Another Magic Bluebird show last night. There is nothing on earth like this in the world of songwriting. As I sat in my favoite seat, (the one facing the door, best view of the audience) I was just a lucky observer on a GREAT SHOW. Scott Southworth, the host, really put together a stellar round with BILL DILUIGI, and Lizzie McAvoy. She writes for Major Bob music and is quite the song bird. Big voice. Bill always finds some very comfortable grooves and Scott is the MASTER of getting audiences to sing along to songs they don't know. WRITE EM' SIMPLE FOLKS. there is your lesson.
I was trying to keep up, following Bill and before Lizzie. I started out with BAREFEET, telling the story of Frankie. (The Bluebird is one of the only places you are EXPECTED to tell a short story about the song, before doing it) The second was my real dilema. Sitting about ten feet away from me was a co-writer, TUCKER BOWLER, from Alabama. He is a retired professor from AUBURN university and now making regular trips to Nashville. One of the songs we wrote, ELVIS IS ALIVE IN MY BATHROOM MIRROR, is a pretty good comedy song and nothing like anything else I have. So I pulled that one out of the archives and did my best to get through it. Doing a ten year old song is risky, but I made it except for the bridge. Just skipped that.
After that, we went deep and I pulled out THE HARD WAY, the one I have written with Scott. Now an interesting side note on that song, is that Scott and I have virtually TWO DIFFERENT VERSIONS of that song. We were never in the same room as we wrote it, and both have kind of our own stamp, in relation to the way we speak. Scott likes a little more words than I do, and his version kind of changes some of the lyrics around to fit how he likes it. I tend to prefer my version as well. That happens sometimes. I have heard writers, particularly in bands, that have different versions of hit songs. Kind of a cool thing. Sometimes producers, editors, publishers, etc. make changes even after a song is released. I have known of writers who have a completely different version of their popular songs.
My friend Joie Scott had a song recorded by SHANIA TWAIN. Shania and her husband/producer at the time, Mutt Lange COMPLETELY re-wrote the song. It was used in the DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES soundtrack. But it was a totally different song. Joie now follows my example and does both versions of the song. Can be fun.
The last two, THE GRAND OPENING, the first song I did at the Bluebird, and ending of course, with TABLES AND CHAIRS, it was a pretty rewarding night. Why can't I do that EVERY NIGHT? I would die happy if that were so. But very grateful for that one.
Afterword we went across the street to a Pizza place where a small group of us hung out. I was approached by a 13 year old female artist and her mother, they bought a CD and started asking questions. An hour later, they walked out with us, I hope a little wiser. I was telling them about Melissa, who I have talked about a bit lately. I hope they will contact her.
So that is how it was last night. Today is my writer/artist/lawyer from Birmingham. I hope to bring him over here soon.
Later,
MAB