Composing A Pop Song

YEAR 9 POPULAR SONG

Learning ObjectivesThese are the learning objectives:

Know some steps to writing some lyrics

Understand how the use of a rhyming scheme and the structure of syllables can help you structure your lyrics

Be able to create a set of lyrics, following the steps provided

You will demonstrate this by:

Reading and working through the provided lyric-writing booklet

Analysing existing lyrics and being able to discuss their construction using musical terms

Starting to write your own set of lyrics

Starter:

Can you name some songs which have lyrics about the following themes?

Love - Happy

Love - Sad

Depression

Friendship

Political Problems

Death/Illness

Anger

Having Fun

Accepting yourself or others

Social Issues – Crime/Drugs

Sadness

Family

A Celebration of something/one

Song Lyrics

Writing a Set of Lyrics

Some key terms:• Rhyming Scheme• Syllables

A rhyming scheme is the order in which the lyricist orders the lines. Rhyming words help the piece become more memorable.

If all the lines have the same number of syllables (more or less!) then the lyrics will be more successful.

Popular Rhyming SchemesABAB

This was never the way I planned,Not my intention.

I got so brave, drink in hand,Lost my attention.

AABB

So no-one told you life was going to be this way,

Your job’s a joke, you’re broke, your love lifes D.O.A.

It’s like you’re always stuck in second gearWhen It hasn’t been your day, your week, your

month or even your year.

AAAA

Well in five years time we could be walking around a zoo.

With the sun shining down over me and youAnd they’ll be love in the bodies of the

elephants too.I’ll put my hands over your eyes, but you’ll

peep through.

AABAAB

I can’t win, I can’t reign. I will never win this game, Without you, Without you.

I am lost, I am vain,I will never be the same,

Without you, Without you.

How to write a set of lyrics – Step by step...

1. Choose your theme2. Decide in detail what the ‘story’ of your song will be

and use it to structure the content of the verse/chorus.[Remember: The chorus tells us the main point, the verse

fills in the detail]3. Write out a list of key words related to your theme and

then find a rhyme for each of them.

You can now start using these to develop the lines of your song.

Writing Your Own Set of Lyrics

• Lyric-writing can be hard, and they can sound very silly when you look at them on the page, especially if you are trying to write about love or something similar...

• However, just think of the many terrible lyrics that have been written, and how famous they have become...

Examples of Cringe worthy Lyrics That Became Popular...

‘And I was like baby, baby, baby oh, and baby, baby, baby oh! Like Baby, baby baby oh, you said you’d always be mine.’

[Justin Bieber, Baby]

It’s Friday, Friday, getting down on Friday, everybody's looking forward to the weekend, weekend.’

[Rebecca Black, Friday]

‘They call me girl, they call me Stacey. They call me her, they call me Jane. That’s not my name. That’s not my name. That’s not my name. That’s not my name.’

[The Ting Tings, ‘That’s not my name’]

More Bad Examples...

‘Coming out of my cage and I’ve been doing just fine. Gotta Gotta be down because I want it all’[The Killers, ‘Mr Brightside’]

‘Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away, now it looks as through they’re here to stay, Oh I believe in yesterday.’[The Beatles – Yesterday]

‘Are we human? Or are we dancer? My sign is vital, my hands are cold. And I’m on my knees looking for the answer, are we human, or are we dancer?[The Killers – Human]

‘What’s that coming over the hill, is it a monster? Is it a monster?[The Automatic – Monster]

Task: Writing a Chorus

• Try to complete a chorus of lyrics on our chosen theme.

• Ensure that you complete all the preparation tasks – especially if you are not very confident.

If you do complete your chorus and are feeling confident, make a start on your verses.

Some suggestions for opening lines...

• ‘That man’s/girl’s no good for me.’• ‘How can I survive without you in my life’• ‘The world’s at war, yet it’s this we ignore’• ‘I hate your nasty words and your evil mind’• ‘Going out tonight to have a good time’• ‘You might as well be gone’• ‘Why don’t you save my life?’

Plan your composition:

Our theme:

Our story:

Key words and rhymes

Write your lyrics:

Our rhyming scheme: AABB

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Learning Objectives– How Many Did you Achieve?

During this lesson you will:

Know some steps to writing some lyrics

Understand how the use of a rhyming scheme and the structure of syllables can help you structure your lyrics

Be able to create a set of lyrics, following the steps provided

You will demonstrate this by:

Reading and working through the provided lyric-writing booklet

Analysing existing lyrics and being able to discuss their construction using musical terms

Starting to write your own set of lyrics