Ideas to Inspire Your Next Song
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IDEAS TO INSPIRE YOUR NEXT SONG (and break writer’s block while you’re at it) BY CARI COLE 101 IDEAS TO INSPIRE YOUR NEXT SONG often hold back our And as a result it brands you right into emotions. It makes your songs. It’s the one thing that all sense that we might artists who break through have. want to hide the anger WEwe’re experiencing, our rage, depression, HERE’S THE SHORT LIST: hurt, grief, fear, or disappointment. These are • Signature songs reveal the real emotions that tend to be unpopular to share you, they tell a real story. Real stories with others. On the other hand, we might are “alive”, they have an energy even choose to mask our positive feelings that makes an impact. such as love, desire, and intimacy, simply Signature songs are distinctive. They because they intimidate us or we’re afraid • reveal your uniqueness and unique of the judgement or envy of others. story/stories that set you apart. But great songwriting is the process of • Signature songs are instantly revealing your feelings. If you don’t we can’t recognizable because they are well feel you. Songwriting is a place to be honest crafted but they do not copy other about them. Inquire into what’s beneath artists, they help you find your sound. them. Listen to what they’re asking of you. Stop fighting them. Stop trying to hide EXAMPLES OF SIGNATURE SONGS: them. Share them. • Adele: Someone Like You What we’ve found over the past several • Adele: Hello decades of helping artists, bands and musicians become better songwriters • Alanis Morrisette: Jagged Little Pill and brands, is that besides bettering your • Michael Jackson: Man in the Mirror craft, figuring out your real voice is the • Amy Winehouse: Back to Black key to songs that make a real impact. It’s Maroon 5: She Will Be Loved something we call Signature Songwriting™. • • Marvin Gaye: What’s Goin’ On WHAT IS • Sarah McLachlan: In the Arms of the Angel ? • Norah Jones: Come Away With Me • Nirvana: Come As You Are Signature Songwriting™ is the process of • Cyndi Lauper: Girls Just Wanna writing songs that tell your story or reveal Have Fun parts and pieces of your life, how you feel, who you are and what you really think. It’s a way of communicating who you are, standing out without holding anything back. © 2015 Cari Cole, Vocal Mag Inc. // CariCole.com // 101 Ideas to Inspire Your Next Song 2 101 IDEAS TO INSPIRE YOUR NEXT SONG HERE’S 101 THINGS TO INSPIRE YOUR What do you want to tell your NEXT SIGNATURE SONG™ (and break 8. girlfriend/boyfriend but are afraid it through that stubborn writer’s block while would hurt her/him? you’re at it). What do you want to tell your best These are all techniques that help the 9. friend but are afraid they wouldn’t get songwriter/artist write songs from personal it? experience and songs that are relatable at the same time. Truth always trumps fiction What is the thing you hide the most in songwriting. 10. about yourself? Write that song. What do you wish for on a regular 1. basis? Write about it. Do you have a secret? Write a song 11. about that secret and how you can’t tell anyone. 2. What’s the one thing you’ve always wanted someone to say to you but hardly ever hear? (or haven’t ever 12. What do never want anyone to know heard) That’s your chorus. about you? Great song material. What have you always wanted to say 13. What have you never said but always 3. to a significant person in your life wanted to? but somehow haven’t been able to? Either because you wouldn’t be heard What is screaming inside you to be or understood. 14. said? What has hurt you the most? Write a 15. What is your deepest fear? 4. song about it. Write 100 songs about it. 16. What do you think is wrong with What has made you the most happy the world? 5. in life? Write a song about it. Write 100 songs about it. 17. What do you think is wrong with you? What is the hardest thing for you to 6. What do you wish would be different say? Write about it and how it’s the 18. about your life? hardest thing for you to say. J What do you know and wish others What do you wish you could tell your 19. 7. would too? mother/father/sister/brother but have never been able to or got a chance to? © 2015 Cari Cole, Vocal Mag Inc. // CariCole.com // 101 Ideas to Inspire Your Next Song 3 101 IDEAS TO INSPIRE YOUR NEXT SONG 20. What’s your biggest secret? 29. Write a song to your musical hero. Make the chorus a thank you. What are your top 3 Defining 21. Moments in life? The one’s that 30. Write a help letter/song to a friend changed you. Write a song about in trouble. each one (or 3 or 4 or 5 or 10…) 31. Write a song to your younger self. What was the meanest thing 22. someone said to you? Write a song 32. Write a song to your younger about that specific circumstance and sister/brother. what they said. The “what they said” could be the chorus. 33. Write a love song to your husband. What was the hardest experience of Write a thank you song to your 23. your life so far? Write a song about 34. Mother but don’t reveal that it’s your it and tell the story in a way that is Mother. deeply personal and at the same time others can relate to it. Write a song to your childhood 35. friend that you’ve lost touch with Write 24. Who is your favorite person? about how you are now. about something they said to you. Write a song to a long lost friend Who is your least favorite person? 36. 25. about your life now (a “wish you could Write about something they said see me now” kind of song.) to you. Write a song reminiscing about the Write a letter to yourself from your 37. 26. past with someone you loved. higher self. Write a song apologizing for Write a song that is a wish list that 38. something you did that you are not 27. your higher self would give you. proud of. Write a song to each significant 28. Write a song to your future wife other from your past (and present). 39. or husband. This one makes for great songs. Use the details from the specific Write a song about what keeps you experience, but ones that everyone 40. up at night. can relate to. © 2015 Cari Cole, Vocal Mag Inc. // CariCole.com // 101 Ideas to Inspire Your Next Song 4 101 IDEAS TO INSPIRE YOUR NEXT SONG Write a song about lies you have If you were abused by one parent 41. told that only ended up hurting you. 50. or both, write a song about the experience. Use the same technique Write a song to someone who as above in #49. 42. helped you that you never thanked. If you were abused by someone, 51. Write a song about the person who emotionally or physically write a 43. has hurt you the most and what song about what you would have said you want to say to them that would if you could have. Often at the time resolve that hurt. victims can’t or don’t speak up. Use your voice to express it. 44. Write a song of forgiveness to someone who hurt you. 52. If a friend of yours was abandoned or abused, write a song a song of comfort from you to them. 45. What was it like growing up as a child? Tap into your memories, your emotional sphere… the inner life of a 53. What was the saddest experience in child is rich and imaginative. your life? Write a song about or to your Write a song that says what you 46. 54. favorite childhood friend. can’t do in a given situation. Write a song that says what you Write a song about the relationship 55. 47. between you and your Mother. Try to can’t do to a person in your life. identify the core of the feelings, the love or tension between you, or both. Write a song of hope when you 56. feel down. Write a song about the relationship 48. between you and your Father. Write an affirmation to yourself of 57. something you wish for. If you were abandoned by one 49. parent or both, write a song about 58. If you feel weak, write a song about the experience. Try to write it in a way being brave. that would heal you. The best songs are like therapy. If you feel ashamed, write a song 59. about wishing to be confident. © 2015 Cari Cole, Vocal Mag Inc. // CariCole.com // 101 Ideas to Inspire Your Next Song 5 101 IDEAS TO INSPIRE YOUR NEXT SONG If you feel regret, write a song about Write a song to someone you are 60. being free of regret. 72. breaking up with (break up with them in the song) 61. What is your deepest regret? Write a song to a complete stranger 73. telling them about your life. Write a song about what you would 62.