Mr. Jim wrote:Do you people think that songwriters nowadays have an obligation to write less melodic material, since pop music listeners' ears have turned more towards rhythmic aspects of music and since sampling and computer recording processes have made exact repetition an important effect?
What a very interesting question.
Of course, writers should do what they want, let their inspiration guide them. But in order to be successful, perhaps an element of the contemporary is needed.
I write what I consider pop songs, but I write them with no agenda other than they satisfy *me.* Unfortunately, sometimes other people have to hear them. (although I did recently get an e-mail from a stranger who had a song I wrote on auto repeat! )
Better songwriters than I are able to tailor their efforts more finely, I suppose. My stuff just has its own internal logic and writes itself. I couldn't be any more or less melodic if I tried, though, truth be told, I'm very lazy.