The ever lovely and talented (and what a voice!) Janice Ho, Song Talk Radio’s very own tweeting songbird, talked about two early collaborations she worked on and what to look out for when collaborating. Download the lyrics for the show.

We talked about:

* Muse Songwriters forum – a great online community to meet other lyricists and songwriters and collaborate on songs

* Janice’s song interpretation exercise

* Melody development and Melody in Songwriting by Jack Perricone

* Transitions between song sections

* Why sometimes you should reinterpret your song in a Motown style (according to Phil)

Listen to the complete show:

For this special theme show, each of the hosts presented a song with “unusual” or hard-to-decipher lyrics. We delved into a discussion around understanding the intentions behind and interpreting the songs. Download the lyrics here: Unusual Lyrics

* Neel’s selection: A Self Called Nowhere by They Might Be Giants

* Bruce’s selection: McArthur Park by Jimmy Webb (performed by Donna Summers)

* Janice’s selection: Paranoid Android by Radiohead

We talked about:

* The notion that once your song is released to the world, it’s no longer yours and open to multiple interpretations

* Check out www.songmeanings.com to read user interpretations of songs

* What is the purpose for communicating a story through unusual, hard-to-decipher lyrics?

* Use of metaphors

* Writing a song with unusual lyrics as a songwriter’s challenge – break the rules!

Listen to the complete show:

 

Faaria was one of our first guests on Song Talk Radio (check out her first episode) and she joined us once again with new songs about relationships, where none of them are autobiographical (or so she claims).

Stuff we talked about:

* writing from different point-of-views

* relationship songs

* how practicing songwriting can affect the enjoyment of listening to other songs

* progressing the story or idea from verse to verse

* spicing up chords using the Circle of Fifths

* the value of collaboration and playing around with songwriting suggestions

Download the lyrics for Faaria’s songs.

Listen to the full episode:

Watch the performances:

 

Carmen Toth / Social Potion joined us for the second time to talk about a new song, and an older one, both of which are appearing on her upcoming album.

Stuff we talked about:

* writing lyrics first, songs first, or improvising on the fly during a jam/collaboration

* journalling / creating a “lyrics bank”

* starting a song from an emotion

* marketing to promote other artists

* memorable titles in the world of singles

* working with a producer to focus the song structure and strengthen commercial appeal

* writing universal, relatable lyrics

* using a bridge to bring a new perspective into the song

Download Carmen’s lyrics for the show.

Listen to the complete episode:

From the moment Blair Packham started to speak, we knew we were in for some great lessons from a master songwriter and experienced teacher. If You Were Mine featured a great bridge and instrumental break. In Her Dreams started out as a story of a woman in a call centre and moved to a daughter caring for an ailing mother. In our wide-ranging conversation we also touched on the following:

* who are you writing for?

* does the song connect emotionally with the listener?

* collaboration is good

* ask for feedback and use it

* write from your creativity

* the new singer-songwriter accent (Shawn Mendes song Stitches for example)

* song-writing workshops (songstudio.ca)

Listen to the full episode

The ever talented Liz Jaremyn returned with two great songs. Here’s some stuff we talked about:

* Liz Jaremyn’s previous show in 2014

* Download the lyrics for Liz Jaremyn’s songs

* Overcoming writer’s block vs forcing it

* exploring song structures

* How many sections should your song have?

* Liz Jaremyn’s YouTube Channel

* Writing Better Lyrics – Pat Patison

Listen to the whole show:

Bruce, Neel, Phil and Janice spent most of an hour on the subject of song structures with 4 different examples. We talked about:

* the prologue verse (I Left my Heart in San Francisco)

* writing for musical theatre (My Funny Valentine)

* the connection between segment style and lyrical content (Band on the Run)

* Sloan’s song with its many sections and its Beatles influence (Fading into Obscurity)

All in all, a fun and informative show. Thanks for the tweets Tony!

Further Reading:

Addie Denison shares songs that at first sound like classic country, until you realize they’re (in part) about revenge, or blasting off into outer space. Sonja Seiler guest hosted.

Stuff we talked about:

* The Songwriter’s Cafe Meetup

* Songwriting as storytelling in its purest form

* Download the lyrics here: Wheelhouse & Red Dirt

* Asymmetrical structures

* Feedback from songwriters vs. non-songwriters

* How to write a song with a twist ending

* Space Cowboys (but not Gangsters of Love)

Seasoned professional guitarist, singer-songwriter, and all-around nice guy Scott Neary shares some of his best kept songwriting secrets. Scott also accompanied the talented jazz songwriter Steven Teatz for his appearance on Song Talk Radio. We talked about:

* The great chorus debate – to repeat it verbatim or not?

* Why you should whistle your melody

* Why, sometimes, you need to ask, “Why does there have to be a chord?”

* Why you should re-harmonize your chords after you develop a great melody on conventional chords

* Symmetry, or lack thereof

 

The uber-talented Sonja Seiler brings her own brand of passionate, emotional songs to Song Talk Radio for the second time, this time with a country twist.

Stuff we talked about:

* transitioning from writing on piano to guitar

* letting an idea percolate for a while before writing

* the power of imagery

* what’s the right tempo for your song?

* titles with brackets

* extending a metaphor

* Sonja’s previous appearance on Song Talk Radio