Songwriting & Beyond…

For the more musically minded, (specifically those who play guitar), I dug up this short article how to link your vocals to the guitar using a parallel melody.

So in other words, using intervals between the vocal and the guitar to create melodies. Pretty cool. Check out the full article out here.

Calvin

“Songwriting, at a fundamental level,
involves the uniting of melody and harmony:
the singing of a melody, and its union with a
supporting harmony. For soloist singer/
songwriter/guitarists, this accompanying
harmony is created and played on guitar. For
many bands, too, the guitar is the main
conveyor of harmony. In cases such as these,
one very simple way of adding interest to a
song is by paralleling a melody that’s sung
with a melody that’s played on guitar…..”

Source http://musesmuse.com/LinkingVocalsandGuitar.pdf

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Some of you may recall my previous post on the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

Here, Rob explains the process and prizes.

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After several emails requesting a song from ‘Prince’ , I decided to add one here for your viewing and listening pleasure

Here is ‘Purple Rain’ , performed by Prince and the Revolution. The genius of this song is that it combines elements of all pop, rock, gospel and soul.

The song is taken directly from his album (and film) entitled ‘Purple Rain’ and remains his biggest selling album to date.

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…..and that’s exactly the attitude which enables him to just keep on going.

Paul Simon’s career has spanned over three decades and a chunk of that success is attached to the duo ‘Simon & Garfunkel’. It was in 1970 that Simon began writing and recording his own solo material and enjoyed peak solo success in the 80s when he released Graceland - for which he won a Grammy Award.

He is one of the most prolific singer-songwriter’s out there and his out-put has been of the highest calibre.

Simon has now released a new album entitled ‘Surprise’ and once again he explores new territory - fusing with electronic music talent Brian Eno.

Check out the article.

Calvin

“It has been two decades since American songwriting icon Paul Simon turned much of the world onto African music with Graceland and six years since he released an album of new material.

The terrorist attacks on America, Simon’s 60th birthday and a long-overdue reunion with his 1960s singing partner, Art Garfunkel, came and went after the release of 2000’s You’re the One, which made only a ripple in the music industry.

Now, Simon has released Surprise, a smart, refreshing CD that finds him exploring new territory with another icon, electronic-music pioneer Brian Eno, and giving voice to listeners who are taking stock of their lives….”

Click here to finish reading the article.

Source http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/entertainment/
2006-07/24/content_647804.htm / By Larry Rodgers /
The Arizona Republic/ Chinadaily.com

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I once read, a great songwriter touches ‘almost’ everybody. Joni Mitchell has may classics under her belt and has performed many times in her life. However, it was this performance (at age 57) that totally grabbed me and blow me away.

It’s her song ‘Both Sides Now’ and she’s backed up by a full string orchestra. The ballad is slow and moving…. it really did touch me.

“Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere, i’ve looked at cloud that way.
But now they only block the sun, they rain and snow on everyone.
So many things i would have done but clouds got in my way.

I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now,
From up and down, and still somehow
It’s cloud illusions i recall.
I really don’t know clouds at all.

Moons and junes and ferris wheels, the dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real; i’ve looked at love that way.
But now it’s just another show. you leave ‘em laughing when you go
And if you care, don’t let them know, don’t give yourself away.

I’ve looked at love from both sides now,
From give and take, and still somehow
It’s love’s illusions i recall.
I really don’t know love at all.

Tears and fears and feeling proud to say “i love you” right out loud,
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds, i’ve looked at life that way.
But now old friends are acting strange, they shake their heads, they say
I’ve changed.
Something’s lost but something’s gained in living every day.

I’ve looked at life from both sides now,
From win and lose, and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions i recall.
I really don’t know life at all”

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Current Australian National Songwriting Content winner John Harely has scored another place  - this time in the top 20 - in another songwriting competition called ‘Unisong’.

A ‘top 20′ position may not seem like much to the naked eye, but most don’t realize that Unisong is a HUGE contest, and is judged by some heavyweight writers, - such as Peter Frampton, Bruce Lundvall & Desmond Child, Diane Warren and a host of others.

“While the winner of the current Australian National Songwriting contest is hard at work on new songs for another album the accolades keep pouring in for songs off his current album ‘Hope Harbour’…..this time from the judges of Unisong International Songwriting Contest who gave birth to songwriters Burt Bacharach, Jimmy Buffet, Stewart Copeland, Mick Fleetwood, Indigo Girls, Glady’s Knight, Peter Frampton, Lisa Loeb, Bonnie Raitt, Don Was and well, I’m sure you get the picture….. “

Click here to finish reading the article.

Source http://www.prleap.com/pr/42067/ (prleap.com)

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Most Aerosmith fans I know will loath at the fact that their biggest hit ‘I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing’ was written by Diane Warren - a songwriter who has written predominantly ballads for artists mainly in the pop/soul & country arena. But I have another perspective on the matter.

If you are judging the song from a ‘band’ standpoint, then you probably will never fully appreciate the song. Fans of rock know the exciting music they are known for, and some would rather push the song to one side - for every reason pertaining to …”it’s just not Aerosmith.”

But when you listen to it form a songwriter’s point of you, you know that it’s quite simply a great love song which the band have performed brilliantly.

Here’s the video to a song that won a Grammy Award, went to number one in the USA and stayed in the top 5 of the singles chart all over Europe for weeks on end.

Calvin

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If you started to play an instrument or write songs from as a child - and LEFT all those skills behind as soon as you entered adulthood, do you think it is likely that you would then pick up where you left off 15 years later?

Well, for Scott Pearce - not only is this true, but he has also come back in style.

Here is an article of a man who just recently gained second place in a songwriting contest by the Austin Songwriters Group….and relaxingly says, “I’m more comfortable in my own skin now than I was 15 years ago.”

On a sea of crystal glass
streets of solid gold
walls of every precious stone
No pain

That’s the vision of Winterville songwriter Scott Pearce in “No Tears,” the song that brought him his second consecutive grand prize in a contest sponsored last month by the Austin Songwriters Group, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and developing aspiring songwriters.

Click here to finish reading the article.

Source http://www.reflector.com/local/content/news/
stories/2006/07/21/songwriter.html / T. Scott Batchelor
/ www.reflector.com]

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Stevie Wonder is a timeless musical genius. Amongst my many favorite songwriters, he sits in the top ten in my list. I couldn’t help but share this performance.

‘All Is Fair In Love’ - by Stevie Wonder.

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I always find it very inspiring whenever I read an article on talented children who are pushed and encouraged to further heights - giving them the opportunity to showcase their work.

Here is an article of 15 year old Zan Grimsbo has been playin the guitar since he was 5, and in the last year has started writing lyrics for his own musical compositions.

He will soon be participating in the Severin Sisters’ American Roots Music Camp in Salem… - where I’m sure his confidence will be elevated.

Calvin

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“Zac Grimsbo, 15, has spent a good chunk of his summer working in the dusty fields of Rickreall. The young man has been driving a hay baler at a neighboring farm.

Sitting in an air-conditioned cab, Zac has had plenty of time to listen to the lyrics and music in his head.

Two weeks from now, the young man who’s been playing guitar for about five years will give flight to his pent-up musical passion when he participates in the Severin Sisters’ American Roots Music Camp in Salem.

His mom, Kristina, said her son is looking forward to the camp, and she’s excited about the crafts he’ll bring home. But she’s not pining for origami frogs or Chinese knots. She’s eager to hear Zac’s next song….”

————————

Click here to finish reading the article.

Source http://159.54.226.83/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060721/
COLUMN0101/607210306/1064 / CAROL MCALICE CURRIE/ StatesmanJournal.com

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