JOHN LEGEND - STARS REVEAL SONGWRITING SECRETS

Music stars including JOHN LEGEND and FALL OUT BOY singer PATRICK STUMP have thrilled wannabe songwriters by sharing some of the secrets of their trade last weekend (10FEB07). The panel, which also included five other songwriters who have penned hits for the likes of GWEN STEFANI, CHRISTINA AGUILERA and MADONNA, spoke at the Los Angeles Key Club and performed stripped-down versions of some of their biggest hits on guitar and piano too. Stump revealed, "I don't touch (bassist) PETE (WENTZ's) words and he doesn't touch my music. Pete gives me several paragraphs of lyrics, and I'll pick out something that works well with my music." Meanwhile Legend disclosed his songwriting process, which combines both aspects: "I start by focusing on the flow and the melody, and let that dictate what the lyrics are gonna be. It's like putting together the pieces of a puzzle." GNARLS BARKLEY frontman CEE-LO was scheduled to address fans at the event too, but was delayed by a Grammy performance rehearsal that over-ran.

13/02/2007 08:30