TojesDolan
10-23-2005, 04:57 PM
Hello, fellow songwriters, poets and lyricists. I'm TojesDolan, your fellow writer, nice critic of your work and evil dude that has nothing better to do at the moment (Maybe that expo I have to do for lit about baroque, but not now) and that wants to follow the later trend of making threads to make you feel like you are inexpert and what not.
This threads will be known as:
Tojesdolan's Incredible Threads for The Inexpert's Education
And from now on, they will be known as: "TITTIE". That wasn't an intended pun guys... really. My first subject of concern has got to be what I've read a lot lately, and that bugs me big time and keeps me from writing any form of critique:
THE CLICHÉS
But first of all, let's understand what a cliché is:
According to dictionary.com, a cliché is the following...
1. A trite or overused expression or idea: “Even while the phrase was degenerating to cliché in ordinary public use... scholars were giving it increasing attention” (Anthony Brandt).
2. A person or character whose behavior is predictable or superficial: “There is a young explorer... who turns out not to be quite the cliche expected” (John Crowley).
This word derives from the French term, past participle of clicher, which means to stereotype (imitative of the sound made when the matrix is dropped into molten metal to make a stereotype plate).
Anyhow, that's the definition. Why does it bug me as a songwriter, and most of all, as a critic of your work? First of all, considering the definition provided, it's an overused expression or idea. Therefore, I encounter myself over, and over, and over, and over again with the same stuff again, and again until I think "screw all I don't want to crit again boo-hoo". Second of all, if something has been said before, a million thousand times better than the person who makes the cliché...What makes you think you'll top it? It's pretty dumb to think so.
After the introduction, I must start with some of the aspects of cliché I consider are the worst, and then some sexy tips for you to follow. Up to this point, I think most of you are bored and don't give a crap about this document, so here you go. A puppy for your diversion.
http://red-light-house.com/images/cute_puppy.jpg
Ahead with the clichés.
1/2. One-liners that are clichés
THIS IS SEMI-INTRODUCTORY.
This ones seem to be one of the things I seemed to skip while I was thinking about clichés, and are, as seen by other members, one of the biggest flaws in what people write. I can't really recall any new songs I've read that are particularly clichéd, or lines that really destroy my nerves, but just for the sakes of examples, let's revise the one liners.
P.S. On second thought, I'll put the major one liner clichés on each genre. It'll seem easier, I guess. :)
1. Love letters
Yes. Love letters. First the love, then comes marriage. you know how it works. The best inspiration come from the female figure (or male sometimes, but that's not my business) so why not make a monument to it!
I have a few againsts that.
first of all, whoever you are, no matter who you are, you started writing lyrics of love. It's the quintessential subject of them all. Everyone relates poetry with love. People who dislike poets say that poets are love-lovers fags. SO, why would someone write something about something that has been written since the discovery of the other self!. Yes. Everyone has done it, and everyone do it among these lines:
Verse1:
My dear valentine,
i love you a lot, so lot,
i cant live without you
because i love you
and you are a girl
(crazy solo)
Verse2:
yeah you hurt me
and i love you
because you sexy
and you have big jugs
That's pretty much the idea. If you write like that, or something like that, stop it! It hurts a lot reading something so predictable and boring!
Example of clichés you may want to avoid
I love you like no other And stuff of the kind won't startle anyone. Try to capture what you feel for your significant other in ways that haven't been done before, even if that is an attack to good customs and the moral of the reader. Remember, A shocker is always better than a rocker. ;)
Dumbed-down metpahors Like "ur beutiful leik a flower" or "ur green eyes are like shiny emeralds". Those aren't impressive anymore. Get creative, people! Look at nature, at history, mythology. Anything is good when it comes to inspiration.
*More to come*
Personal Suggestion on the subject
If you'll write about love, write about something not related to the love itself. Walk around the bushes, make a game or words about how you love the girl, DON'T MENTION THE WORD LOVE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD and most importantly, make it significant for yourself, but enough well written so everyone can relate. It's not an easy task, but who said writing was? :)
2. Emo
Excuse me Burt, I know how much you hate the use of the term, but it's something that has to be brought up, and therefore, try to avoid it's usage (It'll be used as soon as this thread dies out, so whatever).
The emo-hatred, pseudoemo-songwriting has had a lot of hype lately. I notice it down here, as I see some song that are supposed to be "emotional" or something, and they turn up being rather dumb and generic. They always revolt around sliting wrists, punches, being sad... I don't know. Rather stupid stuff around that line, in order to try to make themselves look like they are cool. Well. You're not if you've tried it. It's rather stupid and immature to do that.
I can't really help you a lot in this subject, as I hardly know any emo-hardcore-etc. bands, I know a few, but lyrics are not my strong point there. You can contact Burt (Subtledagger) for more information on the subject, so you don't make a fool of yourself so quickly.
Example of clichés you may want to avoid
Slitting wrists is way to passé. DOn't even attempt it, that will just show ignorance on your side, and people will, at most, think you're just a follower. Set trends, don't go along with them.
*more to come*
3. Politics
Politics. Yes. Ever since System of a Down and Rage against the machine and some others (I mention the most mainstream, don't start bothering) made their political songs, everyone feels opiniated and that they can say whatever they want to, and sound cool and say "yeah **** Bush". Well, that's not the case in here. Most attempts are quite... wait give me a break so I can turn of the fan... done. Yes, most attempts are pretty lame, mostly because the opinions are one-sided and the facts and what not that they use are misinformed or pretty lacking most of the times. It's not supposed to be something strictly against the government, it just happens to be a tendency to go against eveything and everyone with absolutely no direction.
The thing that mostly bugs me is the fact that the "originality" factor of these political songs goes down the drain because everyone feels like writing about the "hype" subject. When it was Bush, everyone said Bush was (still is) an idiot, or something around that line.
Example of clichés you may want to avoid
Trend subjects Don't go with what's trendy. If you think you are knowledgable of the subject. go ahead, but usually they are flunks.
Poor people, 3rd world Don't attempt going B.Y.O.B. They tried it, and it wasn't good lyrically. At all. Poor people are poor because either a) they are unlucky or b)they are too lazy. Don't even get there if you're not a third-worldist yourself. Or a fine black gentleman. That lives in the Rainforest.
Dictators and nazis unless you lived in the Reich, or you have direct communication with the actual U.S. government, do 't get your hands in there. These themes usually end up in useless whining towards the other two subjects.
*more to come soon*
Personal Suggestion on the subject
Don't go for the subjects that are modern. Try to input always your personal opinion (NOT WHAT YOU ARE TOLD) on your song, and always be yourself. Don't pretend to know what you don't even comprehend, just make statements on things you know for sure, and document yourself. I cannot stress this enough, it's sad to see song that make stupid rants about facts given by television or any form of media and don't have the bases, or maybe they do, but people don't care and rant along the line.
This threads will be known as:
Tojesdolan's Incredible Threads for The Inexpert's Education
And from now on, they will be known as: "TITTIE". That wasn't an intended pun guys... really. My first subject of concern has got to be what I've read a lot lately, and that bugs me big time and keeps me from writing any form of critique:
THE CLICHÉS
But first of all, let's understand what a cliché is:
According to dictionary.com, a cliché is the following...
1. A trite or overused expression or idea: “Even while the phrase was degenerating to cliché in ordinary public use... scholars were giving it increasing attention” (Anthony Brandt).
2. A person or character whose behavior is predictable or superficial: “There is a young explorer... who turns out not to be quite the cliche expected” (John Crowley).
This word derives from the French term, past participle of clicher, which means to stereotype (imitative of the sound made when the matrix is dropped into molten metal to make a stereotype plate).
Anyhow, that's the definition. Why does it bug me as a songwriter, and most of all, as a critic of your work? First of all, considering the definition provided, it's an overused expression or idea. Therefore, I encounter myself over, and over, and over, and over again with the same stuff again, and again until I think "screw all I don't want to crit again boo-hoo". Second of all, if something has been said before, a million thousand times better than the person who makes the cliché...What makes you think you'll top it? It's pretty dumb to think so.
After the introduction, I must start with some of the aspects of cliché I consider are the worst, and then some sexy tips for you to follow. Up to this point, I think most of you are bored and don't give a crap about this document, so here you go. A puppy for your diversion.
http://red-light-house.com/images/cute_puppy.jpg
Ahead with the clichés.
1/2. One-liners that are clichés
THIS IS SEMI-INTRODUCTORY.
This ones seem to be one of the things I seemed to skip while I was thinking about clichés, and are, as seen by other members, one of the biggest flaws in what people write. I can't really recall any new songs I've read that are particularly clichéd, or lines that really destroy my nerves, but just for the sakes of examples, let's revise the one liners.
P.S. On second thought, I'll put the major one liner clichés on each genre. It'll seem easier, I guess. :)
1. Love letters
Yes. Love letters. First the love, then comes marriage. you know how it works. The best inspiration come from the female figure (or male sometimes, but that's not my business) so why not make a monument to it!
I have a few againsts that.
first of all, whoever you are, no matter who you are, you started writing lyrics of love. It's the quintessential subject of them all. Everyone relates poetry with love. People who dislike poets say that poets are love-lovers fags. SO, why would someone write something about something that has been written since the discovery of the other self!. Yes. Everyone has done it, and everyone do it among these lines:
Verse1:
My dear valentine,
i love you a lot, so lot,
i cant live without you
because i love you
and you are a girl
(crazy solo)
Verse2:
yeah you hurt me
and i love you
because you sexy
and you have big jugs
That's pretty much the idea. If you write like that, or something like that, stop it! It hurts a lot reading something so predictable and boring!
Example of clichés you may want to avoid
I love you like no other And stuff of the kind won't startle anyone. Try to capture what you feel for your significant other in ways that haven't been done before, even if that is an attack to good customs and the moral of the reader. Remember, A shocker is always better than a rocker. ;)
Dumbed-down metpahors Like "ur beutiful leik a flower" or "ur green eyes are like shiny emeralds". Those aren't impressive anymore. Get creative, people! Look at nature, at history, mythology. Anything is good when it comes to inspiration.
*More to come*
Personal Suggestion on the subject
If you'll write about love, write about something not related to the love itself. Walk around the bushes, make a game or words about how you love the girl, DON'T MENTION THE WORD LOVE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD and most importantly, make it significant for yourself, but enough well written so everyone can relate. It's not an easy task, but who said writing was? :)
2. Emo
Excuse me Burt, I know how much you hate the use of the term, but it's something that has to be brought up, and therefore, try to avoid it's usage (It'll be used as soon as this thread dies out, so whatever).
The emo-hatred, pseudoemo-songwriting has had a lot of hype lately. I notice it down here, as I see some song that are supposed to be "emotional" or something, and they turn up being rather dumb and generic. They always revolt around sliting wrists, punches, being sad... I don't know. Rather stupid stuff around that line, in order to try to make themselves look like they are cool. Well. You're not if you've tried it. It's rather stupid and immature to do that.
I can't really help you a lot in this subject, as I hardly know any emo-hardcore-etc. bands, I know a few, but lyrics are not my strong point there. You can contact Burt (Subtledagger) for more information on the subject, so you don't make a fool of yourself so quickly.
Example of clichés you may want to avoid
Slitting wrists is way to passé. DOn't even attempt it, that will just show ignorance on your side, and people will, at most, think you're just a follower. Set trends, don't go along with them.
*more to come*
3. Politics
Politics. Yes. Ever since System of a Down and Rage against the machine and some others (I mention the most mainstream, don't start bothering) made their political songs, everyone feels opiniated and that they can say whatever they want to, and sound cool and say "yeah **** Bush". Well, that's not the case in here. Most attempts are quite... wait give me a break so I can turn of the fan... done. Yes, most attempts are pretty lame, mostly because the opinions are one-sided and the facts and what not that they use are misinformed or pretty lacking most of the times. It's not supposed to be something strictly against the government, it just happens to be a tendency to go against eveything and everyone with absolutely no direction.
The thing that mostly bugs me is the fact that the "originality" factor of these political songs goes down the drain because everyone feels like writing about the "hype" subject. When it was Bush, everyone said Bush was (still is) an idiot, or something around that line.
Example of clichés you may want to avoid
Trend subjects Don't go with what's trendy. If you think you are knowledgable of the subject. go ahead, but usually they are flunks.
Poor people, 3rd world Don't attempt going B.Y.O.B. They tried it, and it wasn't good lyrically. At all. Poor people are poor because either a) they are unlucky or b)they are too lazy. Don't even get there if you're not a third-worldist yourself. Or a fine black gentleman. That lives in the Rainforest.
Dictators and nazis unless you lived in the Reich, or you have direct communication with the actual U.S. government, do 't get your hands in there. These themes usually end up in useless whining towards the other two subjects.
*more to come soon*
Personal Suggestion on the subject
Don't go for the subjects that are modern. Try to input always your personal opinion (NOT WHAT YOU ARE TOLD) on your song, and always be yourself. Don't pretend to know what you don't even comprehend, just make statements on things you know for sure, and document yourself. I cannot stress this enough, it's sad to see song that make stupid rants about facts given by television or any form of media and don't have the bases, or maybe they do, but people don't care and rant along the line.