Song Critique

smoothmoniker · 12-12-2009, 10:15 AM

So, my niece sent me a bunch of songs that she wants to record. She is 18 and hoping to become a singer-songwriter.

The songs are ... young. Awkward word choices and predictable rhymes. Melodies that sing poorly and don't really stick. She has a clear voice and some good instincts, but these songs aren't ready to start sending out saying "Look at me!"

So, family politics question. How honest should I be? Should I critique these songs like I would a client that I was hired to work for, or be encouraging guy like the good uncle.

She is an eternal optimist, and my sense is that she will only hear the positive things I say. If I say, "Well, I like this part, but this this this this and this need fixing", she'll walk way only hearing the "I like this part." Like I said, she's young.

So, I feel like the only way she'll actually listen to the critique is if I make it stark and direct. But then, awkward Thanksgiving and Christmas family time for the next 20 years.

So ... thoughts?

View Poll Results: How hard should I critique?
Be as gentle as a newborn fawn, and tell her she's the next Joni Mitchell.	2	15.38%
Be mostly kind, but point out the problem areas that need attention	7	53.85%
Be brutal, critique hard, but say one nice thing so that she doesn't go Ophelia on my ass	4	30.77%
Change my pitch up, smack my bitch up	0	0%
Voters: 13. You may not vote on this poll

12-12-2009, 10:15 AM	#1
smoothmoniker to live and die in LA Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,090	Song Critique So, my niece sent me a bunch of songs that she wants to record. She is 18 and hoping to become a singer-songwriter. The songs are ... young. Awkward word choices and predictable rhymes. Melodies that sing poorly and don't really stick. She has a clear voice and some good instincts, but these songs aren't ready to start sending out saying "Look at me!" So, family politics question. How honest should I be? Should I critique these songs like I would a client that I was hired to work for, or be encouraging guy like the good uncle. She is an eternal optimist, and my sense is that she will only hear the positive things I say. If I say, "Well, I like this part, but this this this this and this need fixing", she'll walk way only hearing the "I like this part." Like I said, she's young. So, I feel like the only way she'll actually listen to the critique is if I make it stark and direct. But then, awkward Thanksgiving and Christmas family time for the next 20 years. So ... thoughts? __________________ to live and die in LA

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)