For example, you may write about an emotion like desire. You may write about your desire for a particular person or for a particular experience.
Make a list of emotions that you associate with the memory or experience. For example, if you decide to focus on a memory from your childhood, you may write down emotions like “loneliness,” “love,” anger," and “freedom. " Or if you are describing a recent relationship that went sour, you may write down emotions like “regret,” “rage,” “spite,” and “sadness. "
For example, you may focus on a recent fight between you and your best friend. Brainstorm ideas around how the fight made you feel.
For example, if you are writing about desire, you may write down, “summer,” “night rides,” “making out at the look out,” “dark haired boy,” and “heat. ”
“When Doves Cry” by Prince “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson “This Year” by the Mountain Goats “Fallin’” by Alicia Keys “Jolene” by Dolly Parton
Listen to the chorus in your favorite songs to help you identify the structure. The chorus is usually the same words used in the title of the song.
For example, in the Mountain Goats’ song “This Year,” the chorus is only two lines: “I am going to make it through this year/If it kills me. ” The chorus is only two lines, but it explores emotions like anger, recovery, and determination. [3] X Research source You can also add inflection to the lines in the chorus to give it more emotion, like in Dolly Parton’s song “Jolene,” where the chorus is sang as “JoJolene, Jo-olene, Jolene, Jo-leeeeene. "
For example, in Prince’s song “When Doves Cry,” the first verse focuses on senses like touch and sight: “Dig if you will the picture/Of you and I engaged in a kiss/The sweat of your body covers me/Can you my darling/Can you picture this?”
For example, in the Mountain Goats’ song “This Year,” the songwriter describes first love in a unique way: “And then Cathy showed up/And we hung out/Trading swigs from a bottle/All bitter and clean/Locking eyes/Holding hands/Two high maintenance machines. ”[5] X Research source
For example, in Kelly Clarkson’s song “Since U Been Gone,” the bridge appears in the last section of the song and is charged with pure emotion: “You had your chance, you blew it/Out of sight, out of mind/Shut your mouth, I just can’t take it/Again and again and again and again. ”[6] X Research source
It may add more emotional punch to finish the song on one or two repetitions of the chorus, especially if you feel the chorus has a lot of meaning to you.
For example, the title “When Doves Cry” works for Prince’s song because it ties back to the chorus and it sums up the emotional themes and ideas in the song.
Try copying the guitar melodies in your favorite songs. Add your own twist or riff to the melody to make it your own.
Alicia Key’s song “Fallin’” is a good example of using piano in a song to create an emotional atmosphere.
You can ask a violinist or cellist to play on the song. You can also try to find a drummer. Alternatively, you can add strings and drums to the song using digital music equipment that imitates these sounds.
Play with the inflection of words and phrases in the song. Imbue your voice with emotion when you sing the song acapella so the listener can hear it in your voice.
