SONG WRITING – Rev. Emma Awipi & Josiah Kadiri

CONTENTS OF A GOOD SONG

Songwriting is one of the biggest challenges in music. Writing a good song could take a lot of time and energy. Some songs can take days, weeks, months, and even years to write completely, depending on the technicality and mood of the writer. Writing a song that will last the test of time and for generations involves certain components. These components that make up a good song are the ones that will be discussed in this article.

A GOOD SONG SHOULD HAVE A MESSAGE

Songwriters compose songs for different reasons. Some compose songs with the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, some as a result of their experience, some from the mood of the writer, while others write just for the fun of it. Whatever reason you choose to write a song, your song should convey a message to your listeners. So when writing a song, the first thing you should ask is: What effect do you want the song to have on your listeners? Do you want them to bow and worship as they hear and sing the song? Or do you want them to be uplifted in their spirits as they hear the song? What you want your song to convey is what will form the basis of the lyrics of your song. Your song should have a bearing, a direction, and a message. It should be able to give hope and uplift its hearers. It should be a song that affects your environment and is prevalent in your society.

A GOOD SONG SHOULD HAVE A PROPER THEOLOGICAL BASE:

In other words, it should glorify Jesus. It should be Christ-centered. So when writing a gospel song, one factor you should consider first is whether the lyrics align with the scriptures. Does it express Jesus? Does it glorify Jesus? This is the basis of every gospel song. So whether you write it out of experience or by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, you must first consider if it glorifies Jesus. The basis has to be that it should have characteristics that affect everyone. It should not be centred on a certain doctrine or denomination.

A GOOD SONG SHOULD HAVE GOOD LYRICAL CONTENT

The lyrics of your song should be very captivating and loaded. Too much repetition of lyrics in a song can make the song boring (if it’s a simple worship song). Writing lyrics that do not convey a proper meaning or message can also make a song unpleasant to the ears. Ensure that the wording of your song is properly connected to convey a meaningful message. If it’s a worship song, keep it as simple as possible to make it easy for your hearers to learn the song and worship with it. You should also consider the parts of the song that you want to have a greater impact on your listeners. That’s where the power of repetition comes in. The power of repetition is in the chorus—your punch line. Write your lyrics in such a way that they will leave a lasting impression on your audience. It should be plain enough for your audience to understand easily. This is why the scriptures say, write the vision and make it plain [Hab 2:2]

A GOOD SONG SHOULD HAVE AN INTRO, BODY AND CLIMAX

Just like every art form, a song should be progressive. It should have a beginning and an ending. In between the beginning and the end, it should have a body that carries the chorus, solo, verse, or vamp, depending on the nature of the song. The intro (or beginning) of your song should be very catchy. It should make your listeners want to hear the entire song. Your introduction can be an attraction or distraction to your listeners. The beginning of your song should not be more interesting or captivating than the body or climax of your song. Your song should progressively get better and more loaded as it progresses. Your listeners should get more interested as your song progresses. So when writing a song, you should consider which parts of the lyrics should be in the intro, the body, and the climax. Decide what you want your listeners to hear as a Prelog before they get to the main body of the song. The lyrics of your refrain should contain what you want to stick in the minds of your listeners.

A GOOD SONG SHOULD BE “SOULFUL.”

Every good song should be ‘Soulful”. A melody that breathes life into its listeners is the hallmark of a great song. It should be able to cause a change in any atmosphere where it is sung or played. A good song should be able to leave an indelible impact in the minds of its listeners. Your spirit cannot be seen, but through the soul of song, people can build pictures or concepts in their minds. The lyrics alone are not what give soul to your song. Your emotions, expressions, and interpretation of your song are what give it a soul. The delivery of your song should show that you are the first recipient of the message you want your song to convey. Soul here does not necessarily mean a fast-beat or slow-beat song. It simply means your song should be alive enough to leave a deep impact on your audience.

AUTHORS

Josiah Kadiri

He is a vessel who believes so much in the power of music and how it can be used to change lives. He is a man who is very calm and friendly, has a very positive disposition to life and he is also a very powerful strategist!