March 2020
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 25, No. 3
Next meeting Sunday March 1st 2020 at 5pm
The International Songwriter’s Guild meets at 5 PM on the first Sunday of every
month at the Central Florida Musician’s Union building, 3020 East Robinson St.,
Orlando, FL 32803 (at the extreme east end of Robinson, near Orlando Executive
Airport). IMPORTANT NOTE! The main entrance/parking is at the back of the building.
Songwriters, composers, performers, publishers, and the curious are encouraged to
join us. Non-members are invited to attend a meeting or two to get a feel for our
group and what we do. If you wish to join, there is an annual fee of only $5. For
more information, visit our website at www.tinyurl.com/isgsongs
The meetings will be structured as follows: 5:00 to 5:30, business, networking and
introductions. 5:30 to 6:00, presentation by a guest speaker (when scheduled),
or a short workshop/exercise. 5:30 or 6:00 to 8:00, song critiques.
Please bring a CD or I-phone or mp3 player or perform your song live, and bring 10
or more lyric sheets. If we have at least 5 songs by members who wish to be scored,
and 6 members scoring, then we will have them entered in the Monthly competition.
Everyone is encouraged to write constructive comments on the lyric sheets.
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 CyberToad2000
Analyzing Songs (Part 2)
By Jackie Mason
It has been a busy month. I started writing for FAWM (February Album Writing Month.)
That’s the songwriting challenge that asks you to write 14 songs in the month of February.
I started knowing that I wouldn’t complete the challenge. I could tell that my calendar was
rapidly filling up with engagements. My goal was to break through a writer’s block that I have
been struggling with for a couple of years. I have known the reason for this block ever since
it started. For privacy and security reasons I don’t intend to discuss this writer’s block in this
forum. I will tell you that I have been in therapy since I completed FAWM in 2017 and my
internal struggle was exhausting. I will write about that struggle in another forum which will
probably be in an autobiography. I realized that I have been writing prose steadily during this
period and I have saved most of it on my phone. Coupling that prose with several hundred
voice memos on my phone, I have a large stock of song ideas to draw from. I am pleased to
report that I have written four songs this month. So my songwriting block is over.
Thank you FAWM. https://fawm.org
Last month we took a look at a song analysis of “Downtown.” That song was a monster
hit for Petula Clark and established her as a major star in the USA. I would like to return to
another Petula Clark hit, “I Couldn’t Live Without Your Love.” Once again we’ll return to our
friend Fil over at Wings of Pegasus for another intriguing musical breakdown. Please subscribe
to his YouTube channel, you won’t be disappointed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoA645dprFY In this video Fil analyzes a 1966 performance
of the song.This song is about the love affair between the two writers of the song, Tony Hatch and
Jackie Trent. Hatch who had written the earlier song “Downtown” uses a similar song construction
and arrangement. Fil points out the similarities between both songs. It has a similar introduction to
“Downtown.” Just a solo piano. Then a distinctive click track comes in and sets up the rhythm.
There are four distinct sections. The third section is the pre chorus and is a gradual build up. It’s like
climbing a staircase to the chorus. It’s the same formula as the previous song. Fil points out that
using the same formula only makes sense. If you’ve written a big hit you are going to try to replicate
it but with slight variations. Once again there’s a half step key change when the orchestral instrumental
comes in. In “Downtown” the melody begins on the fifth note of the scale. Here there is a variation and
the melody begins on the third note of the scale. Neither song begins on the root note. Fil notes that
the do-re-me scale is stored in our brains even if we are not aware of it. This is an important factor in
melodic construction. It meets our subconscious expectations. Another “essential element” are the
backing harmonies which are sung higher than the main vocal. They serve to build up to the dramatic
crescendo when the key jumps up. The song was recorded at Pye Studios in Marble Arch, London.
It reached #1 on the US Easy Listening chart.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Couldn%27t_Live_Without_Your_Love
Another song that is worth checking out is the Grammy nominated hit song “Don’t Sleep In The
Subway.” This was also written by Jackie Trent and Tony Hatch and recorded in 1967 by Petula Clark.
For more on Petula’s amazing career I suggest you watch the BBC production
“The Petula Clark Story” on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLG7FAZgSKQ&t=159s
I hope you enjoy this song analysis. See you next month.
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 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
The Jane Gang Unleashed and Jeff Evans will be playing at the University/Goldenrod Tijuana
Flats on Wednesday March 25th for the Greater Orlando Council of the Blind from 5 to 8pm.
If you are interested in open mics in the Central Florida area, SusieCool has compiled a list.
https://sites.google.com/site/susiecoolsongs/Home/open-mic-directory-central-florida
If you want to join us at the Central Florida Folk song circle, please show up at
Bikes, Beans and Bordeaux at 3022 Corrine Drive on Wednesday January 29th.
from 6 to 8:30/9pm. The BBB has many delicious items on their menu, and also some vegetarian stuff.
They also serve beer and wine. They have a Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Central-Florida-Folk-Song-Circle-139385302761066/
On 3rd Wednesdays we have a playing circle with the Fingerstyle Guitar Group in the
Community room of the winter Park Library.460 E. New England Ave. Winter Park, FL 32789.
6 to 8:30pm.Songwriters are welcome, but we do try to play our fingerstyle songs and
not use picks. There is more info on the facebook group page.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/228147620559285/?fref=nf
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/
February 2020 no Critique Contest.
New members and guests always welcome!
© 2020 ISG