3 posts tagged “songwriting”
Have I talked about Randy Newman? Yes, no, maybe? Well, if not, it's time, my friends (four commas in one sentence?!). (And then four punctuation marks?!) (Edit: Um, aka 3 commas. I'm a freakin' music major, shut up.)
I love Randy Newman. Not like. Love. I would tell Randy Newman I am in love with him, it's that serious. I realize lots of people enjoy making fun o' the Newman--yes, yes, I understand, he has a silly voice--but his songs! His orchestration! His amazing talent!
Now here's why I suck: I honestly only have one Randy Newman album, and oh dear... it's a "Best Of," which of course makes me a giant poseur. It won't stop me from raving about him! Based on everything I've heard, I think Randy Newman is one of my favorite songwriters of all time. (A brief High Fidelity moment: My Top 3 Songwriters: Ben Folds, Randy Newman, Paul Simon. In no order.) I'm pretty positive I'm one of about maybe 14 people in their early twenties who enjoy Randy Newman, and I think that's a shame. I bring to you two songs I can't stop listening to, "Marie," and one whose premise is just amazing and whose execution is equally so, "Sail Away." (Furthermore, I freaking love the orchestration in the opening of Sail Away; nerd that I am, I plan on breaking it down soon and figuring out how to replicate that sound.)
As has happened before, I napped earlier, still went to bed at a reasonable hour, and woke up remembering one of my own long-forgotten songs. Muscle memory is a miraculous thing; if I can get myself to think about what the song sounded like, then just clear my head and play, I can usually remember most of an old song, if not the entire thing.
Then I found this post under the tag of "songwriting" and thought, "What the hell? I have no memory of that song." After a few minutes I have some tiny memory of writing it, but cannot remember at all what it sounded like. Which is disappointing, as it was the only song I ever wrote on piano and liked.
Of course, all this thinking of old songs has me remembering songs--but not how to play them. They're not clear enough in my head for me to even try. Someday I'll be smart enough to actually WRITE THINGS DOWN. Preferably in a system of notation that will still make sense to me five years later.
Bla-diddy-bla.
Aaaah!!! <--sigh of relief, as opposed to scream of torment.
Quite frankly there are few things better in life than hearing the beginnings of a song in your head, then sitting down at your instrument and managing to get it out (and better yet, down on paper) in a short amount of time. I think magic just happens on that particular Steinway; it's an inspiring instrument.
Joie is now a happy camper, regardless of whether or not the song is cheese. =)
