What's So Complicated About Dating a Songwriter?

[horacejesse]

What's so hard about dating a songwriter?You have to wait until they have enough money for a hot dog.

[mazz]

My wife is a singer/songwriter. We have played lots of weddings (jazz) and clubs (original rock) but have rarely collaborated on writing. We have different tastes but she helps me with my film scoring work by giving great feedback that's usually right on target. I try to help her with her songs when she asks for feedback. Usually she writes until she gets stuck and then asks me for some assistance.It's great to have a partner that understands the creative process because she does it too. It's tough sometimes when we're both working on something intensely and both get really hungry but no one wants to stop and make dinnner! I guess it could be worse. Good luck. Mazz

[jchitty]

Well, personally I think songwriters are a fantastic breed, but we do have our little faults. We get up in the middle of the night with lyrics in our heads, and we wake our spouses or significant others because even though it's 3AM, we have to write those words down. We hold up traffic in the middle of an intersection because all of a sudden, we've thought of a melody to go with our lyrics, so we grab the mini-cassette recorder in the glove compartment to hum the melody, thereby prompting lots of horn blowing and finger gestures from other drivers. If we are in the shower, we immediately get out if we have to write down some more lyrics.If we are in the line at the grocery store, we ask for paper bags instead of plastic because suddenly, we again have more lyrics in our heads and we need something to write them on.I would say that songwriters are an endearing lot, but also they also have some obsessive compulsive traits, hehe.

[Casey H]

Quote:Well, personally I think songwriters are a fantastic breed, but we do have our little faults. We get up in the middle of the night with lyrics in our heads, and we wake our spouses or significant others because even though it's 3AM, we have to write those words down. We hold up traffic in the middle of an intersection because all of a sudden, we've thought of a melody to go with our lyrics, so we grab the mini-cassette recorder in the glove compartment to hum the melody, thereby prompting lots of horn blowing and finger gestures from other drivers. If we are in the shower, we immediately get out if we have to write down some more lyrics.If we are in the line at the grocery store, we ask for paper bags instead of plastic because suddenly, we again have more lyrics in our heads and we need something to write them on.I would say that songwriters are an endearing lot, but also they also have some obsessive compulsive traits, hehe.We are a bit weird, but to say we are stranger than any other type of person would be wrong. Heck, I'm an engineer and work with some of the nerdiest people in the world. One guy carries around every possible "just in case" tool in the world in his pocket. Another draws circuit diagrams on napkins when we are out to lunch! Regarding the need to quickly save new lyric ideas, my new cell phone has a voice record feature. So wherever I am, if something pops into my head, I quickly voice record it. Before that, I used to email myself the ideas. I don't think this is all that strange. My wife is the polar opposite of a songwriter. She has a stressful job and wakes up during the middle of the night and leaves her self voice mail messages/reminders at work. Strange, me??

[jchitty]

Quote:Quote:Well, personally I think songwriters are a fantastic breed, but we do have our little faults. We get up in the middle of the night with lyrics in our heads, and we wake our spouses or significant others because even though it's 3AM, we have to write those words down. We hold up traffic in the middle of an intersection because all of a sudden, we've thought of a melody to go with our lyrics, so we grab the mini-cassette recorder in the glove compartment to hum the melody, thereby prompting lots of horn blowing and finger gestures from other drivers. If we are in the shower, we immediately get out if we have to write down some more lyrics.If we are in the line at the grocery store, we ask for paper bags instead of plastic because suddenly, we again have more lyrics in our heads and we need something to write them on.I would say that songwriters are an endearing lot, but also they also have some obsessive compulsive traits, hehe.We are a bit weird, but to say we are stranger than any other type of person would be wrong. Heck, I'm an engineer and work with some of the nerdiest people in the world. One guy carries around every possible "just in case" tool in the world in his pocket. Another draws circuit diagrams on napkins when we are out to lunch! Regarding the need to quickly save new lyric ideas, my new cell phone has a voice record feature. So wherever I am, if something pops into my head, I quickly voice record it. Before that, I used to email myself the ideas. I don't think this is all that strange. My wife is the polar opposite of a songwriter. She has a stressful job and wakes up during the middle of the night and leaves her self voice mail messages/reminders at work. Strange, me?? LOL, Casey. I know what you're talking about. I'm married to a mechanical engineer. I was just joking. I read an article about a songwriter (forgot his name) who describes himself as obsessive compulsive and so focused on his craft that he can't do anything else. You're right though....everyone has their little 'weirdities." That's what makes this word so much fun.I didn't know about cell phones with voice record features...that's how technical I am....I'll have to look into that.

[chrisellis]

ooo like the ideas about voice mail messages. That is a new one. I once had a voice recorder that I kept in my purse for just such an occasion. It was on a hair trigger and in a restaurant I tossed it into the booth. The purse landed kinda hard and it started singing at the top of it's lungs. It was the initial dweeby draft of the lyrics too! Every head in the place swiveled around. Yow! that was embarrassing! Good thing I was having lunch with another artist. But really, we may be weird and whatever but we see things that the others don't and it is our duty to translate these airy fairy beautiful dreams that we are so blessed to have into a form that they can see as well. They mock us but they love us. Keep songwriting. I love seeing other people's dreams!

[arkjack]

I did some singing in my cell phone this morning while still half asleep trying to catch the melodies I was hearing in my dreams..... Fell back asleep.... woke up to a fired cellphone.... So anyway, the thaing that makes it so complicated for me to date a songwriter is ....my wife wouldn't understand.... (rickety boom clang)Did you hear the one about the taxi member that sent five traditional country songs to a listing asking for CONTEMPORARY......???

[sgs4u]

they all got forwarded, right?Ark - check your PM'ssteve

[jchitty]

Quote:I did some singing in my cell phone this morning while still half asleep trying to catch the melodies I was hearing in my dreams..... Fell back asleep.... woke up to a fired cellphone.... So anyway, the thaing that makes it so complicated for me to date a songwriter is ....my wife wouldn't understand.... (rickety boom clang)Did you hear the one about the taxi member that sent five traditional country songs to a listing asking for CONTEMPORARY......??? Hey, AJ, did you know that you're mentioned in ML's e-mail/newsletter this time? He said he read a thread that he liked here, and he mentioned parts of it....I am on the thread too, but I didn't get a mention 'cept something like, "I thank all the people who participated in this thread.' Well, ya gotta start somewhere. Don't know if you've gotten that mail yet, but I received it this morning.

[jchitty]

Small correction, it was the TAXI March 1st listings that the thread was mentioned.