Sorry, NO INTRO VIDEO this week. The lunchtime birthday party I went to earlier went on longer than I expected.
As usual when I host, I want to encourage people to write songs. I especially want to encourage those who haven't written a song to do so this week. If your entry (ies) is (are) your first song(s) then you'll get bonus marks! (Tell me if it is!)
Now, for me, the most difficult thing about writing a song is knowing what to write about. That is why the Seasons are such a good boost for my creativity, because the different themes each week remove that difficulty and force me to think about how I might approach the week's theme creatively.
Now, a good way to write your first song is to use an already existing tune and that is one of the options this week. But writing words that are totally disconnected to the original is too easy. I am not going to make it that simple.
So here are this week's twin themes. I want you to think about one of two things (or even combine them).
1. "The Right to Reply" (or there are two sides to every story)
Now, there must be a song (especially those addressed to some mysterious "you") in which you feel the narrator is being too one sided in their moan about the person addressed. If we are being fair minded, maybe we can understand why the person who caused the narrator's blues did what the song says they did. That's what I want you to do. Put yourself in the place of the person addressed in the song and write a song (using the same tune) that puts their side of the story.
Not sure what I mean? Well, do you know the song "My Husband's Got No Courage in Him?"
It's a popular folk song sung in folk clubs all over Ireland and Britain. If you don't know it, give it a listen here.
Then give a listen to my "Right to Reply" version which I wrote this week in preparation for 406.
Get the idea?
2. "Setting the Record straight"
Last month I read a super novel called "Fool" which retells the story of King Lear from the point of view of the King's buffoon. It was highly entertaining (if you are familiar with "King Lear" ).
A couple of Seasons back, I ran with that idea and wrote a song from the viewpoint of Caliban, the "villain" in Shakespeare's "The Tempest". I tried to see the story from his POV and the song defends him and justifies his actions.
Some years back, I submitted a song to the seasons which told the truth about Bonny Prince Charlie. It is written from the perspective of one of the Highlanders who he led to total disaster. Called "Culloden Field (Bloody Charlie)" you can hear it here:
(Fans of "Outlander" might be particularly keen on hearing it. )
So, this is the other option for your song writing chops this week. Write me a song to any tune you like (new or existing) which views either a historical incident or a well known story from a fresh perspective. (This could be as simple as taking a minor character in a well known song and making them the protagonist. e.g. retell the story of Eleanor Rigby from the perspective of Father McKenzie, maybe expanding on why he lost his faith (which the original certainly hints he has - "No one was saved!").
-----------------------------------------------------
So, what about all of you who don't want to write a song this week? Don't worry, you are not forgotten. What I would like you guys to do is to bring me a song preferably written by (or at least performed by) one of my favourite 1970s songstresses who is now, sadly, almost forgotten - Melanie Safka (famous simply as Melanie). She was the quintessential hippy goddess and I had a fan's crush on her for years.
------------------------------------------------------
RULES: the usual (prominent ukulele, new recording for this week, no submissions before the official opening time, etc).
I'd prefer only ONE submission a day per person, so as to ensure I give everyone a good listen.
No more rules, but I would ask the songwriters to:
A - Please add the lyrics of your song in the description on youtube
B - If you choose the "right to reply" option and you think I may not be aware of the original, then please add a link to it when you post to the Season.
As this is quite a challenge this week, I am going to give away a prize... a mystery ukulele... or Ukulele related instrument....the mystery being the winner will have to wait and see what comes through the post and I only ask him or her to feature their prize in the Season in which they receive it.
So go to it. But please remember, if you are reading this on Saturday, that 405 is still running, so ensure you don't tread on its toes.
Enjoy!
Berni
Playlist of Originals Songs
Playlist of Melanie Covers
As usual when I host, I want to encourage people to write songs. I especially want to encourage those who haven't written a song to do so this week. If your entry (ies) is (are) your first song(s) then you'll get bonus marks! (Tell me if it is!)
Now, for me, the most difficult thing about writing a song is knowing what to write about. That is why the Seasons are such a good boost for my creativity, because the different themes each week remove that difficulty and force me to think about how I might approach the week's theme creatively.
Now, a good way to write your first song is to use an already existing tune and that is one of the options this week. But writing words that are totally disconnected to the original is too easy. I am not going to make it that simple.
So here are this week's twin themes. I want you to think about one of two things (or even combine them).
1. "The Right to Reply" (or there are two sides to every story)
Now, there must be a song (especially those addressed to some mysterious "you") in which you feel the narrator is being too one sided in their moan about the person addressed. If we are being fair minded, maybe we can understand why the person who caused the narrator's blues did what the song says they did. That's what I want you to do. Put yourself in the place of the person addressed in the song and write a song (using the same tune) that puts their side of the story.
Not sure what I mean? Well, do you know the song "My Husband's Got No Courage in Him?"
It's a popular folk song sung in folk clubs all over Ireland and Britain. If you don't know it, give it a listen here.
Then give a listen to my "Right to Reply" version which I wrote this week in preparation for 406.
Get the idea?
2. "Setting the Record straight"
Last month I read a super novel called "Fool" which retells the story of King Lear from the point of view of the King's buffoon. It was highly entertaining (if you are familiar with "King Lear" ).
A couple of Seasons back, I ran with that idea and wrote a song from the viewpoint of Caliban, the "villain" in Shakespeare's "The Tempest". I tried to see the story from his POV and the song defends him and justifies his actions.
Some years back, I submitted a song to the seasons which told the truth about Bonny Prince Charlie. It is written from the perspective of one of the Highlanders who he led to total disaster. Called "Culloden Field (Bloody Charlie)" you can hear it here:
(Fans of "Outlander" might be particularly keen on hearing it. )
So, this is the other option for your song writing chops this week. Write me a song to any tune you like (new or existing) which views either a historical incident or a well known story from a fresh perspective. (This could be as simple as taking a minor character in a well known song and making them the protagonist. e.g. retell the story of Eleanor Rigby from the perspective of Father McKenzie, maybe expanding on why he lost his faith (which the original certainly hints he has - "No one was saved!").
-----------------------------------------------------
So, what about all of you who don't want to write a song this week? Don't worry, you are not forgotten. What I would like you guys to do is to bring me a song preferably written by (or at least performed by) one of my favourite 1970s songstresses who is now, sadly, almost forgotten - Melanie Safka (famous simply as Melanie). She was the quintessential hippy goddess and I had a fan's crush on her for years.
------------------------------------------------------
RULES: the usual (prominent ukulele, new recording for this week, no submissions before the official opening time, etc).
I'd prefer only ONE submission a day per person, so as to ensure I give everyone a good listen.
No more rules, but I would ask the songwriters to:
A - Please add the lyrics of your song in the description on youtube
B - If you choose the "right to reply" option and you think I may not be aware of the original, then please add a link to it when you post to the Season.
As this is quite a challenge this week, I am going to give away a prize... a mystery ukulele... or Ukulele related instrument....the mystery being the winner will have to wait and see what comes through the post and I only ask him or her to feature their prize in the Season in which they receive it.
So go to it. But please remember, if you are reading this on Saturday, that 405 is still running, so ensure you don't tread on its toes.
Enjoy!
Berni
Playlist of Originals Songs
Playlist of Melanie Covers
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