All articles tagged with #songwriting
Taylor Swift wrote and recorded an original end-credit song for Toy Story 5 the day she watched the film, describing it as a day of songwriter zoomies and finishing the track 'I Knew It, I Knew You' before a planned listening session with Bob Iger and Pixar executives.
Linda Perry, the powerhouse songwriter and producer behind Pink, Christina Aguilera and 4 Non Blondes’ What’s Up, discusses her career, her first solo album in 27 years Let It Die Here, and a new documentary about her life. She reveals how she seized creative control (re-recording What’s Up herself), navigated a fraught relationship with her late mother, found closure after her mother’s death, and learned to channel emotion into her art while balancing work with plans to regroup 4 Non Blondes and continue making music.
Israel Daramola critiques the NYT's list of the 30 greatest living American songwriters (and a runner-up list), arguing that such rankings are engagement-driven and often miss the deeper question of what truly makes a great songwriter, inviting readers to rethink the criteria beyond fame or headline-worthy controversy.
Taylor Swift says she wrote 'Love Story' at 17, sitting in her bedroom, after being mad at her parents for not letting her date an older guy. The Romeo-and-Juliet–tinged track became the lead single from Fearless (2008), and she wrote it on her bedroom floor in about 20 minutes, illustrating her knack for fast, emotion-driven songwriting.
Taylor Swift told The New York Times that it’s “weird” when fans try to identify who her songs are about, insisting “that dude didn’t write the song. I did.” She acknowledges extreme fan detective work, notes that criticism has fueled her songwriting, and urges artists not to dwell on trolls but to use criticism to inform art.
Don Schlitz, the prolific Nashville songwriter behind ‘The Gambler’ and hits for the Judds, Randy Travis, and Mary Chapin Carpenter, died at 73 in Nashville from an aneurysm; celebrated for his storytelling and melodic craft, he helped shape the country songwriter culture at the Bluebird Café and was inducted into multiple halls of fame.
Jack White posted an Instagram clarification denying he called Taylor Swift's music boring, explaining that his Guardian interview comments were about autobiographical lyrics and his preference for imaginary characters; he said he's happy for Swift's success, blasted clickbait journalism, and later deleted the post.
Jack White posted an Instagram clarification after Guardian quotes about poetry and lyric writing were taken out of context, insisting he did not call Taylor Swift’s music “boring.” He explained his preference for using imaginary characters in songwriting over autobiographical material, acknowledged Swift’s success, and criticized the clickbait-driven press that fueled the backlash. He also noted that the controversy underscores a push for “safe” answers and mentioned his new collection, Jack White: Collected Lyrics & Selected Writing Volume 1.
Bruce Johnston is leaving the Beach Boys after more than six decades, announcing Part Three of his musical career focused on songwriting and speaking engagements, while remaining open to special performances; Chris Cron will take over touring duties, and Mike Love expresses support for the change.
Bruno Mars's The Romantic leans heavily on retro soul and 70s/60s references, with several tracks clearly echoing classic hits (notably the lead single’s resemblance to Leo Sayer), delivering polished but mostly familiar pop rather than a bold comeback. The strongest moments mimic old-school grooves, while other songs sound like homage rather than invention, resulting in pleasant listening but perceived lazy songwriting overall.
Billy Steinberg, the prolific songwriter behind hits for Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, the Bangles and more, died at 74 after a cancer battle; teamed with Tom Kelly to pen chart-toppers like Like a Virgin, True Colors, So Emotional and I’ll Stand By You, later continued writing with Rick Nowels and Josh Alexander, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011.
Billy Steinberg, the prolific songwriter who co-wrote Madonna’s Like a Virgin, Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors and other ’80s anthems, died in California after a long cancer battle, aged 75. A longtime collaborator with Tom Kelly, he penned hits for Whitney Houston, The Bangles, Heart and more, was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011, and left a lasting legacy as a lyricist and hitmaker across generations.
John Fogerty says Proud Mary was sparked by his honorable discharge in 1968. He finished the song in under an hour on his guitar, felt he had written a classic, and later experienced the surreal feeling of knowing almost no one else recognized its greatness at that moment.
A songwriter for KPop Demon Hunters discusses the film's musical potential, highlighting how its songs are crafted to serve both storytelling and standalone pop appeal, with possibilities for a stage adaptation and detailed insights into each song's creation.
Miley Cyrus revealed she attended the 2025 Oscars to pitch her original songs to filmmakers, successfully landing her song 'Dream As One' in the credits of Avatar: Fire and Ash, and expressed her interest in collaborating on future film and TV projects by offering her songwriting talents.