Kel

Gary, another pearl of wisdom from the great man. Sometimes the answers we seek are right in front of us and too obvious to see. Now, where is Kel's hook book?

There is an old expression, that nobody whistles a lyric as they walk down the street. However, they do think them, or at least I do. I don't regard myself a performer, or a player of note, so I guess to me the lyrics are more important than the music. If the words suck, I don't bother with the music, but if the music sucks, I don't bother with the words, no matter how good they may be. It's a balance. And I think it always has been. Kel

There was a band down here during the nineties called "The Far Gone Beauties" (say it quickly) and they did a Bluegrass version of absolutely everything. However they were stumped in a challenge on radio once when it was suggested they banjo up "Midnight Oil's US Forces! Kel

yep that's him. He recorded one album, (most songs written my Harry Vanda & George Young (Easybeats) had 2 singles that went to #1 and then slept with a 15yo fan club member and the record company dropped him. Sang at pubs and clubs under his real name for a while and ended up homeless and living in a sports venue's ticket booth. Was found by a rock and roll do gooder and helped out some what but he died an old and lonely man. Rock and roll ain't always glitz and glamour!

I think you may be thinking of Nick Cave, of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. He has made a name for himself. I don't think they are related but the guy I was talking about had fleeting success in the mid 70s and was never heard from again. Kel

As an example, Elvis Presley. He was certainly an A List celebrity in an age before we had A Lists and he was certainly on top of the world and a household name. However his constant battle with prescription medicines and banana fritters brought him to ruin. More recently, Amy Winehouse may be an example of self destructiveness. OJ Simpson - well he may no longer have been a household name but he certainly became one. I recently read of the demise of a guy named John Cave... okay nobody knows that name, but we was almost the lead singer of AC/DC (instead of Bon Scott) and he had a couple of hit records down here in Australia under a stage name until he ... well thereby hangs a story!

yeah, that's it... I always thought it was Siouxsi and the Banshees... I must have been in a fog back then....

Always loved Souxsie & THe Banshee's version of Money (Lennon McCartney) (circa 1978 I think). Sorry, couldn't find a link. Kel

Hi Lloyd, Interesting what you've done here. I'm not familiar with the song, and just haven't had time to participate this week. I'm wondering why you have repeated the verses? Cheers, Kel

I start with a title, or a hook, which is usually the title anyway. I then look to support the hook, firstly the chorus, then the story, then the melody (though I usually hear a melody as I write the lyrics.) Cheers, Kel

I deleted Spotify within days of installing it. I thought it was crap. Still, my own little protest won't have them quaking in their boots, and I'm well aware of that.

I was in a "music store" (where instruments and associated paraphenalia can be found as opposed to a record store (where they don't sell records anymore!)) a few weeks ago when I found it on my way to a hairdresser. I had a good look around, and even bought a few new picks and a tambourine. I have my two guitars already, but still looked! I did see some nice ukes, including a 6 string uke I thought would be interesting to play around with. I don't consider myself a performer, or even a player of any consequence, just enough to get by, but I still enjoy wandering around a store for us creatives. Nice topic, Kel

Nice story. Thanks for sharing. Kel

Mike, I'm going to act like a terribly annoying fourteen year old in a moment, but before I do, I'll let you know where I'm coming from.... I am in my 50s, was in IT when it was DP (it had just dropped the E!) and got out of it when I discovered windows are more than an operating system. I have only hever had about 3 years of music teaching on a formal basis, all playing piano (though I did top Music in senior high school without performing!). I've played (on and off) piano and guitar for over 40 years. I've been writing music (seriously) for around 2 years. I consider myself knowledgeable of theory but don't claim mastery, can (and do) read music and write by placing pencil marks on a manuscript page (old school!)... I ask "Why do I need to know what you wrote about "modes"" Respectfully, Kel

Nup, they invented them!

I often stop and listen to a busker. I often can't stay long, but I turn, look, listen and throw a coin or two in their case. And I get a few minutes worth of peace and pleasantness as a reward. I'm weird though!

Your singing sounds fine to me but it will be hard to take you seriously if you keep that pic. Kel

Your driving experience is American I take it, coming from Tennessee and all, but it equates right on with my experiences on the other side of the world in Australia!

Hi Mike, Welcome to the Group. If you did that, "just now" I'm really looking forward to something you think about for a day or two! Form and structure rules were thrown out the window, but I could hear a melody all the way through, and that's a good sign, in my book. Well done. Kel

Hi Lloyd, Sometimes there is a composition, performance & production aspect to a challenge, but that usually involves collaborating with other members, but there is no such requirement for this challenge. Some do. Most don't. Hope this clarifies, Cheers, Kel

Hi Lloyd, Nice job. Not thrilled with the last line though. If you read your two last lines out loud: My innocence is guilty. The higher power assumes me. While there is only one more syllable in the second verse line, the phrasing, or natural accents are completely different, and that leaves me feeling uncomfortable as a reader/listener. My innocence is guilty. The higher power assumes me. The natural stresses (well for a NSW born Qlder anyway) as indicated in bold are quite different. My suggestion would be to come up with a way to align them, by adjusting either line to match the other. As they are the final lines of the verses, I feel it is very important to set up the lead into the chorus without any disruption to the rhythm and meter of the lyrics. The only other point for consideration is "twixt". Our esteemed mentor speaks often of conversational lyrics. I don't know when if ever I have heard "twixt" in any conversation. I'd be more comfortable with something akin to: At the crossing, where heaven meets hell Purely an example and I'm sure you can put some conversation in there... Cheers, Kel

Hi James, I think the subtitle moves away from the challenge parameters myself, but I'm anti anything remotely religious anyway. I think there is power there, and like it a lot. Would Bobby like it? I think he might. Cheers, Kel

John, please note WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, READ THE DESTRUCTIONS! obviously, all else hasn't failed yet! Kel

Hi Goldy, What I found as I read through this is that I had to keep adjusting rhythm and meter as I could find no consistency. While the syllable counts are close enough, it's where the stresses are that seems to be messing me around. Example V1L1 I'm laying down life's hard load V2L1 Liquor's curse is letting me drown If you read these two lines aloud, (stressed syllables in bold) they sound something like: I'm laying down life's hard load Liquor's curse is letting me drown Our accents may be in different places but can you see how very different the stresses are in each line? I'll break it down word by word, though you can probably see it... Syllables per word: V1 L1: 1 2 1 1 1 1 V2L1: 2 1 1 2 1 1 There is no rule to say use the same syllable word in corresponding lines of each verse. However when it is done, there is consistency in rhythm and meter, usually. The big thing is where the stresses fall, more than the syllables per word, or syllables per line, however controlling theses helps. Won't ride no hills and valleys Mess with enemies or allies. This rhyme doesn't work... you are mixing ees and eyes! Maybe something like Won't ride no hills and valleys No city streets and alleys... I understand your content and see what you are saying though, so just some small adjustments can have it looking (and reading) good in my view. Cheers, Kel