Taylor fanboy Posted August 16 Posted August 16 What's the difference? Or are they the same? Which is more talented? The writer or composer? Discuss.
supertiffany Posted August 16 Posted August 16 writer - lyrics composer - melody i find creating melody challenging than creating lyrics
KatyPrismSpirit Posted August 16 Posted August 16 composition: melodies, harmonies, rhythm written: lyrics
Imagine Dragon Posted August 16 Posted August 16 I have one more interesting question - if an artist writes lyrics to a song, and they know exactly how they want the song to sound (they can sing it rhythmically to a composer), but they don't know how to write notes or play instruments themselves - can this situation make them also a composer in this particular case?
Kill Me Posted August 16 Posted August 16 47 minutes ago, Imagine Dragon said: I have one more interesting question - if an artist writes lyrics to a song, and they know exactly how they want the song to sound (they can sing it rhythmically to a composer), but they don't know how to write notes or play instruments themselves - can this situation make them also a composer in this particular case? Yes. Idk if the pedo can play instruments but this entire song was written AND composed by him and no one else... without him playing a single instrument in the demo. 1 1
stoopidjenna Posted August 16 Posted August 16 I associate "written by" more with lyrics and vocals, and "composed by" more with music and instrumentation. The latter is more technical so is more difficult in that sense. But the reality is the average listener really only has an ear for the former. 1
ATRL Moderator Ampersand13 Posted August 16 ATRL Moderator Posted August 16 Composition usually denotes instrumental melodies and occasionally vocal melodies. Composition can also imply that whomever is writing these parts is also writing the actual sheet music. However, "written by" for a mainstream act typically (and again there are exceptions) denotes vocal melody, chord progression, and lyrics. Essentially the foundation of the song. So when you see "written by" and there are no other distinctions (meaning there's no "lyrics by" and "composed by") it means that the writer completed the foundation of the song by themselves. If liner notes dictate a difference between written by and composed by it usually means someone came up with the lyrics or other elements of the song while a composer wrote the actual music. I will add though that I see more liner notes distinguishing "lyrics by" and "written by" more so than "written by" and "composed by" at least for pop artists. 2
ATRL Moderator Ampersand13 Posted August 16 ATRL Moderator Posted August 16 I'd like to add that artists will bring material to producers quite frequently who will then add elements to the finished product. For example, Taylor has a sole writing credit for "My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys". From the voice memo, we can hear that she has completed the vocal melody, lyrics, and chord progression by herself. She has written those foundational elements alone. Now, obviously the studio recording has a lot more going on. However, because the base of the song was completed, any added components from a producer are informed by what was already written. In this case, Jack's arrangement. If the song were to have been restructured, or if those core elements changed, a producer might feel entitled to a writing credit as well as a producing credit (rightfully so), but because the song's structure, lyrics, vocal melody, and chord progression remained the same, and because Jack's production is largely done in service to those elements, he receives a production credit and not a writing credit. I bring this up because one could argue that even though Jack's work didn't change the song's identity, his instrumental melodies could theoretically give him a composition credit. Therein lies the distinction. Also, this is mostly a practice in the mainstream world, and there are plenty of writers, artists, and producers who use their own method of crediting as well to make things more complicated. This also explains why artists can have sole writing credits for songs with instruments they don't play. If you've ever wondered why an artist like Avril Lavigne has a sole writing credit for her track "Goodbye" yet does not play the violin, it's because the core elements of that song came first and were completed alone. 2
Imagine Dragon Posted August 16 Posted August 16 4 hours ago, Miss Americana said: Yes. Idk if the pedo can play instruments but this entire song was written AND composed by him and no one else... without him playing a single instrument in the demo. Oh wow! 3 hours ago, Ampersand13 said: I'd like to add that artists will bring material to producers quite frequently who will then add elements to the finished product. For example, Taylor has a sole writing credit for "My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys". From the voice memo, we can hear that she has completed the vocal melody, lyrics, and chord progression by herself. She has written those foundational elements alone. Now, obviously the studio recording has a lot more going on. However, because the base of the song was completed, any added components from a producer are informed by what was already written. In this case, Jack's arrangement. If the song were to have been restructured, or if those core elements changed, a producer might feel entitled to a writing credit as well as a producing credit (rightfully so), but because the song's structure, lyrics, vocal melody, and chord progression remained the same, and because Jack's production is largely done in service to those elements, he receives a production credit and not a writing credit. I bring this up because one could argue that even though Jack's work didn't change the song's identity, his instrumental melodies could theoretically give him a composition credit. Therein lies the distinction. Also, this is mostly a practice in the mainstream world, and there are plenty of writers, artists, and producers who use their own method of crediting as well to make things more complicated. This also explains why artists can have sole writing credits for songs with instruments they don't play. If you've ever wondering why an artist like Avril Lavigne has a sole credit for her track "Goodbye" yet does not play the violin, it's because the core elements of that song came first and were completed alone. This reminds me of the story of Lauryn Hill and why she didn't credit her collaborators on the Miseducation album. -You may be able to make suggestions, but you can't write FOR me. I am the architect of my creative expression. No decisions are made without me. I hire master builders and masterful artisans and technicians who play beautifully, lend their technical expertise, and who translate the language that I provide into beautifully realized music. -These are my songs, musicians are brought in because of the masterful way that they play their instruments. I'm definitely looking for something specific in musicians, and I absolutely do hire the best musicians I can find. Not every band had that particular 'something' I was looking for. That doesn't make them bad musicians, just different than what I needed in that particular moment. -The Miseducation was the first time I worked with musicians outside of the Fugees who's report and working relationship was clear. In an effort to create the same level of comfort, I may not have established the necessary boundaries and may have been more inviting than I should have been. In hindsight, I would have handled it differently for the removal of any confusion. And I have handled it differently since, I'm clear and I make clear before someone walks in the door what I am and am not looking for. I may have been inclusive, but these are my songs. https://medium.com/@Ms.LaurynHill/addressingrobertgalsper-f08c20e02ffe
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