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So, What's The Story?


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Hi everyone.

This blog is in answer to a challenge issued by our gracious most eminent Songstuffer, John Moxey.

You see, I've joined a member group http://forums.songstuff.com/groups/1-songstuff-music-promo-workgroup/ all about promoting our music. And John's first challenge? Start a blog.

Well, I already have a blog, http://forums.songstuff.com/blog/181-kelisms/. Kelisms is a bit of fun. A light hearted look at how I see the makings of a song. It is full of convoluted ramblings, irreverent examples and, well, Kelisms... (that term is fully explained in the first entry. But where Kelisms is fun about the work, this blog, I hope, shall be about the work involved in the fun. Totally different, right?

I have posted a fair number of my lyrics in the Lyric critique section, and so far, only one song into the Song critique section, and yet another into the May Song Contest. I guess that makes two songs in all, and maybe a half dozen lyrics. As this blog is to be part of my education into self promotion, I'm going to use it to enthrall you, educate you, and encourage you to spend whatever hard earned dollars you have to make sure I get as many 9 1/2 cents as possible. (None of my songs are for sale at the moment... see why I need help with marketing!) In order to enthrall, educate and encourage you to spend your money on my songs I plan on telling the story behind the song.

I am not a cathartic writer. I don't write to get something off my chest. I'm a story teller. (If I say it enough, you'll believe me, you just watch!) And as I'm a story teller (that's twice, now!) my ideas come from somewhere. However they may not all come from the same place. They can come from anywhere. As you will see...

Your Anything is Everything has just been named the winning entry in the May Song Contest here on Songstuff. Why not start there?

Way back in the distant past, the internet was new and cool, hip and happening. Not much different from today I guess. I was surfing one day and somehow, I found this product called Noteworthy Composer. I think it was shareware... back in the day the "contribution was around $5 for basic programs to maybe $20 for something really elaborate. I think NC was in the $5 category. I set it to download... by dial up... we'll come back when it's finished...

In 1999 I moved from Sydney to Brisbane (around 600 miles) and took only what I could fit into my Mitsubishi Colt. (Small hatchback...) I arrived in Brisbane with no musical instruments to my name. I had recently sold my piano, my ex-wife had "accidentally" broken my guitar... I was without music! Can you imagine the potential fun I saw in Noteworthy Composer? Download finished? Yep, okay... install.... Woohoo there it is! In all it's glory, Noteworthy Composer. For those who have never marvelled at NC, it had a sky blue screen with a keyboard down the bottom of the screen. I would click on a key, select a time value and whalah! Music! Sort of... it produced a MIDI sound. Like a parrot being strangled by fencing wire...

One day I was tinkering around and I played a real simple melody, (Nothing new there, most of my melodies are simple!) It simply started at F and played every white key down to middle C 3 times. When I figured out how to produce a fuller sound by playing a chord triad in the bass section, I was making melody, with accompaniment. How grand! Anyway, I played around with different chords until I found a sequence that sorta sounded okay.

As time went by I added further to this simple motif, and eventually I had a verse, and this motif would finish it... Somewhere along the track some lyrics came to me...

Maybe it's not everything

Like how it's meant to be

But you should know that

Anything means

Everything to me.

Okay a little whiney, maybe a little romantic... but definitely inappropriate. You see, at that time I had just begun a relationship with the woman who I would marry and share the next 14 years. Not a good song to be singing in a new relationship. I shelved it. For guess how long? Yep, 14 years! When we separated I dug this gem out and went to town... the original first verse went:

Baby, it's not knowing,

That's close to killing me.

You don't seem to realise,

What you mean to me.

Maybe it's not everything

Like how it's meant to be

But you should know that

Anything means

Everything to me.

I won't bore your with the second and third verses. But I was wrapped. I sent my finished masterpiece off to Jason Blume for a critique. What I received back was a wonderful critique, full of detail, suggestion and specific areas in which it sucked.

The main thing that came of it, was that instead of being 3 verses of the above structure with a bridge between the second and third (AABA) it developed into a ABABCB pouring out of the heart about how this girl was so not seeing how much I loved her. Is she blind? No, she was seeing somebody else!

My lyrics weren't focused, they hovered around issues without touching them, asked questions that never got answered and generally, well, sucked.

In a moment of brilliance I completely changed the tone of the song, from whining about this girl being blind to my love to me whining that I couldn't get any reassurance from this girl that she was into me. Yes, I know, more whining!

Then I found Songstuff.

When I thought I was ready to record a demo I posted to the Lyric Critique forum, and rewrote it I think 4 times to get it where it is now.

If I ever make any money from this song (yeah, right!) I'll owe a lot of it to Songstuffers who helped me along the path of lyrical enlightenment. I still walk this path by the way, I am under no allusions my lyrics are gold. Just better than they were. And that brings us full circle.

In the true spirit of marketing, any of you who supply me your email address (by PM) I'll send an MP3 file of this song free, and you can get the latest news and information about all things Kel, and you'll have sneak previews of songs in progress, and your opportunity to comment on them, and perhaps make them even betterer! (Remember, PM me unless your email is in your signature block, and then make sure to offer to join my Inner Circle. I don't want to pester anyone by sending unsolicited email... I hate Spam too!)

Here for your listening and reading pleasure is the song you helped me create, Songstuff.

http://soundcloud.com/kelabbmusic/your-anything-is-everything

Your Anything Is Everything

Written by Kel Abbott (APRA)

[VERSE]

I've never said I love you

Simply haven't had the nerve

If that has caused uncertainty

That's not what you deserve

I see now you're unsure

You're giving me, all I need

[CHORUS]

It could be the dress you wear

The way you fix your pretty hair

It might your gentle sighs

Or watching the sun rise

Don't you know

your anything

is ev'erything to me.

[VERSE]

I really should have told you

What I nev-er meant to hide

How you make me tremble

How you shake me up, inside.

You could lead me anywhere

I'll be right by your side...

[CHORUS]

It could be the dress you wear

The way you fix your pretty hair

It might your gentle sighs

Or watching the sun rise

Don't you know

your anything

is ev'erything to me.

[bRIDGE]

You been burned and you've been hurt be-fore,

And I know you know what heart-break is.

I will be here when the morn-ing comes

And together we will hold back all your fears, and

[CHORUS]

It could be the dress you wear

The way you fix your pretty hair

It might your gentle sighs

Or watching the sun rise

Don't you know

your anything

is ev'e-ry-thing to me.

[OUTRO]

Let me say your anything, is

Ev'rything, to me.

Till next time, signing off,

Kel

1 Comment


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All Hail Kel!!! that was awesome! you sure now how to tell a story. I was thinking of joining the fun but have so little time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!

chat soon!

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