James Warren tells the story behind the 80s hit single that’s been covered by everyone from Beck to Baby D...
How I wrote ‘Munich’ by Editors’ Tom Smith
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
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Our series continues with the story of a song that’s been a hit somewhere in every decade since the 60s...
In the first article in a new series, Songwriting gets the story behind the legendary British reggae band’s breakthrough single...
On The Stereo November 2021
1
16 song starters
2
How I wrote 'Turning Japanese' by The Vapors' David Fenton
3
Shelf help: 10 of the best books for songwriters
4
How I wrote 'Luka' by Suzanne Vega
5
How I wrote 'Handbags And Gladrags' by Mike d'Abo
6
How I wrote 'Food For Thought' by UB40's Robin Campbell
7
How I wrote 'Suddenly I See' by KT Tunstall
8
How I wrote Art Garfunkel's 'Bright Eyes' by Mike Batt
9
How I wrote ‘Beds Are Burning’ by Midnight Oil’s Rob Hirst
10
Comments
I'm going to keep songwriting by reminding myself that overflowing emotions can be relieved when I write them down or sing them out.
I’ve kept writing songs all through lockdown and have just released currently have 4 tunes waiting for me to find the right words. The songs
My best mate and I have been writing songs together for just under a year and we've just released our 1st single! I am so
I have been writing songs now for over 40 years and I am not about to stop.
Notebook writing even day
I wrote 'Start a party' for Freedom day and the nightclub scene. It all started with Gary Barlow's course, I am now on the TSA
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