I am pleased to present toy you my first original song, I have been musing on it for a while as evident in my learning log.
It brought with it lots of new challenges in addition to working through the songwriting process, like Reaper, videos, remembering new lyrics and an unfamiliar song structure. Also processing videos in Youtube to get the sound level right (still very much something I need to figure out) and even posting here after a false start. I have enjoyed the process and plan to do more, but I need to get back to learning how to play this guitar, my focus has been spread in many directions.
It is based on my experience with Aphantasia which was discussed in another thread.
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Growing up creating memories
playing games and having fun
concerts, road trips, and the parties
All those crazy things weāve done
[Chorus]
Pictures or it didnāt happen
itās a phrase you hear a lot
when youāre memory donāt have them
Did you live or did you not?
[Verse 2]
To all the people that I knew
I try so hard to recall you
I really really didnāt forget
No mental images come through
[Chorus]
Pictures or it didnāt happen
itās a phrase you hear a lot
when youāre memory donāt have them
Did you live or did you not?
[Verse 3]
To solve a problem visualization
Hypnosis is such a powerful thing
No real solution, just frustration
Because thereās no imagining
[Chorus]
Pictures or it didnāt happen
itās a phrase you hear a lot
when youāre memory donāt have them
Did you live or did you not?
[Verse 4]
Lie awake in the darkness
every night I try to sleep
Try all the methods I can harness
I only count cos thereās no sheep
[Chorus]
Pictures or it didnāt happen
itās a phrase you hear a lot
when youāre memory donāt have them
Did you live or did you not?
[Verse 5]
And when my time on earth is ended
the highlight reel begins to play
no places, people, friends presented
Theres only screens of cold dark grey
[Chorus]
Pictures or it didnāt happen
itās a phrase you hear a lot
when youāre memory donāt have them
Did you live or did you not?
[Chorus]
Pictures or it didnāt happen
itās a phrase you hear a lot
cos my memory donāt have them
Did I live or did I not?
Nice one Phil. I do love a good original and this was really well crafted and sung. Congratulations on getting this one out there and keep them coming!
Hi Phil. I loved the tune and lyrics, it does remind to some of the discussion in that thread. Your strumming was good and in time.
I think the structure of the song is repetative, it feels a bit mechanical. It might be better if you allowed for some variations (different dynamics/strumming in some verses, introduction of bridge, etc.). Just a suggestion.
I enjoyed your first original - congrats on that milestone! Great achievement.
You did a very good job here turning an interesting topic into a song, to help people not affected to understand, but also make others having aphantasia, too, feeling less alone.
Great first recording, Phil, and what an interesting topic. I admit I didnāt know what aphantasia was, but as I listened to your song, the movie āMementoā with Guy Pearce immediately popped into my head. That must be quite a challenge for you, even to record your song. Well done!
Thank you all for listening and making such supportive comments, I do really appreciate them. @Eddie_09 I have wanted to write a song for a while, I expected to want to hide it away once complete, but I am proud of this and want to polish it more.
@Boris1565 I had the lyrics for a while, and didnāt really know how to write a melody. When it came down to it, it just seemed to be how it sounded in my head. I totally take on board the comment about different strumming and dynamics. I am not confident enough to write or play verses with different structures, but it is something I will experiment withā¦ Also felt a lot of pressure recording. Having had positive responses has certainly built my confidence.
@jkahn Thanks, I love that people have picked up on the story aspect.
@Lisa_S again, I love that people here the story and are interested in understanding. Definitely want to build it.
@wiredforsound Learning songs is not too hard, the thing that I am aware of that I use different memory tools than other people. It is what I am used to, so not like something you truly miss. Not resorted to tattoos yet. Still ink free, not for lack of desire, but choosing an image I would like is hard to visualize This is the first time I have put those things together.
@Notter Thanks Mark, really happy to have done it.
Having written my one song, I definitely intend to write more. I am trying to understand more about song structure. Lots of lyrics coming into my head when out walking.
Congratulations, Phil- Well done!
It takes some cojones to put yourself out there for the first time, esp. when we know our limitations The good news is it gets easier as time goes on, and itās the only way to get better at songwriting.
The strength of this song for me lies in the lyrics. You have something interesting and personal to share about an unusual topic.
Cool
You mentioned you had the lyrics first and it took time to find the melody. I find that the hardest part too. I took Justinās advice and started off just borrowing someone elseās chord progressions/melody for my lyrics.
As time goes on, it becomes easier to change them a bit and make it more your own.
Letās face it, almost none of us here are going to come up with a chord progression or melody that has never been done before, and thatās ok
As you progress, youāll find itās not necessary to have such strict rhyming nor start singing on the first note of each bar. I also found it helpful to be told that melodies often do not commence with the the root note of the chord being played.
Great stuff and look forward to more.
Remember: off the beaten track is good!
Congrats Phil! Amazing job on your first original! I agree with the others that said your storytelling in this song was really, really good
I agree with a lot of Brianās points. Iām no master songwriter, but Iāve written a few now and I concur that it gets easier the more you do it.
Yep! I feel like this is what happens! Once youāve written one, they all start coming out Iāll often try to start with one thing- a concept, a lyric or a riff Iāve been noodling with and build from there. I donāt worry about structure too much in the beginning. I kind of go with Justinās āif it sounds good, it is goodā approach. As a result, I think a lot of my practice time now ends up being less structured and more about creativity and seeing what kind of sounds I can play with
I would love to see more of your original material when you write more!
@brianlarsen Thanks for the encouragement and the tips about how you go about it. I am spending a lot of time listening to people talk about songwriting. There s no āwayā it is what works for you at that time. I definitely feel the excitement that you can get from it. I think it also is crystallizing the thoughts in my head about playing songs how I want rather than being true to the original, not just because of my lack of skill which is also true. My music is always likely to be off the beaten track.
@Jenndye429 very interesting hearing you describe thoughts similar to mine, especially as reading your thread you didnāt have writing originals as one of your goals.
I have some other ideas in my head of topics and song styles. They are way above my play grade or writing skill. I am waiting a bit for them to ferment more as I donāt want to waste the concept.
I am finding it very interesting that the lyrics that come into my head, now have a style/rhythm/melody attached. No idea how but fascinating.
As Iāve mentioned in my LL, when I first started playing I had approximately 0% interest in writing my own stuff. Now Iāve pretty much done a complete 180 and thatās really all I want to do All it took was one song and the rest just started falling out.
think I have broken youtube.
This is the first time I have put those things together.
The good news is it gets easier as time goes on, and itās the only way to get better at songwriting.
