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July 30, 2009
The 15-Minute Myth
Seemingly every songwriter has a story about a song that was written in 15 minutes, or less.
They want you to buy into the glamorous myth of the song that “fell from the sky.”
So, is it possible to write a great song in 15 minutes?
Well, yes, and no.
Actually, it does happen from time to time, but usually to experienced songwriters who have worked hard at their craft, and spend most of their waking hours thinking about songs and songwriting.
In fact, these top-flight songwriters often spend entire days in “writing mode.” They may not actually be hunched over a guitar or a piano intensely working on a song, but they have song ideas forming and working in their subconscious mind. When they finally get a chance to sit down and write, an idea they have been mulling over in their minds for hours or even days comes rushing out, and a great song is seemingly written in just a few minutes.
The reality is that most songs written in 15 minutes, in a “lighting flash of inspiration” are actually mediocre. Only the writer, and his or her immediate family think that its really great.
Anyone can write a song in a short period of time. That is, anyone can write a mediocre song. For that matter, anyone can write a middling poem, or create a slapdash painting in a few minutes. But does it have true quality? Is there real substance? Will this creation touch people emotionally, and possess true staying power?
If you do write a truly great song in 15 minutes or less, count yourself among the few and the extremely fortunate. Of course, you may have actually been working on it without realizing it for much longer than that.
Posted by leonolguin at July 30, 2009 09:18 AM
Comments
How right you are Leon! It only happened to me once. I was working (struggling) with lyrics on one song and, to take a break, I played the same chord structure in entirely different style and tempo - out popped the lyrics to a love song that got a fair amount of airplay. It was less than 15 minutes, though, as you correctly point out, I did have a piece of it when I "started" - the chord structure.
Posted by: Doug Spears at July 30, 2009 09:43 AM
So true. I really wanna say true Dat!
Posted by: sybil at July 30, 2009 10:13 AM