Musician turned soldier, in a song

(In this “column”, anything goes as long as it has to do with a song.)

[Excerpted from our newsletter.]

My wife, Sherry, has collaborated on a song with me.  This is quite a feat, since most of the time she makes up words that tend to wreck the seriousness of any song (see previous Once and Future Songs posting, “Chicken Do!”)  In this case, she was a star.

My working lyrics were about a musician who toured incessantly but became so enamored with a woman that the touring lifestyle was a problem.  One line was, “It’s this crazy life you can’t lead.”  Sherry wanted to hear “crazy war” and make it about a soldier.

As I thought about it, we have friends with children who have had to be separated or risked separation from loved ones because of their armed forces assignments.  Plus, war and soldiers are still current topics.  So I ran with the idea and it is coming along famously.  Maybe it will make the cut for the next album.

“It’s a soldier’s life I lead

With this crazy war no one needs

Now I question my career

As it keeps me wandering far and near

Because I belong… right here.”

Au revoir mes amis

Bursting My Bubble

(In this “column”, anything goes as long as it has to do with a song.)

[Excerpted from our newsletter.]

At home recently, I developed an overwhelming urge to hear, “Baby, It’s You” (Bacharach, David, Williams); NOT the Shirelles wimpy version, but the MOST famous one by Smith. While listening, I browsed YouTube and came across a comment train about those two versions, where I assumed the comments would all strongly favor Smith’s version as the best, when I read, “Not impressed… the Smith’s butchered this hit by the Shirelles from 1962!”

The next response (which was exactly what I was thinking) was: “You’re joking, right?”

“Nope… sorry to pop your bubble.”

All I could think was, “Quit it!”

Another fine example of the wide variety in musical taste, even within the same genre and about the same song. I just wish more of those whose opinions have power (yeah, you know who you are) always, ALWAYS, liked The 15th Floor’s songs. Maybe some day people will be arguing about the best version of, “A World Without Your Face” or “Listen to Me Breathe.” (I would enjoy that.)

As for “Baby”, maybe we should let Burt Bacharach decide which version was the best… but I bet he would guess wrong. 

Ciao

Once and Future Songs (v.1,1)

[Excerpted from our newsletter]

(In this “column”, anything goes as long as it has to do with a song.)

Driving back from Kansas City, my wife came up with two great ideas for song titles. The first, “I Threw My Cell Phone Again”, and of course the sequel, “Hole in the Wall.” Refreshingly NOT your usual love songs. Along those same lines (i.e. not your typical love song), she is working on a song idea I really like; so far it starts:

“Sometimes the best love stories are not about candy and flowers.
Sometimes the best love stories don’t have to be about talking for hours.”

Cheers.