I’m going to relate a true story in this article. Hopefully, it will get the point across without my having to hand down a lecture.
Many years ago, I was seriously into writing music with the intention of becoming a pop songwriter. I was determined to have a hit record. I honestly thought that my music was good enough. In fact, I thought I was a great songwriter. I just needed a break.
Well, I found out about this music workshop located somewhere in south Jersey. So I went to the free seminar to see what it was all about. It was run by the gentleman who discovered Bon Jovi. His name was Steve Zuckerman.
Anyway, lots of people from the music industry spoke at this seminar. They shared lots of tips about how to make it in the music business as a writer. They also explained a bit about the process as far as how songs were selected for albums and so on.
To make a long story short, I signed up for the workshop. At this workshop, we would bring our songs to play for the other members and we would critique them. Naturally, I thought my songs were great and expected a rousing ovation.
I remember the first song I ever played was a tune called “Love Enough For The Two Of Us.” I would upload it to YouTube and let you hear it but I’m too embarrassed to. Yeah, but we’ll get to that later.
After the song finished, the members of the group all gave me a round of applause and of course I thought to myself, “Of course, this song is great.” And then Steve Zuckerman asked me a question.
“Who do you think is going to sing that?”
I hesitated for just a moment and then realized exactly what he was getting at. I responded, “Donnie and Marie.” He said, “Great, but Donnie and Marie aren’t popular anymore.”
And that’s when it hit me. It’s not that the song was so terrible. It wasn’t. It was just dated. There is no way that song could ever be a hit in that era.
Oh but it gets better. In a later week I brought another song called “And The Angels Sing” which is the only song I ever wrote to be published by a real music publisher. I thought this was the greatest song I ever wrote. My mother, God rest her soul, said it was “touched by God.” One music publisher called it “special all around.” He called it something else but I’ll get into that later.
I played this song for the group again. That day a big artist was there looking for material. Don’t remember her name. She was on some TV sitcom and was making a comeback. Anyway, before my song went on, Steve Zuckerman, who had heard it, escorted this girl (first name Dana) out of the room. I didn’t understand why at the time. He left the room in charge of another industry pro. I was a little upset but I wasn’t going to make a scene.
After the song was over, this other person asked me, “Why did you bring this song today>” I answered, “Because it’s a good song.” He said, “Well, it may be a good song but it’s not commercial and it will never sell.” He just flat out told me I was wasting my time.
Later, Steve told me that he took Dana out of the room because he didn’t want her to hear it. He didn’t want me to be embarrassed by playing such a “dated” song.
Shortly after that, I left the group. I realized that I was wasting my time. Not because I believed my music was bad but because these people were too blind to see how great it was.
This was 24 years ago. Today, I can’t even listen to these songs. No, they’re really not that great. And they’re certainly not slick and cool enough for today’s market, especially today’s market. In fact, I listen to a lot of today’s “popular” music and I just don’t get the appeal. I think most of it is horrible. It’s certainly not great music like back in the 60s and 70s. Oh wait, my parents said that was crap too. I guess I have become my parents.
But it doesn’t change the fact that my music just isn’t good enough for the pros. I subsequently submitted songs to song contests. The biggest criticisms were not about the music but the lyrics. They were too generic and didn’t tell an interesting enough story. They said the same thing over and over and didn’t develop further. And so on.
And that’s when it hit me. If my music is fine but my lyric writing is poor, I’ll write instrumentals. And what better way to break into the business than by starting a royalty free music site? After all, it’s a great way to get exposure.
You’re probably wondering what the point of all this is. Well, here it comes.
For years I thought I was a great songwriter. And then the reality hit me in the face. I wasn’t. Had I been able to objectively look at my work and not fall in love with it I would have seen that it wasn’t so great.
Steve Zuckerman said it best. He said it’s very hard for a songwriter to look at his child and admit that his child has cancer. My songs had cancer. They were terminally ill. I just refused to see it.
So what about you? Can you be your worst critic? Can you admit that your songs have cancer and are terminally ill? When will you be able to reach the point where you can listen to your music and tell that it really is good?
That day will only come when you can put it up against what’s on the radio today, listen to them side by side and say “Yeah, that sounds just like what’s on the radio.”
I’m still waiting for that day. But something tells me I have a long wait.
In the meantime, ain’t nothing like writing scores for somebody’s video and living the dream that you’re John Williams.
For The Love Of Music,
Steven “Wags” Wagenheim