When one of your songwriting heroes has something to say about your tunes, you stand up and listen. When they ask this? It is humbling…
From Lonnie Knight, a songwriter/musician legend in his own right…
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“Hi Brad… What an amazing song.
It’s a rare gift to be able to tell a story like that without editorializing, without becoming maudlin and schmaltzy and disgustingly graphic.
The disturbing events in a person’s life, whether first-hand or told through another are always the hardest to write, I think.
The delicate balance, the need to remember the art and the craft when you’re “ranting” from the heart. Most people miss this boat entirely, you captained it.
One of my favorite quotes regarding this: “The virtue of your subject does not increase the value of your art…”
May I have your permission to cover this one?
Thanks,
Lonnie”
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Lonnie was referring to a tune I wrote and later performed at one of his songwriting rounds which dealt with child abuse.
Of course I gave him permission.
A fellow songwriter asking to cover a love tune would be one thing, but an international indie legend as Lonnie asking to cover a social risky topic as child abuse?
There’s trust in a song like that.
This is the same tune hit writer Craig Bickhardt said had as much potential as The Thunder Rolls, Independence Day, and other hit tunes with heavy topics.
The same craft and techniques used to write that tune, is what goes into each issue of Tune Booster, but what is most important…
Is to be yourself in your songwriting.
No one can teach that. No one can teach you to be authentic.
You will appeal to some, you will not to others. And you might even offend some, but you’ll be you.
Songwriting is about being truly you, and the songs are a product of that and a learned craft.
You take care of being you, and I can help with the craft. https://www.tunesmithtips.com/tunebooster/