Song Critique. Do You Really Want One?
Photo by Joshua Hanson on Unsplash
Creativity is a fragile mistress. When someone offers constructive criticism of something we hold dear it can be enlightening. Or it can be devastating.
On one hand feedback is invaluable when trying to measure the strengths and weaknesses of our work. But be careful what you wish for because if you’re looking for reinforcement and accolades only, you may be disappointed.
When I was coming up as a songwriter in NYC I joined a bunch of other song-junkies for a weekly “hang” at my friend Alex’s 4th floor walk up for a gathering we anointed “Song Party.” Each of us brought a sharable snack and a beverage and for hours on end we played each other newly written material. Sure we were thirsty for validation but mostly we sincerely wanted appraisal. And if we got the same reaction over and over again, song after song, it was probably a technique worth having a closer look at.
There wasn’t as much ego in the room as there was eagerness. No one had any success yet. We all wanted to improve our craft so that one day we’d have a better chance for success.
I went to Song Party every week for years. But at some point I had to spread my wings and fly. After all for every person who would ever love a song I wrote, there would be someone who didn’t. No matter what. No matter when. That never changes. But I was ready to put those few years of constructive criticism to the test.
Now, if you prefer to play someone your work and not receive any feedback, that’s called “sharing.” And that’s perfectly oK too. Just don’t ask for a critique.
I was having a philosophical conversation about the pros and cons of having your work evaluated with a good friend recently. We were making plans to play each other a few tracks from our respective forthcoming albums.
He relayed a story about a young musical theater enthusiast who was fortunate to receive an invitation (along with a friend) from Steven Sondheim to come see a new show he’d been working on and to join him for dinner afterwards to discuss its virtues. Young enthusiast was beyond excited. He couldn’t wait. He was expecting brilliance. But lo and behold, both he and his friend were underwhelmed with the performance.
Afterwards at the restaurant they said nothing about it. The legendary composer was clearly unhappy and finally asked them what they thought. But the truth had already been revealed in the silence. Needless to say the rest of the evening was reportedly awkward. (Read the whole story here. )
The next day feeling squirmy about angering someone he worshipped the young man sought the counsel of a wise friend who advised him to respectfully call the man and humble himself — say whatever he had to say to make it right.
So he did. And Stephen Sondheim responded with this (the writer of the piece paraphrases):
Once a creation has been put into the world, you have only one responsibility to its creator: be supportive…That face-to-face moment after I have unveiled some part of my soul, however small, to you; that is the most vulnerable moment in any artist’s life. If I beg you, plead with you to tell me what you really thought, what you actually, honestly, totally believed, then you must tell me,“I loved it.”
Wow. Eloquent. The young man says he learned a lesson that day.
So, what do you think? If someone asks you for an evaluation and you agree to give one do you owe them your honest assessment? Would your answer to this question differ if the artist was an 89-year-old beloved icon and the critic was a 23-year-old amateur?
Would it depend at what stage the piece of art was? If it was a seed of an idea vs. a mixed and mastered record? And if it were you would you really want someone telling you how to improve it if it were already ready for prime time? Would you be willing and able to make changes? Deal with the costs involved? What if they were wrong? Remember…someone is always going to love it. And there’ll always be someone who doesn’t feel it at all.
In any event, my friend and I convened in the front seat of my car and after spending much time figuring out how to pair iPhone with bluetooth 😳we shared our respective pretty-much-finished songs. I don’t know if it had anything to do with that story but there was no suggestion of a longer fade or a stronger hook. I truly loved his songs and he said he loved mine. Not surprising because our respective passion for each other’s music is what brought us together in friendship in the first place.
But to be honest if I didn’t (love his songs) which is not the case! I probably would have said I did because after thinking about it…
I agree with Mr. Sondheim. There’s a time and place for a constructive critique — when the specimen is a work-in-progress, still easy to reconsider, to adjust.
But…if the work is already realized, we should be as supportive as possible…join the force that sends it out into the Universe with as much enthusiasm as we would hope to get if it were our song.
So what say you? Critique? or Share?
Did someone say critique? If so, you’ll be in good hands with these Pros! Tell them I said hi! Good Luck!
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