Lyric Mastery - Storytelling in Songwriting

Michael Jackson knew the secret. A song can have incredible power over the audience. You’ve seen it—when the crowd sings along, especially during the chorus, something magical happens. ⚡Grab your CHECKLIST on Storytelling in Songwriting https://www.lyricmastery.com/storytelling-checklist ►Want to WRITE songs that tell a story? Go here: https://www.lyricmastery.com ►Online Course on Storytelling in Songwriting. Go here: https://www.lyricmastery.com/start According to Jackson, it’s more than just words. When people sing a chorus over and over, they enter the alpha state—where the subconscious mind kicks in. They start to internalize the lyrics, and in a way, become what they’re saying. But here's the exciting part: you can create that kind of power in your own songwriting! In this video, I’ll show you five powerful ways to write a chorus that doesn’t just sound good but actually empowers people. We’re talking about choruses that can impact your audience on a deep level, maybe even change how they see themselves or the world. And here’s the kicker—these five methods increase in power, depending on the level of impact you want to create. So, stick around, because we’re going to break down all five and get you writing choruses that really resonate! If you’re new to my channel, my name is Melanie Naumann. I’m the creator of LyricMastery.com. It’s the place where you can master the craft of storytelling in songwriting and discover how to craft your lyric's content. I've been a story editor since 2015, and a Story Grid Certified Editor since 2019. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you want more in-depth storytelling breakdowns like this one! 👇 Let me know in the comments: What’s your favorite empowering chorus?

✅ Tell Powerful Stories in Your Song Lyrics: https://www.lyricmastery.com/start --------------------------- Let's look at the lyrics of Sunrise Avenue’s "Nothing is Over" and discuss why it’s such a powerful song. We’ll see how the first and last lines tell a story about a struggling relationship that still holds on with strong emotions and relatable words. We’ll break down the simple but powerful language and how it helps tell a deep love story full of hope and strength. ⚡Get the Lyric Blueprint: https://www.lyricmastery.com/lyricblueprint-014 --------------------------- If you’re new to my channel, my name is Melanie Naumann. I’m the creator of LyricMastery.com. It’s the place where you can master the craft of storytelling in songwriting and discover how to craft your lyric's content. I've been a story editor since 2015, and a Story Grid Certified Editor since 2019. Given this is a YT channel, and anyone can claim anything, here's the link to my Story Grid Editor Profile: https://storygrid.com/editors/melanie-naumann/ ► Don’t forget to like 👍, comment 👇, and subscribe 👆 if you want more in-depth breakdowns like this one!

Is storytelling truly the thing that sets Taylor Swift apart from every other music artist? In this video, I analyze Taylor Swift’s storytelling craft by examining her 11 studio albums and over 160 songs. Using 75 different storytelling criteria, I’ll break down where she excels, where she surprisingly needs to improve, and what her special sauce is that makes her who she is. As a Story Grid Certified Editor, I’ve dissected her entire discography to uncover the truth behind her storytelling techniques. If you’re a songwriter or just a fan of Taylor’s music, you’ll get a detailed breakdown of her best practices and learn how to apply them to your own craft. And if you’ve ever wondered how Taylor’s songwriting has evolved over the years, we’ll explore that, too. Stick around to find out: Is Taylor Swift as good of a storyteller as we all think she is? ⚡Grab the list of how TAYLOR SWIFT included the place in her song lyrics https://www.lyricmastery.com/taylorswift-where If you’re new to my channel, my name is Melanie Naumann. I’m the creator of LyricMastery.com. It’s the place where you can master the craft of storytelling in songwriting and discover how to craft your lyric's content. I've been a story editor since 2015, and a Story Grid Certified Editor since 2019. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you want more in-depth storytelling breakdowns like this one! 👇 Let me know in the comments: What’s your favorite Taylor Swift song, and do you think she’s a great storyteller? ⚡Grab your CHECKLIST on Storytelling in Songwriting https://www.lyricmastery.com/storytelling-checklist ►Want to WRITE songs that tell a story? Go here: https://www.lyricmastery.com ►Online Course on Storytelling in Songwriting. Go here: https://www.lyricmastery.com/start ► Subscribe to see a new video each week, and a breakdown of the 5 key story moments in a popular song each day.

In this video, we dive deep into Vicki Lawrence's classic hit, breaking down its gripping story of betrayal, murder, and shocking twists. ⚡Get the Lyric Blueprint: https://www.lyricmastery.com/lyricblueprint-011 We'll cover everything from how the song begins and introduces its characters, to the hidden layers within the lyrics. Why are names important? What’s the impact of the narrator's relationship to the main character? And how does the song masterfully mislead the listener with its chorus? With key story moments dissected—from foreshadowing to a jaw-dropping climax—you'll see why this track’s storytelling is still unmatched. We’ll also explore the song’s clever use of an unreliable narrator and how it delivers a surprising yet inevitable ending. 💡 What you'll learn: Using Red Herrings: Learn how to craft misleading clues in your story, like the song’s chorus, to keep your audience guessing until the very end—creating a more engaging, suspenseful experience. Telling a Gripping Story: Discover techniques for weaving character relationships and narrative tension into your storytelling—making your audience emotionally invested and eager for the resolution. Masterful Setup for a Payoff: Understand how to foreshadow and build towards an unexpected yet inevitable conclusion—leaving your audience satisfied with a clever, memorable twist. If you’re new to my channel, my name is Melanie Naumanni. I’m the creator of LyricMastery.com. It’s the place where you can master the craft of storytelling in songwriting and discover how to craft your lyric's content. I've been a story editor since 2015, and a Story Grid Certified Editor since 2019. Leave your thoughts and questions in the comments below – I love hearing from you and I will read / reply to every comment. ⚡Grab your CHECKLIST on Storytelling in Songwriting https://www.lyricmastery.com/storytelling-checklist ►Want to WRITE songs that tell a story? Go here: https://www.lyricmastery.com ►Online Course on Storytelling in Songwriting. Go here: https://www.lyricmastery.com/start Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:48 Song's Beginning, 03:18 Naming Characters in a Song 04:21 Establishing Relationship between characters 05:36 Narrative Distance 06:36 Key Story Moment 1 - Inciting Interaction and Progressive Complication 08:30 Using the Chorus as a Red Herring to Mislead the Audience 09:48 Foreshadowing the ending 10:22 3rd Verse, Resolution Andy's story 12:33 Revealing the relationship between Main Character and the Narrator 13:32 Progressive Complication as an Affordance 15:19 Prepring for the story's climax 18:28 Key Story Moment 2 - The Turning Point 19:28 Key Story Moment 3 - The Crisis 20:58 Key Story Moment 4 - The Climax 21:27 Key Story Moment 5 - The Resolution 23:01 Should a heroic choice lead to a bad outcome? 25:31 How to deliver a surprising but inevitable payoff 28:27 Using an unreliable narrator 29:48 How great is that song