Very informative, Chris...and enjoyable! Dug your song, too (and your voice)! I love what you do and how you do it, especially as I'm not a songwriter. But, with an ear, I've "dissected" songs for decades, in one way or another (I saw The Beatles on "Ed Sullivan" in '64....I was 8...that informed everything in recorded music I looked for…
Very informative, Chris...and enjoyable! Dug your song, too (and your voice)! I love what you do and how you do it, especially as I'm not a songwriter. But, with an ear, I've "dissected" songs for decades, in one way or another (I saw The Beatles on "Ed Sullivan" in '64....I was 8...that informed everything in recorded music I looked for from then on, at least regarding pop songcraft)!
I learned flute by ear in high school, learning Ian Anderson's licks off the Tull records, and as a non-reading singer (in a rock band and various choruses), I used my ear to learn the songs (sometimes even recording them, so I could listen and learn at home), while readers could just show up, each week, and read!
For several years in karaoke, a decade ago, I would write down sections for various songs I was trying to learn, especially brand new (to me) songs. A great example (I'd love to read your dissection on it, if you take requests!) would be the '97 Bacharach/Costello "Toledo" (the Costello vocal) which has about 3 or 4 sections (if I recall correctly) that, to my ear, couldn't really "qualify" as verses or choruses, just 3 repeated sections. It was hard to learn, but I did it, and loved singing it at karaoke!
Thanks so much, Chris! Well, if the song defies characterization, how surprised should we be from the handiwork of Burt'n'Elvis?! With all the time that song has lived with me (in both arrangements), they choked me up again when I went back to them today!
Very informative, Chris...and enjoyable! Dug your song, too (and your voice)! I love what you do and how you do it, especially as I'm not a songwriter. But, with an ear, I've "dissected" songs for decades, in one way or another (I saw The Beatles on "Ed Sullivan" in '64....I was 8...that informed everything in recorded music I looked for from then on, at least regarding pop songcraft)!
I learned flute by ear in high school, learning Ian Anderson's licks off the Tull records, and as a non-reading singer (in a rock band and various choruses), I used my ear to learn the songs (sometimes even recording them, so I could listen and learn at home), while readers could just show up, each week, and read!
For several years in karaoke, a decade ago, I would write down sections for various songs I was trying to learn, especially brand new (to me) songs. A great example (I'd love to read your dissection on it, if you take requests!) would be the '97 Bacharach/Costello "Toledo" (the Costello vocal) which has about 3 or 4 sections (if I recall correctly) that, to my ear, couldn't really "qualify" as verses or choruses, just 3 repeated sections. It was hard to learn, but I did it, and loved singing it at karaoke!
I wrote about my pedestrian attempts here, if I may be so bold: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/wholly-toledo-my-long-drive-to-find
Anyway, thanks, Chris! I look forward to more!
What a spectacular essay. I need to listen to the song closely. Some songs just defy characterization.
Thanks so much, Chris! Well, if the song defies characterization, how surprised should we be from the handiwork of Burt'n'Elvis?! With all the time that song has lived with me (in both arrangements), they choked me up again when I went back to them today!