Writing in the Shadows: Ghostwriters and Pop Music
In the current pop music world it is not unheard of for some of our strongest musical heroes to make use of unnamed writers to help pen their music. Ghostwriters do the job behind the scenes to create another huge hit to put your favorite pop music artist back on leading of the musical pile. It is not well known but there’s a long history of ghostwriting within the music world. Let’s take a look at a few of the performers utilizing ghostwriters and how ghostwriting has affected music throughout the years.
Were you aware that Mozart was a ghostwriter? He used to ghostwrite songs for the well-off patrons of the arts. In 1939 Patrick Standford was a ghostwriter for various symphonies and films.
In the movie business, music ghostwriting is fairly secretive. It is regarded as unethical by many people however it is extremely common. In the really early days of movies, a composer named David Raskin previously worked as a music ghostwriter for Charlie Chaplin. Chaplin was attributed as the score creator.
In pop songs, musical ghostwriting is also a factor. Now and then an experienced songwriter is brought in to help with either inexperienced composers, or somebody who may be experiencing writer’s block. Occasionally a freelancer may compose lyrics and songs in the style of a musician and still get little or no input from the person acknowledged on the song sheet.
At times a freelancer is credited as an affiliate or comparable innocent term. A lot more generally, they just don’t appear anywhere-they are a genuine ghost. At times legal activity takes place whenever a musical ghostwriter attempts to claim royalties- generally following song becomes a hit. Sarah McLachlan got into a challenge with a music performer who claimed that he had a considerable contribution to her very first album, “Touch.”
In hip-hop, ghostwriting keeps growing each year. In reality, it does lead to some controversy. Purists don’t like it, and point to the usage of it as an example of “bad capitalism.” This is because of the notion of rapping as “expressing yourself” and that composing for someone else just isn’t pure “self-expression.” Some emcees like Chuck D of Public Enemy, Inc. think that is a mistaken view simply because not everybody is a gifted lyricist and not every person is equipped to be a vocalist. He says a rap song may possibly call for much more talents than a single person has.
The vast majority Of ghostwriters have confidentiality conditions, or they may appear in the liner notes, and in some cases they are allowed to discuss their participation out in the open. You may see a credit inside the liner notes for “vocal arrangement,” which may well mean it was a ghostwriter. Several years ago there were hip-hop ghostwriting services which appeared on-line, and provided artists with rhymes for free of charge.
Ghostwriting has a lengthy history in music, from Mozart to today’s coolest rappers. As long as the song can be a hit, the person that penned it will have work. And in today’s American Idol-centric music world where unknowns and celebrities alike are looking for the best tunes, ghostwriters will continue to play a key role. The next time you are whistling along to your favorite melodies there is a great chance your favorite rock superstar didn’t write a single note.
