Featured Article from Songbay Artist Justine Perry

This week we  are pleased to publish an article from Justine Perry.  Justine is a talented lyricist and writer who has been a Songbay subscriber for over two years. She has been a popular artist on Songbay and during this time, has had several lyrics commissioned and licensed. She has also received several collaborative work offers. Justine also writes blog articles about lyric writing, creative writing and the music business.

“Fight Song: What All Songwriters Can Learn From Rachel Platten’sSuccess…

By Justine Perry (@justine_perry)

Rachel Platten’s 2015 hit‘Fight Song’ touched listeners across the globe. People took to social media in their thousands to reveal how ‘Fight Song’ inspired them. Using the hashtag #MyFightSong, fans posted their own tales of strength on Rachel’s Facebook page. The vast array of inspirational stories was very moving.

The ‘Fight Song’ Album Artwork.

Rachel told online magazine AXS, “Just from hearing what I went through, people are being moved to share their own personal experiences… That’s just so incredible.” [1]

It’s clear the story of Rachel’s personal struggle moved thousands of people. When I first heard ‘Fight Song’I was reminded of Demi Lovato’s ‘Skyscraper,’ which also had a positive influence on the lives of thousands of listeners.

Demi Lovato’s 2012 smash ‘Skyscraper’ was also very empowering.

As somebody who has studied the craft of lyric writing in depth, I’m struck by the technical brilliance of Platten’s lyrics, in terms of the creative writing techniques used. This is what I discuss in this article, so you can use similar techniques in your own lyric writing.

If you haven’t heard the song, or would like a recap, listen here:

For me, the opening verse is the strongest section of the song. Let’s take a look at the lyrics:

Like a small boat on the ocean

Sending big waves into motion

Like how a single word can make a heart open

I might only have one match but I can make an explosion

This demonstrates an incredibly strong use of metaphor. The words create compelling images in the mind of the listener. When you listen to the song, you can clearly picture the small boat, the single match, and the explosion. This is very important because it makes the lyric memorable. These images remain in your mind long after the song has ended. This is a contributing factor to the ability ‘Fight Song’has to deeply move so many people. If Platten had simply said, ‘I am one person but I still matter,’ or words to that effect, the lyric would be not nearly as powerful.

Furthermore, I haven’t heard another song use the line, ‘I might only have one match but I can make an explosion,’ whereas I have heard many songs use the cliché metaphor, ‘fits like a glove.’ This is definitely something to consider if you want to write memorable and moving lyrics.

Rachel Platten was a member of @GoGirlsMusic for nine years.

Rachel tells a story in ‘Fight Song.’ Many songs just repeat what has already been said using different words. ‘Fight Song’ actually develops a story as the song continues. Verse One describes feeling small but important. After the chorus, Verse Two then describes missing home and the concern her friends and family feel. This puts the chorus in a new perspective when it comes around again, particularly the line, ‘Prove I’m alright song.’This also shines a new light on the last few lines at the end of the chorus, ‘I don’t really care if nobody else believes,‘cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me.’After the second verse, you understand that some family members are concerned about her wellbeing and disapprove of her lifestyle. This adds a new dimension to the chorus when you hear it for the second time.

After the second chorus, the first verse is repeated. The imagery is so strong it certainly merits repeating.

To conclude, ‘Fight Song’ is effective in being extremely memorable. After listening just once, I could recall most of the lyrics. I have listened to other songs tens, or even hundreds, of times. But when I try to remember the lyrics – I can’t! There are definitely lessons to be learnt here when writing our own lyrics.

To learn more about Justine, or to read and purchase some of her lyrics, please take a look at Justine’s artist page on Songbay >> or visit her website at www.justineperry.com

References

[1] AXS: http://m.axs.com/news/the-life-changing-healing-power-of-rachel-platten-s-fight-song-44647