Blinking Cursors of Fury

Radio songs are beloved for a variety of reasons. In most cases, a cherished track earns its way into the hearts of its listeners by being relatable, telling a story, painting a picture. Maybe a lyric resonates with a current situation, or perhaps it evokes a daydream that enables an escape from the doldrums.

I am fascinated by lyrics and often get lost in the middle of one, reflecting myself into its message and considering the lesson it aims to communicate. Check this verse by John Mayer:

We see everything that's going wrong
With the world and those who lead it,
We feel like we don't have the means
To rise above and beat it.

It's not that we don't care,
We just know that the fight ain't fair.
We keep on waiting,
Waiting on the world to change.

I love this catchy song, the bouncy rhythms, the pop of the guitar overdrive - perfect for a road trip on a sunny afternoon. But I keep coming back to it, thanks not only to its irresistible groove, but because it succinctly expresses a sentiment that I feel every day.

What can we actually do when we are frustrated by systemic injustices? Write a congressperson? Sign a petition? Sip java and grumble about it with similarly helpless friends? The song is widely embraced because it voices a relatable message.

Music can operate like a virus. Initially infectious, it may eventually burrow to the soul, inspiring contemplation and perhaps even life change. While compositions can be heady, esoteric, and inaccessible, lyrics are an open door through which music's consumers can enter.

I believe in the importance of a musician connecting with a listener. For precisely this reason, I am trembling in my socks today.

Last night, I took three swings at putting together a few verses. Over and again, the blasted cursor blinked fury from its stationary spot in the upper left hand corner of an extremely blank screen. The backspace button fired away like a semi-automatic weapon, and the two hour search for something worth keeping ended with hands empty and brows furrowed.

I like the article on WikiHow that describes the songwriting process. It goes something like this:

First, select a cool topic that everyone will like. Second, write a few verses about the topic. It can rhyme, or it doesn't have to. Up to you. Then write a chorus. This is an important part of the song because it is repeated two or three times. After that, you will want to write a bridge. Something catchy is good here because your listeners will like it. Once you have all of that written down, you should record it. Then take the recording to the local record shop and have them give it a listen. If they like it, and they probably will, they will submit it to some agencies because they know many famous people in the music industry. The last step is that you or someone else famous sings your song on the radio. La chaim!

I wish I were kidding.

Needless to say, articles like these are not moving my would-be songwriter career in a positive direction. So what will? How do I get a handle on this important topic? More to follow.