How To Make Your SONG Stand The Test Of TIME (Part 1) (Read here)
WHY am I telling this story?
- Knowing why we are doing something is the first motivator for doing something. Knowing why you are doing something will also assist you with marketing and distribution strategies. The song, “WE ARE THE WORLD-HAITI” Was produced to raise funds and awareness for the Haiti disasters. So the marketing and the distribution was centered on that same objective. The famous Zambian song “DONCHI KUBEBA” was a political song telling people that they can get any bribes they are offered but should not be moved by them. Since this song was appealing to then opposition “PF” they adopted the song for their campaigns.
- Always ask yourself why you are doing that song (second to making money) and attach the required emotions to that song. If you are making a song to make people dance, then attach an emotion of cerebration to your song. If it’s to make your listeners sad, then let your song carry those same emotions. Remember that music is a universal language. It will be confusing listening to a dance beat of a song talking about the sad massacre of innocent people.
WHEN/ WHERE is my story going to be told?
- Know the timing of your song. When is your song going to be played? Is it throughout the year or your song is just ideal for a certain period (Political Campaign Songs). If your song is made to be played at weddings, it might survive for many generations if the theme of weddings still remains the same. You will notice that swag (fashion)songs don’t last very long since fashion is ever changing. If I am boasting in my song now about wearing a thriller jacket, in a song targeting teens, they won’t have any idea what I am singing about. A song that is made to be played at a party will have a lot of references to dances. Songs like “Dorika, Kontamako, New Dance” all have the same theme, and that is party dancing. A lot of people will be able to relate to these songs because about 70% of people at parties spend their time watching how other people are dancing.
- Even though love is universal, the theme of a love song determines where the song will be played. A love song with a lot of sexual references (even though sex appeals to a wider audience) will only be played in selective situations.
- If your song contains a serious message that you are trying to communicate, make it soft so that people can play it in the evening when they are come and about to sleep, at least they will get your message.
- The more ‘WHENs’ and ‘WHEREs’ your song can be played, the wider your market and the more likely the survival of your song.
WHAT response am I expecting my story to receive?
- The last part is response that your song brings. The comedian standing on stage cracking jokes without anyone laughing means he is failing in his job. It is not common that a song intentionally made as a sad song ends up as a party song. Knowing the kind of response you expect when a person listens to your song will help you rate your performance, sometimes it can even help you know what music you are really good at making. For example if you believe you make music that is suppose to make people dance but your songs always ends been played at funerals then you need to re-look at your target audience.
- It is all about emotions. Emotions are what influences actions. So the actions of your audience will tell you exactly what emotions your music evoke.
A good song means a good story. Everything that makes up your song, from instruments to the vocal effects should help complement the kind of story you are trying to communicate.
“Continue writing, Continue playing, Continue singing; continue proving us the platform to express our emotions.”