Little By Little...

Little by little...that's what a friend of mine told me today, and she's right. I had said that I didn't get as much done in the studio, today, as I had wanted to..though, I was pleased with what I did do. It seems, so often, that I go into the studio with the intention of getting "so much" done, but only to realize, hours later, that I only actually got one track down. This comes from not only making lots of mistakes, but trying to figure out the different parts for the song I happen to be working on, on a particular day, and also from being distracted..It seems I often start coming up with new chord progressions, lyrics, and very often ..songs, when I should be recording. The question is, though, how I can I be given something that sounds so good to my ear, and cast it aside, just like that? The answer is, I can't. I lose studio time that way, but I'm always happy to have a new song to work on! So, little by little seems to cover it... it'll get done in due time. However, with each track, I am one step closer to a finished product..and with each track I am happy with what I hear being created. I don't like to rush, or settle for something that I think could be much better..though, with every song and every track, I have to, at some point say, OK, that will do. Otherwise, I might never finish! So, it's little by little...thanks for the reminder, Mich! Y'all remember, Jesus loves you, and wants to know you! :)

What's Happened To The Song?

For a long time, I've been sort of frustrated and a bit sad over the fact that music is not really music, and a song is not really a song, anymore. Sure, there are a handful of songwriters out there who are actually writing really good, original stuff, but most of them seem to be trying to imitate what they hear on the radio, which in my opinion, is not worth imitating...unless of course, you're listening to XM's Sinatra channel, or some oldies station, playing songs from some of the great writers, such as Jimmy Webb, Paul Williams, or John Farrar, etc.. Writing is an art. It takes some semblance of talent and ability, but it also takes, in my opinion, the state of mind on the writers part, that he/she is going to be him or herself. The writer has to be able to know what he or she likes..what type of music, what type of subject..and the other thing, if they're a songwriter AND singer, what THEY sound like! I get so tired of listening to singer/songwriters who are so obviously trying to sound like someone else. They don't have any idea what THEY Sound like. And what's with the lack of good melodies these days..what's happened?? The Melody is so vitally important to the song..it can change a lyric! A great melody can bring to life an otherwise, mediocre lyric..it can create pictures in the mind, that otherwise, with the lyric alone, would not exist. The melody is such a very powerful part of the song..it can also create a feeling that a lyric cannot do on it's own..it can take you to a time or place. A great melody will bring life to a song! However, the Melody is not the only important part..the lyric, the phrasing, the feel, etc..are all important and work together to create a well rounded, and excellent song. Is it more important to write a song that may make money, or to write a great song?? I say it's more important to write a great song..if you're truly about the art of songwriting!! I am blessed to have grown up with fantastic music, and the writers who brought it to me..and I am blessed to know and be friends with some the best writers in the country. No, you probably have never heard of any of them, and that is sad, because most of the greatest writers will never "make it". What does that say about the music industry these days? They want cookie cutter, and I for one, and many other writers will not do cookie cutter. We appreciate what it takes to write a good song! Keep writing, y'all.. and remember, Jesus loves you, and wants to know you! Have a super day!