February 2013 Song of the Month

Posted: Sunday, February 3, 2013 5:06 am

By: staff

Congratulations to Tburd54 (Terry Burdette) for his song, "Looking Back" being voted February 2013's Song of the Month.

How did the song get recorded? Explain the process for us. 

 I sat down with a song I really related to and ...I played it a lot...really listening to all the aspects that made it great...then I wrote the melody to Looking Back ...I wanted to write a song that hopefully would make the listener look back on their own lives honestly ...and still feel gratitude no matter what.

If you could choose anyone, who would you like to hear performing your song? 

 Greg Brown or Guy Clark or Steve Earle would be great

Do you see yourself as a writer for others or a performer of your own Songs? 

Mainly  a writer, after I retire, I have been  flirting with the idea of performing in a small circle around where I live. if you have ever been performing one of your songs in a noisy bar and all at once the whole place gets quiet and you connect..well..its pretty powerful.

Why do you write songs?

I really think it's like sermons for preachers, something you see/ feel about life is trying to find its way out...and you want to present it in way that touches other people. My friends at the Ramp seemed to really like American Dreams a while back..that song was born as I wrote a lesson plan for my U.S. History class..where my goal in the lesson and the song was to help people imagine how wide open America was back then..and maybe inspire people to believe in good ole American  hard work and ingenuity again.

Do you have an all-time favorite song?   

Dan Fogelberg's  Same Ole Lang Syne really inspired me to continue my pursuit of song writing at a time when I was fried and tired of dealing with rejection on Music Row..for example...."We went to have ourselves a drink or two....but couldn't find an open bar...we bought a six-pack at the liquor store and drank it in her car". Dan wrote the song in a way that transported you to that place....two old lovers running into each other after many years....the laughter, the awkwardness...the bittersweet of it all. He also taught me to count syllables as I write lyrics.

Do you have a favorite songramp writer and/or performer?

Way too many great writers here on the Ramp to list  and so many that I have also enjoyed watching them find their voice over the years...and grow as a writers.

In your opinion, what are the essential ingredients of a great song? 

a melody that sticks in your head easily......lyrics that touch the heart ...make you think.

Are there any other comment you would like to make? 

Thanks to all folks who nominated my song and my friends on the Ramp who take the time to listen to my songs, and leave messages in the review box that motivate me to try and get better. Also really dig all the changes administration has added to the Ramp website. I have been on many different song writer web sites and you can’t beat the Ramp for providing so many services invaluable for growing song writers! 

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