Academy

The Dos & Don’ts of Song Narratives

January 24 2024

Every time you write, perform, play an instrument, or produce, it means something to you. If it doesn’t, you may want to check for a pulse. There are much easier ways than music to earn a living these days.

Outside of the song itself, a song narrative—the story behind the song—is the number one way to stand out to an editor. That’s a connection you need to happen so they can add you to a playlist.

Unfortunately, some variation of  “it’s what was on my mind” won’t cut it. That doesn’t mean anything—to anyone.

Here is a quick list to help you communicate effectively.

DO…

BE COMPLETE: Narratives are a professional representation of your song. An incomplete sentence is unprofessional. Use nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Writing the right words in the correct way is good communication and good marketing.

INCORRECT: A bright and timeless masterpiece. Legendary British rock band The Beatles. Joyful melody and inspiring lyrics. Captures the essence of optimism, renewal, and the triumph of light over darkness. Embodies hope and a celebration of life’s resurgent energy. Reminds listeners that there are better days ahead.

CORRECT: “Here Comes the Sun,” is a bright and timeless masterpiece by the legendary British rock band The Beatles. The joyful melody and inspiring lyrics capture the essence of optimism, renewal, and the triumph of light over darkness. The song is a musical embodiment of hope and a celebration of life’s resurgent energy, reminding listeners that there are better days ahead. “Here Comes the Sun” is more than just a song; it’s a musical ray of hope.

BE DESCRIPTIVE: The narrative should communicate the meaning of the song. Is it a break-up song? In the words of the Backstreet Boys, tell me why! Is it a love song? Tell us about how you met your significant other and what inspired you to write a song to them. Is this song a metaphor for life? Tell me the meaning. Even if you didn’t write the song, tell us why you went through all the trouble to record and release it.

INCORRECT: “Here Comes the Sun” is a fun, happy song to listen to. Listeners will leave feeling hopeful and rejuvenated by the music. “Here Comes the Sun” is more than just a song; it’s a musical ray of hope.

CORRECT: “Here Comes the Sun,” is a bright and timeless masterpiece by the legendary British rock band The Beatles. The joyful melody and inspiring lyrics capture the essence of optimism, renewal, and the triumph of light over darkness. The song is a musical embodiment of hope and a celebration of life’s resurgent energy, reminding listeners that there are better days ahead. “Here Comes the Sun” is more than just a song; it’s a musical ray of hope.

BE SPECIFIC: Don’t hide the meaning. Vagueness blocks a listener from connecting. Give the details as long as it doesn’t violate your Fifth Amendment rights. That vulnerability and rawness will reach more people than ambiguity ever will.

INCORRECT: “Here Comes the Sun” is a song that all listeners will want to listen to. It’s got a fun vibe and instantly brightens my mood.

CORRECT: “Here Comes the Sun,” is a bright and timeless masterpiece by the legendary British rock band The Beatles. The joyful melody and inspiring lyrics capture the essence of optimism, renewal, and the triumph of light over darkness. The song is a musical embodiment of hope and a celebration of life’s resurgent energy, reminding listeners that there are better days ahead. “Here Comes the Sun” is more than just a song; it’s a musical ray of hope.

BE RELATABLE: Make it personal. The more detailed and personal, the more listeners will relate.You have a story. Use the narrative to tell us what it is. This instantaneously makes people more interested in you. Know your story, and help others do the same.

EXAMPLE: We’ve all lived in seasons of darkness where we lacked all hope and joy. The joyful melody and inspiring lyrics of “Here Comes the Sun” capture the essence of optimism, renewal, and the triumph of light over darkness. The song is a musical embodiment of hope and a celebration of life’s resurgent energy, reminding listeners that there are better days ahead. “Here Comes the Sun” is more than just a song; it’s a musical ray of hope for those who need it most.

DON’T…

BE VERBOSE: One of the first mistakes done in a narrative is writing too much. The song can tell the story itself. Most editors will read about 500 characters before they decide whether they will actually listen or not. A word salad wastes what short window of opportunity you have. The goal is to get in, get heard, get on a playlist, and get out until next time.

INCORRECT: “Here Comes the Sun,” a timeless masterpiece by the legendary British rock band The Beatles, captures the essence of optimism, renewal, and the triumph of light over darkness. Released in 1969 as part of their iconic album “Abbey Road,” the song is a musical embodiment of hope and a celebration of life’s resurgent energy. “Here Comes the Sun” is more than just a song; it’s a musical ray of hope. Its enduring popularity stems from its ability to resonate with people across generations. The song’s message of perseverance and the promise of brighter days has made it a universal anthem of resilience. Through its expertly crafted melodies, harmonies, and lyrics, The Beatles crafted a masterpiece that continues to shine as brightly as the sun it celebrates. (Over 500 characters)

CORRECT: “Here Comes the Sun,” is a bright and timeless masterpiece by the legendary British rock band The Beatles. The joyful melody and inspiring lyrics capture the essence of optimism, renewal, and the triumph of light over darkness. The song is a musical embodiment of hope and a celebration of life’s resurgent energy, reminding listeners that there are better days ahead. “Here Comes the Sun” is more than just a song; it’s a musical ray of hope. (444 characters)

BE GENERIC: If I had a dime for every time a narrative said, “I just really like this song,” I’d have a lot of dimes. Give us something to work with. Why did you write (or choose) this song? What was going on in your life when you wrote (and/or recorded) it? Why do you connect with this song? If “liking” it is the only thing that comes to mind, it may be time to invest in a therapist.

INCORRECT: When the band heard the magical lyrics from George Harrison, they all immediately knew that this song had to be included on “Abbey Road.” Paul, John, and Ringo were thrilled with the way the song turned out and knew that people would love it just as much as they did. Paul McCartney even stated that this is his favorite song on the record.

CORRECT: “Here Comes The Sun” was written by George Harrison, and though he penned the lyrics all himself, the entire band connected with its message of hope and perseverance. We have all seen dark days, and this songs promise of sunshine on the horizon made each band member feel a sense of rejuvenation after a particularly difficult season. To The Beatles, “Here Comes the Sun” is more than just a song; it’s a musical ray of hope.

BE TECHNICAL: We know that musicians, producers, engineers and all other contributors are important to a song. If there isn’t a particular reason why a contributor is directly connected to the story of the song, then let the quality metadata do its job and a quality narrative do its job. If you really want to mention someone, make sure it doesn’t consume the narrative. While you may understand what all the technical terms are, the person who holds placement power may be cleaning drool off their face.

INCORRECT: Opening with George Harrison’s delicate acoustic guitar, “Here Comes the Sun” immediately transports listeners to a place of serenity. The chords and melody evoke a sense of anticipation, like the first rays of dawn breaking through the horizon after a long night. Harrison’s voice, warm and inviting, delivers lyrics that paint a picture of nature awakening from its slumber. The instrumentation is a blend of acoustic and electric elements, showcasing The Beatles’ ability to weave intricate textures.

CORRECT: “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles, from their album “Abbey Road,” is an optimistic masterpiece. George Harrison’s gentle acoustic guitar and soothing vocals capture the arrival of a new day, symbolizing hope and renewal. With uplifting lyrics and harmonies, the song portrays the triumph of light over darkness and has become an enduring anthem of positivity.

BE A NARRATOR: Don’t describe the song from your own perspective. Instead, be objective. It shouldn’t sound like the person writing the narrative also wrote the song. Instead, it should sound like a journalist explaining the song to the general public.

INCORRECT: George Harrison: I think that my new song “Here Comes the Sun” is one of the best things I have ever written. I wrote it to inspire hope, renewal, and the triumph of light over darkness. We just can’t wait for you to hear it, and we really hope you like it.

CORRECT: “Here Comes the Sun,” is a bright and timeless masterpiece by the legendary British rock band The Beatles. The joyful melody and inspiring lyrics capture the essence of optimism, renewal, and the triumph of light over darkness. The song is a musical embodiment of hope and a celebration of life’s resurgent energy, reminding listeners that there are better days ahead. “Here Comes the Sun” is more than just a song; it’s a musical ray of hope.

BE UNORIGINAL: Direct quotes from a writer or performer can serve a purpose in marketing your music. However, that purpose is not in your song narrative. Use that instead for social media fodder. Similar to the above point, the narrative should remain objective.

INCORRECT: “My new song, ‘Here Comes the Sun” is a bright and timeless masterpiece,” stated George Harrison of The Beatles. “The joyful melody and inspiring lyrics capture the essense of optimism, renewal, and the triumph of light over darkness.” Bandmate, Paul McCartney stated that, “the song is a musical embodiment of hope and a celebration of life’s resurgent energy, reminding listeners that there are better days ahead — it’s more than just a song; it’s a musical ray of hope.”

CORRECT: “Here Comes the Sun,” is a bright and timeless masterpiece by the legendary British rock band The Beatles. The joyful melody and inspiring lyrics capture the essence of optimism, renewal, and the triumph of light over darkness. The song is a musical embodiment of hope and a celebration of life’s resurgent energy, reminding listeners that there are better days ahead. “Here Comes the Sun” is more than just a song; it’s a musical ray of hope.

ERIN MOORMAN

Erin Moorman has a Bachelor of Science in Entertainment Industry Studies from Delta State University and a Master of Arts in Music Business from Visible Music College. In addition to her experience working for a record label she has already held an Adjunct Professor position teaching multiple music business classes.