Subject: Are all the good hooks taken
Posted by: Tom Taylor |
| I carry a pen and paper with me most of the time just in case I think of or hear a good hook. When I hear one I like and never heard before I usally will look it up on the computer to see if any song about the subject or hook has already been used. I know alot of music and I have gotten some hooks I was sure were never used before, and to my amasement there will be five to twenty songs already using that title or subject, are all the good hooks used up ,or am I the only one who feels this away. Tom |
Subject: Re: Are all the good hooks taken
Posted by: Gunstreet |
Hey Tom,
I don't know if all the good hooks are taken, but personally I don't worry about such things. There are many ways to be a songwriter and I choose not to stifle creativity by worrying about hooks and other so-called commercially viable musts. I can name a lot of songs that have only a hint of a hook (and sometimes none at all) that are good songs. Maybe they weren't hits, but writing songs just to make a buck cheapens the art.
I don't think anyone can say why a song makes it and why one doesn't. People like to say it's because of hooks or because it catches the listener right away - this may be true for some people and with some songs, but no one can make a blanketed statement like that. For every "rule" of a hit song, there's a song that breaks that rule and makes a smash hit. Publishers, record execs, A&R people, writers, producers, or anyone else can't know what the public will like or not like. If these people had that kind of information, there would never be a bad song put on a CD or a CD that ends up in the bargain bin. It's all a crap shoot.
I don't think people are the mindless drones that record industry execs believe we are. I don't turn the radio dial if a song doesn't hook me instantly. I don't like songs because they're only 3 minutes or because they follow a certain form or have a hook in the right place. I think that way of thinking is exactly what's made songwriting lose it's creative voice and why there's junk on the radio every hour on the hour.
A hook can be important, but not as important as good words, melody, and music. Sure, to get a song published you're supposed to follow certain guidelines for hooks, but what do publishers know? If they knew anything, they'd just write the songs themselves and keep all the profits!!! I think it's crazy that a bunch of non-writers and non-musicians (publishers, record execs) are in charge of a creative outlet such as songwriting when most of them can't create anything of their own. I'll let those guys give me advice on business and law, but they can shut the f**k up when it comes to what's a good song.
Anyway, not to get off point too much, don't worry about finding hooks, just write good songs with good titles. To me, trying to find a clever hook is no different than a used car salesman trying to find a good pitch. It's all about the sale and not about the product. It's no surprise that record execs and publishers are known as being as slimey as used car salesman, it's because all they want is to find the next angle to make a buck. Don't fall for that. Writers shouldn't try to "trick" the public into liking their song with flash and pizzaz. A heartfelt song we'll win more often and stand the test of time better than just a gimmick.
Anyone can dazzle an audience, that's the easy part. That's all a clever hook is to me. Just show.
I have tried to write clever songs with good hooks and it always comes out sounding contrived (at least to me). I don't do that anymore. I write what I want and what I feel, it's just that simple. I recently posted a song on this board called "Deeper In The Hole" and I hate it. It's stupid. I was trying to write something I thought might sell, but it just came out as fake. I won't do that anymore. The other song still on this board is called "The Hard Way" and that's my style. I wrote what I wanted and I didn't care about where the hook was or how long it took me to get there. I love that song. So there's a lesson in that for me.
This is an interesting topic, Tom. I could probably go on, but I've rambled long enough.
Take care,
Gunstreet
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Subject: Re: Are all the good hooks taken
Posted by: Tom Taylor |
ou brought up some very good points, something for me to think about. sometimes a good guitar riff will make a song unforgetable. I guess I was headed off in the wrong direction with the hook. But I am a novice song writer and it seems easier for me to write if I have a catch phrase or hook to start with. and yes I do agree that sometimes some of my
lyrics seem to be there just for the rhyme and dont contribute to the song. What I usally try and do is write what I can then go back a couple days later and read it over some times this will help me if the lyrics dont flow just right the second reading will catch it. thanks for you reply tom
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