Hi John!
Originally Posted by John Walradt
Hi, Andrew. ...
I've been criticized heavily by a few other songwriters who pride themselves on their lyrics and called my songs "generic."
Generic? Ouch! How unkind. Songwriting is a spectrum, and one song might be slanted one way while another has a different emphasis - or style - or mood - or directness etc. As listeners, some songs tickle our fancy and others don't. Our own preferences are not the only way.

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I do write conversational songs and tell stories in plain ways. Conversely, I remember one songwriter who emphasized lyrics was pissed that I write very catchy memorable tunes. I have to admit a personal disdain for lyricists who get too cryptic and are elevated to some sophisticated status and considered "deep" while all the while I can't understand what the g0dd@mn fcck they've written!
Too cryptic? Guilty as charged your Honour! Please - if I write a really good song with cryptic lyrics, I wouldn't mind being elevated to some sophisticated status and considered deep, even just for a day! grin But I have also written some direct lyrics, storytelling etc. I was always impressed by Neil Finn (Split Enz, Crowded House) that he could write what I will call 'oblique' lyrics - very singable but what are they about? e.g. Distant Sun. J&B on this forum call them 'join the dots' lyrics - interpretable in many ways.

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Yesterday I put up "You Can Feel It" and wondered where the hell I put it. I could swear I hit the submit button. I looked and didn't see it so I figured I must not have hit the button hard enough. So I tried it again. Okay, it worked. Then I found out today that I posted the first one on this topic by mistake! Geez, I really am 71 years! But I'm on the autism spectrum so I just tell myself I've been like this all my life.
John
Don't worry about that John - you can always mark the post in the wrong area as 'Resolved' or delete entirely. The number of times I've responded to another's post only to find I never pressed 'Post Reply'. I'm glad you seem to be enjoying the forums and actively contributing - you have a lot to offer in many ways!

Andrew

Regards,
Andrew D
Adelaide, Sth Aust
Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/SQE4btVvNVkLq74e9
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@andrewoftheantipodes