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Tips & Resources, The CLIMB Show by Brent Baxter, Team SWPro on March 10, 2020
Listening to a pro songwriter break down a song is one of the BEST ways you can improve your songwriting skills.
In this episode, Johnny and I breakdown “Here and Now,” the new single by Kenny Chesney.
LISTEN NOW on the DiscMakers website: http://bit.ly/KChereandnow
You can also listen right here:
Here are some of my notes on this song:
SERVE THE ARTIST:
Kenny’s team put out the word that he wanted stadium tempo anthems. And guess what? That’s what Craig Wiseman, David Lee Murphy and David Garcia whipped up for him. Kenny plays big shows, and this song plays for a big show.
HELP THE ARTIST SERVE THE AUDIENCE:
It’s perfect for a big live show. You’re already pumped to be seeing Kenny in concert, and he comes out saying that there’s no better place than “Here And Now!” Who could argue with that? He’s speaking TO his audience, and it’s relevant to them right then. (Notice the lyric isn’t spoken to anyone in particular, just the universal “you.”)
But it’s also relevant over the radio or playlist. It’s all about being in the moment- about living in the moment you’re in. When is that NOT relevant?
And it’s a simple idea that’s presented simply. You don’t have to pay close attention to a story. There’s nothing very tricky here. It’s easy to “get.” Plus, it’s a positive, encouraging, aspirational song without being preachy. It serves the listener.
BE BRAND-AWARE:
Also, it’s right on-brand for Kenny. From shine in Tennessee (he IS from East TN, don’t forget) to the island and gulf stuff, you can tell this was written for him. It fits his bio and his brand so well. The verses are pretty Chesney-specific, but the chorus and the idea are very universal. And while our specifics on the verses might differ, the point of the verses is universal.
The first verse talks about some of the cool stuff he’s done. Hey, we’ve done cool stuff and been some cool places, too. The 2nd verse talks about some of the places that didn’t quite fit and the times that weren’t so happy. I can relate to that truth, and you can, too.
BUILD IT TO HOLD INTEREST:
And note that each verse addresses a different part of the theme. The good and bad aren’t all mixed in. One verse takes the good, the other verse takes the not-so-good. This gives each verse a flavor, and it keeps the verses fresh. They aren’t just more-of-the-same.
A BRIDGE TO SOMEWHERE:
The bridge talks about other people who are dreaming about someday. And the singer admits that he USED to be that way, but now he’s living in the here and now. It’s kind of aspirational for the listener. They are either in that “someday” mode, and this encourages them to feel like, if only for this 3 minutes, that they’re here-and-nowers. Or they relate that they USED to be that way, and they can celebrate that they aren’t anymore. Plus, it’s kind of a way of Kenny saying to his audience, “people like US live in the here and now.”
CHORUS:
It hammers that hook. “Here and Now” bookends the chorus, appears in the middle, and holds the longest notes in the song. One listen, and there’s no doubt what the chorus is.
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God bless,
Brent
PS- Thanks for stopping by Songwriting Pro! I appreciate it. As a matter of fact, I want to give you a special little something just for your visit. It's my FREE ebook "Think Like A Pro Songwriter," and it reveals valuable I-learned-it-the-hard-way-so-you-don't-have-to tips to help you succeed at the art, craft and business of songwriting. You can download it at www.GiftFromBrent.com.
