2008 Woodie Awards
So, I was watching this show on GAC called “The Hitmen of Music Row.” Bob DiPiero, Tony Mullins, Jeffrey Steele, and Craig Wiseman make up the Hitmen. These guys are major songwriters in the Nashville Music/Recording Industry. Together they have written 39 #1 hits… These guys are amazing.
Jeff was talking about a particular song that he co-wrote with Steve Robson, “What Hurts The Most” which was recorded by Rascal Flatts. All the guys talked about how a song can spill out on a piece of paper and be great, but you have no idea what it is about. That was the case with this song. For those who have not heard this song, it’s one of those songs of “loss” that hits everyone at home. It was after Jeff’s 13 year old son died this past year when this song developed a meaning, or different meaning, to Jeff. Naturally, he had a hard time being able to perform this song without breaking down.
The beauty of music is the fact that it fits into each individuals schema; a psychology term that refers to the way an individual perceives the world. Everyone applies the song to their experience. This gives a song diversity.
This got me thinking because of what a friend and songwriter from work said to me. He told me, in so may words, that musicians are fickle and emotional. Duh! So when they write a song like “What Hurts The Most,” “Stay” by Sugarland, “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails or any other song on a personal level, they relive that moment that is addressed in the song. And when they play it over and over… No wonder why these people have substance abuse problems! Especially when these songs become hits. They’re trapped. They can’t escape their past.
Now, I am not saying all musicians have substance abuse problems, and I’m sure there is more to it, but I have a better understanding of why they get and stay depressed.
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Words from The All State staff members.
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