[Bernie Taupin, Elton John's lyricist, would like to have a word]

Great article! Thanks for posting it.

Now I want to read the book.

 

Donna

[What season inspires you most?]

Hi Alicatt,

 

It's hard to say whether I feel most inspired to write in a particular season, but on a personal level my favourite season is autumn. I was born in October, so maybe that plays a role. 😉 I love the colours and the changes, and the feeling of preparing to go into a kind of hibernation, introspection.  Many of my lyrics are reflective in nature, so perhaps they've emanated from that state of hibernation, so to speak. 

 

Donna

[Please Cast Your Vote For This Track. :)]

Thank you, Tom. And a big thanks to folks here who voted. Apparently the total of votes was a record number.

 

I'm thrilled for Billy, because no one deserves a win more than he does. Not only a consummate composer/arranger/musician, he's also an overall very nice person. We've collaborated on a number of songs over the past 5-6 years.

 

So…Fingers crossed for tomorrow, when the judges select the category winner.

 

Donna

[Please Cast Your Vote For This Track. :)]

Bump!  At the moment, the track's in front. Please help us keep it there.

 

Donna

[Please Cast Your Vote For This Track. :)]

Much appreciated, Danidog. Thank you.

 

Donna

[Please Cast Your Vote For This Track. :)]

Bump!

[Please Cast Your Vote For This Track. :)]

Thanks, Tom.

 

I've just realised that if folks have multiple devices, they can actually cast a vote on each one of them every day. This might up the vote count.

 

Donna

[Please Cast Your Vote For This Track. :)]

Randy and Les, thank you.

 

Donna

[Please Cast Your Vote For This Track. :)]

McNaughton Park, Mike, and Lisa, thank you so much for your support. I appreciate it a lot.

 

I know it's a lot to ask folks to cast a vote each day, but… fantastic when it happens.

 

Interesting that of the five instrumentals, two each are from the same person(s). So it will be an exciting race to the finish.

 

Donna

[Please Cast Your Vote For This Track. :)]

Thanks for the vote, Tom, and for posting the plea on the FB page.

 

I'd love to see 'A Near-Life Experience' get a few more votes. 

 

Must say, it's a real bonus that it's so easy to vote: No need even to register on the site. Just tick the box. 

 

Donna

[Please Cast Your Vote For This Track. :)]

Was thrilled to learn just now that my collaborator Billy Playle and I have two tracks in the Finalists list in the 2014 International SongDoor competition - Instrumentals section. 

I'd be grateful if you'd case a vote EACH DAY for 'A Near-Life Experience' (if you like it, of course. )

The track is now running second. I hope we can pull it into first place and keep it there on the 20th.

http://songdoor.com/uvote-instrument.html

 

UPDATE JAN 13: And if you have multiple devices, you can cast a vote on each one of them every day. This might up the vote count.

The final Winner will be selected by the contest judges, but the winner of the popular votes will get an extra bonus. 

Thanks!

Donna

 

PS: If anyone's interested in hearing the song version, it's here. It was a finalist in an international songwriting competition a couple of years ago.

http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=9991229

[So You Write Song Poems]

In fact, I thought a couple of the songs were kind of neat. For instance, 'Nightime Whispers', and that rocking boogie song.   And all the songs certainly had top-class musicians and singers. As one of the guys said, they had to be on top of their game because it was necessary to work quickly.

 

Donna

[So You Write Song Poems]

This was delightful! Thanks for posting the link.

 

Pity the video was so full of ads, but it was worth watching.

 

Donna

[Dating A Bass Player]

A fun, short article that you might get a kick out of. Especially if you're a bass player.

 

http://www.independe...d-bass-players/

 

Donna

[Sleepin' Wid' A Stranger]

Thank you, David. High praise from you indeed.  

 

Quite right about the whistle. I was simply so amused/charmed by the original slang term, I didn't think through the logic of the situation.

 

I've made the appropriate change.

 

Donna

[Sleepin' Wid' A Stranger]

A bit of background.

 

The devil kind of made me do it.    I was inspired by a forum discussion a couple of years ago about a song that involved risk-related casual sex.

 

The notion of a hood pack leader on a 'Just Say No' campaign sprang to mind.   It was a hoot to write (and to revise).  And thank goodness for urban dictionaries.

 

Anyway, I hope you get a kick out of it (and my sincere apologies to any authentic rappers here   ). 

 

I'm sure the lyric will never marry up with music (though I'd be delighted if it did - I have a distinct beat for it), but if anyone has constructive suggestions to improve the lyric, they'll be very welcome.

 

Donna

 

Sleepin’ Wid’ A Stranger

 

Back off sistas, don’t want yo blistas

I’m cleanin’ my slate, fixin’ to wait

Keepin’ my fun zone sleepin’ in the sun zone

No pickin’ fruit unless I know it’s homegrown

No more howlin’, this wolf ain’t growlin’

[‘Cause] I’m off-duty ain’t cravin’ no booty

Don’ mean to diss ya, but better to miss ya

Now get the word out to the rest a’ the sistas

 

I’m an alpha male but I gotta admit

When I see what’s goin’ down

I ain’t diggin’ that sh*t

Yo, nothin’ but danger, sleepin’ wid’ a stranger

 

Girl, ya bo janglin’ can’t ya see I’m anglin’

To get it on wit’cha but here’s the pict’cha

[Yeah] this here’s rizzle, this is fo’ shizzle

Ya need to be mine before ya blow wet my whistle

 

I’m an alpha male but I gotta admit

When I see what’s goin’ down

I ain’t diggin’ that sh*t

Yo, nothin’ but danger, sleepin’ wid’ a stranger

 

Used to be sexual, now I’m doin’ textual

Gotta feel the love before I put on the glove

[An’] all I expect’s a little self-respect

A little basic intel before we connect

Don’t mind dancin’ to a different beat

Don’t want no hoodrats roun’ my feet

Don’t want ya playin’ no trich on me

Only crabs I like are crawlin’ in the sea

Ain’t linin’ up for no STD

Maybe you a dime but not on my time 

 

I’m an alpha male but I gotta admit

When I see what’s goin’ down

I ain’t diggin’ that sh*t

Yo, nothin’ but danger, sleepin’ wid’ a stranger

 

ain’t on the make

Givin’ the snake a break

[Got] thinkin’ on Goon always hittin’ on poon                           

Bullets hit the target but his piece got ruined

 

I’m an alpha male but I gotta admit

When I see what’s goin’ down

I ain’t diggin’ that sh*t

Yo, nothin’ but danger, sleepin’ wid’ a stranger

 

© 2011-2014 Donna Devine 

[#45 We Didn't Know You Are God]

Hi James.

 

Ramble alert.

 

From what I remember, Easter was originally a pagan tradition (involving the goddess 'Ishtar'/'Astarte'/Eostre', etc.), and its purpose was to celebrate spring, new beginnings, and fertility (hence the rabbit symbol).

 

The tradition was one of several ancient rituals ostensibly adopted to make Christianity more palatable to people still practising the Old Religion, and whom the Church founders wanted to convert.

 

So the notion of bunnies and chocolate eggs might be considered an insult both to the Old Religion (probably also present-day pagans/wiccans) and to Christianity.

 

But on to the lyric.

 

I too stumbled over lines 2 & 4, V1.

 

I understand you wanting to provide a contrast, but I feel the transition needs to be smoother, more logical. To me, the mood, the feel of V1 is quite different from that of V2.

 

Below is a rough example only, just to illustrate what I mean by strengthening the connection between events.

 

When you came to us a baby, we were at a loss

And over time, we turned our hearts to a man called Santa Claus

When you said you were a king, we hung you on a cross

Then turned the Easter message into chocolate eggs and dross

 

But it's just one person's observation, so keep or sweep.

 

Donna

['a Cruel And Shallow Money Trench']

Interesting trailer for an upcoming documentary - 'Unsound' - on the music business in the digital age. 

 

 

Donna

[Superstitious Songwriters]

I don't have 'good luck' items as such, but have a preference for slim, fine-point pens if I do use one. 

 

Twice a year I take part in a songwriting challenge (FAWM in February and 50-90 from July to October), and before I begin I absolutely must have my normally chaotic workspace in impeccable order. It's as if I'm synching my external and internal world in preparation for the - I always hope -onslaught of creativity.

 

During the course of the challenges, the workspace naturally becomes a disaster area, but somehow I can ignore it and forge ahead at the Muse's urgings.

 

I love an elegant ball-point pen, and can spend up to half an hour in a shop trying out and deciding on which one to buy (even if it's only going to cost me a couple of euros). And like John, I enjoy the aesthetics of writing on certain kinds of paper. 

 

I don't have special notebooks, though. Unfortunately, I jot things down on whatever is at hand, and the result is chaos. During the challenges, however, to keep myself sane I create folders on my computer and make a point of putting everything in there.

 

I really do need to print out all of my lyrics and organise them in huge ring-binders.

 

Donna

[Interview With Peter Neubaecker, Creator Of Melodyne]

What a fascinating perspective! As a non-musician, I couldn't grasp all of what he's saying, but some of you here might find this of interest.  He's functioning on a whole other level.

 

Donna

[Hey , I'm The Moderator For This Board , Looking For Input On How To Get More Activity On This Board , Any Input ,]

Tom, to add to the suggestions in my previous post, a couple of other thoughts have sprung to mind.

 

How about articles on different topics, like guitar care?

 

Or ideas for setting up an effective recording space at home (simple ideas that work, etc.).

 

In my other post, I mentioned people posting pics of their recording space. There could be some fun involved, with kudos for the most creative/the most disorganised/the most organised, etc. 

 

Or folks posting videos of favourite artists playing their guitar. This kind of thing usually generates discussion/comments.

 

Donna

[Hey , I'm The Moderator For This Board , Looking For Input On How To Get More Activity On This Board , Any Input ,]

John, I'm glad you chimed in here and responded to Tina's post, especially involving that mention of another forum. In fact, a friend of mine - to whom I'd recommended Songstuff - was also chastised for having mentioned the FAWM songwriting challenge in one of his posts. That made me feel badly, because I've often recommended Songstuff on both the FAWM and the 50-90 site, plus during Pat Pattison's songwriting course last year. 

 

Anyway, I'm delighted it was simply a case of the moderator having misjudged. I also understand about the time needed to streamline the site. I agree with Tina that there's perhaps too much happening, and too quickly. It must be confusing for newcomers. I've been a member for years, and still get frustrated trying to navigate the site.  So much 'drilling down' is necessary. Sometimes less is more.  it's a tremendous site, and it would be a shame to lose potential keen participants.

 

But to the original topic: Tom, just thinking back to the songwriting challenge forums, it seems to me there's always a topic on what kinds of guitars folks have, along with a suggestion to post pics of their 'music rooms'. Some are quite amusing, and always interesting. That might be an idea.

 

Maybe favourite guitars, and favourite artists who play them (or played them). 

 

Maybe a topic about building one's own guitar (e.g. a cigar box guitar).

 

Hope some of the above is useful. I'm a lyricist, not a musician.

 

Donna

[Problem With Someone Using Lyrics Without Author's Consent]

Yes, posting online constitutes publishing, John. I remember going through this a few years ago when one of my co-writers in Ireland was having a problem joining a PRO. One criteria was that he had to have been 'published'. He didn't realise that 'published' meant his songs that had been posted to online sites fit that criterion. So all he had to do was say 'yes', and he was in.

 

Donna

[Problem With Someone Using Lyrics Without Author's Consent]

Thank you for commenting, Bernd, and for that additional information. The matter though has moved on from copyright infringement. The person's song (with my unauthorised lyric) was removed from the website several days ago.

 

The situation now involves the person's new lyric, which he has based very obviously on mine, thus making it - in my opinion, and apparently that of my PRO - an unauthorised derivative work. 

 

It's now up to Kompoz to determine which side of the fence to fall on.

 

Donna

[Problem With Someone Using Lyrics Without Author's Consent]

Further to the saga: My PRO has responded, and states that I would be justified in requesting websites to remove Gary's new thread - with his new lyric (but which closely resembles mine in several ways) - under the principle of Notice and Take Down. (This deals with, among other things, unauthorised derivative works.)

I've just sent this request to Kompoz. I await their response with great interest.

 

Donna