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The Art of Writing Great Lyrics | 
 enlarge | Author: Pamela Phillips Oland
Publisher: Allworth Press
Category: Book
List Price: $18.95
Buy New: $6.99
You Save: $11.96 (63%)
New (10) Used (12) from $6.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  12 reviews
Sales Rank: 44585
Media: Paperback
Edition: Rev Exp
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8
ISBN: 1581150938
Dewey Decimal Number: 782.421640268
EAN: 9781581150933
ASIN: 1581150938
Publication Date: May 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
6 x 9 North American Distribution music Packed with literally hundreds of hints, tips, and inside information only a working writer would know, The Art of Writing Great Lyrics demonstrates proven, no-fail methods for everything from communicating through song, defining styles, and collaborating with a partner to studying the market, making a great demo, and getting started on a career. Full of creative exercises, writing do's and don'ts, and a handy A to Z checklist for reviewing new songs, The Art of Writing Great Lyrics provides a lifetime of proven success tips in one indispensable volume.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
 Not what you are hoping for. September 16, 2008
I gave this two stars... but don't be completely pushed away. I would have gone two and a half if it was available. The overall idea of the book is great. It will help if you are starting to write lyrics. If you already write a lot I would suggest not to spend the money. I write for a band that's been around for a while and figured I would try to spice some things up. The only things that seemed to be of any use to me were just reaffirmations of things that we all know. Having been written in the 80's the content is not very current. Essentially, this book could be condensed into the following ideas: Have a strong control of language and vocabulary, REALLY know who/what you are writing about, Don't write poetry and expect people to connect, Have a strong lyric you build around.
If you are planning to just start writing lyrics... it's a good book. Overall though, it was not for me.
 The more I read, the less time I had to read July 16, 2008
When I first got this book, I couldn't put it down. It was so easy to read, so overflowing with great information that time just flew by as I sat on my sofa. By the time I was a few chapters in, I found myself spending less time with the book and more time writing. By the time I got to the last chapter, I was reading a small segment and then off to write some more.
Anyone who is thinking about starting a career as a writer should get this book.
Great resource for an aspiring staff writer January 20, 2007
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
Ms. Oland provides helpful advice for the person wishing to write and market commercial songs. She gives tips on becoming familiar with language, building vocabulary, and learning popular song structures. She also dissects her own writing process, step by step, for the reader.
Later chapters deal with the challenges posed by collaboration, strategies to deal with criticism, and the music business.
This book is primarily for the commercial lyricist, not the musician or the artist who writes for self-expression. Ms. Oland is of the opinion that a lyricist shouldn't write too much from personal experience, and that a commercial song should make the audience feel good because "no one wants a loser." But some of the most sincere music, which ended up being "commercial," was written out of angst (Alanis, Nirvana). Oland's term for this kind of music is "living room hits." (In her defense, she does state that when an artist writes this type of song for himself, the song may become a hit.)
Ms. Oland also mentions that she is a much stronger lyricist than melodist, and although she does mention using "dummy melodies," musician-lyricists might find a different method than Ms. Oland's.
However, this book does include much wisdom and helpful information culled from years of experience.
2 thumbs up 2 Pamela Phillips Oland May 19, 2005
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
While I am only half way thru reading "The Art of Writing Great Lyrics" I can already tell you that it is a very useful piece of literature. I have been singing since I was a child. I started writing my own songs about 5 years ago. I decided to purchase this book because I feel no matter how much natural ability you have education can NEVER hurt. I was surprised that much of what the book teaches you I already knew and practiced by instinct. It was a good feeling to know I am already doing it pretty much the way the professionals do. Now Ms. Phillips Oland does pump-up her own songs and she does do a bit of name dropping, but I also found that beneficial........you want to know the person teaching you is an expert of the field. Ms. Phillips Oland writes in a comfortable style. Reading her book is more like casual conversation rather than formal educational type verbiage. If you are looking for a book to get you well on your way to writing popular songs this is the book for you.
PAM OLAND'S GRAND PLAN April 11, 2004
13 out of 16 found this review helpful
Let's get right to it. If you truly want to be successful at something, find a mentor - someone who has been there and done that (and is still there and is still doing that).The "that" in this case is songwriting, and Ms. Pamela Oland is the mentor who is still in the thick of things, decades after her ride to the stars with Frank Sinatra. You can take decades to learn which turns to take and which to avoid, or you can buy Pamela's music road atlas, THE ART OF WRITING GREAT LYRICS, and get to your destination with fewer detours and disappointments. Grab your poetic license, start your creative engine, and hit the freeway - and the Top Ten - courtesy of your tour guide and her fine book.
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