Canadian songwriter Jim Vallance has written some of the most popular and well-loved songs in the modern rock and pop music canon.
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Vallance is best known as the co-writing partner of Bryan Adams, the pair penning some of Adams’ biggest hits: Summer of ’69, Heaven and Run To You to name just three.
He has also written hits for various other artists, from Aerosmith and Ozzy Osbourne to Anne Murray and Heart.
“As songwriters, our job is to ‘communicate’,” Vallance explained to me last week when asked what ingredients made for a good song.
“Initially you write a song for yourself, but you want other people — a lot of other people — to like it too!
“I've always believed a good song has to have a good chorus and a good title.
“There’s a simple test for this.
“Let’s say you’ve just written a song, and no-one had heard it yet.
“Play it for a friend, then ask them: ‘What's the title?’
“If they can answer that question, you’ve done your job as a songwriter; you’ve communicated.”
Vallance says the process involved when writing for others differs from artist to artist.
“There was a decade or two when I was very busy as a songwriter, by which I mean 52 weeks a year!” he says.
“The normal routine was, an artist would come to my studio in Vancouver and we'd spend a week writing, often Monday to Friday, and sometimes Saturday.
“I always booked a day or two in between, usually Saturday and Sunday, to prepare for the next week’s artist.
“I’d listen to some of their past recordings, and maybe even come up with the beginnings of song — a riff, a bit of melody, or a song title — just to get things started.
“Once there was a week where I worked with Michael Bublé, and the next week it was Ozzy Osbourne, two very different artists with very different styles.
“I really needed those few days in between to get my brain out of ‘Michael mode’ and start thinking like Ozzy!”
With the use of AI in the creation of music having become a hotly debated topic of late, Vallance’s take on the subject is pragmatic.
“I think back to the Linn drum machine, or the advent of Napster and MP3,” he says.
“Everyone’s hair was on fire: ‘It’s the end of the music business as we know it.’
“Sure, AI is a mammoth sea-change, and it’s going to take some getting used to, but in the right hands it can be a valuable tool.
“There’ll be copyright challenges, and a few other adjustments, but we’ll figure it out.
“And anyway, it’s here to stay.
“It’s not going away.”
Having clocked up 50 years in the business, Vallance has much wisdom to impart to those seeking to follow their songwriting muse.
“There are no shortcuts,” he says.
“Apparently, Thomas Edison got it wrong 700 times before he perfected the light bulb, but he kept trying.
“Same with songwriting.
“Sometimes you have to write 10 average songs to get a really good one.
“Much of it is observational; look, listen and learn.
“Creativity is a mysterious partner but ‘ideas’ are out there, if you’re receptive.
“Work hard, work smart and put it the time.
“That’s the secret to success.”
For more on Jim Vallance, check out jimvallance.com
Music news
Swedish garage rockers The Hellacopters are returning to Australia in March 2027 along with Norwegian rock group Gluecifer. It’s been 10 years since The Hellacopters were last here.
Canadian rocker Bryan Adams this week announced he is also returning for another Australian tour in February-March next year. The tour will be in support of his latest album, Roll With the Punches.
1980s synth-pop star Howard Jones has released a new single, titled Stand Up, which is a taste of what to expect from his forthcoming album, Global Citizen, scheduled for release in 2027 and which sees Jones returning to his signature synth-driven sound. He will also embark on an extensive North American tour.
Could we see rock group Queen back on tour in 2027? According to a new interview with drummer Roger Taylor, it is up to guitarist Brian May, as he suffered a stroke in 2024. May is making good recovery and if he decides he wants to return to the stage, Taylor is ready.
From the diary… September, 2005
Glenn Tilbrook, singer and guitarist from English band UK Squeeze — well known in Australia for their 1979 hit, Cool For Cats — was on an Australian solo tour. On this particular sunny September day, he was in Melbourne and as part of the tour, it included a lunch time in-store concert at an inner-city record store. Afterwards I would sit down with him for an interview. Taking his spot on the makeshift stage, in front of only a handful of people in attendance, mainly white-collar workers on their lunch break along with some UK Squeeze fans, Tilbrook performed a handful of tunes that kept everyone entertained within the constraints of the rather limited and intimate setting. These included a handful of UK Squeeze classics and a couple of tracks off his recently released solo album, Transatlantic Ping Pong. Armed solely with an acoustic guitar, he performed a glorious set and it was a lunch hour definitely well spent. After the interview was done, he made his way back to his hotel and later that evening, performed a concert at The Espy in St Kilda.
Music trivia question
In the Bon Jovi song Livin’ On A Prayer, what are the names of the man and woman? Answer below.
Fun fact
Jeff Baxter, best known for being a guitarist with Steely Dan and Doobie Brothers, is a highly respected, self-taught missile defence expert who holds a high-level United States government security clearance and has consulted for the Pentagon, Nasa and the Department of Defence.
This week’s music charts
Australia No.1: Choosin’ Texas — Ella Langley
US No.1: Choosin’ Texas — Ella Langley
UK No.1: Rein Me In — Sam Fender and Olivia Dean
Trivia answer
Tommy and Gina