What's in A Word?

Words are wonderful. I love putting together words to make beautiful, coherent sentences. Shaping, sometimes rhyming, repeating and pulling it all together in a tidy little bundle. No, not a blog. Not a poem. That my dear friends is what we call lyrics.

I’ve written many lyrics. I’ve edited many lyrics. I’ve also trashed volumes of lyrics.

Writing song lyrics can be child’s play or a tension mounting headache when there is a deadline and an album to complete.

There are many, many great songwriters out there. There are many, many really bad songwriters out there. I’m talking about contemporary pop/rock/folk. Lyrics for Broadway musicals are an entirely different blog. So many lyrics to consider.

Two of my favorite American songwriters are Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. Their music is good but their lyrics are stellar. The lyrics of their songs can stand alone without the support of the music. They are my inspiration when I create lyrics.

Writing song lyrics is similar to writing poetry. But not really. I know, it sounds like a confused mess. In fact, most of the modern poetry of today (in my opinion) is a jumble of random words thrown together in a pattern on a page. Look at this:

It’s cold outside

But I feel the warmth radiating

I am under

A layer of down

So cold, so warm

It’s crap, right? But let me tell you, I see new volumes of poetry on a regular basis. Award winning poetry. And my dears? Most of the time it’s no better than the drek that I just  wrote for you. In my opinion.

Back to lyrics. For the past few years I’ve been writing lyrics for an Italian rock artist. Hard rock. Not metal. Just good hard rock. The music is driving and I love it.

At first, I was correcting and editing his lyrics. The problem was the simplicity of the words. Easy rhymes. Why? Because the thought process was in Italian and then translated to English which didn’t work. Another problem was that the command of the English language was at elementary school level. And so, I’ve been given free rein.

Easy, right? No.

I write the lyrics to fit the music. I am given a quickly recorded music file and a title. And then, I write. No theme. No boundaries except for the musical phrasing. He always has a title in mind and that title must somehow fit into the song, usually the chorus. But it’s up to me to decide what the song is about and where it’s going. The songs are long. It’s a slow process and each song takes me weeks to complete. But I love it. And when it’s finished, recorded and performed I feel a great sense of accomplishment.

I’m no Leonard Cohen or Bob Dylan and I don’t think I ever will be. But then again, who knows?

Have a great week!

PS: Check out the new BookLink Facebook page!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/BookLink/268651983208355

Hooray for Hollywood

I love movies. I mean I REALLY love movies. Netflix and on demand are the best thing since the invention of the wheel. And Imdb is so great at reminding me who is who. For those of you not familiar with Imdb, you should check it out. www.imdb.com

I don’t remember the first movie I saw, but I do remember standing in line at Radio City Music Hall waiting to see Mary Poppins. Now that was something. What a theater. Classic. And remember drive-ins? Summer memories.

I have no problem watching 2 movies in an afternoon. Days off are spent either reading (you knew that) or watching movies. AFTER the laundry, groceries and other assorted chores are completed.

Of course nothing beats GOING to the movies. The smell of movie theater popcorn is intoxicating. Sitting back in comfy seats and watching the big screen. Too wonderful.

Years ago, many years ago, the movies stayed in theaters for months. Now, if you don’t catch it within a few weeks of release, you can forget it. What is up with that?? Don’t blink your eyes because the movie you were dying to see on the big screen is now up for grabs on your local on demand channel. Some people have larger than life TV screens. That kind of justifies not being able to get to the theater. But still. Since the timing is not always in my favor I have to decide which movie is worthy of the big screen. I love chick flicks but I can wait to see those on Netflix. Action films NEED a big screen. Any movie with Johnny Depp needs a big screen. That also goes for musicals.

I will never tire of movies. I’m ready for my close-up.

Have a great week!

Saga of the Phone Part Deux

So now that I have my new phone I’m still working out the kinks. It’s more than a phone. It’s a whole new universe. It’s a tiny computer that fits in the palm of my hand.

So far I’ve been able to make phone calls, text people and surf the web. I’m trying to get a handle on taking photos. I’ve been able to download pics onto my PC from the phone. But trying to organize the pics ON the phone requires nothing short of a PhD. And Instagram? Not getting that concept at all. Tried it. If I want a real photo I’ll use a real camera. And if I want to manipulate said photo, I’ll use photoshop or paint shop pro. And since when did this symbol ### become a hashtag?? What is up with that??

And then there is the icloud thing. Not getting that at all either. It has somehow taken every contact from my facebook account and tossed them into my phone. Great. Tried to look up a number. I’ve got something like 700 names to scroll through. And birthdays are listed as well. Happy birthday one and all. I’d send a card but by the time I finish scrolling through all the contacts your birthdays will be long gone.

Everyone says Twitter is the way to go. Wrong. Do I really need to see what people are doing every waking minute of the day? I don’t care that you got up and brushed your teeth and 10 seconds later took a shower. TOO MUCH INFORMATION!!!

Now for the apps. This is the interesting part of the phone saga. I have only added around a dozen. News, navigation, facebook (of course), some games and a few other assorted fun things. I’ve also downloaded my music. Of course I did. That was the first thing on the phone agenda. I’ve put my apps into tiny little folders on the tiny little desktop of my tiny little computer, er, phone. It’s all very tidy. And tiny. I may need a stronger eyeglass prescription.

As a well rounded and informed woman of the world, I need to accessorize. Ah yes. Cell phone covers. I own a couple. Well, ok, more than a couple. Think of it as jewelry for the phone. Wouldn’t want my phone to be boring. And charger cables. Got a few to match the cases. Well come on…a pink case needs a pink USB cable. Sorry Apple. I can get them for $5 at the drugstore.

All of this stuff is new and exciting for me. And a bit frightening. Now I really know what it’s like to be connected 24/7. My advice to myself is to put down the phone, step away from the computer and pick up a book. Or cook something!

Have a good week!