Michael Jackson was known for many musical talents and milestones, including his ability to write hit after hit. Even today, the King of Pop’s songwriting legacy shines through his more contemporary peers in the music industry. Just recently, rapper Chris Brown posted his two-minute long snippet of a song sampling Michael Jackson’s “The Lady In My Life” as a Christmas treat for fans. Many musicians today are still trying to replicate Michael Jackson’s success, and while that may seem like a tall task, we can all benefit from studying songwriting of his caliber. Today, we’ll look at some tips for how to write songs like Michael Jackson’s:
Be inspired by the greats
The first tip is to look to the greats and learn from them. It’s fine to go for originality and to find your sound, but the truth is, even the greats studied their greats — including Michael Jackson. For the musically inclined, the bass line in “Billie Jean” may sound familiar. This is because it was “copped” from Hall & Oates’ “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do).” One half of the Hall & Oates duo, Daryl Hall claimed Jackson told him this and hoped he didn’t mind, to which he said, “That’s okay; it’s something we all do.” So when you find yourself lost in your songwriting process, take a step back and look to your idols. This doesn’t mean you should study the people that inspired Michael Jackson. Instead, focus on musicians that inspire you or songs you can’t get out of your head. Everyone’s source of inspiration is different, but what’s important is that you are aware of them instead of bubbling yourself.
Tell a story — maybe autobiographically
Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” was loosely inspired by a young woman who had claimed one of her twins was his. Although Jackson later claims there was never a real Billie Jean, the story behind the song is certainly something he is no stranger to, as one of the biggest music industry superstars of his time. If you want to apply this advice for yourself, don’t overthink it. Your autobiographical song can be as simple as something inspired by your childhood, like Jackson’s track entitled “Childhood.” One of the most critical pieces of songwriting advice rings true for regular writing: to write what you know. More often than not, what you know is what you’ve lived, so try and start there.
Invest in the right equipment
Music production is an overlooked aspect of Michael Jackson’s music and legacy. In fact, the production of his music helped keep his style distinct through decades of hits. Case in point, an effects pedal created by Boss — specifically, the Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble — created the main comping sound of “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.” Having been a notable brand in music gear for more than 40 years, the Boss product captured iconic sounds across eras and genres. Sometimes, the right pedalboard can add to the right sound you’re going for in a song, no matter the genre. The best thing about music gear is that they aren’t a shortcut to great music but mere tools to apply your magic. The legendary guitar solo from Jackson’s “Beat It,” for example, was performed by the late Van Halen using a Hartley-Thompson amplifier, creating that unique and recognizable guitar sound we all know to this day. Not all of us have access to a guitar legend like Van Halen to sweeten our songwriting, but maybe we can start with getting the right music gear to achieve the sound we want.
Feature penned by Yvette Rose Sullivan
for mjvibe.com
