Easiest way to get music put to lyrics?

AZF wrote: Another hurdle is even if you do find the right people, the musical landscape has changed. People aren't buying albums and poring over them like they did in the halcyon days. Not to say give up. But if you perform it and gets some applause (because it's finished?) don't go down the bitter "Wouldn't know good music if it bit them" excuse at the audience. Rock is in a seriously critical condition. PROG is even worse. I know that remark will cause a list of modern Prog bands, but how many of those are selling huge numbers? How many are selling to at least cover the costs of the electricity to play and record the music? Even Poetry, that's in a worse state. Go to any bookstore and pick up a modern book. Look at the huge blank spaces underneath the few lines of words. Look at the size of the page, look how tiny the font is and then look at the price. Add me to the list of doubters if you want, but the landscape has changed. It's not coming back. It's easier to connect with musicians thanks to the Net. But also thanks to the Net it's nigh on impossible to get the attention of people to listen to more than a minute. "If you're any good... You'll be discovered" is bullsh*t on a level with teeth under pillows. Carry on with it. Hope you get something together. But the interest just isn't there. Music as a hobby, at least interesting and fun. But as a career? Those days done.

You'll be happy to learn I never mentioned anything about being interested in money or fame.

AZF wrote: Another hurdle is even if you do find the right people, the musical landscape has changed. People aren't buying albums and poring over them like they did in the halcyon days.  ...

Just as a specific reply to Mcentra.....

Hi,

Edited by moshkito - February 05 2020 at 08:59

...

Edited by mcentra - February 06 2020 at 13:25

Davesax1965 wrote: Another example ? Famous UK poet says "I want someone to put my poetry to music".  Fine, says I. Lyrics, please.  Lyrics arrive, I do some test music. He sort of likes it, but wants a complete 30 min album done with him doing the poetry and me putting it to music. No chance says I, I don't have that kind of time to devote to it. I'm happy to do you a sample track, though. $0. Along eventually comes a 17 minute track of him reciting a dreadful poem, complete with microphone pops and crackles and mouse clicks where he's stopped the recording, yet left a click in. Example, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day CLICK ? " Every single line needs the audio chopping, editing, and then somehow time synching to the music.  He also has a voice like Latka from Taxi. We sort of agreed that I wouldn't be carrying on with it from there.  Mcentra, if you're thinking of doing this yourself, you're going to require a lot of kit - expensive kit - or it'll sound amateurish. What I'd do, if I could sing and write lyrics, is look for a local band or arts project, and co-operate with them. It will mean writing a collaborative piece, but at least everyone will be happy and at least you'll produce something. Good luck, and I mean it, but really, it might be your only way forwards.

This is very valuable feedback... all of your posts. Thank you. You had me laughing at people's expectations as well as intrigued to learn what the other side of the process is thinking.


It all makes a lot of sense and explains why a collaboration doesn't just happen.

I do put a lot of work into my lyrics but that isn't always apparent when they are all ready to read. Just because I did all the hard work pre-collaboration, doesn't mean I haven't worked hard. I agree it's easier on us lyricists but some people find music creation easier and struggle with lyrics.

I don't put any requirements on musicians for the music they put to my lyrics other than we understand the genre they are written for and the intensity of the song. Other than that, they can go wild and be as original as they want. I don't interfere otherwise unless a musician is asking for my input or is stuck and looking for suggestions.

Yes, it can be difficult when the vocals aren't working but that can go for any collaboration and band. It can also go for any instrument performance. That's not my problem as a lyricist. That's a problem as a unit of collaborators.

Great post...thank you. I still am leaning to doing it all myself but I'm always open to anyone who wants to take a shot.

A finished set of concept lyrics is not the same as a song here and there by a novice, if you'll permit me. If the lyrics are good it can be a blueprint for a certain level of musical consistency that can lead to success if the musicians can just push through it.

I think Rush is a great example of this. Being handed a set of music-less Neil Peart lyrics, for example, is not the same as being handed just any set of lyrics. If you know the level of care put into writing them you're not just going to discard them just because finding the right music for them might be a challenge. You're going to be inspired to figure out what music will work with them and take your time.

Lastly, in regards to who is constructing the song and lyrics...I would imagine that is less of a problem when the songs have gained a certain level of popularity no matter how little of your ideas as a musician have been accepted. For example, if you're playing some unknown song written by the vocalist in your unknown band, you're going to be like "None of my ideas are getting used!" But if you're Ringo Starr of the Beatles you're going to be like "Aren't we awesome?!" even if you're having little input to the majority or any of the songs.

Edited by mcentra - February 06 2020 at 13:46

Hi Mcentra, glad you liked the replies and sorry, yes, that's pretty much the situation. 

Edited by Davesax1965 - February 08 2020 at 02:53

PS In reply to Mosh

" thus in my way of thinking it is weird that Dave can not find words for it, and my thoughts are that he is thinking of "conventional" lala singing for it, and his music demands something else ... even someone reading a poem quietly over it, fits better than a lot of lyrics ... with one exception ... he gave that music a TITLE, that might suggest something else, that the words themselves might not have ... now we have another issue."

Edited by Davesax1965 - February 08 2020 at 04:42

I'm just imagining them doing "Tales from Topographic Oceans".....