ADVENTURES IN COPYWRiTING:
Nine popster answers to "Hi how are you?"
We’ve all done it to others. Others have all done it to us — the passing by of each other spouting “how are you?” only to keep walking before you/they can spout back the obligatory “okay” (even if you’re not really).
This question is a very important enquiry into a fellow human’s condition. It requires air-time for a fairly considered answer. And that answer can vary from day to day; circumstance to circumstance; mood to mood. An “okay” often doesn’t even scratch the surface of any given human condition further complicated by acquired physical, mental and/or spiritual causes and effects.
Of course, none of us have the time to take five and listen to everybody else extrapolating upon their current state. But a plain “okay” is more often inaccurate than not.
And so, in the spirit of adventures in copywriting, I’ve looked for a creative solution to a time-old problem and come up with an idea — listing a bunch of catchy answers drawn from popular songs of the last twenty years.
Like good copywriting headlines, a good pop song title usually encapsulates the emotion, mood, idea or situation in a few tasty words.
Bonus-wise, if your recipient knows the song, the title will automatically permeate with more meaning as the lyrics come to their mind. Nothing more to be said as you both walk on by.
Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve
Swift’s “great works” are now studied alongside those of Aristotle and Shakespeare at Australia’s top universities. This 2022 song is one of them. The title articulates nicely those “if only” moments when you over-thought it, held your horses way too long and missed out in the end. For Swift devotees, it’s about vulnerability; for the rest of us, it’s three words of regret we can all relate to.
Lovely
If you’re team Billie Eilish, that’s a perfect answer to expressing your irony about a feel-good emotion. If you’re team Pharrell Williams, Happy would be the ideal alternative to get your good vibes across without a doubt or an irony. Maybe throw in a clap to prove your happiness is true.
Unstoppable Today
Sia has a custom-made answer to the energy and passion driving you today. In fact, the second line of the chorus might be more your go with, “I’m a Porsche with no brakes”. Meanwhile, Red Hot Chilli Peppers also has got it cut to measure with Can’t Stop, especially if you’re feeling the white heat of Frusciante’s searing guitar intro.
It’s Complicated
Did you have some kind of falling but you’ve since picked yourself up, dusted yourself down and made up your mind that, you know,” life’s like that”? Avril Lavigne has got your back with a nice little reply that sums up the galaxy of feelings orbiting your inner-sphere.
As It Was
You can’t go past Harry Styles for a title that can mean a million things to a million people yet still sound real to you. For those in this world who know it’s not the same as it was, this title will speak (sing) volumes about your sentiment today. After all, the only constant in life is change itself.
Crazy in Love
Uh oh you’re crazy in love and you don’t care if you’re looking crazy right now. You want the world to know how fabulous it feels. Beyonce con Jayzee are the sure-thing go-to on this one. Full stop!
Young Wild & Free
These three words by unholy trinity Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khatifa & Bruno Mars is a great slogan for any individual (channelling their teen spirit) on the campaign trail for the ‘so what’ party. Alternatively, it makes for crunching irony for wage-slaves stuck with a mortgage or straddling the rental tightrope.
I Got that Summertime Sadness
Melancholy Bliss is Lana Del Rey’s middle name. And when you’re feeling it, this is the answer for all seasons. But what you’re really feeling is electric like “telephone wires sizzling like a snare”. Only the Del Rayists will know just how alive you actually feel today.
Locked Out of Heaven
Maybe you’re struggling with feelings of rejection and abandonment. It could literally be about love lost and you’re naturally heartbroken. Or it’s more of a figurative loss at work or sport or in motivation. Bruno Mars encapsulates it beautifully in these four poetic words.
Hopefully, this first in a new series of adventures in copywriting has given you some tasty little replies to the daily ‘how’re you going?’ But there’s plenty more where these came from. If you have a song title that makes a great walk-on-by reply, please put it in the comments section. There’s bound to be a sequel to this post with your byline in it. Meanwhile, my online copywriting course’s latest timetable is up and running and ready to take your booking now. It’s still the one copywriting course that makes you great at writing for all types of media.