Post by Drew on Feb 26, 2021 13:22:21 GMT -5
I found an interesting article about Max Martin - who co-wrote/produced many of the biggest pop songs of the past 30 years.
The original article is in Swedish... I'm posting the Google Translate version below.
www.expressen.se/noje/max-martin-fyller-50-storyn-bakom-50-hits/
Max Martin turns 50 - the story behind 50 hits
Published 26 Feb 2021 at 00.01
Did you know that Max Martin is behind these songs?
Max Martin.
Photo: CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP TT NEWS AGENCY
Queen Silvia and Max Martin.
Photo: CHARLES HAMMARSTEN / IBL BILDBYR / IBL BILDBYRÅ / IBL IBL
Hitmaker Max Martin turns 50 today, February 26th.
The man whose real name is Martin Sandberg has written or produced many of the most successful songs ever in the last 25 years.
Here are the stories behind 50 of Max Martin's hits.
Stefan Soxbo
E-Type: "This Is the Way" (1994)
This was the first song signed "Max Martin", a pseudonym coined by his mentor Denniz Pop without asking Martin himself. Some skepticism was alleviated thanks to a classic children's book.
Max Martin: “It was me and my friend Alexander Kronlund who discussed which names could be worse than Max Martin. We came to the conclusion that Max Blöja was one of them. ”
Leila K: “Electric” (1995)
Max Martin and Denniz Pop wrote "Electric" together with Leila K and Herbie Crichlow, and when Leila K was asked who meant the most to her over the years, the answer was Max Martin's mentor.
Leila K: “Definitely Denniz Pop. He always believed in me and I love him for it. He always stood up for me when it was at its worst and when I had the hardest time. ”
Backstreet Boys: "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (1996)
Herbie Crichlow co-wrote the song with Max Martin.
Herbie Crichlow: “I had an argument with my wife and it just came to me. I ran to the studio and said, 'Martin, I have an idea for a song and we have to do it right now!' We ran down and wrote the song in 25 minutes. ”
The Robyn single "Do You Know (What It Takes)" from 1997.
Robyn: "Do You Know (What It Takes)" (1997)
Max Martin: “If there are many chord changes in the song, then it is nicer to stick to the same melody language. Again, it's about balance. One theory is that you can also sing the chorus melody as a verse. Take for example I Wanna Be Your Lover with Prince. The verse and chorus in that song are exactly the same. But as a listener you do not think about it, because it is not at all the same energy in the chorus as in the verse. When the chorus comes after the verse, it feels like you have heard it before. And you have it! You have heard it in the verse. It creates recognition automatically. Prince does a lot. Let's Go Crazy, same thing there. I myself have used that trick a few times. Do You Know (What It Takes) with Robyn for example. ”
Backstreet Boys: "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" (1997)
Joseph Kahn, who directed the video for the song, wanted to think outside the box.
Joseph Kahn: "I said, 'we have to think multi-ethnic here. Kevin will be dancing with a black girl and it will be an Asian girl and a Latino girl. ' I wanted to do something different and make sure it's the world I want to see it on screen. I do not even think I discussed it with the Backstreet Boys, it did not seem like they were thinking about it at all. Kevin danced away with a black girl and no one reacted. "
Robyn.
Photo: GREGORY PACE / BEI / SHUTTERSTOCK REX FEATURES
Robyn: "Show Me Love" (1997)
Robyn: “In his hands, pop music really turns into science. Martin is a fantastic songwriter, he can spend as much time as he wants on details. ”
Britney Spears: "Baby One More Time" (1998)
The song that became Max Martin's first Billboard number was originally called "Hit Me Baby One More Time" but the title was shortened because the record company feared that the words "hit me" could be interpreted as domestic violence.
Britney Spears: "It does not mean to hit me physically, it just means give me a sign. I think it's a little funny that people would think that it would actually stand for it. "
According to John Seabrook's book "The Song Machine", Max Martin believed that the word "hit" was used as a slang in the United States to call someone.
Max Martin: "When I heard her, I knew immediately that the way she sang gave the song another dimension."
Britney Spears single "Baby One More Time" from 1998.
Backstreet Boys: "I Want It That Way" (1999)
Over the years, several critics have questioned the lyrics, called it "incomprehensible", and questioned what "that" in the chorus actually stands for.
Max Martin: “It is really confusing. That is a thing of its own, what does it really mean? It was discussed on forum after forum. ”
Britney Spears: "Oops! ... I Did It Again" (1999)
Text lines like "I'm not that innocent" ( "I'm not so innocent") was a result of conversations with the singer.
Max Martin: “She is a genius. So much happened to her in those earlier years and she was forced to grow up quickly. We had conversations with her about what she wanted to do and what she wanted to say. ”
Celine Dion: "That's the Way It Is" (1999)
After ten years in the spotlight, Celine Dion decided to take a long break. The last thing she did was release the compilation album "All the Way ... A Decade of Song" which contained seven new recordings, of which Max Martin's "That's the Way It Is" was one.
Celine Dion: “I look forward to having no schedule, no stress, not having to worry about whether it's raining or not, just meeting family and friends, cooking at home, making a serious attempt to have children. I do not want any pressure at all for a while. "
Britney Spears.
Photo: CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP TT NEWS AGENCY
NSYNC: "It's Gonna Be Me" (2000)
NSYNC member JC Chasez has said that Max Martin during the recording of the song preferred "energetic" pronunciation of certain words over the strictly correct.
Max Martin: “When I started, I always wrote the melody first, without instruments. Sat on the subway and came up with something, then you went to the studio and set chords to it. Now I usually write for backgrounds that already exist. The text usually comes last. I often have a kind of ugly text, which feels phonetically interesting. If it is between two choices: the phonetically cool word or a word that may give the content of the text an extra touch - then the phonetic usually wins. ”
Britney Spears: "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" (2001)
The song was originally intended for the soundtrack to the movie "Crossroads" where Spears played the lead role. The script was written by Shonda Rhimes who later created the TV series "Grey's Anatomy".
Britney Spears: "I talked to Shonda about what I wanted the film to be about and she developed it all. It was my little project. If you are going to make a film, I think you have to be really passionate about it. I had received many offers, but this was something I could put my heart and soul into. ”
"I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" was for a long time one of Spears' favorite songs to sing live.
Def Leppard: "Unbelievable" (2002)
Max Martin: “I've never been cool! I've always had quite an oniony taste. I like Def Leppard. At the same time, I may also have a taste that is quite universal. ”
Celine Dion single "Faith" from 2003.
Celine Dion: "Faith" (2003)
"Faith" was released as the fifth and final single from Dion's album "One Heart" which was mainly produced by Swedes. Max Martin, Rami Yacoub, Peer Åström, Anders Bagge and Kristian Lundin all produced songs on the record. Faith is very important to Celine Dion, but it is not about traditional religious beliefs.
Celine Dion: “It is important for people to have something they can touch and believe in. I believe that believing in oneself is believing in God. To me, God is life itself, the birds, the air, the sunrise and the sunset, the children. That is where I find God, not in any church. ”
Kelly Clarkson: "Since U Been Gone" (2004)
Max Martin: “I have learned that things change. The whole thing with boybands became almost like a stock market crash. We put Cheiron down at the right time. Then came a period when we thought Pharrell and the others came and ruined for us with their ascool beats. My first thought was: everyone else is stupid in the head who did not understand how good what we did was. Then, finally, I realized: the world has moved on, it is we who have remained. So I started listening to other music. I spent a lot of time in New York, working with artists who didn't do much. Then it turned around again with Since U Been Gone. ”
Pink.
Photo: JOHN D MCHUGH / AP
A-ha: "Analogue (All I Want)" (2005)
The song was originally more cryptic and was then called "Minor Key Sonata (Analogue)". Max Martin was commissioned to turn the song into something more radio-friendly. The result? A-ha's first top ten song in the UK in 18 years.
Bon Jovi: "Complicated" (2005)
Singer Jon Bon Jovi said the new record showed a more pessimistic side of him.
Jon Bon Jovi: "I have always been more 'up with my chin, the glass is half full', but now holes have appeared in the armor for me."
He was supported by guitarist Richie Sambora.
Richie Sambora: “This record feels like a new direction for us. It sounds very fresh, but still like us. ”
Pink: "U + Ur Hand" (2006)
Pink: “I wrote it with Max Martin and Dr. Luke, they're really funny. It's about when you're tired of someone bumping into you, 'I really will not go home with you, it will not happen.' I had heard the expression before, mostly from guys, 'Looks like it's just me and my hand tonight', and thought it was funny so I wrote a song about it. "
The pink single "U + Ur Hand" from 2006.
Apocalyptica: "I Don't Care" (2007)
Frontman Eicca Toppinen: "I wrote some of the lyrics but Max Martin wrote most of it. It's about a fantasy and not about a particular person, but I think everyone can find a sense of truth in the lines of text. ”
Katy Perry: "I Kissed a Girl" (2008)
One morning when Katy Perry woke up, she had the chorus in her head.
Katy Perry: "I was very excited to release it because it was such a fun song that can both be silly and mean something to someone. It was a topic that was talked about a lot at the time, so it was like a snapshot of what happened in 2008. "
Katy Perry.
Photo: DDP SOCIALMEDIASERVICE / STELLA PICTURES
Pink: "So What" (2008)
Pink: "'So What' was a joke. I heard one of Max Martin's beats. It was such a funny beat, very funny, so I joked and said 'I guess I just got rid of my husband, I do not know where he went'. Haha, great fun. It just rolled on from there and got more and more wrong. The more lines of text we wrote, the more wrong it became. We kept it because we did not care. I do not think about the consequences when I write songs and now I regret every second of it ... no, I do not. "
Kelly Clarkson: "My Life Would Suck Without You" (2009)
Clarkson did not like the original song. The songwriters listened to her criticism and made it "better than it was" according to Clarkson. The song jumped from number 97 to number one on the Billboard charts in one week. Clarkson has said that the song is not about a specific person.
Kelly Clarkson: “I'm not in a relationship right now, but I love the dynamics of livestock - you're so odd, but you're perfect for each other. I will probably be in such a relationship in the future. "
Kelly Clarkson's single "My Life Would Suck Without You" from 2009.
Britney Spears: "3" (2009)
Max Martin has had 23 songs that topped the Billboard chart, of which this is one.
Max Martin: “The biggest thing for me is when you sit in the studio for several weeks - and then you reach the point when it sits. 'Now that sounds great.' It's a great feeling. To have created something. At first there was nothing - and now there is something that sounds powerful. Then the song can flop or become number one on Billboard, it does not matter. You can never be as elated as right then, in the studio room. ”
Katy Perry: "Teenage Dream" (2010)
Katy Perry: “I wrote that song in Santa Barbara and it was a very clean, unspoiled moment for me because I come from there and that's where I started to vent my creativity. It has a sense of euphoria for everyone to remember their teenage dreams, all the girls who were on the posters on your walls. ”
Kesha: “Blow” (2010)
The song was offered to Britney Spears but her team failed it.
Kesha: "I love that I sing 'we take over' in the song for my fans and I have started a cult. We do not fit into society, but we have joined forces and started a revolution. We take over so just get used to it. ”
Kesha.
Photo: DDP SOCIALMEDIASERVICE / STELLA PICTURES
Pink: "Raise Your Glass" (2010)
Pink says that the song is a tribute to everyone who is not allowed to keep up with "the popular".
Pink: “I had toured for two years without writing anything and I wanted to write a song about beating at a disadvantage. Instead of ending up on covers, marketing products and having listets, I set out on the roads and became a touring artist. You do not have to be popular when you are a touring artist, you just have to be good. So this is a tribute and a thank you. ”
Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg: "California Gurls" (2010)
Perry has said that "California Gurls" was written in response to the song "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys.
Katy Perry: "It's amazing that 'Empire State of Mind' is huge and that everyone has the New York song, but what the hell happened to Los Angeles and California? It's been a minute since we had a California song, especially one from a girl's perspective. We started from Prince and 1990s houses. ”
Katy Perry single "California Gurls" from 2010.
Britney Spears: "Hold It Against Me" (2011)
Bonnie McKee (lyricist): “Britney Spears is always sexy. It was mostly about how many sexual allusions I would manage to come up with. ”
Katy Perry featuring Kanye West: "ET" (2011)
The song was actually written for a group.
Katy Perry: “I wrote this song with Max Martin and Dr. Luke. When the producer Ammo, who they co-wrote with, was there, they played different beats and samples for me. They accidentally played a beat that was for Three Six Mafia. I always wanted to write a futuristic, alien-oriented song and when they played that I said 'Wait, this suits me. I know it's a bit far-fetched but I think I have the perfect material for this. ' So I did it and the result was perfect. ”
Katy Perry: "Last Friday Night (TGIF)" (2011)
Most of the song happened to Perry and her friends in real life.
Katy Perry: “We drank a few beers and danced until we fell. Then we continued the party in the hotel room. Most of the song is true, except for the triangle - unfortunately! But it is true that we streaked in the park so we felt we had to write a song about it the next day. ”
Adele.
Photo: PAUL BUCK / EPA / TT
Taylor Swift: "I Knew You Were Trouble" (2012)
Taylor Swift: "I had just been through something that made me write this song, knowing the second you see someone that this is going to be interesting and dangerous, but you do it anyway. It was the first time I noticed that I had it in me, to be curious about something I know can be bad for me, but I do it anyway because I will regret even more if I do not see where it leads. I want to test boundaries with this record and rewrite things I have not written about before. ”
Katy Perry: “Part of Me” (2012)
Katy Perry: "I always knew that Part of Me was a special song, one of those songs that feels like it's about my life. It feels like I'm in some kind of weird Truman Show where I'm wondering, 'why is this single appropriate now that it had not been before? It's so crazy. ”
Adele: "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" (2012)
After being impressed by the song "I Knew You Were Trouble", Adele wanted to know who Taylor Swift had worked with.
Adele: “I got the answer, Max Martin. I was unaware that I knew who Max Martin was. I googled him, and it was like he literally wrote the soundtrack to my life. ”
The Adele single "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" from 2012.
Taylor Swift: "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" (2012)
Taylor Swift: “My friend started talking about how he had heard that my ex and I were getting back together, and that was not true. 'So what's the story about that?', Max and Johan asked (Schuster, "Shellback"). I started telling about how we broke up, got together again, broke up again, got together again, the worst. "This is the song we write," says Max. I picked up the guitar and just started singing 'we are never'. It happened so fast. It was very fun."
Maroon 5: “One More Night” (2012)
Adam Levine (singer in the band): “There is nothing but music in the room when you work with Max. No politics, no money, Max just loves to make music. ”
Max Martin: “A good pop song should feel when you hear it. You can hear songs that are technically very good, songs that dot all the boxes. But if a song is to be felt, it is about something else. That you remember a song after the first or second time you hear it, it is incredibly important to me. That something grabs you, makes you feel 'Oh, I have to hear it again'. That is the fundamental thing. Something you want again. And again."
Taylor Swift.
Photo: SHUTTERSTOCK / REX TT NEWS AGENCY
Katy Perry: "Roar" (2013)
Katy Perry: “I wrote it because I was tired of keeping all the emotions inside me and never standing up for myself, which had caused a lot of resentment. I've been through a lot of therapy since the last record and that's what it's about.
Max Martin: “When popular culture can influence in some way, when a song becomes more than a song, that's the biggest thing for me. I saw the video where the staff at a children's hospital sing Roar, it became a reminder to me. I have an ability to constantly diminish what I do. I think it has to do with keeping the ego in check. I think, 'What the hell are we really doing these days, there are others who work with gender equality, Syria, cancer'. But then something like that happens, when a song finds itself outside the studio and means something to people. It's not every time I get proud of a song, but Roar is one. ”
Katy Perry: "Dark Horse" (2013)
Katy Perry: “Max always listens to what the artist wants to do. He never tries to force anything on the artist. At the same time, he is very prepared. He also has a great team around him, a team that he has created himself, people who know him very well. Everyone is young and has good ears. They know what applies. They are the ones who create the new that is coming. ”
Ariana Grande: “Problem” (2014)
Ariana Grande: "It's about the feeling of being completely terrified to give a relationship a second chance even though it no longer works, but there is nothing you would rather."
Taylor Swift single "Shake It Off" from 2014.
Taylor Swift: "Shake It Off" (2014)
Max Martin:“If you have a verse that contains a lot of rhythm, then you want something on top that does not have it, a little longer notes. Something that may not start at the same pace. When I say this, I'm afraid it sounds like I've figured out a concept… That's not the case. The most important thing is always how it feels. But the theories are good to use when you get stuck. 'We are not coming up with anything, what can we do?' Then you take it in as a tool. If you listen to Shake It Off with Taylor Swift ... (humming the verse melody). After that part, a little longer tones are needed to be able to cope, otherwise there will be too much information. Is this understandable at all? Sweet and salty is perhaps a more comprehensible description. A balance is needed all the time. Is it jealous in the verse, a little less jealous then ... It must vary.
Taylor Swift: "Blank Space" (2014)
Swift has said that the song is about how her love life is portrayed in the media.
Taylor Swift: "Boys only want love if it's pure torture and constant hunting, while men want love if it's genuine, right and healthy."
She has also said that a certain artist influenced how she wrote the lyrics.
Taylor Swift: "Blank Space is a song that only consists of oneliners, one by one, something I definitely learned by listening to Fall Out Boy."
Ariana Grande.
Photo: EVAN AGOSTINI / AP TT NEWS AGENCY
Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar: "Bad Blood" (2015)
The song is about Swift's quarrel with another female artist. It has been speculated that this is Katy Perry.
Taylor Swift: "She did something terrible. It was like. 'we are really enemies'. And it was not even about a guy! She tried to sabotage my entire tour by trying to snatch several of my staff. I do not like confrontations, you have no idea how much I hate conflicts, so now I have to avoid her. It's difficult and I do not like it. "
Ellie Goulding: "Love Me Like You Do" (2015)
The song was made into the soundtrack for the movie "Fifty Shades of Gray".
Ellie Goulding: “I did not really want to get involved because I had already done a lot of soundtracks and we thought we had done a little too much of it. So we should just take it easy and write the next album instead. But I met the director and everyone else who was involved and thought 'this is pretty cool'. Then I heard the song and thought 'wow, this is a canon song'. I thought it would go well, but not that it would be this big. ”
The Weeknd: "Can't Feel My Face" (2015)
Max Martin: “Some artists just sing. But in recent years we have worked a lot with artists who are very involved. Then it can be more about producing an artist's songwriting. They have an idea, I'm listening. 'Ok, that's good, remove that, repeat it, now we have something'. It is seldom the case that we sit by the campfire and create together. Sometimes my role as a songwriter can be very small. But hopefully I have then perhaps contributed with decisive stuff purely dramaturgically. Like when I worked with The Weeknd. He is an artist with very clear ideas of his own. It makes my job easier. ”
Justin Timberlake singles "Can't Stop the Feeling!" from 2016.
Justin Timberlake: "Can't Stop the Feeling!" (2016)
The song is on the soundtrack to the movie "Trolls".
Justin Timberlake: “The film feels like one big, well-crafted disco experience, but we did not have a disco song. 'September' was included, but we thought this was a great chance to make a modern disco song. I think disco is an underrated genre. ”
Selena Gomez: “Hands to Myself” (2016)
Gomez was working on a song draft when the producers gave her advice.
Selena Gomez: "They asked, 'is it okay if we send this to Max Martin?' I had never worked with Max before so I said, 'Maybe so.' I did not know what it would be like. He heard on FaceTime right away and said, 'This is the best thing I're heard all year, I need to be involved and do this.' I replied, 'Yes, do it!'
Martin made several changes to the song.
Selena Gomez: "I think it was super fresh, and different for him too."
Lady Gaga.
Photo: JORDAN STRAUSS / AP TT NEWS AGENCY
Lana Del Rey: "Lust for Life" (2017)
Lana Del Rey traveled to Sweden to get Max Martin's opinion on the song. He thought the first verse was the strongest of the song and advised her to make it a chorus instead. She thought the result sounded "perfect" and collaborated with The Weeknd who sang the chorus.
Lana Del Rey: “It was a lot of fun! I wanted him to add some heat and energy to the record. ”
Ariana Grande: "No Tears Left to Cry" (2018)
Max Martin: “I think it's a bit anxious with interviews. In addition, it takes time. I do not gain anything from it, I do not get more jobs if I am in a newspaper. And then there is a fundamental, deep feeling that what I am saying is not so interesting. Why don't you talk to Ariana Grande instead? ”
Ed Sheeran featuring Justin Bieber: "I Don't Care" (2019)
Sheeran originally wanted to record a song with Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber inspired by a song on the soundtrack to the movie "Moulin Rouge" where Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mya and Lil Kim collaborated.
Ed Sheeran: "Do you remember 'Lady Marmalade'? This was a silly idea, but I wanted to do it. I said, 'Then Bruno, B? Ieber and I can make a record together, how fun would that not be?' ”
That particular collaboration never came to an end, but Sheeran instead recorded "I Don't Care" with Bieber.
The Weeknd single "Blinding Lights" from 2019.
The Weeknd: “Blinding Lights” (2019)
According to The Weeknd, the song is about wanting to meet the person you love at any price.
The Weeknd: “You drive to this person and are blinded by the streetlights, but you are so lonely that nothing can stop you from trying to meet this person. I would never advocate drunk driving, but that is the dark subtext. ”
Lady Gaga: "Stupid Love" (2020)
This is the first collaboration between Max Martin and Lady Gaga. Gaga first sang over a melody loop that BloodPop had made. They sent the result over to Max Martin who modified it all and sent the song back to Gaga. Then she finished writing the lyrics.
Lady Gaga: “I warmed up my voice, went into the studio and sang. What you hear on 'Stupid Love' is what we did that day. ”
Max Martin: “Singing is my heart's desire. As a producer, I am also very present when we record song. Some manufacturers have technicians who take care of it while they themselves hang on the sofa. But I am with myself and take care of everything on the computer, I want to know exactly and remember. Singing is very much about psychology. If the artist does not have a good day, think it's boring ... My role will be as a coaching job. To get the best out of the person. To make them perform at the top when it's a match. One way is to get them to go outside their comfort zone. To coach a little, get them to try new things. ”
The original article is in Swedish... I'm posting the Google Translate version below.
www.expressen.se/noje/max-martin-fyller-50-storyn-bakom-50-hits/
Max Martin turns 50 - the story behind 50 hits
Published 26 Feb 2021 at 00.01
Did you know that Max Martin is behind these songs?
Max Martin.
Photo: CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP TT NEWS AGENCY
Queen Silvia and Max Martin.
Photo: CHARLES HAMMARSTEN / IBL BILDBYR / IBL BILDBYRÅ / IBL IBL
Hitmaker Max Martin turns 50 today, February 26th.
The man whose real name is Martin Sandberg has written or produced many of the most successful songs ever in the last 25 years.
Here are the stories behind 50 of Max Martin's hits.
Stefan Soxbo
E-Type: "This Is the Way" (1994)
This was the first song signed "Max Martin", a pseudonym coined by his mentor Denniz Pop without asking Martin himself. Some skepticism was alleviated thanks to a classic children's book.
Max Martin: “It was me and my friend Alexander Kronlund who discussed which names could be worse than Max Martin. We came to the conclusion that Max Blöja was one of them. ”
Leila K: “Electric” (1995)
Max Martin and Denniz Pop wrote "Electric" together with Leila K and Herbie Crichlow, and when Leila K was asked who meant the most to her over the years, the answer was Max Martin's mentor.
Leila K: “Definitely Denniz Pop. He always believed in me and I love him for it. He always stood up for me when it was at its worst and when I had the hardest time. ”
Backstreet Boys: "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (1996)
Herbie Crichlow co-wrote the song with Max Martin.
Herbie Crichlow: “I had an argument with my wife and it just came to me. I ran to the studio and said, 'Martin, I have an idea for a song and we have to do it right now!' We ran down and wrote the song in 25 minutes. ”
The Robyn single "Do You Know (What It Takes)" from 1997.
Robyn: "Do You Know (What It Takes)" (1997)
Max Martin: “If there are many chord changes in the song, then it is nicer to stick to the same melody language. Again, it's about balance. One theory is that you can also sing the chorus melody as a verse. Take for example I Wanna Be Your Lover with Prince. The verse and chorus in that song are exactly the same. But as a listener you do not think about it, because it is not at all the same energy in the chorus as in the verse. When the chorus comes after the verse, it feels like you have heard it before. And you have it! You have heard it in the verse. It creates recognition automatically. Prince does a lot. Let's Go Crazy, same thing there. I myself have used that trick a few times. Do You Know (What It Takes) with Robyn for example. ”
Backstreet Boys: "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" (1997)
Joseph Kahn, who directed the video for the song, wanted to think outside the box.
Joseph Kahn: "I said, 'we have to think multi-ethnic here. Kevin will be dancing with a black girl and it will be an Asian girl and a Latino girl. ' I wanted to do something different and make sure it's the world I want to see it on screen. I do not even think I discussed it with the Backstreet Boys, it did not seem like they were thinking about it at all. Kevin danced away with a black girl and no one reacted. "
Robyn.
Photo: GREGORY PACE / BEI / SHUTTERSTOCK REX FEATURES
Robyn: "Show Me Love" (1997)
Robyn: “In his hands, pop music really turns into science. Martin is a fantastic songwriter, he can spend as much time as he wants on details. ”
Britney Spears: "Baby One More Time" (1998)
The song that became Max Martin's first Billboard number was originally called "Hit Me Baby One More Time" but the title was shortened because the record company feared that the words "hit me" could be interpreted as domestic violence.
Britney Spears: "It does not mean to hit me physically, it just means give me a sign. I think it's a little funny that people would think that it would actually stand for it. "
According to John Seabrook's book "The Song Machine", Max Martin believed that the word "hit" was used as a slang in the United States to call someone.
Max Martin: "When I heard her, I knew immediately that the way she sang gave the song another dimension."
Britney Spears single "Baby One More Time" from 1998.
Backstreet Boys: "I Want It That Way" (1999)
Over the years, several critics have questioned the lyrics, called it "incomprehensible", and questioned what "that" in the chorus actually stands for.
Max Martin: “It is really confusing. That is a thing of its own, what does it really mean? It was discussed on forum after forum. ”
Britney Spears: "Oops! ... I Did It Again" (1999)
Text lines like "I'm not that innocent" ( "I'm not so innocent") was a result of conversations with the singer.
Max Martin: “She is a genius. So much happened to her in those earlier years and she was forced to grow up quickly. We had conversations with her about what she wanted to do and what she wanted to say. ”
Celine Dion: "That's the Way It Is" (1999)
After ten years in the spotlight, Celine Dion decided to take a long break. The last thing she did was release the compilation album "All the Way ... A Decade of Song" which contained seven new recordings, of which Max Martin's "That's the Way It Is" was one.
Celine Dion: “I look forward to having no schedule, no stress, not having to worry about whether it's raining or not, just meeting family and friends, cooking at home, making a serious attempt to have children. I do not want any pressure at all for a while. "
Britney Spears.
Photo: CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP TT NEWS AGENCY
NSYNC: "It's Gonna Be Me" (2000)
NSYNC member JC Chasez has said that Max Martin during the recording of the song preferred "energetic" pronunciation of certain words over the strictly correct.
Max Martin: “When I started, I always wrote the melody first, without instruments. Sat on the subway and came up with something, then you went to the studio and set chords to it. Now I usually write for backgrounds that already exist. The text usually comes last. I often have a kind of ugly text, which feels phonetically interesting. If it is between two choices: the phonetically cool word or a word that may give the content of the text an extra touch - then the phonetic usually wins. ”
Britney Spears: "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" (2001)
The song was originally intended for the soundtrack to the movie "Crossroads" where Spears played the lead role. The script was written by Shonda Rhimes who later created the TV series "Grey's Anatomy".
Britney Spears: "I talked to Shonda about what I wanted the film to be about and she developed it all. It was my little project. If you are going to make a film, I think you have to be really passionate about it. I had received many offers, but this was something I could put my heart and soul into. ”
"I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" was for a long time one of Spears' favorite songs to sing live.
Def Leppard: "Unbelievable" (2002)
Max Martin: “I've never been cool! I've always had quite an oniony taste. I like Def Leppard. At the same time, I may also have a taste that is quite universal. ”
Celine Dion single "Faith" from 2003.
Celine Dion: "Faith" (2003)
"Faith" was released as the fifth and final single from Dion's album "One Heart" which was mainly produced by Swedes. Max Martin, Rami Yacoub, Peer Åström, Anders Bagge and Kristian Lundin all produced songs on the record. Faith is very important to Celine Dion, but it is not about traditional religious beliefs.
Celine Dion: “It is important for people to have something they can touch and believe in. I believe that believing in oneself is believing in God. To me, God is life itself, the birds, the air, the sunrise and the sunset, the children. That is where I find God, not in any church. ”
Kelly Clarkson: "Since U Been Gone" (2004)
Max Martin: “I have learned that things change. The whole thing with boybands became almost like a stock market crash. We put Cheiron down at the right time. Then came a period when we thought Pharrell and the others came and ruined for us with their ascool beats. My first thought was: everyone else is stupid in the head who did not understand how good what we did was. Then, finally, I realized: the world has moved on, it is we who have remained. So I started listening to other music. I spent a lot of time in New York, working with artists who didn't do much. Then it turned around again with Since U Been Gone. ”
Pink.
Photo: JOHN D MCHUGH / AP
A-ha: "Analogue (All I Want)" (2005)
The song was originally more cryptic and was then called "Minor Key Sonata (Analogue)". Max Martin was commissioned to turn the song into something more radio-friendly. The result? A-ha's first top ten song in the UK in 18 years.
Bon Jovi: "Complicated" (2005)
Singer Jon Bon Jovi said the new record showed a more pessimistic side of him.
Jon Bon Jovi: "I have always been more 'up with my chin, the glass is half full', but now holes have appeared in the armor for me."
He was supported by guitarist Richie Sambora.
Richie Sambora: “This record feels like a new direction for us. It sounds very fresh, but still like us. ”
Pink: "U + Ur Hand" (2006)
Pink: “I wrote it with Max Martin and Dr. Luke, they're really funny. It's about when you're tired of someone bumping into you, 'I really will not go home with you, it will not happen.' I had heard the expression before, mostly from guys, 'Looks like it's just me and my hand tonight', and thought it was funny so I wrote a song about it. "
The pink single "U + Ur Hand" from 2006.
Apocalyptica: "I Don't Care" (2007)
Frontman Eicca Toppinen: "I wrote some of the lyrics but Max Martin wrote most of it. It's about a fantasy and not about a particular person, but I think everyone can find a sense of truth in the lines of text. ”
Katy Perry: "I Kissed a Girl" (2008)
One morning when Katy Perry woke up, she had the chorus in her head.
Katy Perry: "I was very excited to release it because it was such a fun song that can both be silly and mean something to someone. It was a topic that was talked about a lot at the time, so it was like a snapshot of what happened in 2008. "
Katy Perry.
Photo: DDP SOCIALMEDIASERVICE / STELLA PICTURES
Pink: "So What" (2008)
Pink: "'So What' was a joke. I heard one of Max Martin's beats. It was such a funny beat, very funny, so I joked and said 'I guess I just got rid of my husband, I do not know where he went'. Haha, great fun. It just rolled on from there and got more and more wrong. The more lines of text we wrote, the more wrong it became. We kept it because we did not care. I do not think about the consequences when I write songs and now I regret every second of it ... no, I do not. "
Kelly Clarkson: "My Life Would Suck Without You" (2009)
Clarkson did not like the original song. The songwriters listened to her criticism and made it "better than it was" according to Clarkson. The song jumped from number 97 to number one on the Billboard charts in one week. Clarkson has said that the song is not about a specific person.
Kelly Clarkson: “I'm not in a relationship right now, but I love the dynamics of livestock - you're so odd, but you're perfect for each other. I will probably be in such a relationship in the future. "
Kelly Clarkson's single "My Life Would Suck Without You" from 2009.
Britney Spears: "3" (2009)
Max Martin has had 23 songs that topped the Billboard chart, of which this is one.
Max Martin: “The biggest thing for me is when you sit in the studio for several weeks - and then you reach the point when it sits. 'Now that sounds great.' It's a great feeling. To have created something. At first there was nothing - and now there is something that sounds powerful. Then the song can flop or become number one on Billboard, it does not matter. You can never be as elated as right then, in the studio room. ”
Katy Perry: "Teenage Dream" (2010)
Katy Perry: “I wrote that song in Santa Barbara and it was a very clean, unspoiled moment for me because I come from there and that's where I started to vent my creativity. It has a sense of euphoria for everyone to remember their teenage dreams, all the girls who were on the posters on your walls. ”
Kesha: “Blow” (2010)
The song was offered to Britney Spears but her team failed it.
Kesha: "I love that I sing 'we take over' in the song for my fans and I have started a cult. We do not fit into society, but we have joined forces and started a revolution. We take over so just get used to it. ”
Kesha.
Photo: DDP SOCIALMEDIASERVICE / STELLA PICTURES
Pink: "Raise Your Glass" (2010)
Pink says that the song is a tribute to everyone who is not allowed to keep up with "the popular".
Pink: “I had toured for two years without writing anything and I wanted to write a song about beating at a disadvantage. Instead of ending up on covers, marketing products and having listets, I set out on the roads and became a touring artist. You do not have to be popular when you are a touring artist, you just have to be good. So this is a tribute and a thank you. ”
Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg: "California Gurls" (2010)
Perry has said that "California Gurls" was written in response to the song "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys.
Katy Perry: "It's amazing that 'Empire State of Mind' is huge and that everyone has the New York song, but what the hell happened to Los Angeles and California? It's been a minute since we had a California song, especially one from a girl's perspective. We started from Prince and 1990s houses. ”
Katy Perry single "California Gurls" from 2010.
Britney Spears: "Hold It Against Me" (2011)
Bonnie McKee (lyricist): “Britney Spears is always sexy. It was mostly about how many sexual allusions I would manage to come up with. ”
Katy Perry featuring Kanye West: "ET" (2011)
The song was actually written for a group.
Katy Perry: “I wrote this song with Max Martin and Dr. Luke. When the producer Ammo, who they co-wrote with, was there, they played different beats and samples for me. They accidentally played a beat that was for Three Six Mafia. I always wanted to write a futuristic, alien-oriented song and when they played that I said 'Wait, this suits me. I know it's a bit far-fetched but I think I have the perfect material for this. ' So I did it and the result was perfect. ”
Katy Perry: "Last Friday Night (TGIF)" (2011)
Most of the song happened to Perry and her friends in real life.
Katy Perry: “We drank a few beers and danced until we fell. Then we continued the party in the hotel room. Most of the song is true, except for the triangle - unfortunately! But it is true that we streaked in the park so we felt we had to write a song about it the next day. ”
Adele.
Photo: PAUL BUCK / EPA / TT
Taylor Swift: "I Knew You Were Trouble" (2012)
Taylor Swift: "I had just been through something that made me write this song, knowing the second you see someone that this is going to be interesting and dangerous, but you do it anyway. It was the first time I noticed that I had it in me, to be curious about something I know can be bad for me, but I do it anyway because I will regret even more if I do not see where it leads. I want to test boundaries with this record and rewrite things I have not written about before. ”
Katy Perry: “Part of Me” (2012)
Katy Perry: "I always knew that Part of Me was a special song, one of those songs that feels like it's about my life. It feels like I'm in some kind of weird Truman Show where I'm wondering, 'why is this single appropriate now that it had not been before? It's so crazy. ”
Adele: "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" (2012)
After being impressed by the song "I Knew You Were Trouble", Adele wanted to know who Taylor Swift had worked with.
Adele: “I got the answer, Max Martin. I was unaware that I knew who Max Martin was. I googled him, and it was like he literally wrote the soundtrack to my life. ”
The Adele single "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" from 2012.
Taylor Swift: "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" (2012)
Taylor Swift: “My friend started talking about how he had heard that my ex and I were getting back together, and that was not true. 'So what's the story about that?', Max and Johan asked (Schuster, "Shellback"). I started telling about how we broke up, got together again, broke up again, got together again, the worst. "This is the song we write," says Max. I picked up the guitar and just started singing 'we are never'. It happened so fast. It was very fun."
Maroon 5: “One More Night” (2012)
Adam Levine (singer in the band): “There is nothing but music in the room when you work with Max. No politics, no money, Max just loves to make music. ”
Max Martin: “A good pop song should feel when you hear it. You can hear songs that are technically very good, songs that dot all the boxes. But if a song is to be felt, it is about something else. That you remember a song after the first or second time you hear it, it is incredibly important to me. That something grabs you, makes you feel 'Oh, I have to hear it again'. That is the fundamental thing. Something you want again. And again."
Taylor Swift.
Photo: SHUTTERSTOCK / REX TT NEWS AGENCY
Katy Perry: "Roar" (2013)
Katy Perry: “I wrote it because I was tired of keeping all the emotions inside me and never standing up for myself, which had caused a lot of resentment. I've been through a lot of therapy since the last record and that's what it's about.
Max Martin: “When popular culture can influence in some way, when a song becomes more than a song, that's the biggest thing for me. I saw the video where the staff at a children's hospital sing Roar, it became a reminder to me. I have an ability to constantly diminish what I do. I think it has to do with keeping the ego in check. I think, 'What the hell are we really doing these days, there are others who work with gender equality, Syria, cancer'. But then something like that happens, when a song finds itself outside the studio and means something to people. It's not every time I get proud of a song, but Roar is one. ”
Katy Perry: "Dark Horse" (2013)
Katy Perry: “Max always listens to what the artist wants to do. He never tries to force anything on the artist. At the same time, he is very prepared. He also has a great team around him, a team that he has created himself, people who know him very well. Everyone is young and has good ears. They know what applies. They are the ones who create the new that is coming. ”
Ariana Grande: “Problem” (2014)
Ariana Grande: "It's about the feeling of being completely terrified to give a relationship a second chance even though it no longer works, but there is nothing you would rather."
Taylor Swift single "Shake It Off" from 2014.
Taylor Swift: "Shake It Off" (2014)
Max Martin:“If you have a verse that contains a lot of rhythm, then you want something on top that does not have it, a little longer notes. Something that may not start at the same pace. When I say this, I'm afraid it sounds like I've figured out a concept… That's not the case. The most important thing is always how it feels. But the theories are good to use when you get stuck. 'We are not coming up with anything, what can we do?' Then you take it in as a tool. If you listen to Shake It Off with Taylor Swift ... (humming the verse melody). After that part, a little longer tones are needed to be able to cope, otherwise there will be too much information. Is this understandable at all? Sweet and salty is perhaps a more comprehensible description. A balance is needed all the time. Is it jealous in the verse, a little less jealous then ... It must vary.
Taylor Swift: "Blank Space" (2014)
Swift has said that the song is about how her love life is portrayed in the media.
Taylor Swift: "Boys only want love if it's pure torture and constant hunting, while men want love if it's genuine, right and healthy."
She has also said that a certain artist influenced how she wrote the lyrics.
Taylor Swift: "Blank Space is a song that only consists of oneliners, one by one, something I definitely learned by listening to Fall Out Boy."
Ariana Grande.
Photo: EVAN AGOSTINI / AP TT NEWS AGENCY
Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar: "Bad Blood" (2015)
The song is about Swift's quarrel with another female artist. It has been speculated that this is Katy Perry.
Taylor Swift: "She did something terrible. It was like. 'we are really enemies'. And it was not even about a guy! She tried to sabotage my entire tour by trying to snatch several of my staff. I do not like confrontations, you have no idea how much I hate conflicts, so now I have to avoid her. It's difficult and I do not like it. "
Ellie Goulding: "Love Me Like You Do" (2015)
The song was made into the soundtrack for the movie "Fifty Shades of Gray".
Ellie Goulding: “I did not really want to get involved because I had already done a lot of soundtracks and we thought we had done a little too much of it. So we should just take it easy and write the next album instead. But I met the director and everyone else who was involved and thought 'this is pretty cool'. Then I heard the song and thought 'wow, this is a canon song'. I thought it would go well, but not that it would be this big. ”
The Weeknd: "Can't Feel My Face" (2015)
Max Martin: “Some artists just sing. But in recent years we have worked a lot with artists who are very involved. Then it can be more about producing an artist's songwriting. They have an idea, I'm listening. 'Ok, that's good, remove that, repeat it, now we have something'. It is seldom the case that we sit by the campfire and create together. Sometimes my role as a songwriter can be very small. But hopefully I have then perhaps contributed with decisive stuff purely dramaturgically. Like when I worked with The Weeknd. He is an artist with very clear ideas of his own. It makes my job easier. ”
Justin Timberlake singles "Can't Stop the Feeling!" from 2016.
Justin Timberlake: "Can't Stop the Feeling!" (2016)
The song is on the soundtrack to the movie "Trolls".
Justin Timberlake: “The film feels like one big, well-crafted disco experience, but we did not have a disco song. 'September' was included, but we thought this was a great chance to make a modern disco song. I think disco is an underrated genre. ”
Selena Gomez: “Hands to Myself” (2016)
Gomez was working on a song draft when the producers gave her advice.
Selena Gomez: "They asked, 'is it okay if we send this to Max Martin?' I had never worked with Max before so I said, 'Maybe so.' I did not know what it would be like. He heard on FaceTime right away and said, 'This is the best thing I're heard all year, I need to be involved and do this.' I replied, 'Yes, do it!'
Martin made several changes to the song.
Selena Gomez: "I think it was super fresh, and different for him too."
Lady Gaga.
Photo: JORDAN STRAUSS / AP TT NEWS AGENCY
Lana Del Rey: "Lust for Life" (2017)
Lana Del Rey traveled to Sweden to get Max Martin's opinion on the song. He thought the first verse was the strongest of the song and advised her to make it a chorus instead. She thought the result sounded "perfect" and collaborated with The Weeknd who sang the chorus.
Lana Del Rey: “It was a lot of fun! I wanted him to add some heat and energy to the record. ”
Ariana Grande: "No Tears Left to Cry" (2018)
Max Martin: “I think it's a bit anxious with interviews. In addition, it takes time. I do not gain anything from it, I do not get more jobs if I am in a newspaper. And then there is a fundamental, deep feeling that what I am saying is not so interesting. Why don't you talk to Ariana Grande instead? ”
Ed Sheeran featuring Justin Bieber: "I Don't Care" (2019)
Sheeran originally wanted to record a song with Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber inspired by a song on the soundtrack to the movie "Moulin Rouge" where Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mya and Lil Kim collaborated.
Ed Sheeran: "Do you remember 'Lady Marmalade'? This was a silly idea, but I wanted to do it. I said, 'Then Bruno, B? Ieber and I can make a record together, how fun would that not be?' ”
That particular collaboration never came to an end, but Sheeran instead recorded "I Don't Care" with Bieber.
The Weeknd single "Blinding Lights" from 2019.
The Weeknd: “Blinding Lights” (2019)
According to The Weeknd, the song is about wanting to meet the person you love at any price.
The Weeknd: “You drive to this person and are blinded by the streetlights, but you are so lonely that nothing can stop you from trying to meet this person. I would never advocate drunk driving, but that is the dark subtext. ”
Lady Gaga: "Stupid Love" (2020)
This is the first collaboration between Max Martin and Lady Gaga. Gaga first sang over a melody loop that BloodPop had made. They sent the result over to Max Martin who modified it all and sent the song back to Gaga. Then she finished writing the lyrics.
Lady Gaga: “I warmed up my voice, went into the studio and sang. What you hear on 'Stupid Love' is what we did that day. ”
Max Martin: “Singing is my heart's desire. As a producer, I am also very present when we record song. Some manufacturers have technicians who take care of it while they themselves hang on the sofa. But I am with myself and take care of everything on the computer, I want to know exactly and remember. Singing is very much about psychology. If the artist does not have a good day, think it's boring ... My role will be as a coaching job. To get the best out of the person. To make them perform at the top when it's a match. One way is to get them to go outside their comfort zone. To coach a little, get them to try new things. ”