4 simple steps to writing a song | Ralph Covert | TEDxNaperville

Is songwriting really that complicated? Children’s rock performer Ralph Covert shares 4 simple steps to being a songwriter. To show how easy it can be, he creates one live on stage with the audience’s participation.
At the heart of the success of Ralph Covert’s thirty year career as a Grammy-nominated recording artist is his songwriting. His songwriting classes for the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago were used as the model for their songwriting department. He has released over two dozen albums between his kids music project Ralph’s World and his Rock n’ Roll band The Bad Examples, and has toured the world, including prestigious venues like the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, New York’s Central Park, the Milky Way in Amsterdam, and many festivals, including Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits.
His songs have appeared in films, TV shows, like Six Feet Under, and commercials for companies like Huggies, Rice Krispies, and Sears, as well as being covered by other artists including the multi-platinum band Styx. Ralph’s World is viewed by millions on the Disney Channel.
In addition to his music work, he is an award winning playwright, winning two Joseph Jefferson Citations for Best New Work, has published four books, and has composed music for plays, dance companies, and circuses At the heart of the success of Ralph Covert’s thirty year career as a Grammy-nominated recording artist is his songwriting. His songwriting classes for the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago were used as the model for their songwriting department. He has released over two dozen albums between his kids music project Ralph’s World and his Rock n’ Roll band The Bad Examples, and has toured the world, including prestigious venues like the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, New York’s Central Park, the Milky Way in Amsterdam, and many festivals, including Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@pandemic7]

This dude’s fearless. I truly admire his passion and sincerity.

[@Kylemathews1]

he's coked out

[@HigherPlanes]

@@Kylemathews1 And you know this how?

[@nicolaslekkos1244]

@@HigherPlanes it’s been confirmed by TedTalk

[@jjwood29]

Agree. I like his sincerity and enthusiamn

[@cupcakeowlowo3086]

I read that as fatherless and went ayo?

[@trlittletim]

I was writing a diss track/rap battle between a muffin and a cupcake when I watched this

[@MichaelTurner856]

Sounds like a banger

[@FogzArt]

Sounds a little... half baked

[@allisonmortensen5449]

hahaha

[@user-is7lv4yh5c]

Tell us when you’re finished, I want to listen

[@jojoe9427]

Reminded me of that food rap battle video

[@adjannaan1182]

“you’ve got a drum machine inside you, it’s called a heart” haha bold of you to assume my heart beats a solid tempo

[@Nigarj]

Heart murmur gang rise up

[@TopoIl12]

OMG, you read my thoughts

[@MrThemelloman]

X) that is your rhythm

[@nearlover8248]

@@Nigarj here

[@princemoore763]

You ok bro?

[@kurtsm0722]

I'm convinced that this guy is the same guy on "ain't got rhythm" from phineas and ferb

[@zobel.]

PRECISELY

[@LKpixels]

idk why but when he sings it at the end it reminds me straight to phineas and ferb. i dont even know the guy you're talking about lol

[@teacup7885]

Boyet San Pablo yes

[@edwardbouchard4273]

Ja ja ja

[@JorgeeGZ]

LMAOOFAOA YESS

[@JonPhilspector]

Some lyrics can be ridiculous to read but if you sing the song with conviction, the song becomes cool to hear !

[@maganer8442]

Remind me the first time I saw the lyrics of Smell Like Teen Spirit, I was so confused

[@Raymund0]

Some lyrics can be ridiculous to read😡😡😡😡 but if you sing the song with conviction,😡😡😡😡 the song becomes cool to hear !😒 Some lyrics can be ridiculous to read😍😘😘😘 but if you sing the song with conviction😍😍😍😍, the song becomes cool to hear !😘 SOME LYRICS CAN BE RIDICULOUS TO READ BUT IF YOU SING THE SONG WITH CONVICTION, THE SONG BECOMES COOL TO HEAR! 😤😤😤😤😤

[@emmettthompson5036]

Example: a lot RHCP lyrics

[@ashraffaridharis5570]

@@emmettthompson5036 you mean all of them

[@qmaldonado8171]

any smiths lyrics

[@a-aronluchterhand1732]

This man could lead you into battle and you wouldn't know it until you conquered your fourth village while feasting on souls of the fallen. what an excellent reminder to go to back to the basics, and just have fun with it. Absolutely loved this vid.

[@liizen7683]

Right!!! His energy is HIGHLY contagious!!

[@isaiahsmith5397]

“Feasting on souls of the fallen”. Wow that was intense

[@Freewill.mp3]

@@isaiahsmith5397 Lmao for real hahaha

[@dontsubscribethanks]

This is creative

[@jacobmarshall5391]

I literally couldn't stop laughing at this.

[@IOxyrinchus]

My brain before this video: nah man, this songwriting stuff is too hard, it’s never gonna happen My brain after watching: IIIIII HAAAAAVE THE POWEEEEER

[@ghulehvoodoo]

Back Country Pastimes He-Man!? I didn't know you we're a musician???

[@artscrafts4685]

Back Country Pastimes I’m hoping this comment will be me, after watching this :)

[@joshnic6639]

That’s because you’re gullible

[@mikeflores5250]

Back Country Pastimes ❤️

[@maromjackson2062]

i swear to god lol

[@HyrumLentz]

This is by far the most chaotic TED Talk I have ever watched, and I love it

[@susanonai]

truely

[@BrandonMikelPaul]

If you want a chaotic Ted Talk, look up "Beats that defy boxes"

[@nuckels188]

@@BrandonMikelPaul google Sam Hyde 2070 paradigm shift if you want chaos

[@musicman9901]

I guess you haven't seen the GG Allin talk yet...

[@Melvin7727]

As commenters noted, this video is a return to basics. It should not be taken as an instruction toward success. It should be taken as an irrefutable argument that no matter who you are, you can approach songwriting. Whether a beginner or a master, never become discouraged or doubtful; always keep it simple and positive. That’s the point of the video. It is not a nuts and bolts explanation of the songwriting craft, and that’s fine.

[@stevenmotchan2048]

Not the bolts but maybe a little of the nuts.

[@juylsses6013]

@@stevenmotchan2048 I have to agree, this just make people stupider. why not discuss chord progressions and typical techniques of song writing

[@tiffanyhorne8836]

This video is very encouraging. Thank you so much for inspiring us all.

[@lelandlee5008]

I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE A COMMENT JUST THAT

[@rainbowslushy223]

because its teaching people not to over think writing music.....

[@mainquest_official]

This guy actually inspired me to go and work on my existing song ideas that I never finish because I get stuck in the basics and always think to hard... I love this dude!

[@llucija1]

good for you!

[@pico6051]

i am newbie producer too , i need to make a discord server for newbies like us

[@moistbroccoli6216]

@@pico6051 lmk

[@victoriaamoshe3312]

@@pico6051 did you make it?

[@pico6051]

@@victoriaamoshe3312 No, but i found a really good servers for producers ,like Ahrix's Hideout server , IN THE MIX server

[@a.t.a.f.s932]

Music, words , rhythm, emotional centre.

[@thedude4594]

Not all songs have words

[@cuancake4911]

@@thedude4594 not that all of us are as enlightened as you, but that comment is a quote from this video..

[@RogerBarraud]

52.

[@sovnd2554]

Who’s your daddy

[@MurphyKargesBass]

Brilliant talk. He's right. Everyone can write a song. The difference is some choose to believe and love it, and those who don't choose otherwise.

[@RogerBarraud]

Most will choose to do nothing.

[@isabelkloberdanz6329]

Everyone can write a song but not everyone can write a good song. Most people absolutely cannot because they're bad with words. The average person constantly uses words wrong, doesn't articulate their thoughts concisely, and relies heavily on cliches. It requires a certain degree of natural talent that most people lack.

[@jamesmandas639]

Ralph just gave everybody in the world permission to not let any restrictions block your musical creativity. Express yourself and break the rules! Thank you Sir.

[@cameronsanchez2204]

Yes!

[@harmonywhite8287]

Heck yeah

[@RogerBarraud]

Imma break all the rules, including that one.

[@FakeFlourescentSkies]

the best songwriting advice is the simplest

[@iti-nellevalgevali8453]

The best advice on anything is the simplest

[@christhomas1904]

Yah, if you're a simpleton. While we're at it, let's just abandon all advanced art forms and write children's songs. lol

[@VividFilmProductions]

Chris Thomas the structure is simple. Not necessarily the subject matter.

[@sociopath7541]

@@christhomas1904 Why you have to make something complicated and even after overcomplicted Afterwards people like you complain about life

[@johnchesterfield9726]

Chris Thomas Everything that’s complex boils down to the basics. From the most ingenious symphonies, to the intricacies of master paintings, there is always simplicity underlying it all. It would be absurd to imagine complexity without its elementary building blocks.

[@tomschoenfeld784]

This came up in my feed and I didn't even notice who the speaker was for a couple of minutes. I was just listening. I went to school with Ralph and we were in all the honors science classes together. He doesn't remember this, but he taught me my first guitar chords, so he was a teacher even back then. I'm glad he's still teaching and writing and playing. I went the other way and became a scientist.

[@KatieKamala]

He brings up a valid point that we have music in our DNA but we have told ourselves we are not musical just because we are not professionals or have not focused on cultivating it. We also compare ourselves to others which is never good. We are all original creations. God Bless.

[@EdElectra]

We?

[@noahdunston9630]

He’s so excited and pumped I’m getting excited and pumped

[@Logmatt]

Noah Dunston is the love for what he does

[@shivashishsarkar8584]

You are in groove.

[@brazzier3925]

personally it just annoys me, too much is too much

[@IOxyrinchus]

Just watching him makes me want to take on the whole world

[@corygarcia4024]

To all the haters... Of course the song does not make sense, it's not supposed to because it's just a quick proof of concept. If you pay attention to everything he says, you will see what the actual point is. If you watch this video a second time and still don't find any useful information towards songwriting, then you will never be a better songwriter than you currently are. Without an open mind, nothing and no one can help you.

[@louislebel2995]

I think what he says goes even beyond song writing. Here's how it looked through my eyes: "you have an insane potential, no matter who you are, no matter what you think. Just... you know, come on. It's even in your cells. Just believe in yourself."

[@StringTheoryGuitar1]

Louis, your comment should go viral! I couldn’t agree more...

[@calekeene7998]

You’re right, but internet experts always think they’re so much smarter than the award winning songwriter for some reason

[@juylsses6013]

@@louislebel2995 he's become the religious cult leader

[@sydlocklear1810]

I imagine two things of the "haters" who do not get it. First, they write very few songs because they just can't let go of their inner critic long enough to explore a simple, new idea without destroying it. Secondly, when they do create something, it is boring and soulless because they lack the playfulness at the heart of creativity.

[@pepperoni101.]

23:30 made me tear up. Everybody enjoying themselves, dancing, smiling. Man just such wholesome vibes

[@Airbender24B]

Music, lyrics, rhythm, emotional center. songwriter compass. "If you sing the song with conviction, then the song becomes cool to hear"

[@echokammersurvivor2210]

Oh god, this was the video I needed my entire life. I quit so many bands because they were satisfied with the first simply solution they came up with while I was overthinking everything.

[@Mrrandomthingsish]

Echokammer Survivor i prefer writing alone because im very picky about what i like in my music

[@pavle988]

Thats why i quited the band...

[@DreamBeatsBakery]

But I feel like this is also the reason why bands like RHCP and the Beatles have made such amazing widely popular songs. A few different people all talented with different ideas and they work until everyone is satisfied and you'll have truly great music. But everyone must have that same drive and level. It's often hard in life to leave something behind for something better.

[@drujacey4899]

GET THIS VIDEO VIRAL. This guy is so charismatic and helpful. even for SEASONED MUSICIANS who think they know better- this is a comprehensive return to basics. I've been playing and writing for 16 years and this was really refreshing.

[@gigwrx1098]

Ralph is an awesome guy. So charismatic and friendy. His band The Bad Examples are great & he has a group called Ralph's World that does kids tunes. If you ever get the chance to see him you'll have a wonderful time! Peace

[@theoneeyedmilkman1517]

Same here buddy hate all the narcissism in the comments . I found it lit that fire on a song I got stuck on

[@sergiomurillo3097]

Hello yeah. I’m a metal vocalist on my fourth band and I really enjoyed this

[@TeeDOG6]

I hope this guy does another TED talk about how to be charismatic. Actually, I think he just did. Melody, lyrics, rhythm, and an emotional center.

[@markbeeman6894]

I find it endlessly fascinating the ambiguity behind why somebody or groups of people likes a song enough that it becomes a top 100 or a top 50 or a top 10 or a number one hit within a certain amount of time what exactly makes that switch In somebody's mind Is that works almost like a mass psychology.

[@siebkelderart7599]

He's like the real-life equivalent of Jack Black's character in School of Rock

[@ibukunoluwaoluwatoni]

Thisssssss!!!!!

[@flatstheflounder2884]

TRUE

[@CyberJelly]

His energy and speech is so motivating, I wish school teachers would be like him!

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Agree. I've dumped a sh*tload of music teachers for that reason. Just teach me what I wanna know.

[@DavidAnderson-gp6gi]

We are…at least this one is…despite the looks from my students who think I’ve lost my mind😅

[@gigihsadikin3613]

Phoebe Buffay's music writing teacher

[@christianmalinao]

That's an insult to Phoebe~

[@amypeters4025]

Oh sh!t, laughed out loud at this one!

[@fumericavibes9894]

I have voice and feeling to sing but doesnot know how to write. Can you please help

[@Alphadogg27]

Lmao. Brilliant bro

[@Mezurashii5]

@@fumericavibes9894 Learn theory and an instrument that can play chords

[@TheRoneZone]

Just started my own journey in pop songwriting and producing. Honestly, one of the best ways I've learned how to write is simply by analyzing all the songs that I love. You can learn a lot by dissecting and trying to figure out why you like certain songs and not others.

[@toddvandell85]

@TheRoneZone I would agree. My problem was or is? I decided because I thought I understood what it was about a song I liked that made me like it, and made it a hit single, and I convinced myself if I could then follow that template, that road map? I convinced myself for a split second that I too could write a hit single. Armed with all that knowledge. Guess what happened? Exactly. I never wrote a hit single in my entire life. Even though I convinced myself I'd cracked the code. But what I think really happened? I forgot the part of the process where the song actually went from being a possible hit single, to actually being a hit single. Often it was the way the artist or artists performed the song that made it a hit or not. It's that unspoken and often inexplicable something that makes some bands or solo artists have tons of hit singles, while others become one hit wonders. Or even have no hits at all. I've heard full albums by several one hit wonders, and in many cases, I couldn't quite figure out why they'd only had just one hit. Like, Lit. An alt pop band from the 90s, most of the songs on their debut album were fantastic to me, and I couldn't quite understand why "My Own Worst Enemy" was to be their one and only Top 40 hit. They released several singles off many of their albums. And yet? "Enemy" was the only hit of theirs that landed in the Top 40. And I get it. Kinda. It's a damn catchy melody with great lyrics and a huge sing along chorus you just couldn't help singing along with, and you couldn't drive the melody from your head with a 9 iron. It was just that sticky. A truly great earworm in the best way. But I don't think they knew how to duplicate that formula. As great as pretty much all the songs on that album were. None ultimately had that deeply sticky earworm quality that made "Enemy" the smash hit that it was. And if you listen to it, it just has that something indescribable about it that, even if you understand the formula, or believe you do like I did for a minute? It's that indefinable something in the song that all too often cannot be duplicated, and bands can spend entire careers chasing that ever elusive 2nd Top 40 hit and never find it because it's often just impossible to capture that lightning in a bottle more than that one time. So knowing the formula isn't the same as using the formula, and doesn't guarantee you yourself will ever have your own hit single, in spite of knowing the formula inside and out. And knowing or believing you know the formula doesn't make you a hit single song writer. You just have the basic skeleton of the concept, not the entire concept. And even though some songwriters have written a ton of hit singles? I don't recall ever hearing or reading an interview with them ever where they completely understood why some songs became smash hits, and some songs didn't. Even the biggest hit single writers have written songs that just went nowhere. And I don't know that anyone can precisely nail down why one song is a hit, and another song is a dud. Hit single writers have kinda cracked the formula. But even then, sometimes a song just doesn't work for them. Like Holly Knight. She's a famous hit single writer, and in the 80s she had a band called Device that had like two hit singles on the radio, and I remembered the songs a little bit when I went back and listened to them again many years later. But what I remember most was how disposable the songs were, and how they didn't really explode to the top of the charts. It was the same for certain other artists. Like one of Holly's famed co-writers released a song he'd written on his own band's album, and the song went nowhere. Didn't even hit the charts at all. Then someone else recorded it, and, yet again? Crickets. The song bombed ridiculously. But about the third or fourth cover of the song, it suddenly became a smash hit. And I think that speaks to why some hit singles just explode in some people's hands, and flop in other people's hands. Like Holly's song Love is a Battlefield. Pat Benatar had a smash hit single with that song. It was all over the radio forever. I finally heard Holly's version of the song, and it was just so completely different and ultimately drearily one dimensional that I almost found the song unrecognizable from the Pat Benatar hit that dominated the FM radio airwaves for so long. Granted, on her very best day, Holly's pipes are no match for Pat's. Still. It was a huge hit for Pat, and I'm quite positive Holly's version never got anywhere near the radio, let alone became a hit single. Pat's just had that indisputable catchy hook thing going on, such that even the original songwriter herself just couldn't replicate. I remember not long ago finding a version of Lady A's (formerly Lady Antebellum) smash hit Need You Now as performed by the original songwriter. And his version of the song was flat dull and colorless, and I was stunned it was even the same song. In Lady A's hands? It rocketed to Number 1 and stayed there forever. And not just the country charts. It crossed over to the pop charts and did equally well. Basically made them superstars. That one hit single. Even though they've had a flurry of big hits. I don't think any of their hits were as huge as Need You Now. (Maybe This Kiss got into that rarefied air.) But the original songwriter's version just went nowhere, and, for me? Didn't have the same impact at all. Lady A's version nearly always brings me to tears. His version? Sterile and cold and I never got even a twinge of a tear listening to his version. Same song. But completely different in terms of delivery and impact. The original songwriter's version couldn't get him arrested. Lady A's version made them worldwide superstars. Their version just had that indefinable something that his version lacked. Hit single or not. (I would say Hillary Scott's vocals were the best thing about that song, although Charles Kelly's co-lead-vocals were equally laudable. But their version just had me crying buckets of tears nearly every time I heard it. And I think it was THAT particular quality of their version that made it such a monster hit.) Anyway. Oh. Mutt Lange has proved to be a great hit single songwriter, and he's one of the only songwriters I know that have had nearly every song he wrote on an album become smash hits. He co-wrote Shania Twain's first three country albums, and sang background vocals on every song, and nearly every album he co-wrote with her was all killer no filler. Made her a superstar, who also briefly crossed over from the country charts to the pop charts. He's had other huge hits with other artists, but, I think he had the most songs on the radio with Shania. He did have a few hits with Def Leppard, Billy Ocean, AC/DC, Nickelback, and a bunch of others, too many to name. Although, he did become equally famous for one catchphrase that resonated throughout most if not all of the entire music industry: "Needs more cowbell."

[@sincerelydhruv]

He must have practiced really damn hard to give the talk with this much constant energy.

[@Hilda1513]

I don't think so. He is so passionate and his passion is his fuel and what leads his talk.

[@JoshwaLaw]

This is HANDS DOWN the BEST TED talk I've EVER heard. This guy is seriously good

[@metalion667]

I cant believe all these negative comments, this is obviously a performance usually given to kids, not an advanced songwriting talk although his points are all totally valid. People need to pull the stick out of their arses.

[@juylsses6013]

I'm not sure about that. Giving false information is worse than giving any information just hearing him mention McCartney and his explanation makes my head want to explode. It's very sad that these people are considered academics in modern society

[@storyspice974]

I thought you were the guy in the talk. Gave me a heart attack

[@dallasmcnally8913]

J Uylsses there are almost 200 likes on this thread that means the amount of people that seen your comment could be in the thousands. You certainly discouraged many. The only reason is because the internet gives unfortunate souls like yourself a platform to speak their unhealthy mind. I only comment this in hopes someone reads your comment then reads mine and regains hope. Love to everyone.

[@Sleppy_V6]

@Js Bchad right*

[@Sleppy_V6]

@@dallasmcnally8913 thank you

[@mijadreams3486]

loved this video but i feel bad the crowd didn’t laugh at one of his jokes 😂

[@hughkelly5701]

Didnt notice any jokes.

[@woozihae]

@@hughkelly5701 just read this when the man made a joke lol. It's at 3:53

[@woozihae]

@@hughkelly5701 just read this when the man made a joke lol. It's at 3:53

[@RogerBarraud]

They did, the audience wasn't mixed into the audio strongly though.

[@bestskier1]

"Everyone has rhythm" ...And then half the people on stage prove him wrong

[@pikalee3492]

I should not have laughed as hard as I did at this comment 😂😂😂 You did not have to roast them this hard 🤣🤣🤣

[@helenaveiga46]

It's gifted not everyone has it

[@aviswood7290]

@@helenaveiga46 Everyone can get it

[@kayleesmith1268]

Did they all doze off in a metronome factory?

[@giggspeter3811]

Wat

[@rady7273]

Long story short: Just make music that sounds good to you, then structure it. Easy peasy

[@beepboop1938]

Science teachers:Everything is made out of atoms Ralph:RHYTHM!!!

[@radfordhealsworth607]

Feels like I'm back in music class, in first grade. Definitely a first grade music teacher vibe!

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

That's because he started out at Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago for kids, I imagine. I seem to remember meeting him once or twice...

[@itsEvident]

The stage dive threw me off so crazily I was like :O

[@brunodeborba3411]

A free mind can look at complex things with simplicity. Awesome talk!

[@sunandmoon748]

and can make simple things very complex

[@josuefebres2633]

Mann.. I really miss the Dewey decimal system.

[@westwood2678]

who's your daddy?

[@toasty973]

hot dogs sure are awesome

[@DC-fn7qt]

Who’s your daddy?

[@TheSilveravi]

Who's your daddy?

[@harry_burnsworth]

I miss drinking strawberry NesQuick through a twizzler straw.

[@frankrock7811]

Dude said sing with me “ who’s your daddy, whose your daddy” 😂 thumbs up

[@sm_4859]

Video title - 4 simple steps to write songa Me : *smiles* Video leangth : 24 mins Me : *smiles nervously*

[@sacredhamburger6309]

He single handedly turned this from a Ted talk into a movie scene

[@storyspice974]

He's like sculpturing a song that doesn't exist yet. It's so beautiful, almost like a birth of a new born.

[@robertdabob8939]

Nice to see Maynard out sharing his skills like this.

[@secondlifearound]

Robert Dabob LMBO!!! Dude your comment made my day! Hilarious!

[@nonksauws8800]

Sometimes when I can’t come up with melody’s that are new and/or original, I just put random words together in a half-sentence, and it helps me create a melody. I think it might be because I’ve never heard that combination of words before so I can’t link it to something already existing. Weird tip or knowledge to get from a stranger but okay… currently writing a song, and while it still has no real words, it just says “treehouse, where did you go, oh orange juice”

[@shauntheron9653]

"Who's your daddy? Who's your daddy? I really miss the Dewey Decimal system" could totally be a line in a Metric song.

[@craigtracy94]

By far the funnest and most interactive TED talk I've ever seen! And loved the content as well!

[@rogercook58]

This was a great video. He was on point on everything he said about songwriting. I have been writing songs for years. It is everything he said and more. I love when he talked about the emotional part. I write what I feel at the time. The melody normally comes first. The lyrics follow afterward. Remember my fellow songwriters, there are no set rules when it comes to creating songs or instrumentals. Believe me I know..

[@happymimi1129]

[@balazsberecz2617]

This guy has an awesome personality and breath taking stage presence

[@brockpinson949]

Rhythm is everywhere. I love that.

[@optimisticori]

this is the kind of stuff people oughta talk about more, the basic concepts. he disproved everything i thought was hard about making a song. i still think it's hard but after seeing him make one out of nowhere, i feel like i can make something i'll like now. i do feel for him though, that crowd did not seem to care at all. i think they made his presentation a little worse actually.

[@kennycavender8290]

Refreshing display of character from a guy whose soul seems guide his every action, resulting in a individual who's unique, original, a style of his own. I think all of us are supposed to be a representation in some form, of what this man is. Good job sir!!

[@andrebrown9457]

1. 25x and he teaches you music on coke and I'm here for it

[@iremyldrm525]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I THOUGHT THE SAME i mean cmon chill bro

[@cherrykissesxo94]

LMAO 24:01

[@wantlost5277]

damn

[@Ostrichlegs111]

Lmfaoooo this is making me laugh rn . He was singing like a psycho 😂

[@Ostrichlegs111]

Galactic Empress 😂😂😂😂 omgggggggg Im so dead at this time at this speed

[@Ray-pr4vb]

This guy is great he peels of all layers of difficulty. And it sounds happy uptempo. He’s a talented guy

[@echogolf1]

I love this guys energy

[@JosephSmith-lm4ri]

Sounds like their writing a weezer album.

[@magnoliaproject8955]

they wrote "rivers cuomo" wrong. they said "ralph covert". disappointed with the spelling error

[@RickCostello]

😂

[@PJ-nh2dc]

LOL

[@kooskansloos4834]

Haha, so true. Speaking of which, I'd love a ted talks from Rivers about songwriting.

[@cringemeister04]

this raised my confidence so much 👏👏👏

[@IndrajaSalunkhe]

I like the way he puts the whole concept of songwriting is inspired by our ancestors. The oral tradition for sure is the starting point of how we developed as species. We also visualized a lot of stuff and made things. Super pumped up by this video. Thank you Ralph Covert and Tedx Talks.

[@mr.yellowstrat3352]

This guy has no shame and I love it. That stage dive too 😂👌

[@MelModica]

Awesome, he makes songwriting fun and easy!

[@RogerBarraud]

You can Dooo Eeeet!!! :-)

[@Chris-dz7fn]

This broke my writers block, Thank YOU RALPH!!!!!

[@Seeyatellite]

Thank you, Ralph... I know I'm paraphrasing but... "We are all musicians. We cannot help being musicians" is such a divinely profound statement. We all live within the rhythm of life and express ourselves as storytellers and social beings every day. It's a purity of consciousness we carry within us and so often lose sight of. Love this fun, interactive and enlightening presentation.

[@redwatch.]

This vid just inspired a decent chorus: "Lighten up and let it flow. Sow your seeds..."

[@indigo1143]

... and watch them grow

[@threenplustwo9105]

Soso so mi re mi do Soso so mi re mi la

[@alicialovesgaming]

oof

[@leemanebraheem8785]

It's genuinely sounds nice

[@blakeb8139]

Yikes

[@wpleary2]

This was a very accurate and honest depiction of the process, which indeed boils down to continuing to add parts and giving a thumbs up or down with each of your decisions.

[@lucasmuraguchi7961]

I am a composer and composing teacher myself. And the answer to 99% of my students question is: "The song is yours, you can do whatever you want"

[@eliasbernstein]

I got halfway through the video before I realized that I listened to this guy through my entire childhood

[@MisterE428]

Oh, how I miss the Dewey Decimal System.. Can't get this song out of my head. :) These simple steps are SO important, helpful, informative and refreshing compared to everything else I've learned and heard here and elsewhere. Not that I would ever throw any of that out, this is just really special and encouraging AND FUN! THANK YOU, RALPH!

[@normancrew2739]

Most truly great songwriters, including Bob Dylan, if you ask them how they wrote their songs they will tell you that they don't know. Dylan said it was magic. Not the Siegfried & Roy kind of magic but just something you have. Or you don't. Leonard Cohen famously said, "If I knew where great songs came from I would go there more often." And if you listen to great songwriters talking about the their songwriting process most of them speak quietly and with intense thoughtfulness.

[@PlanetYokoshima]

I'm 27 now and I don't know why it felt like I was in one of those very boring winter classes when the teacher has to answer for us students because we're all half asleep. It was very inspiring for a timid singer don't get me wrong, but the audience..

[@jambread7251]

That's low-key a bop👀

[@THEBIGGESTSCUMBAG]

THIS DUDE IS A FUCCIN LEGEND

[@llucija1]

I agree!!!!

[@VirtualDarKness]

I think the song/style reminds me of REM (or at least that's what my compass points to)

[@DavidAndrewsPEC]

I got a cross between REM and Crowded House ...

[@rainbowslushy223]

ditto

[@secondlifearound]

I agree....I also sense he's really been influenced by Paul McCartney and of course The Beatles.

[@morganwadleigh4283]

REM by Ariana Grande, or someone else 💗🌙

[@coffee5736]

@@morganwadleigh4283 He's talking about the rock band REM.

[@stephenallenmusic]

Im in tears listing to these lyrics an amazing way to explain songwriting

[@HigherPlanes]

he co-wrote a song with his audience by the time the talk was over. that's pretty impressive.

[@narayantx]

This was fun.

[@NESherv]

No, it was Ralph Covert. You're thinking of the band with Nate Ruess, Jack Antonoff, and Andrew Dost.

[@ArtyMars]

What an absolute legend, I've left this video feeling confident i can eventually write a masterpiece

[@diavolosoup1902]

how's thst going :D

[@foosaburns8399]

a legend for getting on stage and just sayin "whos your daddy" with such confidence

[@GG-bj7hi]

I absolutely love how he got everyone having fun in harmony weather the color of their skin, their size and all. Just a good time

[@justinoreilly1249]

Such an awesome TED talk! I love Ralph's energy and his simplified comedic approach to writing songs. I've been playing guitar, writing music & rocking with bands for a while now...and I still learned something from watching this video. Thanks for sharing!

[@arikunc0r0]

The 4 major components in songwriting 1. music / melody: flat, up, down, zigzag 2. lyrics: your words that usually you use in writing an email or texting. 3. rhythm: your body is a drum machine, your breath is source of the rhythm 4. emotional centre: sad, happy, angry

[@danielx40]

He’s right about everything. I knew everything exactly as he said it. I arrived at the same conclusion about everything he said here way before. But I thought that these were my personal songwriting secrets. Now that I hear it from someone else, I feel on the right track.

[@cacomelon4768]

My "songwriter compass" is in a constant state of "nah"

[@pradheesandeepana]

The crowd being so dead made it really awkward but nevermind

[@samuelmenezes2699]

Songwriters can’t express out of their songs, that’s why they write

[@superlambmilkshake4904]

its because the mic only picks up nearby sounds which is the talker's mouth, watch towards the end of the vid they all got up and sang

[@DrumTeacherManila]

The best song writing lesson ever...

[@robinzachary9355]

I loved his kids band Ralph's World when my son was little about 15 years ago. I was thrilled to find this!

[@austinorsal2393]

this man have everything

[@ampsat11]

I love that he talked about the chord scale in addition to the note scale (without getting bogged down in the Latin mode names, which I will never remember). The chord scale concept was something I never really grasped until recently and it opened up my ability to improvise over chord changes.

[@deltavistastudio124]

Point of fact, the Beatles wrote songs using modes, but they probably had no idea that was what they were doing.

[@ropehead12]

I LOVE THIS. The note and chord scale thing is genius. Love this man.

[@rongerman6992]

Best Ted talk EVER!!

[@TR-ih2gn]

I love this guy fr fr, he's a good teacher😂😂

[@nazarlyko235]

Very inspiring! A great reminder that the music is first of all about having fun!

[@vin7310]

hes really into what hes doing

[@toughlove6943]

This guy is comfortable af on stage bro

[@samuelmenezes2699]

I wish I was half of that

[@JulioImeri]

Maaan, except from the funny side this guy made me happy cause I'm in a writter's block right now and he changed my perspective to not judge myself when I make choices while I write 💯

[@BillBoxstep]

Absolutely brilliant. Back around 1994 I saw Robert Pollard and Guided By Voices in Toronto. They opened for another band, but blew them off the stage. They did about 40 songs in their 40 minute set, full of hooks and harmonies, and the lyrics were like this: just random thoughts and sentences. I've been a fan ever since.

[@xiomaraamvs6440]

Probably my favourite TED Talk XD

[@Zach-ls1if]

This guy’s energy

[@blooeagle5118]

I really needed this. when you break it down, it's so simple. this is amazing

[@danbunch1514]

Smelly Cat (from Friends) its about choices.

[@ZzSpeaks]

This is fire

[@cultm6772]

yeah but it sucks

[@arthurberzinsch9368]

Amazing talent with such raw and powerful energy, one of the better peeps I got to see on TEDx Talks. The guy who made a whole class of people sing "Who's Your Daddy?" Rock on! Ralph Covert 🤘

[@DefinitelyNotNix]

I love how excited he sounds in this.

[@christophermhuntsr]

This opens to soul realm as apostle Paul shares for everyone “making melody of your heart, singing Spiritual Psalms…” beyond just nice sounds are inspired Spiritual life imparting melodies.❤️🙏🐛✝️🦋🕊🎶