An Intriguing Angle on Bringing Songs To Life

We all want our songs to be expressive, engaging, alive and to move or touch people's emotions, don't we?

That's the power of song - to connect singer and audience through shared experience.

Well, I've had so many students who feel passionate about the songs they love, but somehow don't truly communicate the energy of the song. They don't manage to bring it alive for their listeners.

The songs land flat.

It’s such a shame!

So I have a simple but profound solution to this.

And loads of my singers use it to give soul and heart to their songs!

It's going to sound like the most obvious thing in the world, but it's surprising how many singers miss it out.

So just to clarify that, I'm working on the premise that songs are essentially dramas; most songs have characters, story and the emotions associated with the characters’ experience of the story.

Would you agree?

So here’s some examples of that – well known songs summarised in terms of Character, Story, and Emotions:

1. "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor

• Main Character: A resilient woman overcoming heartbreak
• Story: After being devastated by a breakup, the protagonist finds the strength to rise above the pain and reclaim their independence, vowing never to be hurt again by the same person.
• Emotions: Defiance, empowerment, and triumphant self-reliance.

?

?2. "Never Enough" from The Greatest Showman

• Main Character: A star performer longing for fulfillment
• Story: A singer delivers a breathtaking performance, but beneath the dazzling exterior, she confesses an insatiable yearning for something deeper—love, acceptance, or purpose. No amount of success or adoration can fill the void inside her.
• Emotions: Yearning, vulnerability, and an aching sense of emptiness.

3. "Jolene" by Dolly Parton

• Main Character: A pleading lover
• Story: A woman confronts her deepest insecurity, begging a beautiful rival not to take her man.
• Emotions: Desperation, vulnerability, and fear of loss.

4. "We Are the Champions" by Queen

• Main Character: A victorious warrior (metaphorical or literal)
• Story: A person reflects on overcoming countless challenges and proclaims their triumph to the world.
• Emotions: Pride, resilience, and determination.

5. "The Night We Met" by Lord Huron

• Main Character: A grieving lover
• Story: Someone haunted by the memory of a lost love, yearning to return to the moment when everything was perfect.
• Emotions: Heartache, nostalgia, and regret.

6. "Stan" by Eminem

• Main Character: A troubled fan (Stan)
• Story: A fan writes increasingly disturbing letters to his idol, revealing his mental instability and descent into tragedy.
• Emotions: Obsession, frustration, and despair.

?

Make sense?

The life of the song stems from us, the singer, feeling keenly the emotions the characters experience.

So to really transmit that you know what you need to do?

STEP INTO CHARACTER.

Feel the feelings as if they're your own, and express that.

Authentically, communicate the lyrics and their meaning as if you ARE the character.

So many singers fail to do this. It's very strange.

But it's really just a question of using your imagination and your humanity, your ability to relate.

A lot of vocalists just ‘sing the words’ instead of telling the story and expressing the drama.

Amazingly, the more you feel it, the better your voice works. It's actually been proven scientifically. (but that's a story for another day.)

So please take this to heart.

Take your songs to heart; and share that right back out there.

It feels good. It's therapeutic for you, and it might just twang someone's heart strings and make a difference to their day.

Whatever singing you're doing over the Christmas period, whether that's entertaining others, singing for joy and praise or just for your own pleasure, enjoy it !

And see if you can connect a little more with the songs you love.

Let me know what you think of this angle on song-craft :)