The Best Song Ideas Come From Your Own Life Experiences

Posted by orlando5 in July 31st, 2008

If you’re looking for a great idea for a song that’ll affect your listeners, look no further than your life experiences.

You see, chances are that many people have experienced much of what you have, so they’ll be able to identify with your songs!

On a sheet of paper or on your computer, start listing moments or periods in your life that you believe people will be able to relate to. Using my own life as an example, here are just a few:

1. I’ll never forget the first day I saw my wife–it was at a hot Miami dance club. She walked in and looked a little out of place (because I didn’t want to believe she was a barfly-boy if she reads this I’ll really be in trouble!). Anyway, I struck a conversation with her, and she blew me off, basically saying she was not interested! (*****I wrote a country tune to this called, “She Doesn’t Know It Yet”)

2. I had a good friend who was facing a gigantic family crisis and I lent as much moral support as I possibly could. My friend eventually got back on track and was very grateful. (******I wrote an R&B ballad to this life experience called, “Find Your Way Back Home”)

3. Living on South Beach for a few years, I remember people-watching, specifically while having an early morning breakfast at the 11th street diner at 3:00 A.M. every now and then as the most original, peculiar people would pass by. (*****I haven’t written anything to this yet, but the title, “Why Be Normal?” is dancing in my head for perhaps a dance song)

4. Like most every person on this planet (hint! hint!-this has to be a great, universal topic) I’ve lived through many ups and down, joys and heartaches, failures and victories. (*****I took one specific, proud period in my life and turned it into an inspirational song called “I Shall Prevail”)

I can literally go on and on! But I’ll stop right here and give you one last tip; Once you pick a song idea out of one of your life experiences, concentrate on specific things that occurred, i.e., “She strutted in through the double-doors/and into the smoky room/her ruby-red lipsticktold me I was doomed…….. You get the idea!