Stay Away From "Fillers"

by D. Speener
(E. Peoria, IL)

Songs are a story that you want to tell.

Many songwriters (even professionals) use "fillers" to complete part of a verse - words and phrases that add little value to the song.

Example:

The Eagles' song 'Lyin' Eyes': The first verse is well-written, as is the last verse. The second verse, however, leaves something to be desired.

Here's the scenario: He knows she's cheating on him. She makes up a flimsy excuse about a friend needing her. She drives ALL the way across town to meet with her lover and doesn't even kiss him. They "fall together" and then she pulls away, whispering, "it won't be long", and then leaves. She's just wasted her time, her lover's time, and the listener's time.

When writing a quality song, it needs to be structured so that every word is an intricate part of the story that you're trying to convey. If it doesn't hold the listener's interest, it won't get much play time.

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BTW: A lot of the songs that have become hits are because of the artist's fame, and not because of the quality of the song itself. Case in point: In their heyday, the Beatles cranked out song after song, many becoming huge mega-hits. This can't be done today. Most of those songs, if written and performed by an unknown today, would never make it.