Tag Archives: Ben Hayslip

Building A Hit: Blake Shelton & “I Lived It”

Blake Shelton’s current single, “I Lived It,” is living it up on the country singles chart. Today, let’s take a look at some of the ways the songwriters built this song to be a Blake hit.

Great songs don’t happen by accident- they’re a series of wise choices.  And the songwriters (Ashley Gorley, Ben Hayslip, Rhett Akins and Ross Copperman) made some great choices when building “I Lived It.” Now, I wasn’t in the room with them, so I can only speculate at the thought process behind the end results. But as a professional songwriter myself, I can take an experienced and educated guess.

If you want to write hits, too… read on!

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To BE a pro, you need to THINK like a pro, and this FREE ebook will help transform your thinking, your songwriting, and your success.  Get it today!

Click Here For The Book

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1. Stick to the brand.

Overall, this song is built to fit Blakes’s brand of country. The lyric is really country, and the song is about what it’s like to grow up… country.  Really country.  This subject matter fits nicely beside other songs he’s cut, like “Green,” “Boys ‘Round Here” and “Hey.”  The phrasing and production are also a little more traditional than progressive, which also (generally) fit’s Blake’s brand.

 2. Show, don’t tell.

There are a lot of images in the song, and it puts us in those moments. Right in the first line, we see a guy driving a flatbed Ford.  Then we see flies and a hole in a screen door.  Blake’s not just saying he grew up country, he’s showing us what growing up country looks, feels, sounds and tastes like.

These fresh, vivid images help the song stand apart from all the other, vague “I grew up country” songs that no doubt get pitched to Blake for every album.  Not only that, but it helps to…

3. Give the listener a reason to connect.

How many people can relate to growing up this way?  A lot of us remember mama pouring bacon grease in a can, sitting in front of a box fan, and so many more things in this lyric.  It pushes the nostalgia button for many, many listeners.

For example, if it’s been years since you’ve thought about how cool it was to get your hands on a two dollar bill, that line sets off a “nostalgia bomb” in your brain.  And nostalgia is a great way to connect to the listener’s emotions and get them to invest in your song.  It’s not the only way, but it sure is a powerful one.

4. Keep it moving.

Writing a sentimental, nostalgic song might lead some writers to write a slow ballad.  But not these hit songwriters.  They know that their chances of getting a cut go up as they add some tempo, groove or energy to the song.  So that’s what they did.

The song is by no means an uptempo rocker. But they put about as much tempo on it is as they could without breaking the sentimental, nostalgic vibe of the song.

Okay, those are four areas in which Ashley Gorley, Ben Hayslip, Rhett Akins and Ross Copperman built “I Lived It” to be a hit song. Of course, those aren’t the only elements that make “I Lived It” a hit, but they’re four important ones. If YOU want to discover even more of the elements of building a hit song, I have an awesome opportunity for you.

In the month of July, I’m hosting a transformative online songwriting event called, “Building A Hit: From Blank Page To Finished Lyric.” In this powerful 4-week online workshop, I reveal:

How to find great song ideas. Kill writers block and fill up that blank page again and again.

How to focus your ideas for maximum impact. Don’t waste any more great ideas by leaving them under-developed or confusing.

How to frame your idea for maximum commercial appeal. Having a great, compelling idea isn’t enough. You have to build your song in a way that an artist will want to sing it and an audience will want to hear it.

How to finish your song. Stop leaving your best ideas unfinished. Nobody loves a song they never hear, and a song that’s only 99% finished will never get recorded, never get on the radio, and never change your life.

If you want to join me on a journey that will help you think and write like a pro songwriter, click on the link below. Spots are limited for this event, and I only host it twice a year. Miss out, and it’s gone for another 6 months. Don’t delay. Transform your songwriting today..

DON’T MISS OUT- CLICK HERE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

God Bless and Enjoy the Journey,

Brent

Brent Baxter is a hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Lady Antebellum, Joe Nichols, Gord Bamford, Ruthie Collins, Ray Stevens, and more. He’s written a top 5 hit in the US, a #1 in Canada & a top 10 in Texas… so far.

Artist Insight Report: Blake Shelton “If I’m Honest”

If you want your songs to get recorded by major artists, you need to understand those artists.

Understanding what an artist has recorded before can help you predict what he or she might record in the future. So, today, I decided to dive into Blake Shelton’s album, “If I’m Honest.” Here’s what I found, track-by-track.  (Note: “PUL’D” is a reference from my workbook “Cut/able: Lessons in Market-Smart Songwriting.” It means “Positive-Uptempo-Love/Depth.”  “Neighborhood” and POV (“Point Of View”) are also explained in “Cut/able.”  Check out the workbook HERE.)

____________________

To BE a pro, you need to THINK like a pro, and this FREE ebook will help transform your thinking, your songwriting, and your success.  Get it today!

Click Here For The Book

_________________________________

Artist: Blake Shelton

Album: If I’m Honest

Producer: Scott Hendricks

Label: Warner Bros. Nashville

“Straight Outta Cold Beer”

Writers: Marv Green, Ben Hayslip, Justin Wilson

POV: Me-to-the-world

Timeframe: In-the-moment

PUL’D: Positive, Midtempo

Neighborhood: Bro, redneck, blue-collar

Subject: Country life pep rally

Notes: Rap-like lyrics, lots of imagery, “We’re country and that’s awesome” theme.  Play off “Straight Outta Compton,” fun, clever.  Drinking, Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Solo-Chorus

“She’s Got A Way With Words”

Writers: Andy Albert, Marc Beeson, Wyatt Earp

POV: Me/Her

Timeframe: In-The-Moment (with some looking back)

PUL’D: Negative (but humorous), Midtempo, Love (lost love)

Neighborhood: Country boy.  Lyrically pushes the envelope. Sarcastic.

Subject: Lost Love

Notes: SINGLE, Breakup, fun/funny, clever lyric, quirky, not much imagery, not a very “big” melody.  Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Chorus

“Bet You Still Think About Me”

Writers: Park Chisolm, Mark Irwin

POV: Me/You

Timeframe: In-The-Moment

PUL’D: Want-you-back, hopeful, mid-ballad, big chorus, love/lost love

Neighborhood: Country

Subject: Love love

Notes: Melodic, hook in the pre-chorus, not a lot of imagery.  Tells the listener (the girl) that she’s still wanted. Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Chorus.

“Every Time I Hear That Song”

Writers: Chris Lindsey, Aimee Mayo, Brad Warren, Brett Warren

POV: Me/You

Timeframe: In-The-Moment, looking back

PUL’D: Sad, Mid-power ballad, Love/lost love

Neighborhood: Country

Subject: Lost love, music

Notes: Big melody, falsetto.  Tells the girl (listener) that she’s still wanted.  Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Solo-Bridge

“Came Here To Forget”

Writers: Deric Ruttan, Craig Wiseman

POV: Me/You

Timeframe: In-The-Moment

PUL’D: Sad but hopeful, Mid-tempo, Love / lost love

Neighborhood: Country, Pop-country

Subject: Lost love and hooking up with someone new.  Drinking.

Notes: SINGLE.  Mid-groove.  Kinda dark.  Lots of imagery.  Weed reference. Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus

“Every Goodbye”

Writers: Busbee, Ryan Hurd, Liz Rose

POV: Me/You

Timeframe: In-The-Moment

PUL’D: Positive, Midtempo, Love/Lost Love

Neighborhood: Blue collar country boy

Subject: I lost her.  You lost him.  Let’s hook up.

Notes: Bouncy feel-good groove, drinking, not a ton of imagery.  Getting over a heartache, but not a sad feel.  Feels very positive.  Verse-Lift-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Lift-Chorus

“It Ain’t Easy”

Writers: Rhett Akins, Mat Dragstrem, Ben Hayslip

POV: Me/You

Timeframe: In-The-Moment

PUL’D: Positive, mid-groove, love

Neighborhood: Soulful country.

Subject: It ain’t easy for him to leave her place ‘cuz he’s so in love.

Notes: Telling the girl what she wants to hear.  Horns.  Hook-Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus

“A Guy With A Girl”

Writers: Ashley Gorley, Bryan Simpson

POV: Me/You

Timeframe: In-The-Moment

PUL’D: Positive, Uptempo, Love

Neighborhood: Country boy.  Blue collar, kinda redneck.

Subject: When I’m with you, nobody’s paying any attention to me- cuz you’re so beautiful.

Notes: SINGLE. Telling the girl what she wants to hear.  Praising her.  Feels good.  Good imagery.  Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus.

“Go Ahead And Break My Heart”

Writers: Blake Shelton, Gwen Stephani

POV: Me/You (duet)

Timeframe: In-The-Moment

PUL’D: Negative (but feels good), uptempo, love/lost love

Neighborhood: Pop country

Subject: We hooked up getting over other people, but it’s a temporary thing?  But we’re into each other?  Honestly, I’m not really sure what’s going on here.

Notes: Negative, but feels good.  Messed up relationship. On-again, off-again.  Good imagery.  Verse-Verse-Lift-Chorus-Verse-Verse-Lift-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus.

“Friends”

Writers: Blake Shelton, Jessi Alexander

POV: Me/You

Timeframe: Looking back / In-The-Moment

PUL’D: Positive, Uptempo, Friendship

Neighborhood: Movie song.  “Angry Birds.”  Country.

Subject: Friendship

Notes: Buddy song, smile-factor.  Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus.

“One Night Girl”

Writers: Ashley Gorley, Dallas Davidson

POV: Me/You

Timeframe: In-The-Moment

PUL’D: Positive, Uptempo, Love

Neighborhood: Country boy.  Bro.

Subject: It’s daybreak after the 1st date, and he’s telling her he wants to spend more time with her.

Notes: Love, not sex.  New love.  Big chorus.  Good imagery.  Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus.

“Doing It To Country Songs”

Writers: Marty Dodson, Jacob Lyda, Paul Overstreet

POV: Me/Her

Timeframe: In-The-Moment

PUL’D: Positive, Mid-tempo, Music

Neighborhood: Country, honky tonk.

Subject: Country music and sex.

Notes: Features the Oak Ridge Boys.  Storytelling.  Lots of imagery.  Double-meaning.  Clever, fun, funny. Verse-Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Solo-Chorus-Chorus-Chorus

“Savior’s Shadow”

Writers: Blake Shelton, Jessi Alexander, Jon Randall

POV: Me-to-the-World

Timeframe: In-The-Moment

PUL’D: Positive, Ballad, Depth

Neighborhood: Country gospel.  No angel.  Bluegrass.

Subject: The devil tried to break me, but God pulled me through.

Notes:  Worshipful, acoustic/strings, contemplative.  Verse-Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Chorus.

TAKEAWAYS:

This record feels good.  The happy songs feel good.  Even the heartbreak songs feel good.  Not a tearjerker in the bunch.  A theme that keeps popping up is curing a fresh heartache by finding someone new (“Came Here To Forget” “Every Goodbye”).

Women are lifted up on tis album.  The possible exception is “She’s Got A Way With Words,” but even that comes off more funny than angry.  Other songs, he wants the girl back (“Every Time I Hear That Song” “Bet You Still Think About Me”).

New relationships: “Came Here To Forget” “Every Goodbye” “It Ain’t Easy” “One Night Girl”

Established relationships: “A Guy With A Girl” “Doing It To Country Songs”

It’s all pretty light, except for “Go Ahead And Break My Heart” and “Savior’s Shadow.”  The only hopeless or lost love is “She’s Got A Way With Words.”  Not much sex or sexy.  Lot of new love, but not much making out except for the double-meaning of “Doing It To Country Songs.”

“If I’m Honest” hits on a lot of commercial principles I advocate in Cut/able. The songwriters really hit the nail on the head with this one.

If you’re ready to take YOUR commercial songwriting to the next level, I have a great opportunity for you.

In August 2017, I’m hosting “The C4 Experience (C4X)” event.  This is YOUR opportunity to really focus in on writing more commercial songs.  You’ll get expert coaching and a small, supportive community.  And with it being online, you can join us from anywhere in the world with an internet connection.  If you want details, just CLICK HERE.  Tickets are on sale now, and space is limited to only 10 songwriters!

God Bless and Enjoy the Journey,

Brent

Brent Baxter is a hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Lady Antebellum, Joe Nichols, Gord Bamford, Ruthie Collins, Ray Stevens, and more. He’s written a top 5 hit in the US and a #1 in Canada… so far.