#14 Personal Growth - No, It's Not A Tumor!
Entry posted by Kel
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Have you ever stopped to look at where you are, and compare it to where you were? I have, but accidentally. By accidentally, I mean I didn't put myself into the famous "The Thinker" pose, or even sit back and consider life in general. No I was playing some of my own songs, and noticed some rather profound differences between then and now, and it got me thinking...
I have been writing songs on and off for over 40 years. I know, you don't get that for murder! Funnily enough, usually the first thing I play when I sit down to a piano is the very first song I ever wrote. I don't play it correctly, I've changed a few things over that time, and to be honest, I don't play piano enough, and never practice! *naughty boy!
While I think the lyrics were pretty sucky, and very juvenile (I think) the melody stands up quite well after all this time, and so does the technicalities of form, key, progression etc, and I marvel at that. I knew so little then, yet wrote something I am still proud of, despite scrapping my original lyrics. If only I knew then what I know now, how good could this piece have been? My music teacher at school loved it, and said she could hear strings and an extensive orchestral arrangement (which horified me, I was into Deep Purple and Status Quo and not Symphony Orchestras!)
40 years down the line, I've now been calling myself a songwriter for about a year. I joined Songstuff in October 2012, so I thought it about time I reflected on the past year. My apologies if this is somewhat self absorbed, but I think there may be some interest by the end of the article, I hope so anyway.
This morning I was listening to a song I was writing about a year ago, and thought of the original lyrics. The melody was pleasant, but never really produced any dynamic climax, and the lyrics would make even the most hardnosed country singer balk. It was about a domestic abuser finally realising he had gone too far. These days I've learned that no artist would want to paint himself in such a negative light. I've learned that in the last twelve months.
I listened to another song from late last year. That song goes on for over four and a half minutes and it quite plods along, once again without any real dynamics, although the realisation the song is a eulogy doesn't come until the second last line of the third chorus. A few ladies have mentioned tears in their eyes... However, upon Googling the title, it's been done to death, no pun intended. Well alright, I did intend it. But the title is nothing unique. A title needs to stand out. I've learned that in the last twelve months.
I listened to another song from around Christmas time 2012. It told a sad, but often repeated tale of unrequited love. The singer lamented this and despaired about that, but nowhere was there an emotional connection with the listener. There were no details that a listen could identify with. It was full of fact, and devoid of feeling. It didn't engage, I told a story without the most important thing in it... the listener! I've learned that in the last twelve months.
These are just three of the things things I've learned in the last year. I don't know if they are the biggest, the smartest, the hardest lessons I had to learn, but to me they are each significant. However there is yet another lesson I have learned: however good I can write on my own, I can write so much better with others. I have embarked upon a few collaborations lately, mainly through the Weekly Lyric Challenge Group. I am so happy I took up the challenge. I encourage everyone who gets this far down the article to approach somebody regarding a collaboration project. Like me, I'm sure you'll be glad you did. And I've learned that in the last twelve months, too.
Don't forget to check out my other less self-absorbed articles here: http://forums.songstuff.com/blog/181-kelisms/
Till next time,
Kel
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