What’s The Definition Of A Bad Song Anyway?

I ask this question because it seems to me that we, as songwriters seem to be real experts at naming which one of our creations are ‘bad’. So much so that, for some songwriters it stops them from creating altogether.

Here are some thoughts I have on the subject.

Call me strange, call me weird, but I personally don’t look at any of my songs as being either good or bad. They just are.

At the end of the day my songs are put into one of two categories:

1. Songs I perform
2. Songs I don’t perform

Of course the songs that I perform are pieces that I am very comfortable with sharing with the listening public and/or other musicians

The songs I don’t perform can then go into one of two more categories:

1. Works in progress (for performance)
2. Archived songwriting ideas (for later)

I never throw anything away. Everything that comes from my head is created into something or recycled to be created into something else in the future.

Lets face it, the more songs you write, the more ‘good’ songs you’ll write. For every good song written there are at the very least ten ‘bad’ ones lurking in the wings.

So, no matter how much you think your songwriting ideas are ‘bad’, write them down anyway. Besides, where does it say in the rules that you have to pitch or perform every song that you write anyway?

If you want to write ‘good’ songs then writing ‘bad’ songs are inevitable and besides, what makes a song bad? A ‘bad’ song from one songwriter could be another performers treasure. What do you think?

There’ll be songs you write that are meant to be performed and some songs will be stepping stones towards other songs.

Can you see where I’m going with this?

When you think about it, the concept of a song being ‘bad’ is created from a subjective opinion and really, is proclaiming one of your songs as being ‘bad’ your call anyway?

Here is a exercise to try on yourself. Try deliberately writing a ‘bad’ song and see how you go. It’s like asking a seasoned musician to play like a beginner.

It’s harder to do than you think. Just a thought.

Until next time, happy writing,

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician

Keywords: songwriting tip, songwriting, songwriter, songwriting news, songwriting idea, songwriting help, songwriting blog, songwriting process, corey stewart

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