Song Making Process

[xLumian]

Just something that I was thinking about... Do you think they write the lyrics first? Create the melody or music first?

[ChelseaDagger]

I'm sure some songs, the lyrics come first, and others the music....

But either way, it blows my mind!!!! To come up with the lyrics, melodies, music, everything. What an amazing process!!!!

[momoluvGD]

I'd think both...

[retid]

i think the melody goes first, then later comes in the lyrics.. and then tune up the melody a bit for the perfect fit..and then adjust things here and there.. and in time, you have an awesome song..

[belinda jane]

I was actually thinking this the other day, how strange! Haha.

I think it all depends. Because I know I remember reading that with JOS and Homecoming, etc. they were just mucking around in the studio and came up with those songs.

So it goes both ways I believe.

[Malleus]

I'm sure there is not a single formula that Green Day (or most musicians in general) stick to.

[Trina]

wat

I don't think much music (or any art or creative produce) is made is such a mathematical, calculated way. It's all very messy and undefined, I'd imagine (and hope).

[WhiteTim]

Billie mentioned his process in GW during 21st promo forget what he said ill look at the issue when i get up in a few hrs

[No Rhyme Or Reason]

Billie was asked this in a recent interview - I forget which one. I think there was a video, and it was just Billie there.

He said that it varies depending on the song. Sometimes he'll come up with some lyrics and then write a song around that, sometimes he has a melody first and then comes up with lyrics later. Sometimes they're written separately then are put together. A lot of this is by himself, but Mike and Tré sometimes come up with ideas on their own - like the Longview bass line for example. They also come up with music all together sometimes - I think Billie mentioned Kill The DJ was created that way. And also, the songs he writes by himself change a bit once he goes into the studio and the rest of the band starts playing it - they add parts, refine stuff, etc.

Also, it seems that in the 21CB era a few years ago they mentioned in a few interviews (including the one for Rolling Stone) that Billie comes up with most of the music - he's the main writer of the lyrics, melody, etc. But they described his head as having a bunch of radio stations playing at once, so his difficulty is organizing everything (which is hard because his head is so full of music). So Mike and Tré help a lot with organizing the songs and making them more manageable.

--> Yeah, the Rolling Stone article says that Billie "wrote virtually every note and word of 21st Century Breakdown." Then Mike and Tré help out from there.

Here's a link to the magazine scans: http://www.greendayauthority.com/articles/116/1/

[BradGreenDay]

On this interview (Which was taken in 1998) he say's something about this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK-NWLiS_As

[xLumian]

  On 10/3/2012 at 4:22 AM, ChelseaDagger said:

I'm sure some songs, the lyrics come first, and others the music....

But either way, it blows my mind!!!! To come up with the lyrics, melodies, music, everything. What an amazing process!!!!

THANK YOU! I have always been amazed by people who write songs because, for me at least, its incredibly difficult. I don't even know where to start. The process can be so complicated and most people don't know how hard it is to create a song.

  On 10/3/2012 at 9:03 AM, No Rhyme Or Reason said:

Billie was asked this in a recent interview - I forget which one. I think there was a video, and it was just Billie there.

He said that it varies depending on the song. Sometimes he'll come up with some lyrics and then write a song around that, sometimes he has a melody first and then comes up with lyrics later. Sometimes they're written separately then are put together. A lot of this is by himself, but Mike and Tré sometimes come up with ideas on their own - like the Longview bass line for example. They also come up with music all together sometimes - I think Billie mentioned Kill The DJ was created that way. And also, the songs he writes by himself change a bit once he goes into the studio and the rest of the band starts playing it - they add parts, refine stuff, etc.

Also, it seems that in the 21CB era a few years ago they mentioned in a few interviews (including the one for Rolling Stone) that Billie comes up with most of the music - he's the main writer of the lyrics, melody, etc. But they described his head as having a bunch of radio stations playing at once, so his difficulty is organizing everything (which is hard because his head is so full of music). So Mike and Tré help a lot with organizing the songs and making them more manageable.

--> Yeah, the Rolling Stone article says that Billie "wrote virtually every note and word of 21st Century Breakdown." Then Mike and Tré help out from there.

Here's a link to the magazine scans: http://www.greendaya...articles/116/1/

Awesome read thanks! I wish I saw that article when it came out =P

[AngelBlue_]

Here's an old interview (Pre-American Idiot era I think) in which Billie explains a lot of things about it. take a look, it's an awesome interview even if it's old.

http://bluerailroad.wordpress.com/ix-billie-joe-armstrong-green-day/

[No Rhyme Or Reason]

  On 10/3/2012 at 9:44 PM, 19GreenAngel91 said:

Here's an old interview (Pre-American Idiot era I think) in which Billie explains a lot of things about it. take a look, it's an awesome interview even if it's old.

http://bluerailroad.wordpress.com/ix-billie-joe-armstrong-green-day/

Ooh, that's an excellent interview!! I've never seen it before. I love how it really focuses on the songwriting process!

Thanks for sharing that!!

[ChelseaDagger]

  On 10/3/2012 at 9:22 PM, xLumian said:

THANK YOU! I have always been amazed by people who write songs because, for me at least, its incredibly difficult. I don't even know where to start. The process can be so complicated and most people don't know how hard it is to create a song.

I couldn't write a song if my life depended on it, so I am endlessly amazed by the songwriting process...

[AngelBlue_]

  On 10/3/2012 at 10:48 PM, No Rhyme Or Reason said:

Ooh, that's an excellent interview!! I've never seen it before. I love how it really focuses on the songwriting process!

Thanks for sharing that!!

You're welcome! yea it's awesome, he really explains it well , I've always been very curious about the songwriting process, and this inteview made my doubts clear

[Beylla]

I think its an amazing process too.

I know at least in my band, the lead singer and guitarist is always coming up with melodies and lyrics, they are constantly going round her head. Sometimes the lyrics come first from an idea and she can just put a melody to it, other times she has a great hook and waits for lyric inspiration to come. I have no idea how she does it! I've tried and failed to write songs of my own (I'm only the drummer ). Me, the bassist and second guitarist write our own parts to the songs based around what the singer has already come up with. Mostly she has a song almost fully formed with all chords and lyrics, and we contribute in making the structure of the song, what little solos to have, and how to improve it by having different dynamics or instruments. Often me and the bassist work together to create the best rhythm. Its fun and always changing!

I think some people just have the nack from an early age, others have to work much harder to be able to get to that level. I think Billie operates in this way, especially after reading those articles. I wish I could be a fly on the wall at a Green Day song writing session though!