John Mellencamp On Songwriting

In Song, John Mellencamp discusses his years of songwriting experience and technique. This singer/songwriter has won a Grammy and been nominated for 13 since his debut in 1976. Mellencamp started writing music, surprisingly, after he scored his first record deal. His technique to writing, was a lot of trial and error. So how does this talented man get his ideas? They just come to him, as he says. He might simply be staring out a window and hum a melody, providing him the basic structures to make his masterpieces. Melodies, according to him, are an innate talent. You either have it or you don't. He boasts this talent by saying, "Melodies are very simple for me. I, for some reason, have an unlimited amount of melodies in my head. I very rarely feel that I am repeating myself. Making up melodies is the simplest thing for me to do." Another element of John Mellencamp's writing, along with every song ever created, is "the math". The math is a reference to music theory, a way of explaining and relating components of music. This is important, however checking the math comes last in the mind of this songwriter. He believes that the math will come to the song. Mellencamp explains himself by saying, "Music is a mathematical problem. And I never, never try to look at the math of a song until the song is over. And then I decide if the math is correct. And I try to do it more from feel than from the mathematical point." The main point: Let it come to you.

"Song," is one of the ideal sources for the topic I am researching. The source offers insightful interviews from many well known men and women from the music business. I believe the reason for me picking up this book is described in the blog title quite simply. Successful musicians write successful music. This book allows you to gain firsthand knowledge from those who know the business the best. I believe any aspiring songwriter could draw irreplaceable knowledge from reading the interviews in this book.

Waterman, J. Douglas. Song: the world's best songwriters on creating the music that moves us. 1st ed. Georgetown,Ontario: FW Publications, 2007. 215-220. Print.