Kristiana Azariah

Thank you for this, @john. This is quite helpful!

I hope this is the right place to ask a question like this. I was curious about covers. Is there some sort of license you need to do a cover? Is that only under certain circumstances? I see covers being done frequently on YouTube and SoundCloud, but if you're not a performer who makes money off your covers and perhaps a backyard player, it seems a little crazy to purchase an expensive(?) license just to try your hand at a cover or two. To all appearances, many of those on Youtube, seem to be doing it just for the fun of it and don't make a career of it. Did they have to purchase a license first? I know that one time I tried to upload a video to Youtube with my kids using their puppets to lip sync to a song (It was a riot to watch) and I got a nasty note from Youtube about copyright infringement. I imagine any video of dancers dancing to music would run into the same thing. I can't imagine that ANYone would get away with doing a cover on Youtube without something giving them the okay? What are the requirements and is it the same in every circumstance?

Its like a collaboration of souls in some cases. Music just triggers something the soul longs for. Its a mystery, but not. We can dissect the mechanics of it, but when the right instruments, the right timing, the right resonance, or silence, the right emphasis in the right places at the right frequencies with the right words (or not) to express and in-touch vocals that carry so much emotion, there is this synergy of souls that just plain old mechanics can't achieve. Just as sound travels in a manner that we can't ourselves travel, so does the soul travel within the music that moves us. I've seen images of brain activity on music. Its certainly candy for the soul.

Well, if nothing else, I am getting a kick out of this conversation! Lol. You must realize that I agree with you on not putting God in our safe and comfortable little box. I don't know about the church culture cuss word thing. I'm not well read on that sort of thing--only the Bible and maybe a few church related facts here and there. I am aware of some church history. Its not all beautiful. Then again, neither is Israel's history. Eh, He knows what we are, loves us anyway and He's got a plan to take care of us messed up folk. I have zero familiarity with the rap/hip-hop culture up close to know what is common and amenable to them or even to what the communities are drawn to. I know of a rap/hip-hop artist online who performs songs with Christian messages, but my listening of it (rap/hip-hop) is rare. Its a personal taste sort of thing. I do see it as a fantastic vehicle to get very detailed in messages in a way that isn't always possible in other genres. It's certainly refreshing to see lyrics in that genre that not of a violent nature, so if you are in that culture and know that that is a mix that is expected and acceptable to that culture, well... you would know better than I would. I do think your plan to do a toned-down version is a good idea. That will have a further reach than just the core rap/hip hop community, because like it or not, using that sort of language is going to come across differently outside the core rap/hip-hop culture. Hey, I appreciate your consideration of my comments. Keep being real....

Well, that lamentations quote was more to the idea of both good and evil forecast, not expletives. Similarly, you only have to read Job to realize that that reference to evil was in reference to calamity that comes upon a person. I concede that there are some pretty shocking illustrations that God uses to compare man's behavior, to open his eyes. He had Ezekiel bake his bread over human dung before the people as a way to symbolize how the Israelites would eat defiled bread among the nations to which He banishes them. He had to use that word, dung or its counterpart because it was appropriate for the illustration. Words mean what they mean. In Ezekiel, He also compares Israel to a harlot who lavished her favors on every passerby (the more tamed version of that comment). He had Hosea marry a prostitute to illustrate Israel's idolatry. Hosea was an illustration of God's faithfulness and Gomer was an illustration of an unfaithful people. Yet despite the ugliness in the content of the story, it is a beautiful story of God's grace and redemption of His people. In any event, its my opinion that sh*t and dam* and its relatives are not of the same calibre as f***. Oh, and in Deuteronomy, curses were not cuss words, they were actual calamity that were to befall the Israelites for their disobedience and you can see those unfolding throughout the Bible where they did not listen. While I agree that there are methods of shock which He uses, I don't think the use of THAT particular word ever comes up in the Bible. If it did, it would likely be in the passages of Ezekiel or Hosea. My opinion. It is your song. I hear what you are trying to do with it. I'm just hoping to help you out and maybe help you to consider that later you might think differently on it.

Acknowledged! I would still urge you to consider, does a Holy God use such a term that is contrary to what He considers sacred? Perhaps you in your thinking or in your response or intermingled with a realization, you might, but God? Stay cool and carry on....

Just have to say, I love your zeal. It would be my guess that yours is a fresh conversion in the way of your careless abandon. Hey, I'm excited for you. That zeal is a good thing. However, take it from a somewhat seasoned convert. You may later wish you had chosen some alternate wording for your song, especially if it goes anywhere. I "get" that you are reaching a particular audience and feel compelled to share the language that speaks to them, but why limit yourself to that audience? Remember, they all have extensions of themselves--family, friends, children and some who will immediately hear the expletives more than your message. It is a bit off-putting and simply feels contrary to the message. You could do something original as I did notice your starting rhyme somewhat relies on the expletive. Perhaps why you may be reluctant to change the word. It is as though the song was built to include those words. Why not use some silliness and catch your listeners off guard. Rather than use f*ck, you could say, "What the Frank"?, " You can hang your (use some imagery here, get creative--What else looks droopy and sad in nature or in your kitchen or your garage or something"... "You can hang your pickled pouter" or something of your imagination. Here's the deal as to why I think it's distasteful to mix the two. If you read scripture, you'll see parallels made between the relationship between Christ and the church and the relationship between a husband and his wife. The word "f*ck"? Well... we all know what it represents and it doesn't carry with it any sort of intimacy. Its implication is quite detached from relationship and more about personal satisfaction. THAT is so contrary a term AND contrary an idea to a Biblical view of a sanctified, sacred union as viewed by God. He would NEVER attach a term like that to His message as it demeans what He considers a sacred act. One other thing you might consider: THEE basically would be second person, YOU, so however you use it, it should be interchangeable with the word, "You". THEE, THOU--both are basically, YOU. In the end, its your song, your choice. Just consider the feedback of many here and use some wisdom in your final decision. It might seem right to you for right now, but once its published and shared, 10 years down the road, even 5 years, your perspective might change, but the song won't.

Hi Jamie, Glad you introduced yourself. I find all of what you've said quite fascinating, since I've only recently been connected into the world of lyricists and musicians compared to you (and your friend). Always nice to hear someone has kept their kindness and the core of who they are regardless of circumstances and to have someone like that as a 35-yr friend! I'm sure I'll see you around the forum!

@john @Taking Notes Thank you for the welcome! In answer to your question, @john *I’d like to refine my writing skills, learn new methods and writing styles *experiment, experiment, experiment! I’d like to get to know about things I don’t even know that I don’t know yet *maybe develop some collaborative relationships with musicians *find some good feedback on experimental ideas. * I wouldn’t mind developing relationships with other lyricists to share feedback with. *I’d like to learn the actual terms for things I’ve been implementing through practice and intuition in my writing. *Even though my music theory is limited, I’d like to learn enough to be able to follow conversation involving it and as it relates to interaction between lyricist and musician. For example: what a measure is and to understand it audibly and not just by term. * I’m learning about how to pick out timing for songs thanks to a family member, but not necessarily the odd timings. That would be something I’d like to learn. I’m sure there’s more that I haven’t thought of just yet. There’s plenty Id like to learn.

Hi, I 'm an import from another time and space. j u s t k i d d i n g . . . though I do feel that way sometimes. I love to write and lyrics has been my go-to because it doesn't take as long as some other writing does. I do a little singing, but I don't know if I will here. I've got to feel my way around. I'm a little excited and a little nervous. I've heard great things about this forum and I can't wait to check things out! Kris