Happy Half-Birthday to "Song in Your Box"!!!
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WEEK TWENTY-SIX- Can We Stop?
Holy shit, folks. Yeah that's right. I said it. Holy shit! I am at the half-way point of my year of "Song in Your Box." Twenty-six mother-lovin' songs. It seems absurd that I started this in the summer, right after my big cross-country move and now it's winter, I've been here 6 months and I have a boat-load of new songs.
I can't tell you how much I've been learning, observing, absorbing with the move and with this project. It seems serendipitous that I started it at the time of a huge transition but I also know I did it that way for a reason. A reason I didn't know at the time (and might not know for a while longer).
I decided that in honor of this half birthday I'd share a few things that I've learned along the way. I'm also going to put a few of my favorite songs from "Song in Your Box" after this week's song.
A few things I've learned: 1. You cannot wait until inspiration "hits". Writing/creating is the same as working out. You have to do it every day to strengthen the muscle. You wouldn't work out one time and think you were fit... just like you can't write every once in a while and produce your best stuff.
2.No matter how much time I have, I will usually always wait until the last minute. It is a habit I am still trying to break.
3. There are only 12 notes in the scale. Inevitably some songs are going to sound alike. There is no point in trying to avoid it. Just try to make each song its own.
4. Similarly to #3, you are not going to like every song/creation you make. That's OK. Some are going to speak to you more than others. Some will speak to other people more than others. Your job is to be the vessel for the songs to come through. Which leads me to....
5. Do not try to edit the creation/work while you are creating it. Get it all down. Write pages of lyrics, record hours of ideas (or whatever your mode is). Let it sit for a day or two. Then go back and get the "red pen" out. But first, write as if noone is going to ever hear/see it. (Some of the best advice I've ever been given).
6. Be flexible. Some things start out in one way and through the course of it's run, things have to change. I started this project as a closed one, (only for people on my list), but decided to open it up because it was the best thing for "Song in your Box". "Who's the Boss?" You are!
7.. You can never learn/know too much. I am reading books about song/writing, taking guitar lessons, listening to new music. I am trying to be a sponge. Soak it all in.
8.Have fun! If it's not fun, either make it fun, or don't do it. Otherwise, what's the point?
I know there are many more things I've learned. But 8 seems like a good number and I'm not done with this post yet. Yep it's going to a long one folks.
So, on to this week's song. "Can We Stop?". It sounds like I'm asking you if we can stop this project! haha...well, I'm not. This song is one I've had for months. Haunting me. Taunting me. I love the chorus. I love the idea. Because I do want to stop for a second to remember some moments. It's so easy to get caught up in things. To let moments pass you by. But life is just a collection of moments and you have to enjoy them once in a while. To be present and take them in.
So, I've been playing the chorus for months without a verse. I just couldn't get it. But I sat down and worked through it and I figured it out. Of course, I related it to being in the moment with a boy. They're just fun to write about and think about...so sue me. That first moment before you kiss is what I was thinking about.
And so without further ado, and before this post officially becomes a novel, here is "Can We Stop"?
Thank you so much for being here for the last 6 months. We have 6 more to go! If you have anything to add to my above lessons I would love to hear your take on it. What works for you? What doesn't work?
All my love, Dana
"Can We Stop?"
My top songs of Song in Your Box so far:
"Obsession"- Week 23
"Living in a Dream"-Week 15
"Talking to Myself"- Week 9