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Bernie Taupin has written dozens of hit songs across nearly six decades, so his tips about songwriting deserve close attention, by fledging songwriters and veterans alike. Taupin delivered them as he accepted a Trustees Award from the Recording Academy at their annual Special Merit Awards at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles on Monday (Jan. 31).
“I’ve been waiting 57 years to get one of these,” Taupin said in accepting the honorary Grammy. Indeed, rather incredibly, Taupin has yet to win a Grammy in competition. But Taupin’s warm and generous speech showed that, in the life of a songwriter, the work is its own reward.
“I know that I’m blessed to do what I do in a world where so many people hate going to work, they don’t want to go to work, they can’t stand their jobs. Songwriters are the luckiest people in the world.
“From the first day that I ever wanted to write songs, it wasn’t songs so much, I wanted to tell stories. I’ve always wanted to tell stories, but I always wanted to think outside of the box, and so what I was thinking about on the way here, I made a list of things that I’ve always tried to avoid. So hopefully you agree with me. I’ve always thought in writing songs:
- You’ve got to avoid cliches.
- Avoid predictability.
- Never paint-by-numbers.
- Stay out of cubicles. Don’t ever write songs in cubicles.
- Do not rely on romance and lost love as subject matters. There’s much more to write.
- Always throw a curveball in, even when you’re writing a simple song, because that’s what’s going to grab people’s attention.
- Don’t say you’re going to die if she leaves you because you don’t. You get over it, believe me.
- Study from those around you and draw from the eye, please. And if you’re going to poach, always poach from the best.
- Oh, and definitely don’t read books about how to write songs.
- Originality is a gift, so embrace it. Otherwise, you’re going to be boring.
Taupin’s achievements have earned him the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, a dozen Ivor Novello Awards, an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and a Commander of the British Empire honor.
Taupin is this year’s only Special Merit Award recipient who is also nominated for a competitive award at the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday (Feb. 1). He and his longtime collaborator Elton John, along with Brandi Carlile and Andrew Watt, are nominated for best song written for visual media for co-writing “Never Too Late” from the music documentary Elton John: Never Too Late.
Taupin used the rest of the time at the podium to salute six songwriters he holds in especially high regard.
“There are so many songwriters that I admire, so many of them that have passed away. And I’m going all the way back to people like Cole Porter and Duke Ellington, the great Merle Haggard, and then recently, my good friend Brian Wilson, one of the greats; one of the few people I might add who can be labelled a genius, along with one of the only people, I think, that can be called a poet, and that’s Leonard Cohen. We’re not poets, we’re songwriters, but Leonard Cohen was a poet.
“This brings me to the opportunity to salute someone who actually isn’t here tonight, but is getting one of these awards [a lifetime achievement award]. And for me, I was going to think that he’s probably one of, but I think he is the greatest American songwriter alive – exquisite melodies, extraordinary lyrics and ideas that transcend the stars. So, while I’m happy to get this award tonight, I am absolutely thrilled to be the shadow of Paul Simon. Thank you.”