Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 March 1898 — Writing Popular Songs. [ARTICLE]

Writing Popular Songs.

“There is no explanation or theory upon which the demand for songs arises," explained a well-known song writer to a Washington Star reporter, "except that it changes from season to season. The songs which would sell a few years ag* will not bring money enough now to pay for the paper on which they are written. Indeed, publishers would decline them as a gift, and I actually know of some songs which were recently declined, though they were the work of a man whose songs were sung by nearly every ballad singer only two seasons ago. His Ide® in giving the songs away was to keep Ids name before the public, in the hope of making a big strike. When a song pays at all it pays better than any other kind of work. Publishers now want songs which are written In negro dialect. For instance, the song. ‘My Gal Is a High-born Ixidy,’ or something like it, would be grabbed up by any song publisher, while better songs would be refused. Of course, there are any number of such songs written in the hope of hitting the popular demand, but there Is a great deal of uncertainty about it. Circumstances make a song go better than the composition involved in it. An ordinary song, if first sung by one of the few leading popular singers now and then turns out to be a money-maker for a song writer, though the singer has to be paid for making a ‘go’ of it. Songs are seldom successes any more ou their own merit. Other things are necessary.”