Are you a well-respected, but commercially unviable eighties alternative band? Follow these four EZ steps, and you will craft a crossover song with radio-friendly appeal!
How to write a hit rock song:
1. Establish a clean, hooky guitar riff.
2. Don't veer too far from a I IV V progression (if minor key, give nice relative major lift in there somewhere).
3. Follow a basic structure of verse, chorus, verse, chorus, solo, verse chorus.
4. Write lyrics that youth will embrace as lovelorn romance, and adults will appreciate as bitter loss of love.
See also WITH OR WITHOUT YOU and EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE.
2 comments:
"Another prop has occupied my time..."
How is THAT a love song? I remember an interview with Michael Stipe where he said it was disturbing to see people slow dancing in his concerts to the song. (Well, Mike, I guess you could speak more clearly)
But it's hard not to love the classic REM guitar riff.
much to harsh on this jewel. It's not cut and paste. It's just refined pop!
on another note. Early versions of the song have Michael shouting FIRE - as in what you're not supposed to do in a movie theater, vs. sing/yelling it.
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