Why doesn't Paul write a book on songwriting?
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I'm a strong believer that songwriting is a craft that can be learned. I would love to read about Paul's process.
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Paul is a strong believer that songwriting is a gift and songs come out of thin air. I have heard him say this more than once.
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calicoskych2001:
Paul is a strong believer that songwriting is a gift and songs come out of thin air. I have heard him say this more than once.
I tend to agree. A lot of "gurus" out there that have written books on how to write the perfect screenplay. Structure, character development, blah, blah, blah. I note also that none of these gurus have any movie credits to their name. I don't think one can teach 'creativity'. It's innate, a gift.
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I think a "how to" book is beneath him. He knows the craft better than anyone but could never tell you what he's doing beyond simply liking this chord or that progression. He's a practitioner extraordinaire, not a technition. There are plenty of books out there that describe deconstruct his songwriting.
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With all three of you:
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Probably because is his talent. Why should he share it? In some way he does: we have his songs
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For a kick off, McCartney is a supremely gifted musician. What he has is an inate process moulded by tin pan alley, R@H musicals, English radio, classical, skiffle, rock n roll, big bands, etc etc... Not being a music by the numbers bloke who composes like a technician would make him a less than ideal teacher. It works for HIM, yes. In addition to most of the crap music getting around these days the last thing I want is to see a generation of pimply smart-arses growing up thinking they have the talent of Paul McCartney! Teaching a class at LIPA once in a while is his hand me down songwriting forum. There's only one Paul McCartney and only one Beatles. You can't teach that!!!
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You can't teach anyone to write real quality songs. It's either 'in' you or it's not.
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^ That's the answer, it's in you or it's not. I think, like someone said, it's a gift you are born with. Maybe you can develop it more, if you have the gift...but it's not an easily broken down, paint by numbers type of formulation.
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If he wrote a book on songwriting, I don't think I'd read it. I've already heard the Yesterday story once or twice. I'd definitely read an I Me Mine type of book.
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moptops:
For a kick off, McCartney is a supremely gifted musician. What he has is an inate process moulded by tin pan alley, R@H musicals, English radio, classical, skiffle, rock n roll, big bands, etc etc... Not being a music by the numbers bloke who composes like a technician would make him a less than ideal teacher. It works for HIM, yes. In addition to most of the crap music getting around these days the last thing I want is to see a generation of pimply smart-arses growing up thinking they have the talent of Paul McCartney! Teaching a class at LIPA once in a while is his hand me down songwriting forum. There's only one Paul McCartney and only one Beatles. You can't teach that!!!
O...M...G...Robert, has the apocalypse or perhaps the Rapture arrived? I totally agree with you again!
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McCartney is one of a kind. He's an organic musician. Like a Song Farmer. His songs grow out of him. He doesn't "write" them and never has, except for lyrics. But he never had formal training as a musician. He has a "gift", god-given if you like, or innate genius. You can't teach that or really explain it.
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On a technical level, Paul's musical-vocabulary is too limited to sustain a whole book. He can't read music. He refuses to learn how. And let's not even get into music theory. Paul speaks a rocker's language, which is enough for fellow play-by-ear musicians like myself who are in awe of his mere prolificity.
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I've read plenty of technical commentaries and deconstructed technical breakdowns of his songs by others to conclude that The man is just doing what comes naturally. He can't really tell you what he's doing. I'm convinced that what he has is a gift from God. Paul worked hard to develop that gift, but his natural ability and eat are other worldly
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He didn't want to get too technical with his songwriting process, he was wary something might be lost. At least, that's what I read he said on the subject. His songs come to him naturally and organically. The Barry Manilow hit goes "I write the songs that make the whole world sing...I've been around forever, I wrote the very first song. It is music and I write the songs. I write the songs, I write the songs"--a touching orison indicating everything artistic comes from God, through the human writer, who channels it. Those who have this gift are special and blessed. Better to say songs are co-written with God--the human musician should get some credit
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What she saw there was a man in a black suit...
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Paul's songwriting, like John and George and so many of that "school" are, as many have already said, innately gifted. However, John also once said there was also a craft to what they did, that if he waited around all day just to be inspired, he would never have finished a song. Still, to have songwriting craft at that level is amazing. Not something that can be taught, IMO. The Beatles were students of music, absorbing whatever came into their sphere. That is what aspiring songwriters should do. And attempt to compose a song in the style they like. Everyone starts out as imitators, even the Beatles did, but if you have talent and a gift you will find your own voice eventually.
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calicoskych2001:
Paul is a strong believer that songwriting is a gift and songs come out of thin air. I have heard him say this more than once.
True he is a receiver of melodies from air.. there is no principle, no logic unless you are talking about theory which is not what make a song successful
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Ammar:
calicoskych2001:
Paul is a strong believer that songwriting is a gift and songs come out of thin air. I have heard him say this more than once.
True he is a receiver of melodies from air.. there is no principle, no logic unless you are talking about theory which is not what make a song successful
After listening to some of his recent melodies...I reckon he needs to find some cleaner air!!!
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moptops:
Ammar:
calicoskych2001:
Paul is a strong believer that songwriting is a gift and songs come out of thin air. I have heard him say this more than once.
True he is a receiver of melodies from air.. there is no principle, no logic unless you are talking about theory which is not what make a song successful
After listening to some of his recent melodies...I reckon he needs to find some cleaner air!!!
Mel-odious?
