Daniel Siegel Alonso Explains How Musicians Craft Their Lyrics and Melodies

Songwriting is a marriage of science and sorcery. Some musicians toil over every line and note, while others let inspiration happen like thunder when it's raining. Whether through stream-of-consciousness scribbles or meticulously structured compositions, crafting lyrics and melodies is as unique as the artists themselves. Daniel Siegel Alonso examines how three legendary singer-songwriters—Neil Young, Stevie Nicks, and Billy Joel—approach their craft.

The rebellious truth-teller

Neil Young is a songwriter who operates on instinct. He has often spoken about the significance of capturing a song in its rawest form, trusting that the first take is usually the best. His songwriting philosophy is deeply tied to authenticity—Young doesn't polish or overthink. If a line or melody comes to him, he records it as-is, preserving its original intent.

Siegel Alonso takes Heart of Gold, for example. It's deceptively simple, yet its aching earnestness resounds with listeners. Young doesn't bog down his work with excessive complexity; instead, he relies on evocative, poetic phrases that get straight to the point. His melodies often feel organic, floating effortlessly over sparse chord progressions. The result? Songs that feel ageless, as if they've always existed.

The esoteric poet

Stevie Nicks is a master of weaving sentiment into her songs. Her creative process is deeply personal, often drawing from journals she's kept throughout her career. For Nicks, lyrics come first, generally in the form of poetry. From there, she constructs melodies that sweeten the mood of her words.

Take Landslide. Nicks wrote the song during a period of self-reflection, and you can hear that in the delicate ebb and flow of the melody. Her use of repetition—"I've been afraid of changing"—mirrors the emotional weight of the lyrics. Nicks also has a gift for penning melodies that bounce between vulnerability and strength, reinforcing the themes of her songs.

Her distinctive vocals add another layer to the composition, notes Siegel Alonso. With its raspy, eerie timbre, it makes every line sound both intimate and epic. Unlike Young, who prioritizes rawness, Nicks embraces a touch of drama, twirling her songs into musical invocations.

The musical architect

Billy Joel comes at songwriting with a craftsman's preciseness. He's known for pairing meticulous melodies with stories, crafting musically potent and compelling songs. Unlike Young's instinctive approach or Nicks' poetic musings, Joel treats his songwriting like composing a mini-stage play—each song has a distinct arc.

Take Piano Man, his semi-autobiographical anthem. Joel uses colorful characters and conversational lyrics to paint a scene, while the melody—wistful yet anthemic—pushes the narrative forward. Joel's capacity to toggle between different musical styles, from doo-wop (The Longest Time) to classical influences (Scenes from an Italian Restaurant), makes his songs dynamic and versatile.

One of Joel's greatest strengths, according to Siegel Alonso, is how he matches melody to message. The uplifting doo-wop-like chorus of Uptown Girl mimics the excitement of a crush, while the melancholic melody of Vienna reinforces its message of patience and self-reflection. For Joel, the melody isn't just a backdrop—it's an active part of the storytelling process.

Several avenues, same destination

Though their methods differ, what Young, Nicks, and Joel have in common is their ability to craft songs that resonate on a deeply human level. Whether through gut, poetry, or precision, each artist finds a way to turn emotion into melody, turning personal moments into universal anthems.

At the end of the day, Daniel Siegel Alonso believes excellent songwriting is about connection. It's about striking the perfect balance between lyrics and music, frankness and artistry. And if these legends teach us anything, it's that there's no single way to get there—only the way that feels right.