I used to own a book on songwriting. I read about half of it then ended up donating it soon thereafter.  It was pretty stock advice: verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus. The hook is essential for a hit. Duh!

Sound advice for sure.

Of course, one should try to make a nice hook, but for me the best thing to do is to not follow any rules.  When I'm stuck while writing a song, I remind myself that there are no rules.
After that, BOOM! The ideas flow like Niagra!  I follow absolutely zero rules, which is pretty obvious, if you've listened to any of the songs I've written.

That has been the most liberating thing about doing the First Take Fridays series.
Can you imagine how boring the world would be if every artist made the same art?

First Take Friday - Episode #17
T-Boogie
Written by Jonathan Brader

I ran into my friend Tim last night and he asked me to put his nickname into a song. I’ve been super-busy with the day job this week, so at the time, I had only just begun to formulate an idea for the chord progression. I knew it was going to be a chill tune because I was in major need of chilling out. Stress is the silent killer.
 
Tim’s nickname is T-Boogie. The origins of the nickname are surrounded in mystery, but legend has it that he was given the nickname for his dance moves.  So, a dance song was born. This one is a slow jam and pretty chill, but you can still dance to it, and I hope you do. Cheers!

First Take Friday - Episode #16
La Signora tra gli Alberi
Written by Jonathan Brader

I was fluent in Italian up until about 5 years ago. Now I think I'm about 50 percent, so I do apologize to any Italians who see this. Please let me know what is incorrect! I'll fix it for the future.

Last weekend my parents came over for dinner. At some point in the night my dad suggested that I write a Spanish or Italian love song. Just a few minutes later, in a separate room, my mom suggested that I write a song that "lets me really sing". So, Mom and Dad, this one is for you!

I wrote this on Tuesday night at 5:15pm. After playing it a bit on Wednesday evening. I wasn't sure about the melody (or the Italian for that matter). But I had an idea at about 4:00am on Thursday. I recorded it on Thursday morning at 8:00am.

This tune actually started out with a latin salsa vibe in my head then it somehow morphed into a popera love song when I pulled the guitar out. Writing songs is so much fun for that and many other reasons. You never know where an idea will go! For me, they somehow always seem to be about my wife. Hope you enjoy it, Lady in the Trees.