How to Write a Song Using Imagery: 9 Songwriting Tips from Andrea Stolpe | American Songwriter

28 Replies to “How to Write a Song Using Imagery: 9 Songwriting Tips from Andrea Stolpe | American Songwriter”

1. Beautifully done. Thanks Andrea.

2. I love you.you know that that though with all your beautiful sensory talk lol.music is my manifested love,until I watched this.your a fantastic speaker and person for sharing this.i miss good conversation and sharing ideas and stories with substance to them ive allways felt musical emotion and a kinda sensory language.music has helped me succeed and feel strong again after being dark places.i can interact and Express my story through sound when I'm alone and wish I had someone to talk to.,and I hope I can share it some day soon. and even if its brief,help someone feel good vibes,and forget about any negativity

3. “Deep to grab the meat“?

4. amazing ty!

5. She is excellent!!!!!

6. Great detail. Thank you.

7. I have now decided, since turning 50, to finish all those partially written songs I have.
   Your words have helped so much. I've completed 2 songs!! I really want to get another 4 or 5 done soon.
   Thank you for giving me a new perspective and great inspiration.

8. Except in She Loves You the chorus is the big message and it sets the tone for the argument in the lyrics. It’s a great song because it flips the process and it becomes a logical structure. Statement , followed by examples and virtually no images.

9. Great video, thank you!

10. Another one that means a lot but I cannot find the structures like a 6 line verse or so but the meaning Is very clear and catchy R Kelly I wish
    I wish, I wish, I wish
    To every city
    I wish, I wish, I wish
    Every hood
    I wish, I wish, I wish
    And every block
    I wish, I wish, I wish
    Ghetto America
    Rollin' through the hood, just stopped by to say, what's up?
    And let you know your baby boy ain't doin' so tough
    Even though you passed, goin' on four long years
    Still wakin' up late at night cryin' tears
    Just thinkin' about those days you used to talk to me
    Smilin' while I'm sippin' on this Hennessey
    And remember, we'd brag on how rich we would be
    To get out this hood was like a fantasy
    And now you hear my songs the radio is playin'
    Oh, I can't believe my ears
    And what everybody is sayin'
    Boy, I tell you folks don't know the half
    I would give it all up just to take one ride
    With you
    How I used to kick it on the front porch
    With you
    And how I used to lay back and smoke weed
    With you
    And all the little basement party joints we'd do
    Now, I'm just missing you
    How I wish, I wish that I could hold you now
    I wish that I could touch you now
    I wish that I could talk to you
    Be with you somehow
    I know, I know you're in a better place
    Even though I can't see your face
    I know you're smilin' down on me
    Sayin' everything's okay
    And if I make it out, this thug life
    See you again someday
    I wish, I wish, I wish
    I wish, I wish, I wish
    Ever since this money come, it's been nothing but stress
    Sometimes I wish that I could just trade in my success
    Y'all look at me and say, boy, you've been blessed
    But y'all don't see the inside of my unhappiness
    Man, I swear this shit gets heavy like a ton
    That's why you hear me shootin' this real shit off like a gun
    I wonder how my friends would treat me now
    If I was iced up with a Bentley and a house
    That's why fake-ass niggas get fake-ass digits
    And fake-ass players get a real player hatin 'em
    'Honey Love' goes platinum and y'all ass come round
    But y'all don't wanna raise the roof until my shit is goin' down
    And now you hear my songs the radio is playin'
    Oh, I can't believe my ears
    And what everybody is sayin'
    Boy, I tell you folks don't know the half
    I would give it all up just to take one ride
    With you
    And how I used to hoop off in them to tournaments
    With you
    And how I used to club hop on weekends
    With you
    Your family called the morning of the tragic end
    Damn, my condolences
    I wish that I could hold you now
    I wish that I could touch you now
    I wish that I could talk to you
    Be with you somehow
    I know you're in a better place
    Even though I can't see your face
    I know you're smilin' down on me
    Sayin' everything's okay
    And if I make it out this thug life
    See you again someday
    I wish, I wish, I wish
    I wish, I wish, I wish
    Voices in my head been tellin' me to come to church
    Say, the Lord is the only way for you to stop the hurt
    Dreamin' of windows, black-tinted like a hearse
    But wakin' up to life sometimes seems worse
    And all I ever wanted is to be a better man
    And I try to keep it real with my homies, man
    Want me to save the world, I don't understand
    How did I become the leader of a billion fans
    And now you hear my songs the radio is playin'
    Oh, I can't believe my ears
    And what everybody's sayin'
    Boy, I tell you folks don't know the half
    I would give it all up just to take one ride
    With you
    How I used to street perform on Friday
    With you
    And how I'd go to church on Easter Sunday
    With you
    Instead of y'all throwin' them stones at me
    Somebody pray for me
    Oh, I wish that I could hold you now
    I wish that I could touch you now
    I wish that I could talk to you
    Be with you somehow
    I know you're in a better place
    Even though I can't see your face
    I know you're smilin' down on me
    Sayin' everything's okay
    Oh, I wish that I could hold you now
    I wish that I could touch you now
    I wish that I could talk to you
    Be with you somehow
    I know you're in a better place
    Even though I can't see your face
    I know you're smilin' down on me
    Sayin' everything's okay
    Oh, I wish that I could hold you now
    I wish that I could touch you now
    I wish that I could talk to you
    Be with you somehow
    I know you're in a better place
    Even though I can't see your face
    I know you're smilin' down on me
    Sayin' everything's okay
    Oh, I wish that I could hold you now
    I wish that I could touch you now
    I wish that I could talk to you
    Be with you somehow

11. Are there other ways to write than object writing if yes what other ways?

12. Can someone analyze this song by Justin Timberlake and tell me what is going on? Because I don’t see much of destination writing or object writing. Thanks

    Last Night"

    I just want to enjoy my life
    And show this world how to care
    And nothing brings more joy to my life
    Than knowing my girl will be there

    Are ya happy girl?
    (Huh?)
    Knowing that you right near broke my heart in a piece or two
    (Huh?)
    Knowing that I would have walked across the ocean for you
    Saying you're young and confused
    Well that's a lame excuse
    That's why the only one to blame is you for

    Last night
    Can't believe what I was hearing
    Telling me to have a nice life
    So tonight
    I don't think I'll spare your feelings
    You're on your own
    I'ma do for me what's right

    In your eyes a see a second chance
    Maybe I should take another glance
    But for now I'll wash my hands
    Cause I love ya baby, love ya baby
    Pharrell say don't do it the same
    But I say ain't playing my games
    But for you my soul still remains
    Cause I love ya baby, love ya baby

    Are ya happy girl?
    (Huh?)
    Knowing that you right near broke my heart in a piece or two
    (Huh?)
    Knowing that I would have walked across the ocean for you
    Saying you're young and confused
    Well that's a lame excuse
    That's why the only one to blame is you for

    Last night
    Can't believe what I was hearing
    Telling me to have a nice life
    So tonight
    I don't think I'll spare your feelings
    You're on your own
    I'ma do for me what's right

    I hope you're thinking
    (Remember girl, when I was your man)
    I hope it sinks in
    (If you don't understand, then you don't understand)
    We're gonna stop dreaming
    (The way I feel)
    About you

    Last night
    Can't believe what I was hearing
    Telling me to have a nice life
    So tonight
    I don't think I'll spare your feelings
    You're on your own
    I'ma do for me what's right

    Last night
    (Just-a last night)
    Can't believe what I was hearing
    (Just can't believe it baby)
    Telling me to have a nice life
    (Oh)
    So tonight
    (Yea)
    I don't think I'll spare your feelings
    You're on your own
    I'ma do for me what's right
    (Got something I wanna tell ya girl)

    I hope you're thinking
    (Tell me girl, when I was your man)
    I hope it sinks in
    (If you don't understand, then you don't understand)
    Well I guess I'm gonna stop dreaming
    (The way I feel)
    About you
    (Let me tell you one more time)

    I hope you're thinking
    (Tell me girl, when I was your man)
    (My baby)
    I hope it sinks in
    (If you don't understand, then you don't understand)
    (Yea yea yea yea)
    Well I guess I'm gonna stop dreaming
    (The way I feel)
    About you

    Oh baby
    Yea yea yea yea
    See I ain't gonna be the one
    Ain't gonna play these games with you
    But I still love you

    Remember girl when I was your man
    Ain't nothing gonna take that away
    No no no no, no no-no

    See I remember
    In December
    We were walking holding hands
    And I was your man
    Can't we just get back to that?
    Baby?

13. Thank you ???

14. this is so helpful! thanks a lot 🙂

15. I really loved your advice and I really think I will be able to improve my verses cause
    my Choruses roots to hearts
    like sky filled with stars

    I tried to imagery if you watch it please comment on it to tell me my mistakes
    Loved your video????

16. Even if you master every single tip on how to write epic songs..it doesnt mean you will ever get anywere with it..
    Music industry …..right place right time ..right lead singer….end of story..

17. Great!

18. I've had a musical block for about 5 years, just listening to this is making it much clearer about how I need to go about writing

19. What a joy to Listen to her. Deep information well explained

20. She looks familiar….ummm is this the same lady that plays Marissa Wiegler in the TV series "Hannah" or am i just high?

21. ….perfect explanation……..

22. Your videos are changing my writing for the better. Being able to apply some analytical thought has helped organize ideas into jumping off points for songs. This worked so well without losing the artistic element and feeling formulaic. Thank you so much!

23. I love the way you break it down; I'm a mechanical engineer but i always felt that i needed to discover more creative thought processes to be a better musician… The more i learn about music the more i recognize systems and patterns and structure etc. so rather than struggle with a lack of creativity, i can apply an analytical approach either to get the ball rolling or fill in or put finishing touches on my music. Thanks for the lesson!

24. Hi Andrea. I really got so much from your understanding. Thank you.
    It led me to think how different personal perspectives are taken in songs…for example–Hit the Road Jack has Ray singing about his experience with his discontented woman in the verse; then you have the woman saying the chorus–Hit the Road Jack. That perspective-taking in lyric writing is interesting and useful as well. But you probably know that. I will listen more to your insights! Thanks so much

25. There is so much to unpack in this one~ this really helped me out ~ thanks so much!

26. This is really good, very helpful tips and well thought-out. Thanks so much!

27. This is incredible, really useful concepts. Andrea, I bought your Songwriting book and plan to do sensory writing every morning now!

28. Some great tips and idea's. thanks

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