A romantic trip to Memphis, Tennessee led to a special friendship being formed and a classic hit single being born
How I wrote ‘Cool For Cats’ by Squeeze’s Chris Difford
How I wrote ‘Turning Japanese’ by The Vapors’ David Fenton
How I wrote Art Garfunkel’s ‘Bright Eyes’ by Mike Batt
How I wrote ‘American Pie’ by Don McLean
How I wrote ‘Stay’ by Shakespears Sister
How I wrote ‘Suddenly I See’ by KT Tunstall
How I wrote Christina Aguilera’s ‘What A Girl Wants’ by Shelly Peiken
How I wrote ‘Rabbit’ by Chas & Dave
How I wrote ‘Teenage Kicks’ by The Undertones’ John O’Neill
How I wrote ‘Light My Fire’ by The Doors’ Robby Krieger
How I wrote ‘Lessons In Love’ by Level 42’s Mark King
How I wrote ‘I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)’ by The Moody Blues’ John Lodge
How I wrote Bristol
How I wrote ‘What A Beautiful Day’ by The Levellers
How I wrote ‘Yellow River’ by Christie
How I wrote ‘Is It Any Wonder?’ by Keane’s Tim Rice-Oxley
How I wrote ‘Underdog (Save Me)’ by Turin Brakes’ Olly Knights
How I wrote ‘Farewell To The Fairground’ by White Lies’ Charles Cave
How I wrote ‘Senza Una Donna’ by Zucchero
How I wrote ‘Dance The Night Away’ by The Mavericks’ Raul Malo
How I wrote ‘Everybody’s Gone To War’ by Nerina Pallot
How I wrote ‘The Life Of Riley’ by The Lightning Seeds’ Ian Broudie
How I wrote ‘Enola Gay’ by OMD’s Andy McCluskey
How I wrote ‘Rhythm & Blues Alibi’ by Gomez’s Ben Ottewell
How I wrote ‘Glad All Over’ by Dave Clark
How I wrote ‘High’ by Lighthouse Family’s Paul Tucker
How I wrote ‘Dreams’ by Gabrielle
How I Wrote
Articles
The group’s frontman takes us inside the creation of a track that has nothing to do with Bavaria’s capital city...
We speak with double Ivor Novello Award-winning lyricist and founding member of Squeeze about one of their most famous songs...
The story behind this much-loved new wave hit from 1980 – it’s not actually what popular legend supposes it’s about...
The Wombles songwriter recollects how a song about death became the theme to ‘Watership Down’ and a No 1 hit...
The singer-songwriter aimed to craft “a big song” about “a modern America” and ended up delivering an eight-and-a-half-minute folk-rock phenomenon...
An inter-species tale of unrequited love provided the surprising inspiration for one of the most memorable songs of the 1990s...
In writing a song for the film ‘City Of Angels’, the frontman created one of the 90s’ biggest crossover hits
The Australian rock band’s songwriter and keyboardist discusses his intimately personal song which their iconic frontman Michael Hutchence did justice
The singer-songwriter reflects on the creation of her No 1 single with a lyric that was suggested as a joke
We learn how the singer-songwriter’s Ivor Award-winning hit single was inspired by Patti Smith and written in just 30 minutes...
The multi-platinum songwriter recalls how she wrote Aguilera’s second No 1 single and one of the biggest hits of 2000...
How I wrote ‘Beds Are Burning’ by Midnight Oil’s Rob Hirst
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How I wrote 'Girl From Mars' by Ash's Tim Wheeler
2
How I wrote 'Luka' by Suzanne Vega
3
How I wrote 'Enola Gay' by OMD's Andy McCluskey
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How I wrote 'Turning Japanese' by The Vapors' David Fenton
5
How I wrote 'Food For Thought' by UB40's Robin Campbell
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Holly Macve’s Songwriting Survival Kit
7
16 song starters
8
How I wrote 'Place Your Hands' by Reef's Gary Stringer
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How I wrote 'I Alone' by Live's Ed Kowalczyk
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Comments
I have plenty of ideas and try to get one end product at one time! Focus, making, listen to it until I am satisfied with
Continue to build an incredible music catalogue
I have been writing songs privately for the last 5 years, but never recorded any. I almost gave up on recording, and was going to
It's my passion, to be honest.
I'm putting out a new solo song next week, and am writing for my band's new album. On top of that, I want to challenge
Songwriting is truly part of me, and it was there for me during 2020. Now, in 2021, I’m more grateful for songwriting than ever. This
We have to use all our talents to find the songs which are out there in heaven.
I write songs all the time, I have written an album that I am going record and have professionally produced when lockdown ends.
I pledge to be song-full.