Trindy Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 This will probably be a big "duh" to some people, but it was just this morning that I began to contemplate...the two biggest hits Eric wrote for Raspberries, the very first two, GATW and IWBWY...when you look at them, their structure is really kind of unusual because the verses in both of them are nothing but, well, single sentences/partial sentences...you get a sentence, then wham, right into the chorus...sentence, chorus...bridge, chorus. I mean, here are the "verses" to GATW: 1. Didn't know how complete love could be 'til she kissed me and said... 2. Couldn't say what I wanted to say 'til she whispered "I love you so..." And here are the verses to IWBWY: 1. If we were older we wouldn't have to be worried tonight 2. Someday's a long time and we've been waiting so long to be here Whereas, verses in many, many songs consist of four lines, each of which could be a sentence (or at least two) on its own. Just interesting. I'm wondering whether it was Eric's passion for the great rock 'n' roll single that is only two-plus-minutes long that caused him to come up with two early Raspberries songs that ended up as singles that both had very little in the way of verses, and pretty much got down to business with a big chorus very quickly... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missm Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 But Trindy the third hit steps away from the format you mentioned to the more traditional..Let's PretendI can't sleep nightsWishing you were here beside meCan't help feelingThat's way it ought to beYou know we could run (run, run) awayAnd I couldn't bear to hearThe things they'd sayOh noMore words or fewer words, the sentiment expressed in his music then and now...stands alone and the test of time..But then we know that don't we.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Eric commented on exactly what you asked in an earlier post: "You could just as easily make the case that the verse of "I Wanna Be With You" is similar to the verse of "Go All The Way." It is. I did it on purpose. I wanted to see how fast I could get to the chorus, so I'd have lots of time for at least three choruses and a good bridge. That was the song construction I happened to like back in 1972. verse/chorus verse/chorus bridge chorus/chorus fade I was trying to cram as much into three minutes and change as humanly possible.Intros, outros, big meaty choruses." So, there you have it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonecimar Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Kirk, I remember reading that somewhere as well. I think he also added that usually people like the chorus more than anything so he wanted a shorter verse getting to a longer chorus as fast as possible. I could be wrong about that but I think I did read that. Nonetheless, however he has chosen to write songs, he is so phenomenal at doing exactly what is right for the song he is writing at that moment. I am always so amazed at people who have the ability to write songs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missm Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 Maybe...maybe. Well, we can hope! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmichel Posted September 7, 2009 Report Share Posted September 7, 2009 That's why those songs were so great...Short verses...Long majestic and hook filled choruses...Eric Carmen got right to the best stuff without waiting around...and he got his point across lyrically...When you're trying to write a pop hit...I think Eric's way is the best way...Kill 'em with the chorus...If you can get people to sing along...then you've likely got a hit...Not only that...You've got a hit song that will last and be remembered many years later because it was top heavy with the best stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trindy Posted September 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 Thanks for pointing that out, Kirk. And missm, of course there are plenty of Eric's songs that break that mold...I just find it interesting that for the first two that became such big hits, he really did choose to "cut to the chase" like he did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 Good observations Trindy and Co.Then there are hit songs that start right in with the chorus...like Eric's version of "Hey Deanie".Name some others... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelina Posted September 20, 2009 Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 Name some others... Can't Buy Me Love _ BeatlesI Shot The Sheriff - Bob Marley/Eric ClaptonBuild Me Up Buttercup - Brain Fart (I forget who did this)that's all I have for nowdoes "Jungle Boogie" - Kool & The Gang count? Is "Get Down Get Down..the chorus?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew C. Clark Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 It was The Foundations who did "Build Me Up Buttercup". Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted September 23, 2009 Report Share Posted September 23, 2009 Hello/Goodbye (Hello Hello?)The Long and Winding RoadDo these Fab Four tunes both start with the chorus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelina Posted September 23, 2009 Report Share Posted September 23, 2009 Matthew C. Clark said: It was The Foundations who did "Build Me Up Buttercup". Matt thanks...sometimes the self abuse of the eighties creates havoc with my memory! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missm Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 Wouldn't you prefer to refer to those times as the euphoric,exhuberant experiences of the 1980s? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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