Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 27 minutes ago
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I was recently listening to a playlist and the song ‘Do You Realize??’ by the Flaming Lips randomly started playing - and this is a song I’ve heard many times before, but for some reason, listening to it this time around I noticed something very unusual about the way this song is constructed - something that really surprised me and sparked a desire to investigate further.
So in this video I’m going to take you a journey into this strange and beautiful song - and by deconstructing its form I’m going to reveal to you some incredibly valuable songwriting concepts and methods that I guarantee will spice up your songwriting.
00:00 Introduction
00:44 The First Section
02:53 Home Chord and Title
05:09 Song Form & Sections
07:24 The Next Section - What is it?
10:31 'Song Exploder' Interview
11:52 Conclusions on the Form
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Song Section Descriptions (at 5:20)
- The Chorus is there to deliver the central message
- The Verse is there to give us some context or back story, perhaps develop some of the characters
- If there is a Pre-Chorus, it’s role is to sit between the verse and chorus and create tension that can then be resolved by the chorus
- Solos provide moments of improvised instrumental contrast
- Post-Choruses extend and maintain the energy of the chorus, sometimes introducing additional hooks
- Bridges offer us a change to create musical contrast, provide a different lyrical perspective or an opportunity to pivot the narrative
- Interludes create buffers between sections
- Intros set the mood and create a first impression
- Outros leave the listeners with a final thought or feeling
#howtowritesongs
#howtowriteasong
#songwritingtips
#flaminglips
🌏 Join Us Inside the HTWS Community for Weekly Feedback Sessions, Live Workshops and Collaboration with songwriters from around the world: howtowritesongs.org/community
I was recently listening to a playlist and the song ‘Do You Realize??’ by the Flaming Lips randomly started playing - and this is a song I’ve heard many times before, but for some reason, listening to it this time around I noticed something very unusual about the way this song is constructed - something that really surprised me and sparked a desire to investigate further.
So in this video I’m going to take you a journey into this strange and beautiful song - and by deconstructing its form I’m going to reveal to you some incredibly valuable songwriting concepts and methods that I guarantee will spice up your songwriting.
00:00 Introduction
00:44 The First Section
02:53 Home Chord and Title
05:09 Song Form & Sections
07:24 The Next Section - What is it?
10:31 'Song Exploder' Interview
11:52 Conclusions on the Form
⚡ Want Free Weekly Songwriting Tips and Insights? Join our Newsletter: howtowritesongs.org/subscribe-to-the-newsletter
Song Section Descriptions (at 5:20)
- The Chorus is there to deliver the central message
- The Verse is there to give us some context or back story, perhaps develop some of the characters
- If there is a Pre-Chorus, it’s role is to sit between the verse and chorus and create tension that can then be resolved by the chorus
- Solos provide moments of improvised instrumental contrast
- Post-Choruses extend and maintain the energy of the chorus, sometimes introducing additional hooks
- Bridges offer us a change to create musical contrast, provide a different lyrical perspective or an opportunity to pivot the narrative
- Interludes create buffers between sections
- Intros set the mood and create a first impression
- Outros leave the listeners with a final thought or feeling
#howtowritesongs
#howtowriteasong
#songwritingtips
#flaminglips
