One More Reason To Change

What was my expectation of the exploration and the information offered in this free online course?

Inspiration...education...and a combination of dedication and relaxation that would escalate my new creations and provide new foundations that would alleviate previous frustrations of standing still...so with little hesitation...i clicked ok!

And the ride has been everything I hoped so far...

Do you remember these bad boys?

There were over 7000 injuries and 4 deaths reported from these "JARTS" in the 70's and 80's. Launch em skyward and land them in a cheap little yellow ring. Horseshoes for the risk-takers. When the recall came, my family did what any well respected family would do...kept them and tested the boundaries.

The greatest things in our world today have come from exploration. Someone had to cover the ground first, cut through the trees, sail across the water, have an enormous lawn dart pierce right through a bare foot. The early Pioneers of invention and discovery...so chopping through the forest of Pat's videos this week has been a journey well worth taking. The coverage...the insight...the simple complexity of a worksheet to help collect thoughts, rhymes, structure and weight to the lyrical component of a song is brilliant.

If you are anything like me...at one point...songwriting was an absolute artform that could not be touched. The precious product of released creativity had to stay pure in its form. Whatever came out lived on the paper, in the mind and the heart of the song forever...a trophy on a shelf.

For me, it wasn't until 60 songs in..that my thought process in writing started to change. Writing a story about a song I was going to write...and then shrinking it down to a song using only all of the best parts.  Tapping all of the senses to think about an object...What it looked like, smelt like, tasted like, felt like, sounded like....involving Metaphor, Simile, Personification, Alliteration...and what a transformation this compilation of presentation has demonstrated to this writer. I tip my hat to the man and the classmates who have removed some of the wool from my eyes during these late night mornings. With shiny new tools, and a few that needed a little Silvo to bring back to life...I am excited for the days, weeks, months and years ahead, and the new creations that will find their way out of my heart and mind.

Assignment #5.

It all starts with boxes.

BOX 1

The song opens up on a girl running out of a house...late for something. Angry that she is running behind. She hears her own words in her head...guilty conscience...kinda like nails on a chalkboard. She heads in the same direction she always does, down to a bookstore where she frequents...not to buy books, but grab her cup of inspiration...caffeine rush, before she begins the day. She notices the same people, drinking coffee as they always do. Talking softly. This day plays out as it always has...seemingly nothing changes.

Enter Chorus:

One more reason to change, even the same old story needs a different ending.

BOX 2

Location..bus stop. Making small talk with the others waiting for transportation. Faking a smile while in her mind she is screaming out. Everything that happens next...she knows...Everyday is like the rest. She never thought that anything could last forever...but this seems like it is.

Enter Chorus:

One more reason to change, even the same old story needs a different ending.

BOX 3

The breakdown...staring out the window reflecting on a way to make it all change. (the music follows this sadness a little...less instruments more free lyric with soul) When you are tired of playing it out...close your eyes and rewind...Take a look at it all in a different way...and then...come to the realization and resolve...

Final Chorus:

One more reason to change...even the same old story needs a different ending.

_________________________________________________

THE WORKSHEET

Developing the worksheet was an eye opener for sure. The idea of key words being collected and rhymes of all types being searched out while considering the families and theme of the song itself was an excellent way to brainstorm where the song could lead. I put my own spin on Pat's design as there were more words I wanted to use to fully explore the idea of my song. The words I eventually used are all highlighted in blue on the worksheet below.

  If you are still reading my blog at this point...thank you. Here is the recording of this weeks assignment. Had allot of fun with this entire process and truly feel that new doors have opened because of it.


THE RECORDING


LYRICS

verse:

She's in a hurry , Feet through the back door,
Voices they play out like nails on a chalkboard
Following Footsteps, down to the bookstore
Where she opens her mind, turns the pages inside and sees

Everybody, drinking coffee talking softly
Holding on to the same old things
Every morning, just like a tape recording
always the same, nothing will change till ya

Say what you think right now and

Chorus:
One more reason to change,
Even the same old story,
Needs a different ending

verse:
Down at the busstop,
Chewing on small talk
under the smile on her face
She's screaming her head off
She knows whats coming next,
everyday is like the rest
She never thought that anything could every last forever
and it wont till She Sees


Chorus:
One more reason to change,
Even the same old story,
Needs a different ending


Bridge
And when your tired of playing it out
Close your eyes and rewind
Take a look at it all..right...now and find..

Chorus:
One more reason to change,
even the same old story,
Needs a different ending (repeat x6)

________________________________________________________________________________

Thats it for this weeks blog. Thank you for taking the time to have a read. Leave a comment if ya can.


Till next time,

North

Back To School House Rock!

One of my favourite things about writing music has always been the freedom of creation and perspective. What one person says and means a certain way can be seen in a completely different light by another. How I sing a certain word, speak a particular phrase...I mean, who really takes the time to think about how each word inflects upon the others in the sentence? well...Pat Pattison does!

So back to school my brain went...and a further respect to the intricacy of language and the breakdown of how it all comes together. I'm probably not the only one to flashback to my early Saturday Morning Childhood and School House Rock. Hooky songs, with educational messages. (check em out if you get the chance...two of my fav's from the old days...Conjuction Junction and Pronouns...just click the pic)

At the time, I just sat in my chair and sang along, but now...all these years later, I was fascinated by the explanation and more importantly the spotlights created that now seem to make all the sense in the world.

Down to the wire, Race against the Clock, Behind the Eight Ball, Down for the Count, Weight of the World, Under the Strain, Hang on by a Thread, Make or Break, Pressure Cooker, In Over one's Head, The end of One's Rope, The Breaking Point, Under the Gun, Uphill Battle, Running on Empty, Up against it all!!!

These are all expressions that are painted in stress... the moments where we either sink or swim, fight back or fall down...they all hint at something that someone has to accomplish, go through, or endure. And the moment that Pat started talking about Stressed and Unstressed syllables, many of these expressions popped into my mind. I am fully aware that he was speaking of how we say the words in our lyrics and wasn't trying to instill these other thoughts on stress...but in my mind, they are quite closely related.

This course has been an eye opening experience to say the least. I have read many blogs, and listened to more songs in these last 5 weeks than I have in the last year. And every deadline that approaches creates a pressure, or a little stress if you will, to not only get it done, but get it done well. I found myself (like a few others that I have read) cramming once again at the end of a busy week. I have realized not only how to read stressed and unstressed syllables, but also how to gage my own stresses and unstressed moments a little better. Easter Weekend with 6 kids is a journey in itself. I took the time to create many different riddles for my children to solve so they could find each and every treat that was hidden throughout the house. Pulling an all nighter on Saturday night was not only exhausting, but unbelievably fun as I strung ribbon throughout the house for the children to unravel. So what does this have to do with this weeks course?

I completed my assignment in the wee hours of Sunday Night with cloudy eyes, and tired shoulders. Coffee stained breath, cramped fingers and a smile of my face that will not soon go away. I used last weeks song as requested so rather than share that here with those who have already had a listen...I thought it would be more fun to introduce you to my kids and a little song that was written for them. They starred in the video (as they have in quite a few of my projects) and this weekend as the snow pulled back from the grass and roads lay dry and stretched out before us...we climbed on structures, laughed in the wind, and found hidden treats far better than chocolate will ever be.

Till next time

North