Songwriter Theory Podcast: Learn Songwriting And Write Meaningful Lyrics and Songs · Joseph Vadala

Songwriting Advice You've Never Heard Before

·39 min·2 clips

Vidal says “Hey Soul Sister” forced so many rhymes that the lyrics became “incoherent and frankly stupid.”

1. Songwriter Theory Podcast: Learn Songwriting And Write Meaningful Lyrics and Songs focuses this episode on unconventional songwriting advice. 2. Joseph Vidal hosts the episode and says he has been reworking the show while still doing Songwriter Theory projects. 3. The episode asks what advice songwriters hear less often, then argues that three specific habits can improve writing. 4. Vidal says a songwriter does not have to finish every song, especially when a song has low potential. 5. He compares weak songs to “doubling down on a losing hand” and says time is better spent on stronger material. 6. Vidal still gives credit to the practice of finishing songs because pushing through hard sections can improve craft. 7. He says some songs start rough but become good after months of workshopping, shelving, and returning later. 8. The episode uses an album-planning example of writing 20 songs to choose 10 for a release every two years. 9. Vidal argues that if a song would rank around “18” on that list, it probably should not consume more time. 10. He says some ideas are worth salvaging, but others should be abandoned rather than forced to completion. 11. Vidal’s second point is that writing a song should be easy, but writing one up to current standards should not be easy. 12. He says repeated practice makes tasks like piano, guitar, and shelves easier, and songwriting works the same way only to a point. 13. He recommends that beginners start with a stock chord progression, improvise a melody, and add lyrics afterward. 14. He says songs written 10 years into a practice should not be held to the same standard as year-one songs. 15. Vidal says older songs should often feel embarrassing, and he cites a college album based on high-school writing as an example. 16. He argues that if a songwriter can write a song quickly, that shows skill, but the best songs should still require effort. 17. Vidal’s third point is to learn from what you do not like, not only from songs you enjoy. 18. He says “I like all music” is not a virtue, and he prefers listeners and creators who have standards. 19. The tone is opinionated, instructional, and conversational, with repeated examples from high school songs, hardcore, and pop radio. 20. Listeners who like direct songwriting advice and lyric analysis will get the most from it; listeners wanting a short, neutral overview of music theory may skip it.

As heard by us

A blunt craft talk about standards, taste, and starting songs differently.

Joseph Vidal frames the episode around unconventional songwriting advice and settles on a simple idea: a song worth making should not come easily, because comfort can mean the work is no longer testing current standards.

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Why you'd press play

You want unconventional songwriting advice that pushes past the usual safe tips.

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