Use “CHORDS” in CHORUS to write an interesting but simple chord sequence using chords (Major 7’s etc) that you might not normally use.Introduce the song hook in your intro, and don’t start the song with the first line of the verse.What you can learn from Ed Sheeran for your next song In its place is an open-ended “I got nothin’ left to lose, or use, or do” a line that is the antithesis of the song. Its absence keeps the chorus rolling so it can move into the next section with energy. The only time “My bad habits lead to you” isn’t used is at the end of the first 8 bar chorus section. Nothin’ happens after two, it’s truе, it’s true Yeah, I was lookin’ for a way out, now I can’t escape My bad habits lead to wide eyes starin’ at spaceĪnd I know I’ll lose control of the things that I say I got nothin’ left to lose, or use, or do Swearin’ this will be the last, but it probably won’t “My bad habits lead to late nights, endin’ aloneĬonversations with a stranger I barely know Typing the word “addiction” into Triggers in Chorus brings up…Įntering the phrase “bad habits” with Genius in Chorus will bring up….Īnother masterstroke employed to make the chorus as catchy and memorable is the book ending of each chorus section with the title of the song with the “My bad habits lead to…” lines. “I can’t say no” – “I let you take control” – “late nights endin’ alone” – “I got nothing left to use, or lose, or do” – “Looking for a way out but I can’t escape” In a song about addiction, it is packed with emotive and powerful language.
The lyric of Bad Habits also has some stand-out moments. When Ed delivers the same hook he started the song with, its a hook you already know. The change means the listener is still interested by the end of the post chorus. Its the most impact the writers can get out of the line.Ĭ) As the chorus is split into 3, 8 bar sections, the drop in the first 8 bars means the 2nd 8 bars can come back in strong. Its the first time you hear the title of the song. The title of the song Bad Habits is expertly placed in the first line of the chorus, exactly when the drop happens. There’s three reasons why this works so well:Ī) In a song where the verse and chorus combinations are essentially the same, the removal of harmony differentiates the chorus from the verse.ī) the space made by removing the chords in the first 8 bars makes you focus on the lyric. The harmony (the other notes in the chords) is absent. Secondly the first 8 bars of chorus are stripped back to a single note bass. (In the bridge the F#minor 5 chord is debuted for a similar reason.) It’s the first time we hear a change in the chord structure and it sounds like something new is happening. To cue the 2nd block of 8 bars and to make it sound fresh the bass passes through VI (G) and IV (E). Firstly the chorus is split into two blocks of 8 bars, with further 8 bars of post chorus. There are two really clever concepts at work here to keep that simple chord progression exciting. The verse and chorus of Bad Habits are loosely based on the same I – III – V chord combination of Bm – D Major 7 – G It’s especially well used here as the first line of the verse “Everytime you come around I can’t say no” is low in pitch, and doesn’t have a huge amount of impact as a song start. Bad Habits relies on repetition right from the start, with a single round of the chorus hook “Whoo whoo whoo”. In the world of pop music, there are fewer stronger songwriting tools than repetition. Ed Sheeran “Bad Habits” – SONG SHAKEDOWN Artist In this article, we shakedown the song and look at some of the tricks and concepts used by one of the world’s most successful songwriters, and share ideas for how you can apply them to your own songs. Bad Habits is singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran’s 12th UK Number 1, wracking up over 200m plays on Spotify and more than 100 million YouTube plays within its first few weeks of release.
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