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What's in a Song

What's in a Song

By: Scarlet Keys
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About this listen

 This is a weekly podcast about the craft of songwriting hosted by Berklee College of Music Professor Scarlet Keys. She takes deep dive into the craft, technique and art of songwriting in conversations with eminent songwriters, producers, and other creatives asking questions only a songwriting professor would ask so listeners can walk away inspired and armed with clear and actionable tools and techniques they can apply to their songwriting.© 2025 What's in a Song Music
Episodes
  • Taylor Swift's "Father Figure" The break down with guest Forensic musicologist Joe Bennett

    Taylor Swift's "Father Figure" The break down with guest Forensic musicologist Joe Bennett
    Nov 10 2025

    Send us a text

    In this episode, we break down Father Figure from Taylor Swift's record "The Life of a Showgirl".

    In this episode we look at:

    • The chord progression
    • Melodic hooks
    • Rhetorical devices
    • Guitar voicings
    • The stunning bridge and what the back ground harmonies are bringing to this section to make it so spectacular
    • Phrasing
    • Prosody
    • Sign up for the Master class:

    The songwriting secrets of Taylor Swift Nov 18th:

    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1811786424969?aff=oddtdtcreator


    Support this podcast:

    https://buymeacoffee.com/scarlet.keys

    Join the “What’s in a Song” community:

    https://buymeacoffee.com/scarlet.keys


    Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/

    To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "What if it All Goes Right: Practicing Hope in the Hardest Times" featured on NPR and the Wall Street Journal:

    https://www.amazon.com/What-All-Goes-Right-Practicing/dp/B0CTYVQ9Q8

    Joe Bennett:

    To learn more about forensic musicology and professor Joe Bennett: https://joebennett.net/

    Mailing list:

    https://www.scarletkeys.com/

    Mixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com/

    Otto Gross: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMnxx19QD-vxD4wnYGTn3Jw

    Scarlet's website:

    https://www.scarletkeys.com

    Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/

    To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:

    https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PP55NU6E9ST6&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1659573139&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 18 mins
  • Taylor Swift's Opalite - break down

    Taylor Swift's Opalite - break down
    Oct 26 2025

    Send us a text

    Track32 on "The Life of a Showgirl" - Opalite

    I'm back with Forensic Musicologist Dr. Joe Bennett

    In this episode we look at:


    • The chord progression
    • Chord tensions
    • Harmonic rhythm
    • Borrowed chord
    • Rhetorical device
    • Production
    • Direct modulation

    To sign up with the virtual live master class "The Songwriting of Taylor Swift" with Scarlet Keys:

    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1811786424969?aff=oddtdtcreator


    Joe Bennett:

    To learn more about forensic musicology and professor Joe Bennett: https://joebennett.net/

    Mailing list:

    https://www.scarletkeys.com/

    Instagram: @scarletkeysofficial

    Become a member of the What's in a song songwriting community or become a supporter:

    https://buymeacoffee.com/scarlet.keys


    Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/

    To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "What if it All Goes Right: Practicing Hope in the Hardest Times" featured on NPR and the Wall Street Journal:

    https://www.amazon.com/What-All-Goes-Right-Practicing/dp/B0CTYVQ9Q8


    To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:

    https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PP55NU6E9ST6&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1659573139&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1



    Mixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com/

    Otto Gross: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMnxx19QD-vxD4wnYGTn3Jw






    Scarlet's website:

    https://www.scarletkeys.com

    Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/

    To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:

    https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PP55NU6E9ST6&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1659573139&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1

    Scarlet's website:

    https://www.scarletkeys.com

    Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/

    To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:

    https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PP55NU6E9ST6&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1659573139&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 23 mins
  • Taylor Swift's "Elizabeth Taylor" - The break down

    Taylor Swift's "Elizabeth Taylor" - The break down
    Oct 13 2025

    Send us a text

    Track 2 on "The Life of a Showgirl" - Elizabeth Taylor

    I'm back with Forensic Musicologist Dr. Joe Bennett

    In this episode we look at:


    • The chord progression
    • Chord inversions
    • Tensions
    • Harmonic rhythm
    • Phrase lengths
    • Melisma
    • Writing from a title
    • Melodic hooks


    To sign up with the virtual live master class "The Songwriting of Taylor Swift" with Scarlet Keys:

    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1811786424969?aff=oddtdtcreator


    Mailing list:

    https://www.scarletkeys.com/

    Instagram: @scarletkeysofficial

    Become a member of the What's in a song songwriting community or become a supporter:

    https://buymeacoffee.com/scarlet.keys


    Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/

    To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "What if it All Goes Right: Practicing Hope in the Hardest Times" featured on NPR and the Wall Street Journal:

    https://www.amazon.com/What-All-Goes-Right-Practicing/dp/B0CTYVQ9Q8


    To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:

    https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PP55NU6E9ST6&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1659573139&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1


    To learn more about forensic musicology and professor Joe Bennett: https://joebennett.net/

    Mixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com/

    Otto Gross: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMnxx19QD-vxD4wnYGTn3Jw






    Scarlet's website:

    https://www.scarletkeys.com

    Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/

    To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:

    https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PP55NU6E9ST6&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1659573139&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 23 mins
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