November 2021
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 26, No. 11
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 November 7th at 5pm.
If you want the zoom meeting details, please e-mail us
at isgorlando@gmail.com
Hopefully we will soon be meeting in person again.
Please stay tuned for more info.
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
Here's an article about writing songs that will attract a publisher.
We are asking 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.
Where Did Baby Go?
By Jackie Mason
On Oct 15 Adele released her first single since 2015. It was a long time ago. I remember attending my first TAXI convention in LA and her song “Hello” was huge. I took a production class with producer Ronan Chris Murphy https://ronanchrismurphy.com/bio/
and he analyzed the production on that song. He said if we weren’t aware of the song we’d been living under a rock. I admit part of me was under a rock. Part of me is still under a rock or, at least, living in my own world. Thank you Covid. The pandemic has been an equalizer. It’s forced patience on all of us, including the rich and famous. You can hear and feel how it’s affected Adele in this interview with BBC Radio1’s Greg James https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiB0k9m68oU
She even talks about the vinyl shortage and having to wrap her own CDs. Some musicians are being forced back to using cassettes. That suits me fine. I never really said goodbye to that medium. It might be DIY time again. That’s me sometimes. Old school.
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2021/10/04/vinyl-shortage-2021/
The new song is called “Easy On Me” and is the Number One single in the UK. This is from Official Charts
https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/adeles-easy-on-me-makes-record-breaking-number-1-debut-on-the-official-singles-chart__34286/ “Adele also breaks an Official UK Chart record with the single as Easy On Me racked up 24 million streams in the UK over the last seven days, the most streams for a song in one week – topping Ariana Grande’s record of 16.9 million set back in January 2019 with “7 Rings.” “Easy On Me” also earns the biggest week of digital download sales of 2021 so far, with 23,500.”
Before I write anymore this is a YouTube link to the official video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3ASj1L6_sY
My first impression of this song was the simplicity of it’s arrangement. It actually isn’t simple in another sense. There is a vocal and bass at the beginning, later a real bass comes in and that’s followed by a simple kick drum from a drum machine. The drum machine keeps time and drives the song. On a first listen it sounded like the words were for a child. I discovered later that I was right. It’s a song about regrets, falling short and the sadness surrounding a divorce. And it concerns everyone. The adults and the child affected by this split. At the same time within the sadness there is a hope expressed.
I have found two excellent videos that have analyzed this song. Both are detailed lessons in music, songwriting and production. The first is presented by Rick Beato and the other by Fil from Wings of Pegasus. They each compliment one another in that they agree about the bare boned production, auto tune technology and the fact that Adele’s singing is out of tune in one part of the song.
I have never written about Rick Beato before.This is his YouTube biography. I do know from watching his past videos that he is very knowledgeable about music.
https://youtube.fandom.com/wiki/Rick_Beato In his video about Adele’s song he points out her last two albums “21” and “25” were Diamond Selling Records. Which means they each sold 10 million copies. He’s so impressed by the production on this song that he immediately went to to his phone to find out who was involved. The song was produced and written by Gregg Kurstin. He also played piano and bass on the song. He was also behind the kick drum from the drum machine. Rick loves the tasteful kick that evolves in the song and compares it to a heartbeat. He calls it a great song with a great vocal. It’s soulful and compares favorably to the other songs in today’s top ten. He then asks a question. When did you last hear the word “baby” in a new song? It’s a word that once was a staple in blues, jazz and pop. It’s true this song is “old school.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pTssBcIsz8 “I Can't Believe ADELE Did This Again! by Rick Beato”
Fil from Wings of Pegasus is another person who can thoroughly analyze a performance or production.He loves Adele’s vocal range. How she switches effortlessly between her head voice and her chest voice. The intakes of breath serve her well as she is able to get a cry in her voice. It’s what we humans connect to as we listen to a great singer. He demonstrates where she is off tone. He uses a musical software in contrast to Rick who is able to demonstrate with a piano. Both agree she is slightly sharp and both agree it’s a good thing. They both say it’s imperfect and that is why it connects. As Fil says it’s a “good out of tune.” Another producer may have tried to correct this mistake but that would suck out out the humanity. I remember the same issue with drum machines. A computer cannot capture the flow of a real drummer. Auto tune sets everything to a “fixed value” (Fil)
“Adele sings out of tune on her new song. FACT.” by Fil
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h31j_83mQtY
https://wingsofpegasus.com/bio
Before I end this article I would like to talk about the fluidity of this subject. There are dozens more videos about this song “Easy On Me.” More from the tower of song next month. Stay safe.
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 September, since no live meeting.
New members and guests are always welcome!
© 2021 ISG