What should my teeny-bopper pop song be about?
November 4, 2010 3:13 PM Subscribe
I've been tasked with writing an 'original pop song teenagers will like and want to dance to.' The music does not worry me. It's choosing something to write about that's got me hung up.
For a theatre project of sorts, I need to compose a pop song a la Britney or Gaga or Katy Perry or whomever. I can write pop music just fine - but when it comes to lyrics or a hook or even a theme for such a song - I got nothing. It's been a long time since I've been a teenager and I think a thing or two has changed.
I'm looking for suggestions that will not come off as 'an older dude trying to be cool' and perhaps it will even strike a chord with the teeny bopping crowd.
I've tried doing research by reading the lyrics of some of the aforementioned artists, but most of them save the chorus or hook line are largely jibberish. That's no good either.
So what are some major teenage memes? Issues? Fads? Trends? Any one-liner, a concept, a hook, a word or joke that might make a good pop song is welcome. It can be dirty, ironic, sexy, even silly. Obvs there's a lot of LULZ that one could come up with - and it CAN be a little lulzy - but I don't want it to simply be a song making fun of teeny bop pop songs.
A song about sexting? Skinny jeans? A break-up over facebook? Vampire sex? What?
Help me AskMe! And thank you.
For a theatre project of sorts, I need to compose a pop song a la Britney or Gaga or Katy Perry or whomever. I can write pop music just fine - but when it comes to lyrics or a hook or even a theme for such a song - I got nothing. It's been a long time since I've been a teenager and I think a thing or two has changed.
I'm looking for suggestions that will not come off as 'an older dude trying to be cool' and perhaps it will even strike a chord with the teeny bopping crowd.
I've tried doing research by reading the lyrics of some of the aforementioned artists, but most of them save the chorus or hook line are largely jibberish. That's no good either.
So what are some major teenage memes? Issues? Fads? Trends? Any one-liner, a concept, a hook, a word or joke that might make a good pop song is welcome. It can be dirty, ironic, sexy, even silly. Obvs there's a lot of LULZ that one could come up with - and it CAN be a little lulzy - but I don't want it to simply be a song making fun of teeny bop pop songs.
A song about sexting? Skinny jeans? A break-up over facebook? Vampire sex? What?
Help me AskMe! And thank you.
A song about sexting? Skinny jeans? A break-up over facebook? Vampire sex? What?
All of the above? Take the "older dude trying to be cool" angle and run with it?
posted by ODiV at 3:19 PM on November 4, 2010
All of the above? Take the "older dude trying to be cool" angle and run with it?
posted by ODiV at 3:19 PM on November 4, 2010
... Cause you tweeting me like tweety bird on your iPone ...
Is there a particular clique of kids you're writing for/about?
posted by filthy light thief at 3:20 PM on November 4, 2010
Is there a particular clique of kids you're writing for/about?
posted by filthy light thief at 3:20 PM on November 4, 2010
Best answer: Songs about unrequited love are basically a licence to print money. Intense infatuations and crippling insecurity are hallmarks of the teen experience, and when you combine them, boom.
You're gorgeous and awesome and I'm invisible to you. Kids eat that stuff up. (Hell, I'm pushing thirty and married and I still eat it up.)
posted by Zozo at 3:22 PM on November 4, 2010
You're gorgeous and awesome and I'm invisible to you. Kids eat that stuff up. (Hell, I'm pushing thirty and married and I still eat it up.)
posted by Zozo at 3:22 PM on November 4, 2010
Best answer: In your shoes, I'd look backwards for a theme. Use modern arrangements and an old topic and I don't think you can lose. Maybe a song about how much the singer loves picking up her boyfriend in her car and driving fast all night, and how much trouble they'll be in when their parents find out. The gender reversal alone will modernize it.
But whatever you decide, you'll post the final result to MeFi Music, right?
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:25 PM on November 4, 2010
But whatever you decide, you'll post the final result to MeFi Music, right?
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:25 PM on November 4, 2010
Best answer: 1. I love you... You love another.
2. ????
3. Profit!!!!
posted by Biru at 3:27 PM on November 4, 2010 [3 favorites]
2. ????
3. Profit!!!!
posted by Biru at 3:27 PM on November 4, 2010 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I'm going to suggest timeless topics like unrequited love, partying or breakups. It hasn't been that long since I've been a teenager, and the one thing I know is that adult takes on teen pop culture are often really awkward. Trying to write about sexting or skinny jeans may come across as the equivalent of the time my mom dropped a casserole and shouted FAIL.
posted by vanitas at 3:31 PM on November 4, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by vanitas at 3:31 PM on November 4, 2010 [5 favorites]
Best answer: The ideas so far are good, and would probably make for a more lulzy performance, but I have to say I think part of what makes a lot of contemporary dance-pop is that the lyrics are, by and large, meaningless. Write a song about hittin' up the club, dressed up with your peeps, bouncing all night long... and bang, that's half of Kesha and Katy Perry's albums right there. "It's all about being YOU! And DANCING!"
Or, on the other hand, you could pull a Gaga and write about non-club-related meaninglessness. Exhibit A.
posted by Zephyrial at 3:43 PM on November 4, 2010
Or, on the other hand, you could pull a Gaga and write about non-club-related meaninglessness. Exhibit A.
posted by Zephyrial at 3:43 PM on November 4, 2010
Best answer: Start listening to Taylor Swift lyrics. All of her stuff has to do with wistful teenage angst about lost loves and living in the moment. She also seems to feature themes of rebellion (ie Romeo and Juliet esque stuff).
posted by patronuscharms at 3:44 PM on November 4, 2010
posted by patronuscharms at 3:44 PM on November 4, 2010
Love, love, love....all you need is love.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 3:58 PM on November 4, 2010
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 3:58 PM on November 4, 2010
Response by poster: Is there a particular clique of kids you're writing for/about?
This for a theatre thing in Portland...so like...dirty hipster kids. Did you see Paranoid Park? Yeah those kids. Hard to please.
But whatever you decide, you'll post the final result to MeFi Music, right?
Of course!
posted by Lutoslawski at 4:06 PM on November 4, 2010
This for a theatre thing in Portland...so like...dirty hipster kids. Did you see Paranoid Park? Yeah those kids. Hard to please.
But whatever you decide, you'll post the final result to MeFi Music, right?
Of course!
posted by Lutoslawski at 4:06 PM on November 4, 2010
Best answer: "My cellphone's buttons suck" or, relatedly "touchscreen keyboards suck," or short-lived battery charges. And girls. Maybe "I like this girl but her cellphone has sucky buttons"
posted by rhizome at 4:12 PM on November 4, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 4:12 PM on November 4, 2010 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Pop songs are either about sex or dancing. The ones about sex are either about getting some or not getting any. And the ones about dancing are really about sex.
posted by Bruce H. at 4:13 PM on November 4, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Bruce H. at 4:13 PM on November 4, 2010 [2 favorites]
Best answer: im in your target age group and ive never heard the word "sexting" in my life. Song lyrics have remained unchanged over the decades, stick with the tried and tested!
Some songs you might want to listen to that were cool in recent months are:
la roux - bulletproof, empire of the sun - walking on a dream, taio cruz - dynamite, the wanted - all time low or even something like mcfly - party girl
posted by freddymetz at 4:15 PM on November 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
Some songs you might want to listen to that were cool in recent months are:
la roux - bulletproof, empire of the sun - walking on a dream, taio cruz - dynamite, the wanted - all time low or even something like mcfly - party girl
posted by freddymetz at 4:15 PM on November 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: If you want, I can share with you the works of my 18 year old nephew, who actually is the main singer-songwriter for a dirty hipster band in Portland. Their most popular song is called "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead."
posted by KathrynT at 4:23 PM on November 4, 2010
posted by KathrynT at 4:23 PM on November 4, 2010
Sorry, random jibberish is good in this context:
In your shoes, I'd look backwards for a theme.
Here is a free version:
23 skiddoo,
I've got a lovely bunch.
of mairzy doates,
and dozy doates,
and of cocoanuts,
(ch): And I love You!
Just like crazy!
(go ahead, take it).
posted by ovvl at 4:36 PM on November 4, 2010
In your shoes, I'd look backwards for a theme.
Here is a free version:
23 skiddoo,
I've got a lovely bunch.
of mairzy doates,
and dozy doates,
and of cocoanuts,
(ch): And I love You!
Just like crazy!
(go ahead, take it).
posted by ovvl at 4:36 PM on November 4, 2010
Best answer: Okay, so the big hits recently have been about revenge or acting out after a breakup. That's such a good topic! See Robyn's "Dancing on My Own" and Cee-Lo's "Fuck You." It's such a sweet spot for songwriting, hello: I'm still here! Nothing compares to you! And I'm not going!
posted by RJ Reynolds at 4:46 PM on November 4, 2010
posted by RJ Reynolds at 4:46 PM on November 4, 2010
Best answer: Bullying is such a big topic these days with teens = both cyberbullying which didn't exist when most of us grew up, as well as the traditional verbal and physical bullying. How about something like that? Pretty sure my teens would like it.
posted by maxg94 at 4:58 PM on November 4, 2010
posted by maxg94 at 4:58 PM on November 4, 2010
Best answer: Kids can smell pandering bullshit from a mile off. Write something honest about your own life that seems universal... or say "screw it" and write something off the wall but catchy. You know, some shit that's bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s, about milkshakes or lovely lady lumps, just keep your poker-face.
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:14 PM on November 4, 2010
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:14 PM on November 4, 2010
I'm close to your target age group. Do not try to copy Ke$ha or Britney or Gaga. Do listen to freddymetz and check out all of the songs mentioned.
Example from "All Time Low":
Example from "All Time Low":
And if you knowposted by tantivy at 7:21 PM on November 4, 2010
How do you get up from an all time low?
I'm in pieces, seems like peace is
The only thing I'll never know
How do you get out, get out?
Best answer: For hipster kids, eh? How about something like, "I'll love you until everyone else realizes how awesome you are and by then, I'll be over you." It was a little knee-jerk on my part, but it could actually make for an interesting song--there could be a story there.
Really, ALL teenagers want the same thing and have wanted the same thing throughout time, regardless of what socio-aesthetic mask they've decided to adopt, be it indie rock, hip-hop, europop or country rock: to feel like they belong, to feel loved and special, and to feel good about themselves. You know, like us!
posted by smirkette at 7:35 PM on November 4, 2010
Really, ALL teenagers want the same thing and have wanted the same thing throughout time, regardless of what socio-aesthetic mask they've decided to adopt, be it indie rock, hip-hop, europop or country rock: to feel like they belong, to feel loved and special, and to feel good about themselves. You know, like us!
posted by smirkette at 7:35 PM on November 4, 2010
Response by poster: Hilarious and brilliant everyone, thank you. Please, keep them coming.
posted by Lutoslawski at 7:38 PM on November 4, 2010
posted by Lutoslawski at 7:38 PM on November 4, 2010
Best answer: Unrequited love definitely. Mix in some alienation, a sense that the crushee sees you as a friend or not at all, and a vague/subtle self loathing for not belonging, while still in some way implying that maybe you don't fit in because you're better than everyone else. High School!
posted by troublewithwolves at 9:06 PM on November 4, 2010
posted by troublewithwolves at 9:06 PM on November 4, 2010
Best answer: I'm going to mix a couple points together and say the ones that are gibberish are probably also about sex. They just use a sufficiently opaque metaphor that they can maintain plausible deniability.
Even take rhizome's example of the girl with the bad cellphone buttons.
posted by RobotHero at 10:29 PM on November 4, 2010
Even take rhizome's example of the girl with the bad cellphone buttons.
posted by RobotHero at 10:29 PM on November 4, 2010
Best answer: The chorus should be bad T9 word completions of the actual lyrics.
posted by rhizome at 11:55 PM on November 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by rhizome at 11:55 PM on November 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Hey "older dude," you were in high school once too. To avoid trying to look cool, just write a song from your own perspective and I'm sure it will resonate. Eg. now that I'm older, I realize that 1) she was the was the one 2) she wasn't the one 3) I was having the time of my life and just didn't realize it at the time 4) it was hell but I got through it and life just gets better after HS 5) I wish I could do it over now that I know what I'm doing, etc.
posted by zanni at 2:56 PM on November 7, 2010
posted by zanni at 2:56 PM on November 7, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Biru at 3:17 PM on November 4, 2010