

• RECOMMENDS— SongTown On Songwriting. 

• the 100 GREATEST SINGER SONGWRITERS of All Time— Tracy Chapman. 

Fun Feature 
• MONDEGREEN— the Second Mondegreen.

• BACKSTAGE PASS— Making Imagery an Important Part of Your Lyric.

• SNAPSHOT— A Music Graphic Worth 1,000 Words. Or more. 

• PS from PS— So, what DO you DO for a living?

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Here’s the playlist

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• RECOMMENDS— SongTown On Songwriting 

SongTown on Songwriting is a refreshingly honest look at what it takes to write a great song and navigate the sometimes stormy seas of today's music industry. SongTown's podcast is an always useful and valuable ‘how to' resource and a celebration of songs and Songwriters. SongTown also provides an extensive library of articles and videos, plus community and coaching on Songwriting, production, and the ins and outs of the music business, all from music industry pros for those of you looking to level up your Songwriting and get your songs heard. We frequently (as in weekly) post SongTown shorts, full videos, and podcasts in the New Music Lives™ Group on Facebook. They're always good to great stuff you can count on. 

Founders and award-winning songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson are sincerious (both sincere and serious) in their commitment to helping Singer Songwriters understand their art, craft, and the business-of-the-business. Open. Honest. Clean. Clear. They're like hanging out with friends— been there, done that friends who know. 

Up for a sample from SongTown? Tap here: 5 Songwriting Tips You Might Not Have Thought Of. Over the course of Marty Dodson's pro songwriting career, he's picked up many such tips. These are his top 5. (And they're really good.)

Tap this link to go to SongTown's YouTube channel featuring Songwriting Tips From Hit Songwriters— Where Hit Songwriters share their Songwriting Tips & process with you! SongTown on Songwriting Podcast— With industry insights and real songwriting tips from the professionals on the SongTown on Songwriting Podcast. Stories Behind The Songs— Hit Songwriters share the stories behind some of their biggest songs! Pro Producer Tips— Hit Music Producers share production tips with YOU! The Business of Music plus Past Live Streams and more. 

Tap this hyperlink, SongTown On Songwriting and you'll go to a page with a variety of rich resources to sample. Scroll down (to the bottom left) and enter your email to Subscribe under STAY CONNECTED and you'll join over 30,000 Songwriters worldwide who receive SongTown's free weekly lessons and more. 

• the 100 GREATEST SINGER SONGWRITERS of All Time— Tracy Chapman 

Tracy Chapman is NOT on Rolling Stones's list of 100 Greatest Singer Songwriters. She IS on our New Music Lives™ list. High up! And as evidenced by her performance of Fast Car with Luke Combs at the 2024 Grammy Awards, she's on almost everybody's list of Most Beloved Singer Songwriters of All Time. (Tap the link above to view their performance.) 

You got a fast car 
But is it fast enough so we can fly away 
We gotta make a decision 
We leave tonight or live and die this way. 

Tracy Chapman, an iconic American singer-songwriter born on March 30, 1964, has left an indelible mark on the music industry with her soul-stirring lyrics and melodies. Most known for her hit singles Fast Car (1988) and Give Me One Reason (1995), Chapman's music transcends time, resonating with audiences worldwide. Her journey into music began in Cleveland, Ohio, where she was raised by her mother. From a young age, Chapman showed a keen interest in music, learning to play the guitar and writing songs by the age of eight. 

Chapman's breakthrough came in 1988 with the release of her self-titled debut album, Tracy Chapman, which catapulted her to fame, particularly after her performance at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert. The album was a commercial success, earning her three Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist. Her subsequent albums, such as Crossroads (1989), Matters of the Heart (1992), and New Beginning (1995), further established her as a formidable force in the music industry. New Beginning was particularly successful, going 5X platinum in the U.S. and featuring the Grammy winning hit Give Me One Reason. 

Over the years, Chapman has released several more albums, including Telling Stories (2000), Let It Rain (2002), Where You Live (2005), and Our Bright Future (2008), showcasing her evolution as an artist and her commitment to exploring different musical landscapes. In 2015, she curated and released the Greatest Hits album, a testament to her enduring legacy in the music world. 

Chapman's accolades extend beyond her Grammy wins. In 2023, she made history as the first Black person to score a country number one with a solo composition and win the Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year for Luke Combs' cover of Fast Car. This milestone highlighted her versatility as a Songwriter and her ability to cross genre boundaries effortlessly. 

Beyond her musical accomplishments, Chapman is known for her deep personal integrity and commitment to social activism. Throughout her career, she has used her platform to advocate for human rights, environmental causes, and social justice, participating in charity events and supporting various causes. 

Chapman's influence extends beyond her music; she has also been a significant figure in social activism, using her voice and platform to champion causes close to her heart. From performing at events for Amnesty International to engaging in educational initiatives, her commitment to making a difference in the world is evident. Her involvement in social causes and her dedication to music education reflects her belief in the power of music to inspire change and bring people together. 

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To visit the MusicThisDay.com website, tap the link: The 100 Greatest Songwriters Of All Time. 

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• MONDEGREEN— (Another one) Wait! What's a Mondegreen? 

a Mondegreen... 

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Most people have probably listened to a song and, unable to clearly hear a lyric, replaced the correct words with something that sounds similar, whether it makes much sense or not. This is known as a mondegreen. The Dictionary definition reads, "a word or phrase that results from a mishearing of something said or sung."  

The word “mondegreen” was coined in 1954 by the American writer Sylvia Wright. In an essay for Harper's Magazine, Wright explained how, when she was a child, her mother would read to her from the Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, a book of poems and ballads. One of her favorite poems contained the lines, "They hae slain the Earl Amurray, / And laid him on the green." Wright, however, misheard "laid him on the green" as "Lady Mondegreen." The words stuck in her mind and made sense in her child's mind. And so, the word "mondegreen" was born of itself. 

Children are a particularly rich source of mondegreens. In America, it's not uncommon for school kids to butcher the National Anthem: "José, can you see..." Or even the  Lord's Prayer: "And lead us not into Penn Station." 

Adults are also accomplished in the art of mondegreening, especially when it comes to songs— and especially when the singer has a habit of singing indistinctly, like Nirvana's Kurt Cobain or R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe. In the next couple of issues of the AMP, we'll feature a few classics and mondegreens from famous songs, such as the first one below.  Have fun. 

Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix 

Original Lyric:  

'Scuse me while I kiss the sky 

Mondegreen:  

'Scuse me while I kiss this guy 

Listeners have been getting this one wrong since the song's release in 1967, but even Hendrix sang the confused lines occasionally. He'd sometimes sing “kiss this guy” during live concerts while pointing at drummer Mitch Mitchell. 

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Want MORE...? 

Should you fast be becoming a TrueFan of mondegreens, tap the link to catch Ben Langley's HILARIOUS misheard lyrics on Britain's Got Talent. They gave him four 'Yeses.'

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• BACKSTAGE PASS— Making Imagery an Important Part of Your Lyric by Gary Ewer 

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Like so many things in the creative arts, imagery is a difficult thing to define with any kind of precision. Of course, you could say that imagery in Songwriting is, simply, anything that creates images [word pictures] in the mind of the listener. 

But to me, there's more to it, because practically anything you write will create images. In You Belong With Me, Taylor Swift wrote: 

You're on the phone with your girlfriend, she's upset 
She's going off about something that you said 
'Cause she doesn't get your humor like I do 

And you get images in your mind right away. But while there's absolutely nothing wrong with that lyric, it's not what we usually mean by imagery. So what then? 

Specifically, I'd say that good imagery has that particular quality of creating a maximum of images in a listener's mind with a minimum of words. In that regard, there's an efficiency in good imagery. With a few well-chosen words, a good lyricist can generate multiple, perhaps complex, images. 

Most of the time, we value a good lyricist's ability to do this sort of thing, without really realizing that that's what we're valuing. In other words, good lyricists have a way of painting a full and comprehensive scene with just a few well-placed words. 

Often it comes down to word choice because the words you finally settle on will give us deeper meanings— some important subtext— that paints that fuller picture. 

There are so many good examples, but I love Bruce Springsteen's choice of words for  the opening verse of Tunnel of Love:  

Fat man sitting on a little stool 
Takes the money from my hand while his eyes take a walk all over you 

His choice of his eyes take a walk all over you says more than he couldn't take his eyes off you. It gives us the man's attitude. He sounds a little 'greasier'— a little smarmier. That's what I mean when I say that with a minimum of words, we get a fuller picture. 

Tunnel of Love is also a great example of other things that good imagery does, which is to use metaphors and similes to further amplify meaning. You get the feeling that most of what he's writing about is a metaphor, and then you start to wonder if it's possible that even that opening line is actually a metaphor for something else: perhaps the fat man sitting on a little stool is Springsteen's way of describing the challenges of living in a relationship. It's fun to wonder. 

And in the end, good imagery does that— a lot! It makes you question what you're seeing as you take in all the images the song lyric generates. You then realize that you can use the singer's instrumental choices, modal choices, chord choices, and more to help you understand those images. When imagery works, it makes songs fun to think about. 

The best way to improve your use of imagery in songwriting is to find those lyricists that you like and ask yourself what it is that you like about them. Learn from them. Analyze what they say, and how they say it. And then see what you can do to emulate their technique in your own writing. 

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Following Gary's recommendation, here's a list NML created of Songwriters known for their masterful use of imagery, creating immersive and picturesque narratives that enable listeners to visualize stories, emotions, personalities, and landscapes with their lyrics for you to study...  

BUT BEFORE you look at this list, here's a remarkable example of imagery from Bruce Springsteen's It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City. 

I had skin like leather and the diamond-hard look of a cobra 
I was born blue and weathered but I burst just like a supernova 
I could walk like Brando right into the sun, then dance just like a Casanova
with my blackjack and jacket and hair slicked sweet 
Silver star studs on my duds, just like a Harley in heat 
When I strut down the street, I could feel its heartbeat 
The sisters fell back and said, "Don't that man look pretty" 
The cripple on the corner cried out, "Nickels for your pity" 
Then gasoline boys downtown sure talk gritty 
It's so hard to be a saint in the city 

As said, "remarkable." Some more Masters of Imagery for you... 

• Bob Dylan— An iconic figure in popular music and culture for over five decades, Dylan has a unique ability to weave complex images and stories through his lyrics, making him a Nobel laureate in Literature. 

• Joni Mitchell— Known for her poetic lyrics and complex melodies, Mitchell's songs are rich with visual imagery, exploring themes of love, disillusionment, and environmental concerns. 

• Leonard Cohen— Cohen's work is noted for its exploration of religion, politics, isolation, sexuality, and personal relationships, all delivered through profound imagery. 

• Paul Simon— With a career spanning over six decades, Simon's songwriting combines a wide palette of musical styles with lyrics that paint vivid pictures and tell compelling stories. 

• Nick Cave— Cave's lyrics often explore themes of love, death, and religion, filled with rich imagery and narratives that draw the listener into a dark, poetic world. 

• Patti Smith— Dubbed the "punk poet laureate," Smith's work merges rock and poetry, with her lyrics painting vivid images that explore complex themes of existence, transformation, and rebirth. 

• Tom Waits— Known for his raspy voice and distinctive musical style, Waits' songs are peopled with characters and images drawn from the underbelly of society, telling stories of the dispossessed and the downtrodden. 

• Bruce Springsteen— Springsteen's lyrics often paint vivid pictures of American life, exploring themes of love, loss, and redemption, with a keen eye for detail that brings his stories to life. 

• Kate Bush— Bush's innovative music and storytelling lyrics are filled with vivid imagery, often inspired by literature and film, creating a unique and immersive listening experience. 

• Tracy Chapman— With a focus on storytelling, Chapman's songs often paint vivid pictures of social issues, personal struggles, and the human condition, delivered through her powerful and emotive voice. 

• Fleet Foxes (Robin Pecknold)— Pecknold's lyrics are known for their rich imagery and pastoral themes, often invoking nature to explore deeper human emotions and stories. 

• Joanna Newsom— Newsom's intricate lyrics and harp playing combine to create songs that are densely packed with imagery and allegory, often drawing from folklore and history. 

• Sufjan Stevens— Stevens' storytelling through song is marked by his use of vivid imagery and personal narratives, exploring themes of faith, family, and identity. These songwriters have mastered the art of using language to create detailed, vivid images in the minds of their listeners, making their music not just heard, but also seen in the imagination. 

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Gary Ewer received his B.Mus degree in Music Composition from Dalhousie  University in 1982, and then continued studies with various composers at McGill  University. His career has been mainly in the teaching of music at all levels of education from grade school through to university: music theory, ear training, composition, arranging, and orchestration. Gary has also conducted choirs, orchestras, and bands. Ewer's compositions— mainly for choirs and orchestras— have been composed for, and performed by, the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), Symphony Nova Scotia, The Elmer Isler Singers, and many others. He's the author of The Essential Secrets of  Songwriting: a comprehensive eBook that teaches the intricate details of Songwriting technique, using hit songs to demonstrate each concept. The book analyzes the inner workings of popular music in much the same way a Classical musician would analyze a symphony: by showing writers what works, why it works, and how to use those same kinds of ideas in their own music. 

Tap the link to learn more about Gary Ewer and his work at his Secrets Of Songwriting website

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• SNAPSHOT— A Music Graphic Worth 1,000 Words. Or more.

Challenges and Future Dynamics. Both are on display in this graphic from Rather than attempt to instruct you on what's important. We'll leave that and those insights to you. We will however encourage you to take some moments to consider the RESULTS (NEW FOUNDATIONS) side. 'For therein doth a Singer Songwriter's future lay' (no lie). Not the easiest chart to view on your phone. Sorry for that. We even had to enlarge it on a laptop.  

The old maxim that change is the only constant feels tailor-made for the 21st-century music business. No sooner does the industry get its head around one paradigm shift then another one comes along. First piracy, then downloads, then streaming, then the rise of the independent artist, and now…well, just what is ‘now'? AI may be the word on everyone's lips, but as transformational as it will be, it is going to be an enabler of a wider shift, one that will see a forking from today's LISTEN-focused ecosystem,  resulting in the emergence of a new, parallel PLAY-focused one. 

The full article is worth the read. Tap here to go there: MIDiA Research 

in partnership with the Jim Parker Songwriter Series

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• PS from PS— So, what DO you DO for a living? 

In the last Issue of AMP, I wrote about the answer to the question, "What do you do for a living!" I wanted you to think about how YOU answer that question. 

During this past week, I asked some Singer Songwriters. What I heard most often was a variation on the theme, "I'm a real estate agent... and a Singer Songwriter." Had me singing Billy Joel's, "Now Paul is a real estate novelist. Who never had time for a wife..." A couple of you said you were still trying to figure that out. Okay. I get it. 

Only one person— only one person— said, 'I'm a Singer Songwriter.'  

It's NOT a small thing. It's a BIG thing! It's important. You are who you say you are. Nobody else matters. It's a declaration. Take a stand for who and how you are in your life and work.  

Okay. You haven't had a hit record. Don't have an album out— yet. Aren't booked solid with gigs for the next three months? So...? 

Are you a Singer Songwriter or... Not? 

Because Baby if you can't say it, you're going to have trouble being it. Be. Do. Have. You've got to BE a Singer Songwriter before you can DO Singing and Songwriting and have the life a Singer Songwriter lives. 

Saying it makes you uncomfortable? Practice. It's makes perfect.  

Repeat after me... NO! Sign along... 

I am a Singer Songwriter. 
I am a Singer Songwriter. 
I am a Singer Songwriter. 
I am a Singer Songwriter. 
I am a Singer Songwriter. 
I am a Singer Songwriter.

Can you feel it!?! Starting to own it!?! 

Make it an affirmation. Many times a day. And as you say it, visualize it. See yourself on stage. Performing flat out. 100%! Take in the applause. Be there at the merch table with fans asking if they can give you a hug. Soak it all up. "I am a Singer Songwriter." 

I AM a SINGER SONGWRITER! 

Yes. You are. 

Until we speak again. 

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Thank You our True Fans for reading the AMP. Give us your feedback.  And PLEASE, if you've got any Singer Songwriter friends, pass the AMP on, because... It's Time... for a Change. Big Time. Past Time… 

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