How to get past that first barrier? "this sounds too cheesy

i find that whenever i try to write something, i feel that it is extremely cheesy, so i scrap it. I end up not being able to write anything at all because i think it's all garbage and cliche.

whenever i read lyrics from musicians i love, i always think to myself "i could have wrote this" but like i said, no matter what i write it's always garbage and cheese to me.

how does one get past this?

There could be lots or advice on this and it can lead to a great thread topic.

I can identify with the feelings you're having so am trying to add a comment or two from that point of view.

Here's a great song written and performed by a 15 - 16 year old in the day, and a buddy of mine, Vinnie Bell played on it. This young lad could write songs from his true feeling, while they couldn't yet play instruments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch#v=6uqBTzfcIk4&feature=related

So, in order to craft your ideas into words with hooks and lyrical structure, have you ever obtained a book on how to write songs? I don't have access to my book right now, and don't know its name. Perhaps there are more by now.

And a songwriter's rhyming dictionary is a good thing to have around too.

Finally, if there are Songwriter's Seminars in your area, or if you can pay to attend them afar, go for that as well. I have been able to get tips from some of our Country's finest, but had to pay, travel and attend their sponsor's Art Institute, bringing demos of my own. It can be done. The bigger the market, the more opportunity I think.

Some other simple songs, yet well-performed, came from earlier, similar efforts by Margo Timmins and the Cowboy Junkies - it isn't all that complex, but marketable. There is a formula, so it isn't random. Kim Mitchell has nailed it many times, and was there to instruct. I won't mention all of the other names, collaborators and mentors - just making a point, if you can participate & become part of a community.

http://canadaonline.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&zTi=1&sdn=canadaonline&cdn=newsissues&tm=11&gps=94_945_1419_754&f=20&tt=14&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.cowboyjunkies.com/

http://canadaonline.about.com/od/musicartistsce/Canadian_Music_Artists_CE.htm

Soooo, if I were in Illinois, I might try to contact locals Sammy and Sasha Nelson, their parents and musicians...

http://www.myspace.com/sammynsasha or friendly interactive site http://www.nelsontwins.net/Default.asp

You can also join TAXI and get critiques, and it is a bit like going to school, while writing at home? 8)

I submitted many, or dozens of songs - you can't give up, and finally got just one by. :roll: :lol:

http://www.taxi.com/

I'm at that stage myself, trying to write my first song. I've got ideas for three or four songs in my head, but I can't get myself to actually sit down and work it all out with any one of them. I think I'm mentally holding myself back, fearing that I'll write something so silly and laughable.

There something that NPR radio personality Ira Glass said on this TV show once: Don't be afraid to suck. What he meant by that is that we all are afraid to look bad our first time out, but the thing we have to remember is that no one is perfect the very first time. We all "suck" to one degree or another at first, because we are learning the process and technique and stuff.

So go ahead and write that cheesy lyric. In doing so, you may discover something that will help you out with later lyrics. Or maybe it'll just get you over that first bit of hesitation, which is just as important.

Sorry if this sounds to self-help-guru-like. While writing this to encourage you, I'm also trying to give _me_ that same kick-in-the-pants. I've got my own first song to write this morning! LOL

Good luck to you!

My advice: cheese is best when it's aged :)

Take those cheesy lyrics and throw them in a drawer. A few months from now you'll be far enough removed from the moment to do some serious editing... you'll be better able to see what's wrong with the lyric, and pare it down into something less cheesy and more tasty.

You're never going to get over that first hurdle unless you take a run-up and actually go for it! Just write down what you're thinking - what you're feeling - random thoughts that may occur to you.

Here's a couple of articles that may help.....

Songwriting for beginners

Songwriting for intermediates

:D :D :D

Vic

The lyrics I remember from the first band I was in to "write their own songs".....

I've got feelings don't you realise
Please let me go,
Cos I've got feelings, I've got feelings, don't you know (ooh ooh baby*)

And from another tune....
We're five bad girl and we're back in town
We're looking out for love, will you be around?

Now, okay, we were ten years old. And, okay, I swear I wasn't the author of either of those. But, the thing is, no matter what age you start, your first lyrics are likely gonna be pretty cack. I think the trick is to keep writing until you get past the cack. Treasure the cack until it cack in comparison to the good stuff you've started writing lately. I'm by no means Bob Dylan, but every time I have a phase of writing a lot, I look back at my earlier efforts as being basic and crude by comparison. But I'd never reach those points if I'd stopped at any earlier stage.

And my latest song is called "Why must I insist on completely destroying any coolness and/or credibility I might have once earned for myself by revealing just how much of a geek I truly am?" :wink: Hope it helps.

* I distinctly remember that one being in a school exercise book, with the "ooohhhh babys" and even varying length of "ooohhhhs" notated in brackets at the end of lines. Talk about a sense of professionalism. :oops: :lol: :lol: :lol: I swear I didn't write either tho. But my first efforts were about as lame. I just don't remember them, I've written so much since.