Kel

Welcome Marilyn, I look forward to your contributions... Cheers, Kel

Hi Tom, just chiming in because Stephen's inquiry is on my agenda too. Love the song! Gotta unpack Movie Maker... geesh I hate learning new software! Cheers, Kel

You now officially a Songstuffer! You're in the hip, happening, "in" crowd, liffle lady. Groove on... Kel

Hi John, I never lacked an appreciation of what you do. My domain is www.kelabbmusic.com hosted by Network Solutions. https://www.networksolutions.com/purchase-it/order-receipt.jsp?oid=493118285&SiteId=46067236 I have started using their onsite web builder, but it doesn't seem to have what I want available,it might, I don't know. I have also tried other host sites such as wix (I like their web builder better, but not their hosting plan). There are a couple of others I've tried using their online web builing tool too. This week I have downloaded kompozer, nvu, bluevoda, coffee cup html builder, xara web b puvlisher, WYSIWYG Web builder 8, Net Fusion Objects Essentials, Dynamic HTML Editor, Lauyan TOWeb V4 and probably others I can't remember. Admitedly, any of these may be able to help me if I devote a month to figuring it out (I used coffee cup in my past, but then in association with a WYSIWYG editor as well that I can't remember the name of it was great. You could see how your pages linked on one screen. I used to run an internet football league so I had pages cascading from some but not others etc as the information flow dictated. Can't for the life of my remember what it was called. Anyway, I haven't gone to wordpress because I already have the domain, and I know I can get wordpress onto my site, and that is how I wanted to do it. I just don't know how. My needs are few at this stage: A little about me, my sparky little catchphrase, an invitation to join a mailing list (and said list management, once again, down the track...), a blog, a newsletter a sample of my song, and a giveaway backing track inviting people to make their own recording (just another way to get email address for a mailing list), links to Songstuff, my SonicBids,, Reverbnation,Twitter and maybe others one day (CD Baby or iTunes if I arrange a commercial release, but that is future) I haven't written out my detailed plan yet, but it includes establishing my name through fans of music like I write, and as fans link me, who have also linked other artists, etc, my name will be seen. Here and there there may be a link to a song or two that an artist somewhere may listen to and think, hey that's alright. I wonder what else he has? I'm not counting on this happening, but it won't if I don't create the possibility. As I said, probably one or two pages is all I need. I might like a 3rd where I can put video links to local acts with youtube vids, so I am seen to be participating and not just sucking from the local scene as well. I would want it easy to change the videos weekly. I envisage one large and two small screens on this page, and the viewing takes place on my page, the viewer doesn't get sent away to another site. So, a site with links to my other pages (at this stage, Songstuff, SonicBids and Reverbnation), a link to a track from my soundcloud account, a blog, a newsletter, a call to action for subscription with a promise of something for nothing (like an mp3 backing track or even a song demo deemed not worth pitching agressively), twitter feed, facebook. I've gone round in circles again, haven't I?. Cheers, Kel

All aboard, the more the merrier. And don't worry about chASed's snake, THOSE ones aren't venomous. You won't see the venomous ones!

I've done it again! Sorry! Latest (#3) installment out now! What to say, and how not to say it! Enjoy, Kel

What to say, and how not to say it! Okay, that’s a really messed up bunch of words, isn’t it? What the hell is he saying? Am I reading your mind correctly? What I want to talk about is how I put out a message, without using the “expected†words for that message. It’s up to you to judge whether I am successful or not, I can only go by feedback I receive to ascertain if my audience has “got it†or if I missed the boat. Let me first start with some examples. Try this quick quiz: Name the song: 1. I say, that’s a dang-awful, mean looking moon coming up over them thar mountains… 2. An acrid grey cloud hovered just above the lake… 3. The interlocked metal ringlets… 4. The female humans residing anywhere from San Francisco to San Diego… =================================================================================== Did you say: 1. Bad Moon Rising? (Creedence Clearwater Revival) 2. Smoke On The Water? (Deep Purple) 3. The Chain? (Fleetwood Mac) 4. California Girls (The Beach Boys) You might very well say I’ve merely drawn from various song titles and built a sentence to replace them. You’re right, I did just that! (Back off, chASed!) However this is at the very heart of what I am talking about. While I am sure Brian Wilson wasn’t thinking about the girls who live north of San Francisco when he wrote his Beach Boys classic, only he knows how long it took him to think up the phrase “California girlsâ€. And the same could be said with the various writers of the other songs mentioned, and myriads of songs already written. The principle of saying something by not saying anything is not a new one. It’s been done for years. How many movies have you seen where while the victim lies dead on the ground, the hero prevents the heroine from looking at the mutilated corpse of her father or who-ever. And like her, we never see it either. Just by the hero telling us not to look at it, we understand it ain’t pretty. We don’t have to see it to understand it. Ernest Hemmingway was a master at this style of writing, and there have been many others. Keith Whitely even sand a song about it. (Before Ronan Keating did, kids!) So how do we do this in song? I'm glad you asked. I write down what I want to say, then I take all the words out. What have I got left? DON'T throw anything at the screen! Just think about it for a sec. I've got a message, I've got words, and I have writing. Take away the words and I still have the message! All I have done at this point, it taken away the obvious route to my destination. Now it's time to hit the back roads. As anyone who owns an off-road vehicle will tell you, this is where the fun starts! It will take some practice. Have you even driven along a mountain road without applying the brake? That's right, using the gears to speed yourself up, and to slow yourself down. You need to do the same thing with your writing. Sorry, no easy way, you need to practice. But at least it isn't scales! One way you can do this, and I do this all the time, is to start talking differently. Yep, talking differently. And I don't mean you guys from Maine to talk like a Texan, or vice versa. A slight adjustment in your everyday speech could pay dividends in your royalties. You can start with one phrase, or sentence if you like, ease yourself into it. Lets start with something we all do, yet some are too timid to mention: "I'm off to the loo!" "Goin' to th' head!" "Off to play king!" "Shake hands with the unemployed!" Four different ways to put across one message, and I bet you all know what the message was! It's as easy as that. Ladies, you talk about "...making a brew," "...joining the jigglers,", "...partaking of a beverage" or even "...blending animal with vegetable" (but only if you drink your tea with milk! Think the message, then step sideways, and maybe even step past, and look over your shoulder. Don't let words come between you and an interesting way of saying something. I heard a song called "The Truckies Wife" by John WIlliamson (a legend in Australia: ) on the radio the other day, he sang of a woman with "...years of pain running down her cheek". (That may not be the exact line, but isn't it terrific!). Now when you have something to say, allow yourself the freedom of taking the words away. That's it for this week. Thanks for coming on the ride. And don't forget to vote for the next installment of Kelisms! Cheers, Kel NB: EMI has blocked that video in Australia guys... sorry Aussies, can't watch it unless you're OS!

I've given up! I've spent hours and hours and bloody hours this last week trying to get a web site up but I've nothing to show for it. I've tried all sorts of html editors, WYSIWYG editors, online and offline editors. And I'm sick and tired of being able to do some things with this one, but needing to do this thing with another one, and something else with yet another. I already have a domain but there's nothing there yet.. HELP Don't bother telling me how easy it is, I don't want to know. I have certain things I want to do, and I just can't do them. Even a one pager that does all I want will be great. If you can help me out, let me know and we'll talk about it off thread. Thanks Kel www.kelabbmusic.com but don't go there it isn't active!

You should listen to the son Hi Jeanie, glad to have you along for the ride, and I'll get that White Russian at the music club meet on Sunday! Have you ever heard Junior Brown's "My Wife Thinks You're Dead!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRMNeoaosQw Enjoy, Kel

This is advice is the best I've heard all day. Kel

Sage, I agree, that is the difficulty of conversing with the written word, rather that the spoken. Lets all hold hands and sing Kumbaya together and move on to more pressing matters, like making music! Rock it hard, rock it soft, rock it gentle, rock it tough, just rock it! Oh dear, I think I just started a new song... Kel

Just for the record, the statement "US is always different, they're Americans after all" can be considered a "Kelism" and the full definition of that can be found: http://forums.songstuff.com/blog/181/entry-1365-welcome-or-what-have-i-got-myself-in-for/ Don't miss the line that says: "As Tom above says, you need to register in US copyright office for it to be recognised there..." Key word guys: "recognised"! In no way was I advising not to register with the US Copyright office. I will be doing so. I even have my w8-ben form ready to send off to your IRS which I need processed before I can apply for membership of ASCAP... I write Country, so naturally I'll register my work with the US copyright office because that is where MY largest market it, despite where I live. Ease up! Sheesh! Kel the Yankiphile or Ameriphile... whatever!

In Australia, and in most countries, US is always different, they're Americans after all... your copyright exists from the minute you either print (put to paper) or record (any recording media) your work - I mean the lyrics, melody and chords. However, proving that claim in court may be difficult. Personally, I'm waiting till I but a printer soon, then I'll print the lead sheet (required) and a copy to CD. The date stamps are good as proof. When recorded by an artist, or scored by an arranger, they take out a copyright on what they have done, separate to the writer's copyright. Or so I've read. As Tom above says, you need to register in US copyright office for it to be recognised there, but you can register up to14 songs for the same price of US$35 I think. It was albumcentric once long ago I guess and it's never changed. However, check out the site, that's where I got the information, but who knows what they've changed since last month! LOL I believe you need to send a copy to the US Library of Congress, but there are organisations who will do it. I believe most publishers do it as part of their service to you. Of course the hard part is getting signed by a publisher! Luckily for most, copyright law suits are rare, just as Men At Work and that one hit wonder guy who did Ghostbusters Cheers Kel

Hey all, I've only just begun my journey, and this is a major learning curve for me. Where do I promote my music? Promote isn't really the right word, I've been concentrating on writing, not promoting... gotta have the songs first, right? Soundcloud - this is a sounding board for me. I'm trying to gain exposure. I am in several "groups" and usually rotate my songs through them to try and find different audiences. I also use Soundcloud as a launching platform because so many other sites import from it - MusicXray - one of those online A&R places. I've been using it in the past to put my tunes out, and to receive critiques/reviews. I haven't posted any real produced demos yet, but this looks viable for my budget. SonicBids - like Reverbnation and Bandcamp... not really promoting yet. Still setting up. How do I promote my music? I'm not so much promoting, more like conducting market research. As a non-performing songwriter I ask my (slowly expanding) circle of supporters to have a listen and answer a few questions about the song I'm "exposing" which does not include if they like it. Even among my supporters, response is low, so I am relying on my friends and colleagues here a little too much I'm guessing. Promotion Budget? I answered $0 in the poll, but as mentioned, I'm not so much promoting as paying for critiques and "opportunities" through Music Xray. That is spasmodic, however I do put a little aside into a separate account for "songwriting expenses" each month ($50). I often use that for pizza. That's a valid songwriting expense, isn't it? Going to see Ariel Hyatt tomorrow, I just love increasing my feeling of inadequacy! Cheers, Kel

Hey guys, I just returned home from the seminar and it was a blast. While a lot of the content wasn't new to me, hearing it live drives home a powerful message. His insights and anecdotes were worth the admission alone! The "presentation" part of the event lasted around 90 minutes and was full on! He made a statement, and backed it up with examples and stats. The second half of the event was an opportunity for a random number of participants to receive a song critique. The random sample was 100%. Outstanding! He kept saying he'd be our worst enemy, but in truth, his focus, his perception and his advice made him our best friend. Your's truly received a warm critique from a song I have presented here, and the rewrite starts tonight! But as Ralph says, "...hits aren't written, they're re-written!" The casual drinks afterwards were a great way to network too. Get your tickets! He signed a copy of his book for me, and I gots me a hug! Bromance! Cheers, Kel (I am not affiliated with this event organisers.)

Hot off the press!!! The latest issue of Kelisms is now available! Enjoy! http://forums.songstuff.com/blog/181-kelisms/

Syllables. We know all about them. They are in every word we speak, think, say, sing or write. Yet why is this fundamental building block of language completely overlooked when we are overcome by our creative urges? I'm no Freud (but yes, it IS my mother's fault!) and I'm far from anything anyone in any way may consider intellectual, but I think it's a choice we make! Choice! Not just a word the Kiwis have adopted as their own! You've heard about the case currently before the International Copyright Organisation, (a sort of parent figure to all national Copyright offices from every nation) that whenever anyone not from New Zealand uses the word "choice" in a sentence in public, a royalty must be collected by the appropriate Performing Rights Organisation and paid to the New Zealand Department of Culture and Heritage, haven't you? I'm the first to advise anyone not to bother editing while the Muse is sitting on your shoulder and whispering her/his sweet words into your ear. Go with it, run free like the buffalo... sorry I digress! The Muse must not be interrupted. But when she's finished and gone for a cup of tea and a lay down, then it's time to revise. Just look at our beautiful lyrics! I'm brilliant! I'm clever, and oh, I'm gonna be rich! Nup! Not gonna happen, well not that easily anyway. Sure we hear about inspiration hitting songwriters in the most awkward of places. Willie Nelson and his furious scribblings of "On The Road Again" on a napkin while flying the friendly skies. Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore and the other Deep Purplers scratching away at "Black Night" in a 15 minute download at a restaurant. Athol Guy writing "Georgie Girl" on the back of a coaster at a pub, or the Troggs drunken recording session that blessed the world with "Wild Thing"! One day I'll tell the story behind Forever And A Day! True these are wonderful stories. But don't for one moment think they're the whole story. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't there, but remembering the mystique we love to entwine around ourselves, as creators of songs, stories and insights beyond the comprehension of most music consumers, let's not let the truth get in the way of a good story. Even if these songwriters never changed a word from what they first scribbled down, I'll bet my left one they still revised what they had come up with while the Muse was delivering. And here lies the true subject of this entry. Revision. Not just because we love reading our "pearls of wisdom!" but because we need to get them right! I'm a bit of a structure Nazi. In fact I get requests from other Songstuffers particularly asking me to critique their lyrics. And I'm tough on the rules (well, not so much rules, as a set of guidelines, really!) of successful songwriting. Remember I don't profess to being a "successful songwriter" but I try to pay attention to successful traits. Why, because I want to be a successful songwriter, so I look for whatever is common to successful songs. I'm not going to get into an argument about how success is defined. Well at least not without alcohol being involved. For the sake of needing a yardstick of some sort, I look toward the common elements of songs that reach #1 in the charts. I don't care what charts, Country, Pop, Soul, Nursery Rhyme, Pie, Bar... anything. From what I have seen they all have several things in common. And fundamental to this is Structure, in my belief. (Note the capital, that means it's important!) Lets look at Structure for a sec. Or rather, lets look at what it is not... it is not whether you use two verses, two choruses, a bridge and another chorus, or verse, verse, bridge, verse. That is Form. There are already great articles on Form here at Songstuff. I don't believe in re-inventing a wheel, as I've said before.(Though I think a square one would be great, imagine the control going down a steep hill!) Structure is about the construction of each of the elements of form. The way a verse is put together. The way a chorus is presented. Line by line. That is what I mean by Structure. Here are the rules (okay, okay, more a set of guidelines, really!) that I try to stick to: 1. All verses have the same number of lines, 2. All verses use the same melody, 3. Each line within a verse has the same syllable count as the same line in all other verses. Verse 1 Line 1 :10 syllables Line 2: 8 syllables Line 3: 12 syllables Line 4: 7 syllables Line 5: 9 syllables Line 6: 5 syllables Verse 2 Line 1 :10 syllables Line 2: 8 syllables Line 3: 12 syllables Line 4: 7 syllables Line 5: 9 syllables Line 6: 5 syllables Verse 3 Line 1 :10 syllables Line 2: 8 syllables Line 3: 12 syllables Line 4: 7 syllables Line 5: 9 syllables Line 6: 5 syllables I bet you're glad I'm not Bob Dylan! Before you go charging off and count all your syllables, there is another aspect that is just as important. And that is accent. I'm not talk about the Proclaimers singing The Devil Went Down to Georgia type of accent, I mean making sure the syllables align with conversational speech patterns. I gave an example somewhere using "The rain in Spain." In normal conversational speech, the accents (in bold) may be: The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain. Say that a few times, out load. You can pretend you're rehearsing for Eliza Doolittle if you like... Now say it like: The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain. Sounds a bit odd, right? Sure does. Unless where you come from that is how everybody says it, it will sound odd. So why sing it odd? By paying attention to accents, we keep the lyrics conversational and easy to understand. Rarely do successful songs pronounce a word in a way we wouldn't expect. Remember, not everyone will be sitting in a booth with headphones on listening intently to every lyric. Rarely do successful songs pronounce a word in a way we wouldn't expect. Say that out loud: Rarely do successful songs pronounce a word in a way we wouldn't expect. Lesson over. In summary... 1 Try to keep the shape of your verses consistent with other verses... we do that by keeping out syllable count similar in corresponding lines of all verses. 2. Try to have words pronounced how we would say them in everyday speech. Test the accents by speaking the lyrics out loud. 3. When you are as famous as Bob Dylan, you can do whatever the hell you want! Now, the part you're all waiting for... the next installment. Don't forget to vote in the poll at the top of the page. YOU determine what comes next! Early leader is "Where did THAT idea come from?" Cheers, Kel Resources: Pat Patisson from somewhere on the net!

Cheers Joe, the next installment is underway...

H Korrieanne, I checked out your your site and what a voice you have! I particularly like how you sing a variety of styles and genres but they all sound like you! Fabulous. I think the true question Korrieanne, is who would you like to work with? Check out my Soundcloud page (link below) for tracks still in MIDI form, awaiting a demo to be made, or a vocalist like yourself to come along. In particular, I think Your Anything is Everything is worth considering. The session singer didn't sing it exactly how I wrote it... but fairly close. Of the works in progress, I'd recommend I'm Moving On and Better Left Unsaid, but the choice is yours. I have other projects I'm working on not ready to go up yet. If you like what I do, I'd love the chance to work with you. Best of luck in the career you have ahead of you. I'd love to be a part of it. Cheers, Kel

Now you come to mention it, apart from The Wiggles' children's songs like Mashed Potato, and Fruit Salad, I can't think of any. Even Strawberry Wine wasn't really about strawberries! K

Rudi, It's all about sharing... and tell me, what is it about cucumbers? Kel

G'day. A few of us Down Under refer ourselves collectively as Songstuffers. And now you am one! Kel

G'day! Kel

That's That? Who's That? THat's That! Where's That? There's That! He's That? Yep, That's That! Sorry, it just had to come out. Welcome and all That! DOh! Kel