Who is Harry Nilsson (and how do you write a song like him)?

Welcome to The Songwriter’s Workshop. This is the series where I attempt to write songs based on the process and techniques of famous songwriters. Each video looks at a different songwriter’s writing habits, musical inspirations, and creative process while also including an original song written using those techniques.
This video looks at a songwriter once dubbed "The American Beatle"; Harry Nilsson. Harry is the songwriter behind One, Gotta Get Up, Coconut, and many more and I use his unique style and technique to inspire me to write my new song I Like Living Alone.
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00:00 TSW Intro
00:22 Harry Nilsson Intro
04:06 Part 1 - Idea behind a song
06:02 Part 2 - Coming up with the tune
08:02 Part 3 - Arranging and recording
10:19 I Like Living Alone
13:21 Outro
#HarryNilsson #HowToWriteASong #songwriter

[@tedparkinson6892]

Thank you for this! Harry Nilsson forever! Your song was pretty decent and certainly used Harry's style and vocal harmony ideas. So great work. But you forgot to mention Harry's own song: "How to write a Song" where he starts with the most fundamental advice: "If you write with a guitar, place the guitar upon your knee, if you write with a piano, don't do that"!!

[@boulderdesigner]

You wrote a great song and totally captured Harry’s song style! Thank you for one of your best workshops yet!

[@arranone]

Great video and song! Super inspirational. I remember listening to some of those early Harry Nilsson records as a kid and you really captured the spirit of his writing style while coming up with a song that’s all your own. Well done! 👏👏👏

[@mattolsonmusic8683]

Sweet song! Well done

[@superreality3823]

Another great example of YOUR process and the end result is great. Thanks again for all the effort and love you put into these.

[@PIEKART2001]

Great tune man

[@iammatthewbirch]

Brilliant as always!

[@cr9423]

I really love this channel.. these videos are extremely informative and helpful, please continue making them!

[@sandmilssonpabllessonn2993]

You nailed it, from start to finish It felt like if it was a tribute to Nilsson, my favorite part has to be the dark nihilistic lyrics with a memorable melody, second to it was the piano solo (wich I always relate with Harry whistling) , and also cheers for that scat, so much fun!

[@sandmilssonpabllessonn2993]

Damn this video made me happy!

[@tribecagirl]

wow

[@GenX4ever]

Great video and channel. I hope you'd consider one on Jackson Browne! Cheers

[@janeselby3145]

Hey there! for one: this song is great. kudos. Wanted to ask a question, if don't mind, since you read the bio of Nilsson. His song structures (and melodies) are so imaginative and irregular, I just wonder how much of it was just experimentation at the piano, or if he had a crazy good ear and aural imagination. Did the book give you any impression on that perspective, ie how good Nilsson's ear was?? Cheers, Jane

[@tedparkinson6892]

Nilsson had an amazing ear! His uncle taught him how to sing harmonies so he had no formal musical training. But if you listen to many of his early songs (Sleep Late My Lady Friend, It's Been So Long, Good Old Desk), or view the sheet music, you will see they use complex jazz chords. Some of these chords would have been added in the arrangements from George Tipton and others, but Harry sang complex vocal harmonies over top. Plus, he taught himself how to play guitar and decent piano, all mostly by ear!

[@seeuclring2512]

Could you please do a video on Eddie Vedder. it would highly, highly appreciated.

[@wparke1]

Watch the phil collins video for Eddie Vedders writing process but the important thing is leave it at the melodic vowel stage and never fine tune the vowels into actual words.

[@jeffthevideoguy23]

Well, I'd rather be dead, than to wet my bed

[@kevinjoseph517]

I knew 2 guys who knew Harry. drugs and obesity were his downfall, and booze.

[@tedparkinson6892]

That is an oversimplification of his life. Cigarettes and alcohol were his main vices but he had given up most of them after his marriage to Una and the births of their six children. He had a weak heart than ran in his family. In his short time he created 17 albums with mostly original songs. He had many hits. His main "downfall" was having his money stolen by his accountant.