Best Songs of All Time: #98: Al Green’s „Love & Happiness“ Analysis – Holistic Songwriting

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3gmWTIGFtQ

Summary

### Summary

This transcript discusses an exploration of lessons from top artists through Al Green’s „Love and Happiness,“ a song with unique chord progressions and groove elements. The focus lies in the performance, drums, and vocals, highlighting the use of chromaticism, interesting chord progressions, and the importance of having a great performer for ad-libs.

Highlights

• 🎵 Al Green’s „Love and Happiness“ is explored.
• 🎶 Unique chord progressions and groove elements are highlighted.
• 🎼 Chromaticism, interesting chord progressions, and great performers for ad-libs are emphasized.

Key Takeaways

• 🎵 The song starts with an instrumental intro and kicks off when the drums come in.
• 🎹 It’s in G-sharp minor, and the chord progression uses a tritone substitution to lead to the tonic.
• 📘 The structure of the song is loose with no distinct chorus or energy changes, making it primarily a groove song.

How Slipknot’s Unsainted Works | Artists Series S3E3 – Holistic Songwriting

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo-t_vx9Vxo

Summary

### Summary
The text discusses the analysis of Slipknot’s song „Unsainted,“ focusing on its composition and instrumentation. The song features subtle differences in melodies and harmonies, with a Hollywood formula or „addiction“ formula structure. The drums create tension without a clear backbeat, and the absence of snare contributes to a chaotic sound. A recorded backing choir sings lyrics, which adds to the overall quality of the song.

Highlights

• Subtle differences in melodies and harmonies
• Hollywood formula or „addiction“ formula structure
• Drums create tension without a clear backbeat
• Recorded backing choir sings lyrics

Key Takeaways

• Slipknot’s signature long fills are chaotic and hectic
• Corey Taylor’s vocal style features energy and driving rhythms but lacks clear melodic lines for easy sing-along
• Songwriting can be diverse and successful as long as it fits the message or image of the band or artist

Why Sheeran & Bieber’s „I Don’t Care“ Doesn’t Work | Artists Series S3E4 – Holistic Songwriting

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JypKfWwO6m4

Summary

### Summary
The speaker discusses the song „I Don’t Care“ by Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber, expressing admiration for the artists but criticizing the songwriting. They believe that the acoustic version of the song resolves some of their issues with the original, including concerns about the chord progression and lack of tension.

Highlights

• 🎵 „I Don’t Care“ is a collaboration between Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber.
• 🎵 The speaker likes the artists, but has issues with the songwriting.
• 🎵 The acoustic version of the song resolves some of these issues.
• 🎵 The chord progression (1-1-6-6-4-5-1-1) and having four ones in a row are concerns for the speaker.
• 🎵 They feel that the song lacks tension due to the chord progression.

Key Takeaways

• 🎹 Ed Sheeran is a talented pianist, but his vocal technique in this particular song is not as effective.
• 🎵 The song’s melody and harmony lack enough tension and variation to keep listeners engaged.
• 📖 Check out „The Addiction Formula“ for explanations on hype and tension in music.

Why you should write singles, not albums | Pulling The Lever S1E6 – Holistic Songwriting

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQR79_tgD-s

Summary

### Summary

In this transcript, Freedom Pheasant discusses the decision between releasing single songs or entire albums, emphasizing factors like finances, time, marketing, creativity, and personal life. The author highlights the pros and cons of both approaches and provides some insights into the challenges faced by artists when selling a single album version.

Highlights

• Importance of considering factors when deciding between releasing singles or albums
• Pros and cons of releasing music as singles or an entire album
• Challenges in selling a single album version
• Possible upgrades with behind-the-scenes content or deluxe versions
• No success stories heard of these upgrades
• Next video will discuss albums

Key Takeaways

• Artists need to adapt to market trends and focus on one song at a time for better creative process
• Single releases allow artists to be more flexible and respond to feedback quickly
• Selling single album version can be difficult due to accessibility of the song
• Possible upgrade options include behind-the-scenes content or deluxe versions, but no success stories have been heard
• Joining Patreon can offer membership benefits and opportunities for feedback

Why You Should Write Albums, Not Singles | Pulling The Lever S1E7 – Holistic Songwriting

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1txIkjTGJI

Summary

### Summary

The text discusses the pros and cons of making an album versus releasing singles or EPs from the perspective of an artist. It emphasizes that the choice depends on personal preference, musical style, and marketing plan. The artist also mentions the importance of building relationships with fans and storytelling in music.

Highlights

• 🎵 Artist’s preference for albums over EPs
• 🌟 Building relationships with fans and connecting through storytelling
• ⚖️ Choice depends on personal preference, musical style, marketing plan, and potential for touring

Key Takeaways

• 🎵 Albums allow for more creativity and bold choices
• 🌌 Albums provide a repertoire for live gigs
• 💿 Easier to sell add-ons with albums rather than single songs

5 Songwriting Things You Are Doing Wrong – Holistic Songwriting

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q75SHI0tkM

Summary

### Summary
The transcript discusses five common mistakes beginner songwriters make and the importance of focusing on structure, sound production, and engaging with your audience. By improving these areas, songwriters can create better music that resonates with listeners.

Highlights

• Focusing on functional songwriting with a clear structure
• Investing in sound production and performance
• Listening closely to your work for improvements
• Prioritizing quality over quantity in song creation
• Engaging with audiences through sharing and promotion

Key Takeaways

• Emphasize the importance of structure and storytelling in songwriting
• Improve sound production and performance skills
• Listen carefully to your music for mistakes and inconsistencies
• Focus on quality over quantity when creating songs
• Connect with your audience through sharing and promotion

5 Common Songwriting Myths Debunked – Holistic Songwriting

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSC38wOZI8c

Summary

### Summary
– The process of creating a hit song involves more than just having one great idea.
– Songwriters need to focus on the placement and structure of hooks, as well as the overall balance between elements in the song.
– Misconceptions about music often limit creativity; understanding that there are no real rules can help songwriters express their unique voice.

Highlights

• 🎵 Songwriting involves more than just lyric writing; it’s about bringing your personality into the music.
• 🚶‍♀️ Simple doesn’t mean easy – songwriting requires rearranging notes and rhythms to represent who you are as an artist.
• 🎛️ Music isn’t just subjective, there is a balance between technical skill and personal expression.
• ✏️ Rules, theories, and formulas don’t define good songwriting; it comes down to individual creativity and expression.

Key Takeaways

• 🎹 Songwriting involves more than just lyrics.
• 🎵 A well-crafted song has a balance between elements without any part being distracting.
• 🌟 Embrace your creativity and let your imagination run wild!

Taylor Swift – LOVER Full Album Analysis (feat Pop Song Professor) – Holistic Songwriting

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlmQfuVXbiU

Summary

Summary: In this transcript, Cliff and Freedom discuss Taylor Swift’s new album „Lover“, comparing it to her previous albums and noting its departure from the darker themes of „Reputation“. They highlight Jack Antonoff’s significant role in the album, while Max Martin and Shellback were not involved. The conversation also touches on Max Martin’s team-based approach as a composer, making him more like a brand than an individual artist.

Highlights:
– Taylor Swift’s new album „Lover“ returns to earlier sound and themes
– Jack Antonoff plays a significant role in the album
– Max Martin works with a team, making him more like a brand than an individual artist 🎵

Key Takeaways:
– The conversation is about Max Martin’s conglomerate of composers and writers, with a focus on Taylor Swift’s Lover vs. Jack Antonoff’s 1989.
– Preference for Taylor Swift’s Lover or Jack Antonoff’s 1989 varies between the listeners.
– Favorite songs from the album: Paper Rings, London Boy vs. Cruel Summer, You Need to Calm Down 🎶

So you want to be a professional musician… | Holistic Songwriting – Holistic Songwriting

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOi1auNfVG4

Summary

### Summary

Three Things to Keep in Mind for Aspiring Musicians: 1) Find hobbies and friends outside of music, 2) Embrace new experiences, and 3) Don’t focus on results. Remember, finding inspiration from other activities will enhance your creativity as a musician!

Highlights

• Importance of pursuing hobbies and friends outside the music industry
• Exploring new disciplines and embracing new experiences
• Enjoying the process without worrying about immediate success

Key Takeaways

• Make friends from different industries for diverse perspectives and support network
• Start your musical career now and take charge of your own learning and growth
• Believe in self-empowerment to take control of your own success

Album Structure & Song Types | Pulling the Lever – Holistic Songwriting

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiKeI2JJHv4

Summary

### Summary
🚀 The text discusses how to structure an album, comparing it to film or book writing in terms of storytelling. A typical album has a three-act structure: intro, opener, and the rest of the tracks. Each song represents a specific part of the narrative and aims to evoke different emotions and energy levels.

Highlights

🎵 Album structure is similar to film or book writing, focusing on storytelling.
🎸 The first four songs are meant to get listeners excited and show the lighter side of the artist’s work.
🌪️ At position six, things start to heat up with a darker tone introduced.
⏯ Songs eight and nine serve as fillers that showcase the darker side of the artist’s work.
🔄 The tenth song can be a single and the eleventh is typically a ballad.

Key Takeaways

🎵 Create a balance of emotions and energy in an album or collection.
🌈 Use examples like Mirrors by Justin Timberlake for inspiration.
🔊 Have a high-energy song to pump up the audience after a more emotional track.