Estimated reading time 3 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Is English a second language for you? Do you want advice on how to write songs in English? Are you a world music artist and want to transition into a pop music career? If you want to write Western pop, you must understand pop music styles and have good English vocabulary and grammar skills. Keep reading to learn how to write beautiful songs in English.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission from purchases made through the links. I’ll only recommend products I use, use in lessons, or ones my students or colleagues have recommended.
How to Write Beautiful Songs in English: World Music to Western Pop
What’s world music?
- World music contains compositions that have western style elements combined with local ethnic style elements.
- World music can have style elements from Sub Sahara Africa, the Middle East, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.
For example, in the following video you’ll hear a blend of styles.
- Munbe Vaa uses western style vocal harmonies, kit drums, and strings. Also, the music production on the song is heavily Western influenced.
- However, it has India melodic phrasing and uses indigenous instruments.
- Like most popular music, it’s a love song and uses literary devices such as assonance, alliteration, and rhyming.
Video: Munbe Vaa
Transitioning Styles
- If you want to expand your brand into the Western pop market (dominated by the US and UK), you must be able to write English song lyrics.
- Celine Dion (French Canadian) and the Scorpions (German) are both examples of successful artists that speak English as a second language.
- Similarly, Johnny Clegg, who speaks both English and Zulu, is a world musician who’s had success in the pop market.
Video: Johnny Clegg’s Scatterlings of Africa
How to Write Beautiful Songs in English: English Vocabulary and Grammar
Grammar and Vocabulary
- Is English not your first language? You’ll need to build your vocabulary and grammar skills. (To learn how, click the previous two links.)
- Make sure to work on your English vocabulary every day, because there’s no substitute for practicing.
- The videos below have a fun, visual way of teaching the English parts of speech (nouns, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, etc.).
Mobile users: for best results viewing the videos, rotate your screen 90o to the right.
Video: Nouns
Video: Verbs
Video: Adverbs
Video: Adjectives
Video: Conjunctions
Video: Pronouns
Video: Prepositions
Video: Subjects and Predicates
Video: Interjections
For general lyric writing information
How to Write Beautiful Songs in English: Writing the Music
Want to write Western pop? You’ll need to listen to hundreds of melodies so that you’ll have an intuitive grasp of how the music works.
How do you create a catchy chorus melody?
- Write a lot of melodies and pick the best ones to develop.
- Also, you need to understand how the parts of a song work: hook, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, and bridge.
- This link shows my songwriting process.
More Songwriting Info
- How to Extract a Melody from Your Lyrics
- What’s a Melody (and How to Create Strong Ones)
- 10 Ways to Spice Up Your Melodies with Melodic Variation
- 7 Songwriting Templates to Get Your Ideas Flowing
- Learn the Elements of Songwriting Construction
- Creating Great Melodies Using Rhythmic Motifs
- Do You Want Cool Chords for Your Song?
This video gives an example of a powerful chorus melody.
Video: Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
These songwriting books will help you become a better songwriter.
Final Thoughts
Takeaway points:
- If you want to expand your brand beyond the world music genre and into the pop market, you must be able to write English song lyrics.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll need to build your vocabulary and grammar skills.
- Work on your English vocabulary every day because nothing substitutes for practicing.
Have fun!
Color Coded Eighth Note Clapping
Does reading eighth note rhythm notation give you fits? (Or do your students struggle with eighth notes?) Many musicians have trouble reading rhythm, especially ADD, ASD, LD, and special needs students. Read more to learn color coded eighth note clapping. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Read More
How to Read Basic Guitar Tab for Beginners
Are you passionate about playing guitar? Do you want to turbo charge your learning using guitar tab? Guitar tab is a popular music notation that can help you master guitar songs quickly and easily. Keep reading “How to Read Basic Guitar Tab for Beginners” to learn what it is and how it works. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Read More
How to Avoid Writing Annoying Cliches
Do you want to know what cliches are and how to avoid them? Cliches are phrases that have been used so often that they lose their impact on your audience. Writers, poets, and songwriters need to be aware of them, because they can drain emotional energy from your work. Keep reading “How to Avoid Writing Annoying Cliches” to learn what they are and how to stay away from them. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Read More
Why Am I So Bad at Reading Sheet Music?
“Why am I so bad at reading sheet music? How can I learn to read better?” At least part of the problem rests with the music notation itself. Don’t worry, I can help you read music! Click to learn why you struggle with reading sheet music and what you can do about it. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
Read More