A Lost & Found Christmas Story
We want to believe there’s a reason for things - and that reasons will reveal themselves in due time. The alternative, believing in sheer coincidence, is not as enchanting as magical thinking. But I like it! Especially at Christmas. . 🎄❤️💚
EVERYBODY’S Working on a Musical!
I’ve been reluctant about sharing what I’ve been up to but I’ve learned you have to tell the Universe what you want. What your intentions are. Now, I’m not saying that every endeavor is going to fly just because you let the Universe in on your secret. It may not. BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO PUT IT OUT THERE. 😳
The C-Word
I have a theory: If we continue referring to music as “content,” we’re giving license and incentive to those it benefits should the language stick. I’m not saying that if we stop using the c-word we’ll suddenly prosper, but rather that continuing to give it cred is bad Karma. It puts a hex on our livelihood. The Universe hears us.
She’s Gone
After a month of anticipation, loading up the fridge with her favorite snacks from Trader Joes, getting all the junk I’ve been storing in her bedroom OUT of her bedroom … the week is over. What’s a mother to do?
Trust Anyway
Last Tuesday morning I FaceTime’d with my daughter Layla and told her I’ve been thinking a lot about faith. She, in an effort to comfort me, said the definition of faith is “trust anyway.” I wrote it down on a Post-it. That would be my mantra throughout a very busy day. No matter how it turned out.
Covid In NY
I was a ‘Novid’ for the longest time (never tested positive for Covid). Thought I was immune. Maybe I had the magical blood type (0) which supposedly offers more protection — but then God said “ha.” 🙄 >>>>>
Daryl And Todd
You guys might have read about my obsession with Todd Rundgren. But FYI I’m a freak for Daryl Hall as well. And so … the 2 of them together is like sleeping with 2 of your favorite lovers at the same time. Insane! If my ears had eyes they be rolling to the back of my head.
Two Of Us
I always feel a sense of ‘what just happened?’ when I’m ready for take off after a trip that was long awaited and is now over … like so much else in life. Including I imagine, life itself. No matter how wonderful a time was had, it will be a relief to come home. To get my passport stamped. To speak and be understood. To know I can find my way all by myself if I get lost. So I’m happy. But I’m also sad to leave my friend. Because I’ll miss her all over again.
Good Morning Bodrum, Türkiye
I took this particular trip because one of my dearest besties up and left the country 6 months into the pandemic to go back to her homeland. One day I realized … she’s not coming back. (Maybe I should have known this when she sold everything she owned and packed up her 2 cats.) Clearly, I was in denial.
John Lennon, Selena and ABBA
John Lennon was featured on a larger-than-life screen behind Paul at a recent concert. I love Paul beyond and I’m ecstatic to hear, see, anything re-imagined on John’s behalf. But I wonder how John would have felt.
Both Sides Now
When Joni sings “Both Sides Now’ at 78 people might try to help her remember the lyrics but Joni doesn’t need help. If you sing a song 10,000 times, even if you lose your mind (which Joni hasn’t), you remember the song. The words just come. Muscle memory. Her voice an octave lower. Her tone, vintage. It might seem like she’s going to forget. But the woman is simply taking her time.
Catching Up With Haywood
I am in AWE of Leah…I mean Haywood. She’s always had/still has it all. Lungs, writing AND production chops. I never had it all. I could never make a record without help. Aside from one track on “Pressure On My Heart” she wrote and produced the entire album on her own — A local sister truly doing it all by herself.
Diamond Girl
“Diamond Girl” takes me back to a time I imagined I could BE the diamond girl Seals & Crofts were singing about. That’s what songs are supposed to do. Make you feel like they’re about you. And when you learn that the creator of the song is gone, they take a piece of you with them. But thing is…the song remains. It never goes away. I’m sitting in my yard listening to “Diamond Girl” right now. I’ve entered an emotional time machine. “It’s about you that I am.”
Let’s Talk About Songwriting
You can never capture a feeling as clearly as you can in the moment you’re having it. So write it down ASAP. Or really SOON! Feelings and memories get clouded in the fog of time. And clouded by how we keep re-telling a story to ourselves. (But those are songs too.) (All of them.)
24 Spots
SONA’s very first (and very successful) songwriting day-camp grouped 24 (mainly) up-and-coming songwriters in 3-way collaborations. Next time, we may pair new-school writers with old school writers which makes sense to me because the current approach in songwriting incorporates more wordplay but often lacks a solid concept. Whereas seasoned writers come with solid concepts that could use more wordplay — consistent with current pop trends. I’m down for next time.
I Was Working as a Waitress in a Cocktail Bar
This is Kelly and I. We were waitresses together in the 80s. I loved being a waitress. I was the leading actress on a stage all the time. If you were seated in my section you were at my mercy. I had the power.
Everyone who worked in that lounge had stars in their eyes. Big dreams about getting discovered, signed to a record label, writing a hit song, dancing on Broadway. We supported each others’ endeavors by going to each other’s gigs. One day, Kelly and I ventured out to see one of the busboys in a play and a funny thing happened….
Warriors and Angels
Please allow me to take time out from my regularly scheduled column to make sure you know about the 2022 SONA Warrior Awards. In a time when we all understandably have a severe case of virtual fatigue (myself included), this is one event you don’t want to miss.
💪🏻💪💪🏿💪🏾💪🏼💪🏽 😇
Dear Mandy Moore…
Dear Mandy, Back when we met way before THIS IS US, I wrote a song for you called “17.” You came to record vocals. You were so young. Sweet. Starry eyed. Baby skinned. But it was your performance on “I Wanna Be With You,” a lyric I wrote to a melody Keith Thomas sent me for the movie CENTER STAGE, that clinched my crush on you.
I followed you though all 6 seasons of THIS IS US but now that it’s over I miss you, Mandy. I miss THIS IS US. I think I’m going through withdrawal! 🥹 🥹
25 Years Later
For me “Bitch” was a term of endearment for all the complicated and lovable hypocrisies women present. At the time of conception Meredith and I were both going through some kind of metamorphosis unbeknownst to each other and when we got in the same room all those feelings exploded. That’s my favorite kind of Songsex: Confessional. Organic. Un-calculated.
