Diane Warren on writing for Beyonce
Diane Warren has been called "the most important songwriter in the world."
Her catalogue of songs stretches into the thousands, and the army of artists who have performed her songs is almost as large. Warren's works across genres — in country, pop, and hip-hop — and she's teamed up with divas like Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.
Much — possibly all — of Warren's success can be attributed to her grueling work schedule, which is roughly 12 hours per day, six days a week. But she says that's not out of the ordinary when it comes to the music business. "Work ethic!" she exclaimed when she spoke to The Frame. "That's why these people are great."
Listen to Diane Warren's discussion with John Horn, where she reflects on collaborating with performers, how a song changes (or doesn't) when an artist picks it up, and pitching "I Was Here" to both Simon Cowell and Beyoncé.
Even if you don’t know who’s recording the song, do you picture in your mind’s ear how that song is going to sound?
Yes. My songs can go a million different ways. “I Was Here,” which Beyoncé did, I wrote that on my acoustic guitar, right? And I was thinking, this could go anywhere. It could be Susan Boyle to Beyoncé. But I thought, Oh, Beyoncé. But I sent it to Simon Cowell for Susan as well. I did this little acoustic guitar demo. And I also called Jay-Z and played him the song on the phone. And he said, "Stay where you are. I’m having Beyoncé call you." She called me. I played her the song . . . She , "I’m going in the studio on Wednesday and recording that song. I’m holding up my whole album."
A lot of the people you work with have a reputation for being great artists, but also as divas. What are your creative conversations like? Is the diva-ness kind of toned down a little bit when they’re dealing with you?
They’re not really divas with me, you know? We’re just in there trying to make something great. For instance, Beyoncé — her work ethic was amazing. When I was in the studio with her when she did “I Was Here,” she sang for three hours straight. Then she says, I’m gonna have a dinner break now and then I’m coming back. I go, Why are you coming back? She says, I’m going to get it better.
Her catalogue of songs stretches into the thousands, and the army of artists who have performed her songs is almost as large. Warren's works across genres — in country, pop, and hip-hop — and she's teamed up with divas like Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.
Much — possibly all — of Warren's success can be attributed to her grueling work schedule, which is roughly 12 hours per day, six days a week. But she says that's not out of the ordinary when it comes to the music business. "Work ethic!" she exclaimed when she spoke to The Frame. "That's why these people are great."
Listen to Diane Warren's discussion with John Horn, where she reflects on collaborating with performers, how a song changes (or doesn't) when an artist picks it up, and pitching "I Was Here" to both Simon Cowell and Beyoncé.
Even if you don’t know who’s recording the song, do you picture in your mind’s ear how that song is going to sound?
Yes. My songs can go a million different ways. “I Was Here,” which Beyoncé did, I wrote that on my acoustic guitar, right? And I was thinking, this could go anywhere. It could be Susan Boyle to Beyoncé. But I thought, Oh, Beyoncé. But I sent it to Simon Cowell for Susan as well. I did this little acoustic guitar demo. And I also called Jay-Z and played him the song on the phone. And he said, "Stay where you are. I’m having Beyoncé call you." She called me. I played her the song . . . She , "I’m going in the studio on Wednesday and recording that song. I’m holding up my whole album."
A lot of the people you work with have a reputation for being great artists, but also as divas. What are your creative conversations like? Is the diva-ness kind of toned down a little bit when they’re dealing with you?
They’re not really divas with me, you know? We’re just in there trying to make something great. For instance, Beyoncé — her work ethic was amazing. When I was in the studio with her when she did “I Was Here,” she sang for three hours straight. Then she says, I’m gonna have a dinner break now and then I’m coming back. I go, Why are you coming back? She says, I’m going to get it better.
