Waxing Lyrical

"I'd rather be a comma than a full stop!

I heard this lyric yesterday. It is from "Every tear drop is a waterfall" By Coldplay. What a wonderful line. To me it means I would rather be in the sentence that be at the end. I do not have the luxury to ask Chris Martin himself. Having listened to the song many times I had never noticed how poignant this lyric was. Could have just been it was early morning and my lack of sleep the night before was making me more emotional, Who Knows? 

How often however do we take for granted the lyrics in the music we listen to?

Song writing is as much of an art form as painting on canvas. Yet people wonder for hours in galleries staring at paintings and wondering what the meaning is behind them. Musicians and songwriters however pour it all onto a page for us to behold in song. Out in the open to be judged by fan,critic and industry. When listening to songs you can at times tell the frame of mind an artists was in. Or it is out clearly written in the song for you to hear. 

So next time there is music playing be it when listening to the radio in the car or dancing around your living room as I do. Stop and take a moment to listen to the lyrics. They meant something to the artist and in turn they can mean something to you. 

Some favourite Lyrics of mine.

" Wishing to be the friction in your jeans" 

" Time grabs you by the wrist directs you where to go"

"To know that i can say i love you in any given time or place"

" Kudos my Hero"

"It's the heart afraid of breaking That never learns to dance"

"Change the voices in your head make them like you instead"

I could go on and on. 

Sx

Perfect 10

Can you list your 10 favourite songs? 


How do you choose? Is it like a mother selecting her favourite child? Ok so perhaps not as extreme. But the decision and tension as you compile your own list could prove to be mind blowing. I am having to compile a list for Our forthcoming wedding. To make it equal we are picking ten songs each. Although my future husband says he will vet mine and remove any considered crap. Thankfully it is me that is emailing the DJ. This is not the wedding list it just got me thinking of my favourite songs of which there are many. So for the moment I am going to reveal 5 of my 10. 


Well I don't want to give it all away do I? 


Here is how i derived my list. 1. List my favourite bands.
                                         2. Poignant Songs
                                    3. Everlasting Tunes (I could play on repeat forever)
                                      




So being born in 1983 meant that my birth into music  was at a time when electro pop was beginning and New Romance was at an end. Number one on the day i was born is a song I actually like. The tone of Ali Campbell's voice is different and instantly recognisable. So number 1 on the list is: 


1. "Red Red Wine" by UB40.




As I have written in previous posts. I was a sucker for pop music from the age of 6. So therefore at least one of my songs has to be from the era where my walls were clodded with posters of boy bands. Picking one may be a problem. Boyzone, Take That, East 17, 911, Let Loose and Westlife. There were many, so friends don't hate me. They weren't even my most loved band, It wasn't a massive single but i like the tune.


2."When You're Looking Like That" by Westlife.


My third choice goes on every playlist I compile. I sing it to my son every night before he goes to sleep. He affectionately calls it "Forks". It's by one of my ultimate favourite bands of all time.


3. "Time of Your Life" (Good Riddance) by Green Day.


You bored yet? I am nearly done. Two more to go. 


With that number four is from an album that I adore and never tire of. This tune gets me to me feet as soon as the opening bar strikes. The lyrics in this song are great, fun and meaningful. A perfect tune. So from their Third studio album I give you. 


4. "Sugar, We're Goin' Down" By Fall Out Boy.




Number 5 and my last instalment to the short list. It is a song that some might find weird but hey it's my list. So hold on to your hats. The end is nigh. 


5. "Video Killed the Radio Star" By The Buggles.


Now off you jump to you tube to see what they sound like and judge. You might start to think what your own top songs may be.  

It's not my accent it's your ears.

It has been commonly reported that the Scottish accent is difficult to understand. We speak too fast, too nasal and our language is deemed as guttural and thick. We roll our R's too much and say words like loch in ways unbeknown to other nationalities. 

So what's my point?

There are many bands from Scotland who in the past have been told that they have to tone down their accent especially when singing. At times their nationality being obscured and unknown when listening to their songs. Many people did not know that Simple Minds were from Glasgow. When they made their début in America many believed that the band were American.


 It is not just Scottish bands that are susceptible to the curse of hiding your own voice. It has been preferred in the past that bands and artists could say where they were from, just not within their music.  Many bands go through accent and dialect coaching just to be more precise with their singing voice and to disguise their own accent. 


Don't get me wrong I am not saying that it is accents that make bands successful. I just feel that it is wrong to have artists be something they do not want or more importantly need to be. You wouldn't consider asking a rap artist to sing in an operatic voice. So why ask artists to tone down their accent. I can hardly understand what Kyle Faulkner from Dundee's The View is saying but their songs are still widely enjoyed none the less.

I am writing this at the time while Scottish Band Twin Atlantic are blasting out of my stereo. They sing in their natural voice and dialect. If fact they are welcomed internationally for doing so and for the second year running are supporting Blink 182 on tour. Having been asked by the American band themselves. They have this amazing twang sound in their songs and sing with passion and drive that remind me of an early Biffy Clyro era. 


Another Glasgow Born band Hip Parade were seen as refreshing and diverse when they took second place in the Orange unsigned act show only to be pipped at the post by Tommy Reilly who was also from Glasgow and praised for his original voice. Hip Parade have gone on to successfully tour with Stereophonics. Their début album features 12 glorious songs and not only do they sing in their own accent their signature encore of "F**king Dynamite" I feel would sound ridiculous forced out under any other pretence.     

On the whole I like most bands from Scotland and feel proud at what Glasgow has produced through out the years and long may it continue. I get the impression that now within music industry bands and artists are thankfully being embraced for their heritage, home towns and accents.






*Please note I borrowed the title of this weeks blog from a Play I took part in. The script of which was along the same theme. And well its part of my own heritage. 




   

  

Do you remember your first?

A commonly asked question in many music artist interviews is. 


What was the first Single you bought? 


I'm sure that many make up an answer to look cool and suave as truthfully they do not remember exactly what it was. It is as if that one moment in life is something that defines you as a person or effects your taste in music. 


I whole heartedly believe it does not. 


I cannot remember mine.
I do not recall saving for days to buy it or what the cover looked like.  I remember as a child owning a small box of many 5inch single records and playing them on a small red record player that I adored.
I remember lusting after Kylie and Jason at the age of 5 but at the same time I had posters of New Kids on the Block and Michael Jackson on my wall. 


The first song that i fell in love with according to my Mum was Aha's "Take on Me" Released in November 1985 when I was 2 years old. I loved it. (Still do) I was a toddler so i did not purchase this single myself. Does that Count?


There are many singles I bought in my childhood and Teen years that I still love. I do remember scamming my dinner money (Sorry Mum) each day in order to buy my new favourite at the weekend. But which was my first? 


I grew up in the 90s when boy band central had a hold on the music industry. I had floor to ceiling posters of Take That and bordering on obsession kept the diet coke bottle that i drank from with a note saying 'I drank this while watching Mark Owen'. It was my first live concert and I was 9 and I am in no way ashamed to admit it. As it was my first taste of live music it think I wanted to preserve it for as long as possible. So with the benefit of hindsight I believe it was more than likely the first single I bought by myself with my own money was more than likely a Take That single and it most definitely was on cassette tape. Now that the band have had a comeback 20 years later. I wonder if it is in the loft and if it is worth any money?


As I said this first single purchase does not define me. It did not mean that I was destined to forever more like only boy bands. We grow up, we change As do the bands and artists we love. It all becomes memories we hold on to. They are only immortal in the music that is left. We can still listen to them as our own guilty pleasures. Which leaves us revelling in those times spent with friends of - Do you remember this band?, this song?, this one hit wonder that still gets played at parties. Which inevitably results in an onslaught of YouTube videos being played trying to out band each other. Or as I do when hearing a blast form the past, Shout TUNE! at the top of my voice.

If storyline is the heart could soundtrack be the soul?

I have been involved in theatre since the age of 11. In this time I have seen many interesting ways that music plays a part in different productions. 
From instruments being played live on stage, a recorded track being used to having to source the correct song without infringing copyright laws. It proves that a show does not have to be in the "Musical" genre to have music play an important part. 


The picture above shows some of the secret workings that are happening in my work at the moment. These old pianos are being de-constructed to make new instruments and music for a forthcoming production of 'King Lear'. Which to some is considered the greatest of Shakespeare's work. Having walked past the beautiful collection of keys and strings for weeks it made me think, So my question is this. 


How much does music add to a story? 


Music in television for me can make a show. It is through this that I have discovered many bands that have never had any marketing or breakout in the UK. Film, TV and Stage soundtracks make up a lot of my music collection. Some I play for background music as i potter around. Others to "Crank it up to 11" and think yes I could be a character in that show. It is this avenue that proves how pivotal music can be to a show and vice-versa. An example of this is the band Snow Patrol who were relatively unsuccessful in America till their track 'Chasing Cars' featured in a 'Greys Anatomy' episode. Also I love the fact that shows like that of Fox Network Hit 'Glee' can introduce an entire new generation to bands like Fleetwood Mac.  

The most downloaded song originally released in the pre-digital era is 'Don't stop believing' by Journey which since its original release in 1981 has been featured in 7 TV Shows, 8 films and even Hillary Clinton borrowed the track for a campaign video. Some say over used. I say its a testament to how popular culture influences the music industry. You may not remember what dialogue was being said at the time but you will remember what song was played. 

It was only 44 years prior to Journeys hit release that the first commercially issued film OST (Original Sound Track) was released. This was the sound recording of Disney's 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'. It is possibly thanks to Mr Walt that my love for soundtracks first formed. As a 7 year old girl who really wanted to live 'Under the Sea' and to this day has many Disney songs in her music library. Well who wouldn't find it easier to commute to work in the morning with Hakuna matata playing in your ears?

 So next time you are watching a bad film or even an episode of your favourite serial drama take a moment to see beneath the story. Turn up the volume a little and listen to the background music. It may just be a song from a Killer Soundtrack.

My Brain is a Jukebox. Everyday I dance to its many tunes.

Music has always been a massive part of my life. My parents never influenced me on particular genres, I just danced along to whatever they placed on the record player. This could be anything from The Rolling Stones to Barbara Streisand or B.B King to Bananarama. All and all the extensive LP collection my parents owned was like a pick and mix selection from the music industry. I learnt to respect that everyone has their own individual choice and taste in music. My Dad owned a record shop when i was little so i think that the smell of Vinyl is in my blood. I seen first hand the transition of Media. Records were replaced by Cassettes and then cassettes by Compact discs. 

Now nearly a quarter of a century on from those shop memories the digital download has further taken over. It was only last night as my boyfriend sat playing song intro after intro that i realised how much music my brain contains. He was making me guess each tune. Like the old television show testing how long it took me. If I didn't know the name of the song then I did know the opening Lyric. If I failed on the opening, I could give the chorus. Failing only a few times to my disappointment. It was this realisation that made me write this post.

I sadly admit that we do not own any vinyl (Sorry Dad). However I cannot ever see the day coming that I scrap my CD collection. Even with all its embarrassment hidden on the bottom shelf. Secretly I feel I need to teach my son that songs did not just appear with a click of a button. As I reach my late 20's (SHHH!) I only hope that I continue to find new and different music. If not I always have my internal Jukebox to delve into.