How to find your best songs

Choosing the best songs for you and then making them your own takes a bit of thought.

When you find a song you like, here is a 5-step process to help you determine:

1. - if this is a quality song

2. - How to make the song work for you!

Ok, you have chosen a song that you would like to sing. Let's start by looking closely:

The letter

If you don't have sheet music, print the lyrics from the internet and start reading them out loud.

1. As you read, listen to how the letters flow. Do you like what the lyrics say? Do they tell a story that you can relate to?

2. Read the lyrics again, and this time find the high points of the song? Are there natural climaxes in words?

The main climax may come in the chorus or it may only come at the end of the song. But there can be a variety of high points in a song. Try to find them in the letters.

The melody

By now, you know the melody of your song. You probably chose this song based on how much you enjoyed the melody. But here is another important aspect of the melody: the bow.

To find the arc of the song, track how it moves through time in terms of its ups and downs: its high points (climax) and points of least tension. For example, many songs reach a climax at the end of the song. But there are also usually other less intense high points along the way.

Some songs peak in the middle of the piece and then gradually cool down. Still others may have several true climaxes. Your job is to trace the outline (arc) of your song and decide how you will handle each high point; that is, how will you build (vocally) at those places in the song and keep the momentum of the song constant throughout the piece.

This type of work is what gives a song its emotion and allows you to use your best vocal skills based on your vocal choices.

Chords

When listening to the song, also note the places where an unusual chord or chord pattern is used. And keep an eye out for any key changes to the song. These types of changes increase the intensity of the song. You can increase that intensity with special vocal effects.

Vocal elections

Now for the really fun part: deciding how you will sing the song that will make it one of your best Davido Songs.

o You understand how the lyrics flow, where are the dramatic highlights of the song.

o You have traced the melodic arc of the song: the climax points in the melody.

o You have carefully listened to chord signals, key changes, etc. that give the song more intensity.

Now sing the song keeping all these points in mind. You should find that even without much planning, you will be singing the song with more understanding and a greater sense of power.

You want this song to become one of your best songs, so now is the time to make some vocal choices. For example: if you sing with both the band style and the lead voice, choose where you will use each type of voice. What phrases will work best in the lead voice? And where should you change?

Think about the point of climax. How will you emphasize that phrase in addition to singing louder? After making some decisions, sing the song again. Record and listen carefully to your performance.

Hear other singers perform the song and discover more ideas on how to bring the song to life. And then, finally, think about the magic moment of the song.