Out of all songwriting tools, value-driven songs are the most powerful ways to connect with listeners. They’re like superpowers.
When we mention the word "value," we usually link it to money. But that’s not the kind of value I’m talking about here. The true worth we bring as songwriters goes way beyond cash—it's the impact we make on our listeners, a creative value, by writing value-driven songs. It means resonating with audiences on a more profound level.
Resonating with audiences on a more profound level.
Having transitioned from the corporate world to being signed as a staff songwriter in Nashville, I can confidently say that creating value-driven songs beats any corporate gig, hands down.
As a budding songwriter, I had always aspired to create songs that connect with listeners on a deeper level. On my journey, I discovered the transformative power of value-driven songs for commercial songwriting, a technique that has guided me in crafting more meaningful and impactful songs.
Here, I’m going to take you on a journey through this tool, providing you with insights and practical tips to elevate your songwriting.
What is a Value-Driven Song?
Value-driven songs are simply writing about specific values behind the story, characters, or objects we are writing about. Values are fundamental human concepts that resonate with people from all walks of life. Incorporating these into your songwriting allows you to evoke strong emotions and create a genuine connection with your audience.
The big-ticket values include:
Love
Happiness
Hope
Freedom
Courage
Vulnerability
Authenticity
But there are a thousand other values, both positive and negative, that we can bring to our craft: acceptance (and self-acceptance), courage, determination, empathy, forgiveness, generosity, gratitude, humility, integrity, kindness, passion, etc. Value-driven songs are all about writing about these rather than other things.
So, how do we incorporate these values into our songwriting workflow?
10 Tips to Write Value-Driven Songs
Here are my ten tips to write value-driven songs:
1. Identify the Core Value—Pinpoint the key value you want to convey in your song. The trick is this: to keep it a single value, not more than one. These values should align with your overall message and resonate with your target audience. For example, a love song might focus on the values of vulnerability or trust.
2. Craft the Lyrics—Use vivid imagery, personal anecdotes, and evocative language to illustrate the chosen value. Avoid clichés and strive for originality. Instead of saying, "I love you," you could explore the complexities of love through a metaphor like "Our hearts dance together, a symphony of unspoken words."
3. Enhance the Melody—The melody should complement the lyrics and reinforce the intended emotion. Use melodic phrases that evoke the desired feeling. For instance, a song about hope might feature an ascending melody that conveys a sense of optimism and growth. Click here to learn more about Prosody.
4. Create a Payoff—The payoff is a moment in the song where the value is fully realized, and the emotional impact intensifies. This could be achieved through a powerful chorus, a bridge that shifts the perspective, or a poignant instrumental section. In a song about freedom, the payoff might be an empowering chorus that proclaims, "My chains are broken, soaring on wings of freedom." Click here to learn more about the Gradual Reveal.
5. Consider the Arrangement—The instrumentation, tempo, and dynamics of the arrangement can enhance the emotional impact of the value. For example, a sparse acoustic arrangement can emphasize intimacy and vulnerability, while a soaring string section can convey grandeur and triumph.
6. Find a Twist—Introduce a plot twist or unexpected element that challenges the value or perspective of the song. This creates tension and adds depth to the narrative. For instance, in a song about happiness, you could explore the bittersweet nature of fleeting moments. See more about this, the sixth universal Song Map in my book. 1
7. Use Contrast—Contrasting opposing emotions or ideas can intensify the impact of the value. For example, in a song about love, you could juxtapose moments of vulnerability with moments of strength. Click here to learn more about Juxtaposition.
8. Embrace Specificity—Personalize your lyrics by using specific details and anecdotes. This makes the value more relatable and emotionally resonant. Instead of saying, "I'm sad," you could share a specific experience that conveys your sadness.
9. Appeal to the Senses—Engage the senses through evocative imagery that appeals to all or some of the six senses. This creates a visceral connection with the listeners, enhancing the emotional impact of the value. See more about this in Andrea Stolpe’s brilliant book about effective storytelling2.
Touch
Taste
Sight
Smell
Sound
Movement
10. Seek Feedback and Collaborate—Share your song ideas with trusted listeners and seek constructive feedback. Collaborate with other songwriters to bring fresh perspectives and strengthen the value-driven narrative.
Writing value-driven songs helps us craft songs that resonate with audiences on a more profound level. If you want to know more about this, click here to learn about Emotional Proxies, which takes it a little deeper.
These tips are tools, not rules. But they can help effectively harness this to craft songs that evoke genuine emotions and leave a lasting impression. And this is worth more than gold.
Questions
Here are a few questions to help you write value-driven songs:
What core values do you want to convey in your songwriting?
How can you use vivid storytelling and personal experiences to illustrate these values?
Where and how will you create a payoff moment that intensifies the emotional impact?
Hope this helps!
Simon
Song Maps: A New System to Write Your Best Lyrics by Simon Hawkins click here
Popular Lyric Writing: 10 Steps to Effective Storytelling by Andrea Stolpe click here