The Anatomy Of A Song – Part 3 About What?!

So, we’ve got the chorus…now what’s the song about.

This one took more time to figure out. Why would we be on a rainy road in the middle of nowhere?

OK, imagine our character has just had a break up and they are on a road trip trying to get their head together.

Now, who is the main character? Who’s the evil “ex” that we’ve left behind? Why did they breakup? Do we need to know, do we care.

I worked with that for awhile, but it all seemed kinda whiney. Plus, I was in a very happy relationship so this is where my boyfriend kept saying “Is this about us?” (“Ah, no Honey. We’re happy and we’re in California”, “oh yeah”)

Plus, I’m thinking I’ve got enough whiney, ranting, stomp around the stage songs. People may start to think I’m just a bitter young thing!

Cut to the chase, and the story becomes about the road trip itself and the imagery our heroine sees along the way.

Next time, Didier talks about turning melody and lyrics into music.
TTFN,
Jenn

The Anatomy Of A Song – Part 2 Imagery

When we last left our story; we had a melody and lyrics for the chorus of Blacktop Shimmy.

What the heck was I thinking about?

Oddly enough, I was thinking about the blacktop roads in the Midwest – how they shimmer in the sun and create a mirage.  But “blacktop shimmer” just didn’t roll of my tongue right…sounded like I was drooling.  Now, I know with rock, it’s not a requirement to enunciate, but I would like people to know what the songs about. Especially since I do put thought into the imagery of the song.

So, “blacktop shimmey” popped out. When would you shimmy on blacktop…oh, when it’s raining.  Good…here come the rest of the chorus lyrics bam, bam, bam.

Now…what’s the song about in the verses?  Stay tuned for the next blog “About What?!”

Jenn

The Anatomy Of A Song – Part 1 Messing Around

“How did you write that one?”

“Is that one about me or _____?”

How does a song move from the ether into being? Inquiring minds want to know…and if not, click to the next blog entry

So here’s how Blacktop Shimmey came to life.

It was December 2007 and Didier and I needed one more song for our demo EP. We were sitting around the dining room/studio (see the Home Depot Youtube video if you want the visual!). We were just mess around with ideas, looking at some of the old songs and snippets I’d written to see what we wanted to build out. We got a laugh when the little melody “Yo baby you’re my Christmas ho. You put the ho in ho ho ho” spilled out of my mouth. But we didn’t feel that was a good fit with Africa and Asylum!

Then I started singing an old blues tunes and Didier thought that sounded lovely and we should do a blues number. The next morning, in the shower, in pops the lyrics and melody for the chorus. I had to rush out of the shower to the mini recorder so I wouldn’t forget it.

Stay Tuned for the next blog “Imagery”

After being in my mind awhile, you’ll understand how easy it was to write Asylum!
Jenn