NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm told I can write awesome song lyrics. I'm also told I'm a great singer. Problem is I can't sing in front of people. But I want my songs to be publicized, and the best way to do that is to sing them myself. So instead of consulting my nerds at school, I consult you guys. Please help, but don't ask to see lyrics, they're not quite perfect as far as editing goes.

Record them?

Record them?

I suppose...I just got into this a couple of weeks ago. I'd have to go to a company though because no one I know has the proper equipment.

Microphone. Computer. Sorted.


You can download some decent free recording programmes (try googling Audacity).

take singing lessons

sure you know you can sing but a good teacher will show you techniques that will allow you to sing properly, that will allow you to sing even when nervous and will have events designed to get you used to singing in front of other people.

you only have one life and its a short one. dont let nervousness hold you back. prepare yourself for the future you want and then go for it.

I'm told I can write awesome song lyrics. I'm also told I'm a great singer. Problem is I can't sing in front of people. But I want my songs to be publicized, and the best way to do that is to sing them myself. So instead of consulting my nerds at school, I consult you guys. Please help, but don't ask to see lyrics, they're not quite perfect as far as editing goes.
A lot of recording spaces you find will have all the instruments needed, all the mixing equipment, and pretty much the whole shebang for a fairly reasonable price. We just finished up my friend's CD for only $150 an hour.

Good luck with it

Who says you have to perform your own music? Beethoven doesn't personally conduct all his symphonies (obviously as he's dead) whenever an orchestra plays one and it's a good thing, too, or his music would have died with him. I would worry about the quality of your music, first, if I were you.

Dylan had the same problem. He could really write, but the best versions of his songs were done by other people.

i.e. Hendrix, CSN, Joni Mitchel, etc...

When you write a song it is automatically copyrighted.
If you register it with the copyright office (for a fee) if anyone takes it you can sue them.

listen man, i know where your coming from. i was in the same situation once. i have been playing drums for about 13 years now. and for a long time, i though, musically, it was the only thing i was good at. until one day my friends decided to show up at my house as they usually do and invite themselves in. i was in the shower at the time and i was singing. when i got out i was surprised to hear that they thought i had a great singing voice. i was astonished. i had never been told that in my life. ever. ive always been a good lyricist but ive left the singing up to the vocalist in my band. but after hearing this i was quite amazed. so i put myself on the list for an open mic at this local cafe that me and my friends frequent. and i sang and my friend played acoustic guitar. i think thats what you need to do. ppl wouldnt go out of there way to tell you that you had a good singing voice if they didnt think so. they wouldnt blatently lie to you. that would be like me, a person whose never seen you before, tell you that your good looking. it makes no sense and its creating an illusion. ppl at open mics honestly dont judge you. anything goes. but go to the place a couple times first. see what the vibe is like. but if you have the money. get a vocal coach. thats the only person who will tell you the honest to goodness, brutal, truth. thats the only person who knows the technique and will be able to judge you accordingly.

listen man, i know where your coming from. i was in the same situation once. i have been playing drums for about 13 years now. and for a long time, i though, musically, it was the only thing i was good at. until one day my friends decided to show up at my house as they usually do and invite themselves in. i was in the shower at the time and i was singing. when i got out i was surprised to hear that they thought i had a great singing voice. i was astonished. i had never been told that in my life. ever. ive always been a good lyricist but ive left the singing up to the vocalist in my band. but after hearing this i was quite amazed. so i put myself on the list for an open mic at this local cafe that me and my friends frequent. and i sang and my friend played acoustic guitar. i think thats what you need to do.

I totally agree.

Getting caught naked in the shower by your friends builds character.

The problem with this stuff is I'm introverted to the point where I'm willing to let people walk all over me. I couldn't go and enter my song lyrics in a contest to see if they're any good and I couldn't sing my songs because I'm convinced that if I haven't had singing lessons I can't sing. Go low self esteems! I need a way to defeat stage fright. Suggestions?

The problem with this stuff is I'm introverted to the point where I'm willing to let people walk all over me. I couldn't go and enter my song lyrics in a contest to see if they're any good and I couldn't sing my songs because I'm convinced that if I haven't had singing lessons I can't sing. Go low self esteems! I need a way to defeat stage fright. Suggestions?

Yell at people. Constantly.

I totally agree.

Getting caught naked in the shower by your friends builds character.

Getting caught naked anywhere builds character. It takes a lot of character to explain why you're naked on the 9th green.

Dylan had the same problem. He could really write, but the best versions of his songs were done by other people.

i.e. Hendrix, CSN, Joni Mitchel, etc...

That is only a very small portion of his songs, and is largely dependent on the fact that those artists made more mainstream poppy versions of the songs.

I suppose...I just got into this a couple of weeks ago.

You got into songwriting a couple of weeks ago?

Yell at people. Constantly.
I do that already. They call me the drill sargeant.

You got into songwriting a couple of weeks ago?
I really got into it a couple of weeks ago. I started over the summer.

I do that already. They call me the drill sargeant.

Hmm... I can't think of anything else. The nakedness bit seems like the ticket.

I'll go on a nudist strike at the capital building. Oh, yeah!!;)

I really got into it a couple of weeks ago. I started over the summer.

If you really are good at songwriting after two weeks of serious interest, I want to punch you.

Whatever the case may be, don't let stagefright keep you from pursuing the art and recording your songs.

If you really are good at songwriting after two weeks of serious interest, I want to punch you.

Whatever the case may be, don't let stagefright keep you from pursuing the art and recording your songs.

I've been writing poetry since third grade. I just didn't put it to a tune 'til recently. And apparently band's helped with that.

I'm told I can write awesome song lyrics. I'm also told I'm a great singer. Problem is I can't sing in front of people. But I want my songs to be publicized, and the best way to do that is to sing them myself. So instead of consulting my nerds at school, I consult you guys. Please help, but don't ask to see lyrics, they're not quite perfect as far as editing goes.
Singing? who needs it, man. Concentrate on your lyrics and songwriting skills. Look at Henry Rollins, Ian Mackaye, and most other punk singers. Their voices were terrible, but they managed to make heavenly music.

Unless you wanna be a popstar, in which case you should die.

Unless you wanna be a popstar, in which case you should die.
I'm not a slut, sheesh.:p

I'm not a slut, sheesh.:p
Point taken. ;)

No way people, rock and country all the way! My songs are either about my love life (the non-existent one) or random things like gamer nerds.