If you are to choose between the crowd pleasing performer or the creative song writer, which would you prefer? It's a pretty tough question to answer, as I love both sides of the music equation. For me, I have to settle with writing songs. I think it's a lot more permanent compared to performing... I mean performers die, but the songs "live" even years after it was written.
The only sad thing is, the people remember the performers and they forget the ones who actually wrote the song. sad
[question posted by inkyuboz]
responses and comments:
If I would be a song-writer, I won't be sad if people would not remember me as the one who wrote the song. I made the song. The performer would not exist if I didn't make the song. What I am going to value most is that I had helped the one who sings the song I have made. She/he must not become a performer without the songs I have written.Not in the remembrance of the people who hears the song but in the remembrance of the person who sings the song I would always be there. Fame is not too important to be called a successful one. Even if people do not recognize me as the writer of the song as long as I know they love the meaning of the song, I would be very happy for that. [tontunan]
hi, I will choose a creative song writer. as b'coz writing songs is quite pretty feelings. that is ur own creativity which is going to sing by someone else. and i think it is more pride for any song writer. if someone give me choices then I would like to be song writer rather than performer. Thanks a lot for topic, Have a gr8 day ahead. [dange_amit]
i write and perform too.i do not think i can ever say no to performing.but it depends if others want me to perform for them or not.but writing is something no one can ever stop me from doing. so yes even i would choose writing over performing...but i would wish simultaneously to perform too:) my guitar cannot rest for long [zui_strumming]
Hey there! I prefer to be a performer. That's what I do best. Although I can write and compose and arrange songs I just love performing and making people happy and inspired. Yes, performers die so do the composers but, the performers live in the minds of the people specially if he is the first performer to do that song and his/her version was the most beautiful and acclaimed one. Yeah, It is sad that people doesn't remember the composers but the one who performed the songs that they wrote. Have a nice day. Happy posting!! [AltheGreat2430]
I'd prefer to be a performer. I say this because I love being in a crowd of people and noticed. I like attention and usually get it because my personality is so silly. Am a joke teller and love to mingle with people. Both my parents were in show business as performers. Don't have the talent to write songs but can see how rewarding this profession would be especially if the song was a big hit. [carolbee]
Well, if i possessed that talent I would have to be (and I must emphasize the phrase "have to be") a song writer. I suffer from terrible stage fright. I even find it har to make a speech in front of a large group of friends or family. When I was younger I was ok. Something happened in my teen years and I progressively became more self conscious. So I would have to be a behind the scenes person. I can deal with not being famous. [uicbear]
I was both, and both have their good points. Now I've retired, I find I really can't be bothered writing if I have no audience for my songs, so I suppose I must go with performer. I imagine it would be different if a lot of other people had picked up on my songs (a few did, but not enough) and I became well-known as a songwriter. There would certainly be enough satisfaction from that to give up the performing. But that said, apart from the very prolific and extremely talented songwriters, most people have no recollection of anything but the perforner's name. The writer simply becomes part of the production team. Lash [grandpa_lash]
Well, in the case your thinking of; people remember the performance of the song more than just the song itself. It takes a lot to compose music for a song, so while the song lyrics are great and vital to the equation; they are not really what "makes" the song. You could have great lyrics but a crappy composition...no one will like it. Likewise, you can have a great composition and crappy lyrics. To answer your question, I would rather be the performer (though, technically, I would like to do both!). I just imagine it to be very satisfying to be able to get up on a stage and do my thing, whether or not my music "lasts." [ulalume]
i would be better off as a songwriter because i don't have a good singing voice..and i don't like to be in the limelight...i like jobs like those athat are behind tha camera..at the backstage...and also i love to write poetry..i think that i can write goodsongs if given the chance.. [tabachi]
A performer that doesn't write their own material is, in my opinion, nothing more than a glorified Karaoke singer. Songs may last forever; singers don't. I would rather be the creator of the music. And the people that really matter don't forget the people that write the hit songs; the general public may not know who they are, but their peers in the music industry do. [MYKLJ999_VERSION_2]
Hello inkyuboz! I am a shy person so performing is not for me. I would prefer writing songs because like what you said, we will die, the performers will die but the songs that we wrote will remain forever and the song writer is always be the one to be appreciated. [aisaellis22]
I would be a performer and a song-writer because i loves to writes songs , sing it [Macky_143]
for me personally, i have to go with performing. i am big fan of singer/songwriters, the ability to express yourself on both counts is amazing to me. and to have the courage not to rely on someone else's writing and to put yourself totally out there is great. i used to do alot of performing when i was younger and to this day, i miss it. there's something about the feeling of being up there and feeling the energy of the people in front you is unlike anything i else i have every done since. its a real feeling of intimacy. [roadkilldxh]
May be a performer, I am not good in writing but i am good in acting and dancing. When I was a child i like to be a part of a dance group or became an actor. I am happy to tell that i became a dance group member but not yet became a actor. [lancerie]
You are right, thats is one of the main reason, why I would rather prefer to become a performer then a song writer. [magnel]
Hello there, I will choose to be a performer, as i love the feeling being on the stage, i think be a performer need more energy and help you grow up faster. You are right, people remeber the perfermer better than the song-writer, but nowdays are different, as people getting educated higher and higher, people start appreciate the content of the song. So don't give up! [vivianchen]
i want to be a performer and sometimes i might write my own songs. i want to be the next chester bennington :P, (haha) [Rocc01234]
since i'm good at writing compositions, i would choose being a song-writer. writing something is simple but capturing ones appreciation based from what you're writing is difficult. when you're performing it's only a matter of entertaining people; a matter of showing that you felt the words that you are singing or expressing but when you're born to be a song-writer, you can't just write something realistic or worth it if it doesn't comes deep within your heart... a performer can pretend that he felt the song or the composition but song-writers won't... :) [eLsMarie]
thank you very much... :D [eLsMarie]
both, it can be done... it would be more pleasant to sing what you like! [liviurus]
Performer! Because I want fame and the limelight! haha! Happy MyLotting! [CMTS_87]
This question is as easy as ABC for me. I'm the song writer. For one thing, I honestly don't have a good singing voice and for the second thing, I don't dance. That would only be if you'd include dancing songs as well. I've written a couple of songs. None of those were released of course.=) I was more or less compelled to write those songs for school purposes. It's actually good to know that there are people out there who would care to listen to your compositions. I mean, if you are to compose a song, any artist could sing it. Any artist could popularize it over and over again. If you are the performer, there will definitely come a time where in your rendition of this certain song will be compared to another artist's rendition. But if you are the composer, you are never discredited. It's not actually that sad to know that people tends to remember the performers more than the writers. That's the fact of life. Even in movies, we remember it was Arnold Schwarzenegger who said "Hasta Lavista Baby" but not the script writer right? Other artists could imitate the way you sing, but the lyrics, the melody, the entire song you had written will never be replicated. Performers are allowed to be imitated by others but composer's works are never allowed to be plagiarized. So I'm a song writer but if a little twist of fate will come and my singing voice would be tolerable, I'd be a full time composer but maybe a part time performer.=) [magandanglahi]
I would rather be a song writer. I'm really not much for being on stage. I get butterflies when I have to give a speech so performing might be a problem for me.lol [JenInTN]
ive been on stage once for this thing in nashville, i would and like being a songwriter. [syankee525]
I'd rather to be a performer. I like sing, and I like to perform it in fr0nt of people. I feel that i can express all that i feel with the s0ng, and i like to entertain people,especially feel happy too when they're happy,beside, the performer would be m0re famous than the writer :-D [coolvie]
I'd rather to be a performer. I like sing, and I like to perform it in fr0nt of people. I feel that i can express all that i feel with the s0ng, and i like to entertain people,especially feel happy too when they're happy,beside, the performer would be m0re famous than the writer :-D [coolvie]
I think I would rather stay in the background as a writer. Performers come and go, as you said. I am too shy to relish the limelight, too. I have written a few songs and Iwon one contest. I think that is more rewarding in the long run. [getnbuy]
I would be a preformer and a songwritter, i mean it's a pretty tough decision to make! [daisylove]
Both ways can make my world perfect.However,to be a performer,I may lose my own space,even I can't protect my privacy.I perfer a peaceful life.So I will choose to be a creative song writer. [monkeyyjp]
actually the song that make performer famous..that also depend how the performer understand the song.when they understand the song,that's how they can perform song emotionally and attract audience..for me, i prefer to be song-writer,if the song famous,i am also famous without the crazy fame..no paparazzi after me like they did to the famous performer.. [fasyahime]
I have to say, I'm no good at writing songs. I absolutely love performing, though, and that's the way I'd have to go. I agree with your assessment that people forget the composer all the time. The important thing is the most famous performance of the song. You could get the best of both worlds by writing only a few songs, and then performing them. [cbakin20]
I think I'd rather be the song-writer. I don't think that I could perform in front of a large crowd even if I had the talent to sing. Plus, everyone gets to sing the song that only you had the brilliance to write. I will be proud if a lot of performers will have the spotlight once they sing my song. [blueangelwrites]
I'd have to choose 'performer.' I choose this only because I have no real ability to write songs. From composing the melody to matching the lyrics to the tune and making the whole thing work together - it is just not something that I am good at. Mind you, I would love to have that ability. I would love to be able to compose songs that people could perform. So, taken as a hypothetical situation, I would probably prefer to be able to write the songs. I think that is a talent that is more rare. Taken with respect to my current skill set, I would be the performer. [thorgrym]
Based on your pros and cons it is very difficult to say one or the other. I do have very good vocals so that is my answer. I would prefer to be a singer. [leonelaphotography]
i think that both of them are interesting. But, It is not easy. If you have capability and chance, you should try. You can learn more from both. [elainepham]