There is a debate that has been sparking conversation over the past couple of years dealing with the art of songwriting. When you are singing someone else’s words, you are not an artist, you are just a performer.
An artist pours their heart and soul into their work, thus coming out as emotion through their music. Being able to grab the attention of listeners solely based on lyrics and how their voice cradles them into our ears makes a true artist.
What makes an artist listenable are not the hits that they broadcast, it is the relatability that someone can feel when listening to their music. Artists who share their own life and experiences through their music can be very relatable to those that are listening.
In an interview with Chronicles, a source said, “I feel like so much of music is about connecting to the lyrics. So, when you find out that what you’ve been listening to and relating to isn’t really written by the singer, you’re like ‘Who am I relating to?’ and it creates a rift with how you relate to the song.”
This detachment that is experienced when listening to a performer curate someone else's story happens a lot more than it should. Take the Kendrick Lamar, Drake battle as an example. Kendrick calls Drake out for having ghostwriters that he also has to battle with.
As soon as more than two people are writing a song, the personal connection gets lost in translation. With that being said, having support in writing is not a bad thing. Some people need guidance and support when writing, especially when there is a specific message that they want to be conveyed.
It is good to have someone look over your work to ensure there are no accidental hiccups or mistakes that the artist does not want in their final version. Just as If you were to publish a piece of work anywhere in academia, it is expected that it has been reviewed by multiple accounts.
However, according to the Tedium newsletter, In the past 20 years the average number of songwriters on any given song has quadrupled. The question is where these writers are coming from and why so many people need to be writing a song.
Beyoncè’s hit single “Heated” at the point of its release was the song on the Hot 100 board with the most contributing writers according to iMusician, a blogging platform for music enthusiasts. There were 18 writers and nine producers that created that song, while there were only 220 words comprising its lyrics.
Does this mean each writer only contributed 12 words in the creation of the song? Simon Gardner, music expert at iMusician, said “Songwriters play a crucial role in the creation of chart-topping hits and have a significant impact on the music industry. Their contributions go beyond simply writing lyrics and melodies; they help shape the overall sound and commercial viability of a song."
At what point however does the true meaning of the song get lost behind 18 different pens writing it? The song may sound good, but when the meaning is lost behind the lyrics it is no longer art, it is just beats, bass and the occasional catchy verse.
Most of the time, people listen to music to feel some form of emotion. Whether it is a sad or a happy moment in your life, music can help actualize how someone is feeling. The connection between the listener and the music may seem minuscule to the artist, but the personal connection that is made through their music has helped mass amounts of people. A way that artists can ensure their lasting impact on consumers, is making their art personal, relatable and above all meaningful.
Michael Dorwaldt is a freshman studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Michael about his column? Email him at Md557123@ohio.edu
