Side Projects: Song Structure (w/Steve Dawson & Mark Mallman)

Performance Anxiety

This episode of Side Projects sees the return of Steve Dawson and Mark Mallman. They join me to discuss song structure. We go over some basic terms and structures that are typical and atypical. We talk about songs like The Wreck Of The Edmunds Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot, Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey, Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin, and others.

Is a successful song necessarily a GOOD song? Are streaming services, algorithms, & metrics changing pop song structures? Does the music delivery system (records, CD’s, streaming) play a part in the song structure that’s popular within that system? Steve studies the structure of a Taylor Swift song and Steve and Mark discuss where song structure might be headed in the future. Wrap up talking about Steve’s new album, which was recorded live, and Mark’s book, new music he’s writing, and how this conversation has inspired him. Go to stevedawsonmusic.com or Pravda Records to grab his new album. Follow him @stevedawso on Instagram.Follow Mark Mallman @markmallman on Instagram, TikTok, and X. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on Instagram and X. Grab merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Send money for coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And now get ready to know everything you wanted to know about song structures on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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