Page 187 - Free the Idea Monkey

EQUAL, BUT NOT SEPARATE
Perhaps one of the clearest example

of Yin and Yangs are songwriting duos:
Richard Rodgers (music) and Oscar
Hammerstein II (lyrics); Elton John
(music) and Bernie Taupin (lyrics) ...
Bon Jovi and Sambora ... Axl Rose
and Slash ... OK, I’ll stop.

If you could still talk to these
duos, they would be quick to tell
you that there is NOT an absolute delineation of duties all the time.
The lyricists will suggest a mood/tempo (“maybe we should do it as
a jazz waltz”) and the person creating the tune will suggest a phrase
or maybe even the title.

There isn’t resentment when this happens. They are trying to
create the best song possible.

That should be your approach when you are coming up with new
ideas. Even though the roles of Yin and Yang are clearly defined,
ideas should be welcome from anywhere.

172 D I S C O V E R I N G A Y I N T O Y O U R Y A N G