songwriting/singing dilemma

[dougstronach]

Hello all:I'm trying to prepare a few of my songs for a songwriting round coming up in Toronto at the end of the month and some of my older material (which I feel should be my most comfortable as it's my oldest) feels bloody terrible to sing. My new stuff feels way better but is still a little raw and unpolished. Anyone else had this experience?I'm hoping it's because I'm getting better as a writer and can hear where my old songs are going wrong (hence not being able to get into them anymore) but maybe I'm kidding myself. One song in particular was always a sure fire hit with the audience and felt good to sing and now feels like trudging through gravy with winter wellies on.what gives?doug s.

[hummingbird]

I think we progress. Our songwriting progresses, our skills grow, and what used to feel right starts to feel old. Vocally too, if we're practicing (or not practicing) or training (or not training), our voice will change as well. Stuff I wrote 4 years ago thrilled me bigtime when I wrote it... seems terribly lame now.

[squids]

Also, as we sing more and write more things based on our voice's experience, our old stuff jes doesn't "fit" us vocally. You could try changing the key, see how that works, or jes change the melody line, update it a bit to something that's more "you" now.

[dougstronach]

Hi Squids:tried changing keys -- capo up, down, different tunings. Just doesn't work anymore. Crazy! How come something FELT so good before feels so bad now? If this is growth, then it has to slow down at some time. I can't keep changing repertoire!!! (well, maybe I can?)Vicki: you have a great 'tone' to all of your emails. You're wise beyond your years!thanks for the quick replies,doug

[squids]

Change the melody, try singing the harmony like it's a melody instead, if that's something that interests you. These things happen, it's all part of evolution. Happens to me about once a year or so so I jes take a look at the song, the lyrics too and decide if it's worth keepin if I can't find a way to sing it anymore. We change. It's life.

[milfus]

aye, I know, I have songs from when I could only sing one note, now I have the two, the one note just doesnt cut it anymore

[dougstronach]

May 10, 2008, 12:09am, milfus wrote:aye, I know, I have songs from when I could only sing one note, now I have the two, the one note just doesnt cut it anymorethat's pretty funny!

[Mark Kaufman]

Doug, yes, I've experienced the same, many times. I wrote my first song in 1977. I couldn't pinpoint the reason for your song, but I will say that "seasons" come and go for older songs. You might find somewhere down the line that it works again.Imagine being Bob Dylan, with all those songs under your belt...so you're supposed to perform "Blowin' In The Wind" with the same freshness, on any given day? Not.I would take it as a signal to keep moving, put it down for awhile. It will always be there waiting for you...and it might sound better later.

[squids]

May 10, 2008, 12:09am, milfus wrote:aye, I know, I have songs from when I could only sing one note, now I have the two, the one note just doesnt cut it anymoreyou are a god.

[ursulavon]

well....I think it is part of an evolution......I own songs that I don't feel like singing anymore.....mainly because my way of writing has changed, my style has changed.... but the opposite may also happen: when I listen to my old tapes again, I specially like songs which I didn't give importance in the past, in the moment I wrote them and then I play it again and again and again now...... I personally think that I AM my very faithful fan and it keeps me goin' on..... do you feel the same about yourselves?