[Harry Binswanger]

I have written a number of songs, in various genres, and put up computer-generated versions of them on the web: http://www.hblist.com/mu

Most of them are song fragments. They lack the other sections that a pop song would have. And aside from a few brief passages, they haven’t reached the level of emotional depth I am aiming at. Since these are synthesized, and since I don’t really know how to use the software, the “performances” are mechanical and uninspired.

Now that the apologies are over, I can get to the reason for posting this: these need lyrics. I’m not sure all of them call for lyrics, but some do. “Tango Milonga” and “Holly Langford” come immediately to mind.

I tried a little to write my own lyrics, but in order to do that you’ve got to use evocative, connotative language, and all my automatizations are toward precise, defined, standardized terminology.

So, why not try your own hand at writing lyrics for any songs that speak to you.

I don’t mean to be passive-aggressive, but understand: there’s very little chance I’ll like your lyrics. I won’t criticize them, though, and you’ll have the fun of creating them, regardless.

There’s no reason why you need to write a complete set of lyrics for any of these songs. If all that come to you are four lines, that’s fine.

Please send them to: hb@alum.mit.edu and begin your subject line with LYRICS.

Thank you.

/sb

[JoseDonis]

Re: Harry Binswanger’s post 101516 of 1/29/20

I believe Alex Prisc is a seasoned songwriter.  I’m not sure if he is on HBL, but, if anyone can get this message to him, I assume he would give it a shot at writing some original lyrics.  Prisc has performed at previous OCONs.

/sb

[Peter de Laat]

Re: Harry Binswanger’s post 101516 of 1/29/20

I sometimes write lyrics, just for fun. Though mostly in Dutch. Below is something I wrote in English.

I have no standard style or any criteria about what I write. Sometimes I write something serious, but mostly it isn’t.

But I prefer challenging input. Things like a topic, emotions, maybe some images. Or just random thoughts about it. And a vocalist for whom it could be, that helps a lot too. Especially when it’s someone with a strong character in some way. If you can give me that for one particular song, I’ll try. Raises the chances you’ll like it too. 

As an example of such input, the input below was from my wife. We were watching the Eurovision Song Contest together and feeling utterly bored by it but kept hoping for something better. I finally said even I could write a song that could win easily from all that trash. 

Then my wife started naming things that she would like to see or things she thought would increase chances to win. From those I recall things like:

– Should be for a Big Band 
– Should have a big finale 
– Something Bette Midler would sing
– Have backing vocals with a soul feeling
– Should have a strong emotional appeal
– It should appeal to kids as well because it’s popular with families.

She probably mentioned more but I cannot recall those. 

For me, such things trigger thought. It becomes a fun challenge. 

In this case, it was this family thing with a strong appeal to emotions that I agreed would increase chances to win. And Bette Midler, she gives me this sense that she strongly wants things to be fun, but life gets in the way a lot. Well anyway, she plays such roles. Don’t really know anything about her.

I made it about the mismatch between many moms and boys. I decided to side with a boy and make life difficult for Bette. And let her sing about his feelings. And then added a finale where someone like Bette Midler could give it all.

So this is what I wrote:

 

Laugh with me mom

[Ad lib Lead vocals]
Do you know what he said?
Do you know what he said?

[backing vocals – talking]
He misses his dad?
Tell us, girl

[slow 4/4 feel – Lead]
He said
I hear you laugh, with aunt Maggy
I see you laugh when you watch tv
But lately, I’ve been wondering mom
Why you hardly, laugh with me

My teeth, school, vitamins, chores
That’s what you care about
And sure enough, I should behave
even while you nag, even while you shout

Oh really mom, I try my best
to be polite, say sir and mam
and show my wits, to all your friends
so you can be proud, of how smart I am

[6/8 feel – backing vocals]
Laugh with him, mom
Play with him, mom
Laugh with him, play with him
Have some fun
[2x]

[6/8 feel continued – Lead]
He said
But for me mom, there is more to life
Come play with me, feel the joy
of catching frogs, and building huts
or discovering a cool new toy

If you ride with me, through the puddles
If I can chase you, with my water gun
We could laugh together and have so much fun
And you’d make me real proud, that you’re my mom

[Backing vocals]
Laugh with him, mom
Play with him, mom
Laugh with him, play with him
Have some fun
[2x]

[Lead]
He said
I know you love to sit together
Read a story, talk all day
And I love that too mom, but I want action!
I want to laugh! I want to play!

[Backing vocals]
Laugh with him, mom
Play with him, mom
Laugh with him, play with him
Have some fun
[backing vocals keep repeat]

[Ad libs – Lead through backing vocals]
[bitchy] Leave those frogs alone, honey
[moaning] Mommy hasn’t felt like herself lately but I can cry with you all you want
[accepting] I play with you
[liberated] I play with you! 
Puddles, chasing, huts, gaming, cars, trains, soccer, card games, computers, sandcastles, bikes, you name it 
[exuberant] Let’s laugh! Let’s play!

Laugh with me, son
Play with me, son
Laugh with me, play with me
Let’s have fun

/sb

[BetsySpeicher]

Re: Harry Binswanger’s post 101516 of 1/29/20

Now that the apologies are over, I can get to the reason for posting this: these need lyrics. I’m not sure all of them call for lyrics, but some do. “Tango Milonga” and “Holly Langford” come immediately to mind.

It would help if you could give your reasons for saying they “call for lyrics.”

What do you want them to say? What kind of story do you imagine them telling? What kind of mood or emotion do you want them to convey?

Those are the kind of issues that I’ve faced when I’ve choreographed dances to music that “calls for a dance.”

(Some of my dance numbers and the music that inspired them are described here.)

*sb

[JoseDonis]

Re: Betsy Speicher’s post 128613 of 1/30/20

I would LOVE to see this one choreographed!  Great song, great dance storyline!

Title: The Sculptor
Type : Pas de deux
Music: “Wrapped Around Your Finger” by The Police
Theme: Creativity: Making art, making one’s own character, and making love
Dance: A sculptor creates a statue of his ideal woman and brings her to life so that he can love her — but she has a mind of her own.

*sb

[BetsySpeicher]

Re: Jose Donis’ post 128615 of 1/30/20

I would LOVE to see this one choreographed!  Great song, great dance storyline!

Title: The Sculptor

This was performed twice by two different pairs of dancers in 1993, but that was before YouTube. Maybe I’ll do it again if I can find some interested dancers and a videographer.

*sb

[David Elmore]

Re: Harry Binswanger’s post 101516 of 1/29/20

A poem I wrote that (maybe) could be a song:

 

                       Her

She walked in while I was taking a sip;
The room was loud, but I heard none of it;
She was tall — too tall — for most, I suppose,
She stopped and looked around, for what? Who knows?

Soon her eyes found me staring, yes, at her;
She smiled, so did I, and the world‘s a blur;
“Where are you going”? asked one of my friends;
“What? Oh. I’m going to where the world ends.”

She’d looked off, but she knew I was coming;
Women know masculine stuff, it’s their thing;
I approached, and her blonde hair turned my may,
”So tell me,” she said, “tell me what you’ll say.”

“You know,” said I, “I’ll bet that many men,
First thing, say that you are so tall and fine;
I wouldn’t think of saying any of that”;
“Good,” said her, laughing. “Where’s your big black hat?”

“I left it on my big black horse outside;”
“Ah,” she said. “Later, give a girl a ride?”
“Now that is an image — of romance;”
“Yes,” said her, “but for now, let’s have a dance.”

Our hands clasped halfway as I led the way
Through a happy crowd of people at play;
Turning back, I looked at her — at her
Beauty, grace and ease — of herself, so sure.

Those first warm seconds are eternity;
A wink, a smile, the clutch of life, you see;
We danced the night, gliding the planked concourse;
Then me, her, ‘versing — at the speed of horse.

[Barbara Lamar]

Re: Harry Binswanger’s post 101516 of 1/29/20

I listened to your songs out of curiosity but stayed to enjoy them. 

I am very busy with work and do not have time to try to make up lyrics, especially since you are predisposed to dislike them. But some of the songs do call out for words.

For example, as I listen to the first couple of lines of Travelin On, I hear the words:

“Shakin that dust right outta my hair

I’m movin on, not sure to where …”

Many thanks for sharing your songs! They delighted at least one listener today. 

*sb

[Harry Binswanger]

Re: David Elmore’s post 128629 of 1/31/20

Yes, that’s the idea! Take one of my songs and do something like that with it.

I especially like “the clutch of life.”

*sb

[Harry Binswanger]

Re: Barbara Lamar’s post 128632 of 1/31/20

I am delighted to hear that you like “Travelin’ on.” Your two lines are not bad for a first cut. (The first line is kinda close to “wash that man right outta my hair,” though.) 

*sb

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