Just one or two points (or ten
) regarding the subject of this topic. Although I'll start with saying, all of these guys had contributions to the songs, they have split writing credit for almost all of the music, and the lyrics seem to be credited above the composition, although I'm not sure if that's intentional or related to the perspective of MP/JP/ The rest of DT about the significance of lyric credits. In any case, it's clear that all the members have music contributions that we can only speculate when it comes down to who gave more input to which song. So it seems obvious that no one member should have any particular claim over any one song. In fact there are only 2 examples (maybe 3?) that even have single writing credits, and I think it's The Silent Man and Beneath The Surface (and Space Dye Vest). But, I still don't see how JR didn't contribute to the music composition in BTS because there's string movements and a keyboard solo..
But I mostly wanted to say; I think some of you guys are understating the relevance of the drum patterns in the composition. It's something Nearl Peart said that left an impression on me, and it's something I am inclined to agree with, I wouldn't quote me directly, but it was along the lines of:
Drums are usually the subject of rock music, they don't have to be, but more often than not, the drums are the key ingredient and basis for the progression and movement of the song. Also, we practically universally use the subject of the kick and the snare to define and separate aspects of the music, and the cymbalwork is the glue that holds the focal points of that rhythm together. Lyrics are another rhythmic aspect of the music, because the structure and annunciation of the word is what determines which beats are emphasised by the phrasing of the lyrics. This shows that lyrics play an integral role in the rhythm and structure of a song, equally as much as they determine the lead melody (which is what we normally assume as the primary role of vocals).
It seems that as a drummer and a lyricist he's established a very profound understanding of the relationship between these functions in music composition and he could describe this idea far more elegantly than my attempt. But part of my point is, a bunch of you guys seem to be discounting drums from the composition to a certain extent. I mean a drummer doesn't (traditionally) write chord progressions or melodies based on scales, but they do determine the mood and lay a basis for other subjects within the music to fit. Also, a drummer is normally more aware of the
arrangement of a piece than anyone else because their sections are based on differing phrases of bars for each section or movement. Melodic instruments and singers have phrasing too, but to different effect, and normally with the drumming as a basis or foundation. And some of the motifs and progressions made by JR/JP wouldn't have been generated without the drumbeat that gave them the foundation for some of those ideas. I'm obviously assuming that they write as a group and so the would have bounced ideas off of each other like this. Of course not to say that any one individual member couldn't have come up with an idea on their own and tried to integrate it into the compositions, but I'm betting that most of the time the ideas are spontaneous, and naturally form and grow from each others ideas.
Which leads me to:
I've never subscribed to the idea that a lyricist is credited as a "songwriter". Painstakingly constructing an 8 minute piece of music that is harmonically, rhythmically and melodically interesting is a bit trickier than penning lyrics to a finished article.
I could write 10sets of lyrics to 10 pre-set pieces of music a lot quicker than writing that music in the first place. And lets face it, the music in DT would be just as interesting regardless of the lyrical content.
I would argue the opposite here mostly from amateur experience. But it's an example of how different strokes work for different folks I guess. But I would write 10 pieces of music well before I had 10 sets of lyrics to go with them. Lyrics are painstakingly difficult for me to come up with (if I don't want them to seem fake and I want them to come from a sincere and honest place) but I could hop on my keyboard and bust out some progressions and have something resembling a 'song' well before I could even consider what it could be about lyrically.
Pretty much, the end results the same because as far as this discussion goes, I don't think any one person should have more right to any one DT song than any other current/ex member. I do however think that during this discussion, that more credit should be recognised for the drum patterns and lyrics as these elements are absolutely crucial in defining the musical
and lyrical subject of a song yet often dismissed or taken for granted. I'm not even a drummer, and funnily enough (along with lyrics), drum patterns are the hardest part of a song for me to create personally, but I don't see how it's any less important or relevant in the composition of the music. Not to mention, as DT fans, we take expert level drumming for granted to the point where the only thing to complain about with MM is the production of his sound. But I tell ya what, if
Dream Theater pulled an
Avenged Severfold with their new drummer, we'd be complaining about something quite different as they've completely simplified the 'subject' of their drumming with the new album.