co-songwriting

[king_arthur]

CRYSTAL BOWERSOX, the 25-year-old singer-songwriter and 2009 American Idol runner-up, says she treats co-songwriting like a first date, and admits that she took part in a number of unsuccessful writing sessions for her new album 'Farmer's Daughter', reports USA Today.

Bowersox's new record, which is released tomorrow (13th December 2010) contains twelve tracks, two of which have co-writing credits, and the singer said, "There were lots of sessions, but nothing much really came of them. You don't go all the way on the first date".

A further two tracks on 'Farmer's Daughter' have been written by other songwriters, but Bowersox says she still feels the album represents her as an artist, adding, "The majority of this album is me. It's my story. It's me to the core. I'm very happy about that". The 29-year-old, who lost out on 'American Idol' to LEE DEWYZE, explained that the songs she didn't write still have an importance, particularly 'Lonely Won't Come Around', saying, "It actually spoke to me about where I am in life. Lonely doesn't come around anymore: I've got my son and my husband, and I'm able to do what I love for a living".

The singer-songwriter is set to make a number of live appearances this week in promotion of the new record. She will perform tracks from the album on 'Live with Regis Kelly' today (13th December 2010), 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' on Thursday (16th December 2010), and on 'Chelsea Lately' on 22nd December 2010.

[jast]

Well, I guess there are certain kinds of songwriters who you wouldn't be able to co-write anything interesting with... but I think those wouldn't be the songwriters I'd ask about it in the first place. In the end, I think most writers (in this community, anyway) would join forces in a way that just makes the writing flow, in ways none of the individual writers would ever have thought of. That way it's about discovery rather than about leaving your mark or being the main genius in a song. That's the way in which co-songwriting would appeal to me. The occasional collaboration I've been part of was fun, but not simply because different people recorded stuff. It was because everyone involved shaped a part of the song beyond just the performance. I'd love to take it even further than that.

Regarding the emphasized part of the article; I disagree. You go as far as the situation warrants. Sometimes perhaps nothing amazing will happen, but why prevent the opposite from happening?

Oh, I'm sorry. Was this thread supposed to be about anything in particular?

[BBABM]

I also think that you should give it your all, if you're even gonna try. Why half ass it? As for that particular quote about going "all the way on the first date," I think that she was making a joke about nothing happening, rather than not trying to go there. Plus you have to think what sort of douche bag songwriter American idol manufacturing co. stuck the poor girl with. To me it would be about comfort, and familiarity with the other person, and if I was just sat down with some random expert I'd probably be a little intimidated,and restrained. I don't know the whole story, but I'd assume that it was probably a collaboration worked out through the record company, rather than two buddies deciding to write a tune after a few beers. I honestly haven't heard this woman so I can't say anything about her personal style or ability, but I appreciate that she at least wants to write part of her own song.

And we have almost the last name... Bowersox, mine is bower... and I like the red sox... Coincedence? I think not.

[Billy's Little Trip]

It was because everyone involved shaped a part of the song beyond just the performance. I'd love to take it even further than that.

You nailed it with this, Jast. I feel the same way. It's hard for me because I'm very particular about how I "see" things. But only about things I'm passionate about. I'm very easy going in my daily life, but with my company, I know how to make fast and good decisions to push things forward. With music, I get the same feeling about direction, but music is not about dollars and cents. So I've learned to trust other musician's opinions on vision. At first it's hard, but in the end it's so much more colorful.
...and it really helps to work with good open minded people that know their craft. Everyone gets on the same page quickly without egos disrupting the flow.

[signboy]

I always have the same problem. It's not so much about ego,
but letting go of control and accepting that your
"vision" is probably not going to happen.
The issues usually start right at the beginning,
when a riff or idea is accompanied by a complete
concept of the finished song. I've found that if I don't
take the time at the beginning to consciously
"let it go", I end up being the most detrimental
part of the process.