May 2021
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 26, No. 05
Live meetings are Cancelled due to CoronaVirus.
However, we will be having on-line Zoom meetings.
We will send details under a separate e-mail,
and an announcement on the Facebook group page.
We expect it to be scheduled for Sunday May 2nd at 5pm.
If you want the zoom meeting details, please e-mail us
at isgorlando@gmail.com
Any Details not in this newsletter are at:
If you wish to join our Facebook group, please check us out at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/831814850193553/
WebChatter
by CyberToad
We have been forgetting to ask members to renew their dues. It costs only $5 per year, and it helps us to defray costs for the zoom meetings.
We have 2 methods of payment. Either paypal to our treasurer Asli Goncer's paypal account. The paypal access is at aslivision@gmail.com
or you can mail a $5 check to
Asli Goncer
2849 Babylon Court
Oviedo, FL 32765
Either way, we appreciate your continued support.
Here's a link to Andrea Stolpe's blog
https://www.andreastolpe.com/articles/8-tips-to-setting-lyric-to-music?utm_source=MailingList
In The Spirit Of My Restless Creator
By Jackie Mason
As I pursue my third attempt at The Artist’s Way, I find myself writing three pages of evening pages each day. It’s not supposed to be that way. They are meant to be morning pages! Taking a more pragmatic and forgiving approach, I tell myself they are better than nothing even as my creative discipline wobbles. In the spirit of my restless creator, I stumbled upon singer Lana Del Rey last month. There was a delightful post on Facebook of a dog wearing a crown of flowers and butterflies. The video was accompanied by a haunting piece of music with the lyrics “happiness is a butterfly.” I commented on my joy over this post and received this answer, “Dogs + Flowers = Magic.” To which I replied, “And butterflies.” After a little research I discovered the lyrics were actually the title of a song. The song is by Lana Del Rey and can be found on her 2019 album “Norman F*****g Rockwell.” I’d, also, accidently stumbled upon a Grammy nominated album and I’m really not surprised. It’s a fantastic album. I recognise the ethereal quality of her work and can hear her influence in Billie Eilish’s work.Yes it is magic!
I am a long time fan of Eric Clapton. I love his guitar playing and songwriting. In particular, I’ve admired his time with Cream. They were a power trio and the crème de la crème of musicians. I later loved his “461 Ocean Boulevard” album, recorded in Miami at Criteria studios. His unplugged stuff was pretty tasty too. However after reading his 2007 autobiography I admit to being put off him. It was very negative. After watching “Eric Clapton: Life In 12 Bars,” now streaming on Showtime and Amazon, I’ve had to re-evaluate my point of view. I’ve resolved to re-read the autobiography with a greater sense of empathy for the man. And while it’s still sad to watch his struggle with addiction there’s the positive hope that he’s found the love of a family that he never had as a child. I found a similar view written by Godfrey Cheshire.
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/eric-clapton-life-in-12-bars-2018 In addition, there’s some incredible footage in this documentary and of course the music is very good! I learned a lot from this movie.
Always popular on the songwriting teaching circuit is Jason Blume. I remember getting into one of his seminars at the 2017 TAXI convention. Unfortunately I had to sit on the floor. It was a little uncomfortable. I’ve wanted to write about him for a while, since he peaked my interest when he said that “he believes 1000% that melody is more important than lyrics.” I thought that this was important to bring to the attention of our writer’s group, as we seem to be a lyric centered group. I’m giving you a link to a May 15th, 2020 discussion about melody between Jason Blume and TAXI CEO Michael Laskow. It’s titled “Write A Hit Melody.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEbV9Y2HgRI&t=1813s It just happens to be on the 20th year anniversary of Jason’s collaboration with Britney Spears for her second album “Oops I Did It Again.” Jason co-wrote the song “Dear Diary” with Britney.
This is the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-xPiORnlS8
Jason was writing an article for BMI about crafting and rewriting melodies and here is the link to it. You can consider it a companion piece to the interview. https://tinyurl.com/yahoncqg
Ryan Tedder, currently being seen on NBC’s Songland’ is a hit producer and has worked with Adele, Beyonce and Tayor Swift. Ryan confirms Jason’s statement. The keys to writing hit songs are repetition and incorporating a rhythmic repetition into the vocal melody. Within a twenty minute span, Jason demonstrates just how simple the lyrics to today’s hits are. As he says “no one bought an Abba song for the lyrics.” He takes a half dozen songs and demonstrates the rhythmic repetitions in the vocals. It’s also very funny. He takes the kid’s song “Baby Shark.” and compares it to today’s hits. The songs are almost nursery rhymes. The idea is to create something that sticks in the brain. We are trying to create an ear worm. Here’s the definition of an ear worm “a catchy song or tune that runs continually through a person's mind.” I’ll be back next month with more on this idea. Meanwhile here’s Jason’s website http://www.jasonblume.com and a link to how it all works. The Ear Worm Effect http://theearwormeffect.weebly.com/#:~:text=trying%20to%20get%20them%20out.%20These%20catchy%20songs,remember.%2074%25%20of%20people%20get%20songs%20with%20lyrics
Stay safe everyone and have fun with this article!
ISG Bulletin Board
Meeting space graciously provided by Central Florida Musicians Association,
Local 389. You are invited to join the largest union in the world, representing the
interests of the professional musician. Visit their website at afm389.org for more
information. You may reach them by phone at: 407-894-8666.
Why isn't your gig or live stream announced here? Members in good standing call SusieCool
with your appearance schedule! 407-760-2153 or e-mail her the details at isgorlando@gmail.com
If you are interested in open mics in the Central Florida area, SusieCool has compiled a list. Steve Hodak hosts several newly listed open mics on the East coast.
https://sites.google.com/site/susiecoolsongs/Home/open-mic-directory-central-florida
SusieCool is the admin for a Facebook group called "Orlando Creative Music Network"
where we give out info on songwriter meetings, playing circles, open mics, workshops and concerts.
We have a Facebook page for this group if you want to join.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/274152179716552/
No Critique scores for April, since no live meeting.
New members and guests are always welcome!
© 2021 ISG