When we first started this blog, we vowed to cover all the American Idol contestants, since they're pretty much uniformly great. We've done a respectable job so far, having featured Chris Daughtry, Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, and that country girl a few weeks back. And this week we're highlighting Elliot Yamin, who, in season five, actually beat out rock god/bologna salesman Daughtry.

Everyone knows that Elliott is a vocalist of extraordinary gifts, and you'll agree after watching the video for "Wait For You," the second single off his debut album.  But how many know that he's also a skilled songwriter? It's true: he signed an always-lucrative songwriting deal with Sony! "What the music business needs is good, soulful music," Yamin has said.  "I give the people what they want."

Indeed he does!  And, this week, Elliott will be giving our readers guidelines on how to write a great song. That's right... he'll actually give you easy-to-follow instructions on how to turn your innermost thoughts into big money music. We like doing this sort of thing for our readers because we're the best blog there is.

So please enjoy, and please check back with Framed every single week for all your music video needs.  We'll continue to cover the Idol phenomenon--if nothing else, we look forward to doing Kellie Pickler, so to speak.

1 - "Elliott Yamin here. Let's talk about my strong suit: writing memorable songs!"

2 - "Great songs come from life's cruel experience. So the best way to write a hit song is to sit in your cold, lonely room and wonder why you've never been happy."

3 - "Quick--start writing! You'll want to capture your loser feelings while they're fresh!"

4 - "Now picture a person of the opposite sex who's unattainable. Or, if you're reading Framed, simply picture a person."

5 - "Despair! Remember, life is unfair and no one really cares about you."

6 - "Start getting headaches from your abject misery. On top of everything else, you probably have a brain tumor."

7 - "There is no God, but pray, if it makes you feel marginally better."

8 - "Shuffle aimlessly on the street, as I'm doing here. Dress as if you were raised in a barn."

9 - "It's important to practice your song. Throw away the laughable pittance you earn by renting studio time."   

10 - "To avoid colds and the flu, wash your hands often. That's not about songwriting, it's just damn good advice." 

11 - "A stroll on the beach at sunset should help you realize how inconsequential you are. The beauty of nature is just a cruel joke to a miserable, short-lived worm like you."

12 - "What about it, readers? Are you ready to start writing prize-winning songs now?!"