Articulation - who cares?

In a recent coaching class, someone [no names now] made the comment that for a singer, articulation can't be that important because nobody listens to the lyrics anymore!  I was too dumbfounded to make a comment at the time.

If this were really the case, we'd all be tuning to the classical music station...we'd all be listening to opera ....and nobody would be singing along in the car! [er, unless you sing opera that is]

Music is integral to the human spirit.  It uplifts us.  It soothes us.  It motivates us. It inspires us. Many of our memories are linked to music.  We use it to mark the important milestones in our life ....birthdays, weddings, celebrations of all types.  We treasure it as a solo experience and we share it with other human beings.  When the music has lyrics, it is called a song!

Songs are the fabric of, and the witness to, our lives.  Lyrics can become a mantra for many people [dare I stick my neck out and say 'most people'?].  Here are a few of my own examples:

• upon achievement - the lyrics of Queen's "we are the champions of the world"  
• successfully tackling a challenging task - Annie Lennox singing "sisters, are doing it for themselves"
• currently, when I'm struggling with something, the lyrics of a Whitney Houston song - "step by step, bit by bit, stone by stone, brick by brick"

As a songwriter, the challenge is always in finding a way to get the message across in fewer words. For me, some songs are just for fun - so if the listener can't hear the lyrics, they'll miss the joke (or worse, the punchline).  Most of my songs, though, have a message - and often multiple messages.  I often structure my lyrics to be interpreted in different ways - in order that individual listeners will find meaning to fit their need.

When audience members come up to me after a gig and tell me that "that song really touched me because ..."  or "you played a song last year that changed my life ..." then proceed to share their own story,  well, for a songwriter it lifts me to a new high and I know I've done my job well.

So I'm putting out a new challenge on Facebook each day this week .....share the lyrics that make a difference in YOUR life.  I'd love to hear from YOU ...so leave a comment below or jump on to Facebook and join the challenge.

Cruisin' into the new year

Well, a new year...a fresh start....wondering what 2012 is going to bring to me and where it's going to take me musically.  With some major projects now off my agenda I'm praying for patience to let new things unfold [not an easy task for me] so it's a relatively laid back start to the new year for me.
I've locked in some dates at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Newcastle {I LOVE that space!} for 3 shows/5 performances between March and July.  Check the "Projects" page of this blog to see what's coming up{well, in a few days - I haven't got to that page yet!}.  And of course, I'm expecting to release the new album UnderCovered in the next couple of months - I know, I know, I promised to have the artwork at least to show you this month...but believe it or not, I'm still waiting for my buddy to finalise the design into the template!! 

So in the absence of a piccie - can I tantalise you with the track titles?

1. Day is Done
   
2. Granny Hell RETITLED "PLAY"
   
3. Wise Woman
   
4. Carrying Burdens
   
5. Fancy That
6. Grey Day in Melbourne
   
7. Gemma's Song Retitled "WANNA BE"
   
8. All Dressed UP
   
9. That's How it Goes
   
10. Cover your Load
    
11. Sheri's Song Retitled "ENIGMA"
    
12. Dona Nobis Pacem

 More about the tracks in upcoming blogs.
In the meantime ....what do you think of the new design?  Any feedback is welcome.

Have a great 2012 yourself - more music to you
 

Musically Yours and Happy Christmas

Whew, what a year it's been and the load isn't quite lifted yet.  One more show to do this week, a last Supper Club to organise next week and then....only then....can I think about Christmas shopping, a tree, and catching up on some sleep!  Have you checked out the other pages on this blog lately?  There's been some updates that you might want to read about...and there'll be more in January.

Sorry, no artwork to share for UnderCovered yet ....fingers crossed it'll be in the next posting here.  For a recording project that got completed in record time, [no pun intended!] the finished product is taking more than its fair share of time....quite the reverse of previous projects I might add.  But there you go,  sometimes things just take the time they take to get their wings.

December will see a few 'closing doors' for me as I extricate myself from a number of engagements but I'm excited about what might eventuate next year.  I'm disinclined to seek commercial gig opportunities and much prefer to concentrate on fewer, quality, intimate performances for audiences that appreciate my music and the music I like to share.  Next month, I'll tell you about some of those that I've got in mind for 2012.

I've also really enjoyed helping so many people find their voices this year - or re-connect with their voices and want to do more of that next year.  Music is such a beautiful thing to share with someone else. It can form the basis and memories of lasting friendships .....{big hugs to you Jules!}....and connects people in ways that nothing else can.

My wish for YOU ...is that you find the song in your heart this Christmas and that you share it with those around you throughout 2012.

Harmoniously,
Maureen
PS.......give the gift of music this Christmas - it lasts a lot longer than a box of chokkies and there's no calories.   Buy Luminous with Ebb&Flow and Many Shades of Blue for just $50 and get a free copy of Breaking the Habit.....[that's $80 value]

Created vs Discovered

OOPS!  Running a bit late and we're ALREADY in November! Anyone else scrambling to catch up on all the things they'd planned to do in 2011?

If you're really efficient and have started your Christmas shopping, can I remind you that the gift of music lasts a heckova lot longer than a box of chocolates!  And you can get 5 albums here for $50 - cheap as chips!  Put your order in today.

I heard the tail end of an interview on ABC radio this morning [Conversations] with past prime minister Paul Keating and I just loved his philosophy on the Arts.  I know I'm not going to remember his exact words so forgive me if I paraphrase him ......"..music is the greatest of the Arts because music is not representational.....and  unlike science which is waiting to be discovered, music comes from being created....". He spoke of the importance of creativity in thinking and a direct quote: "A government which has no premium on the Arts is going nowhere".  That's great Big Picture thinking.

For those of us engaged  in Community Arts, we know - and we see - the value of the Arts in our micro-society, our community.  We see how music for example, connects people from all walks of life.  We see how music reaches out to the lonely and uplifts the spirit of the depressed.  We see how music motivates and inspires individuals around us. We see how integral music is to the community for any celebration.  It's not rocket science - but it's invaluable to our society.  Be nice if there was greater understanding of this at government and business level.

May your coming Christmas season be filled to the brim with the blessing of music.

• NEW ALBUM   it's kinda in limbo at the moment - cos I ran out of dough to get it cut!! [ahh, the challenges of being a full time muso]  But it's already got a title ....."UnderCovered"...and the artwork is done [just being reshaped by a buddy to fit the boxes].  I know I promised last month to share more information about it in this Posting ....but I want to wait til I have some of the artwork ready to show you at the same time.  Have patience - it'll be worth the wait, I promise!