Judy Rodman - All Things Vocal Blog

Training & insights for stage and studio singers, speakers, vocal coaches and producers from professional vocal coach and author of "Power, Path & Performance" vocal training method. Download All Things Vocal podcast on your fav app!

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Repeating Lyrics: How to Turn Boring Into Mesmerizing

Can your choruses make a house cat yawn? Read on...

NEW: I'm experimenting with creating this audio version of the post. Let me know if you find it helpful:
So we all understand the value of a repeating 'hook' line in songwriting. But how do you repeat the same words multiple times without boring yourself and your listener to death?

First of all, please know that much on the radio DOES bore. Sometimes it's not the best song/singer/performance that gets on the radio (I know; shocking :)

If YOU want to repeat hooks or other lyrics in ways that engage instead of anesthetize the listener...

Never repeat a lyric exactly the same way!

Change it up - find a subtly different meaning for the lyrics which will encourage you in the moment to -
  • slightly alter nuances such as vowel shape, vocal tone, emphasis and/or volume.
  • make major melody variations, taking the line up, down or another place entirely.
  • change the way you end the lyric, shorter, longer or falling off. 
  • add or delete a slur or scoop.
  • add or subtract vocal embellishments/licks or words like 'yeah, no, uh, aw oh yeah, or a repetition of the last lyric.

Exceptions: 

  • When recording, you can cut and paste a word, line or even a whole chorus if this means it saves enough studio time to stay within your budget. You need a smart production team to call this wisely.
  • Sometimes you want the repetition to take on a machine-like exactness, especially in some pop, electronica and hiphop genres. Again, a smart production team is needed to choose these kind of production values on purpose for the chosen effect. 

How do you know...

when to alter or exactly repeat repetitive lines? Go back to the reason the voice exists... to deliver messages that get the desired response. Ask yourself what each way would communicate. What is the message-between-the-lines of the sound of altered or exact repeats? Which way gets you the response you want? Pick that one.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Please add your thoughts in the comments below this post.

AND... please let me know if you find the audio version helpful.  All Things Vocal podcast is now also available on iTunes!

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posted by Judy Rodman @ 4:03 PM  

2 Comments :

  • At July 7, 2015 at 4:19 AM , Blogger zsenianyu said...

    Yes, I found it very helpful! I have been using some of this tricks instinctively, but it will be much more efficient - I guess - when using them intentionally! Thanks for having helped me not to bore myself - and my musician mates AND the audience perhaps.. - to death :))) Cheers! Geny from Hungary

     

  • At July 7, 2015 at 10:12 AM , Blogger Judy Rodman said...

    Thank you so much, Geny, glad you found this helpful!

     

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