Just Shut Up And Sing!

Yesterday, I discovered a pet peeve.

I've had an inkling of my hatred for this particular thing, but it was only yesterday that I embraced it in full force.

What thing, you ask?

When singers interrupt their songs to TALK.

I don't mean when they do it in concerts--this is completely acceptable.

I mean when they do it on their albums, right in the middle of a great song. You know the sort: they belt out the notes, then do an acting segment pretending they're speaking to another person.

Example: Girl sings about a boy she met at a diner, then "calls him on the phone" to ask him out on a date (yes, that's a real song...).

My three-minute nirvana = kaput.

I know you're probably asking yourself why I've chosen this odd topic to rant about (and if you're not, just pretend for me!)

Simple: It reminded me of overwriting, of those long passages of description or dialogue that serve no purpose than to repeat what has already been said. Or to emphasize what can be said in a much more concise way.

Draft #3 has taught me a lot, peeps. It's taught me to just shut up and sing. To tell my story using the right words, not the prettiest ones. Those aren't always the ones who get the job done. Every writer struggles with telling their story in the best way possible, often going down wrong paths and picking themselves back up. Apparently, songwriters could use a tip or two from all of you. So please show them how it's done--crappy monologues need not apply.

Neither does excessive 'telling'. There should be a nationwide ban on the thing.

I'd like to thank Female Singer/Talker for inspiring me. Sucks that I can't listen to that song anymore...


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