A hit song reveals much about the importance of the demo, the draft, and why less is nearly always more.

What can we learn about copywriting from songwriting? Quite a lot it turns out. Songwriters suffer from the same pressures as writers. Ideas are blocked. The first draft is always ropey. The temptation to add superfluous ingredients is hard to resist.

Exhibit A: Losing My Religion. In the REM episode of Song Exploder (Netflix), the band discuss their most famous song including a clip where Michael Stipe’s face sinks as he listens to an early demo. Peter Buck, the guitarist, is much more phlegmatic. He doesn’t care. He knows that the sketch of a song is a crucial step on the journey to the polished, broadcast recording.

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