Legendary lyricist shares secrets to songwriting success

KUALA LUMPUR - Certain songs tend to stick in our heads more than others. It’s not just the melody - it’s the magic woven into every word.

Legendary lyricist Datuk Habsah Hassan said great lyrics don’t just complement a tune. They transform into songs that can withstand the test of time.

Sharing the secret recipe behind unforgettable lyrics, she said that ideally, lyrics should have a storyline, poetic elements, and precise vocabulary, noting that heartfelt lyrics have the power to create a profound emotional impact on listeners, making them feel understood and connected.

"Writing song lyrics is like writing a short story. There must be a theme, a story, the beginning, the middle and the end. Only then can the lyrics produced last long and remain evergreen.

"I'm not saying that today's lyricists are wrong because life today is all about simplicity and straightforwardness. I see it as a trend; right now, it's the season for such a writing style (using simple language)," she said when met by Bernama recently.

She added that lyrics should be created based on depth of reflection and observation of the true story behind an event, noting that they should walk the fine line between simplicity, and depth as well as clarity.

The lyricist, who brings with her extensive years of experience in the industry since 1974, said that if a song has quality lyrics and composition, it will last long and become a lifeline for writers and singers in their golden years.

"If you go to weddings these days, they don't request current songs but rather look for old (evergreen) songs. Young people today don't understand that royalties depend on how frequently a song is played on the radio, television, and in public.

"So if our song isn't played, only lasting a year or two, how can we earn royalties? Look at the evergreen songs composed by Datuk M. Nasir, Datuk Ahmad Nawab, Datuk S. Atan; until now, they are still collecting royalties. Although not much, they still yield results," she said.

The recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 34th Anugerah Bintang Popular also reminded young lyricists who want to be serious in the field to read more, diligently observe situations, and continuously seek as much knowledge as possible.

When asked on the young talents who stand out in lyric writing, Habsah cited local vocal powerhouse Aina Abdul as well as singers and songwriters Naim Daniel and Hael Husaini, who are poised for a bright future ahead if they take their career seriously.

"I've been invited as a judge in several competitions, and I found some (young lyricists) who are talented, including Aina Abdul and Naim Daniel, who can produce good lyrics. Besides that, Hael Husaini is also a good lyricist, and there may be a few more," she said.

Habsah has produced over 1,000 song lyrics, including popular songs such as ‘Merisik Khabar’ (Sudirman), ‘Menaruh Harapan’ (Zaiton Sameon), ‘Cinta Beralih Arah’ (Aishah), ‘Ceritera Cinta’ (Jaclyn Victor and Rio Febrian), ‘Ku Percaya Ada Cinta’ (Siti Nurhaliza), and ‘Pulangkan’ (Misha Omar). - BERNAMA