Songwriters and solitude.

[jeffe]

I hope that makes us a bunch of weirdo's. Where else can all those weird and wonderful sounds come from?I think 'gitarrero' made a good point about hanging out in here. It reminded me of another thing I sometimes to to get inspiration, and that is simply to do something different for a while.When I do a bit of web programming, it can get a little intensive, so every now and again, I just walk away, pick up my guitar and play away. Just becuase it's a distraction.I think there could be some valuable lessons here for all those members who get writers block.It seems that everyone on this thread has a method to deal with that. Sometimes you've gotta get rid of all that rubbish before you can let all the new rubbish move in.Being alone seems to be what we need to do, but maybe not always in silence. A distraction is sometimes as good as a rest.I'll ask this, and I'm probably going to end up with some strange answers.If it's not peace and quiet. What do you do to temporarily distract yourself?

[mazz]

Many times I'll read the TAXI listings and then try to imagine what to write for them and I'll take my staff paper notebook to the coffee shop. But what I'll really do is read the paper, surf the web, drink coffee, etc., and then something might come to me and I'll jot it down. Just having the structure of a listing helps my mind start generating ideas. At this stage of the game, outside noise is not distracting.A lot of times, getting up from the computer to get a glass of water or go outside for a minute or whatever, works great. Many times a musical problem has been solved this way. All of a sudden I'm shaving or something and the solution comes to me.Walks work great too.Enjoying this thread.Mazz

[jeffe]

It's tea for the British.OK. Sometimes coffee too.I have to say that the some of the best ideas I've had have happened when I'm doing something completely unrelated to music.

[jchitty]

Quote:It's tea for the British.OK. Sometimes coffee too.I have to say that the some of the best ideas I've had have happened when I'm doing something completely unrelated to music.I just gotta know why the Brits call cookies 'biscuits.' In the South, a biscuit is a big 'ole buttermilk fluffy floury concoction.

[mazz]

Quote:I just gotta know why the Brits call cookies 'biscuits.' In the South, a biscuit is a big 'ole buttermilk fluffy floury concoction. What else do the Brits say wrong?

[jeffe]

Without getting too much into history.Apparently the original biscuits were british navy Hardtack, and the word is is from Latin via Middle French and means "twice cooked" .Check out 'biscuit' on wikipedia.I did.You didn't think I knew that did you?What do we say wrong? From your perspective?We both speak the same language, but we use some different words and spellings. The language originated from where I am and at that time we probably spelt things in the same way and used the same words. It's the natural corruption of a language over time, when two communities are apart.I see nearly all our place names went there.York to New York.Portsmouth to Portsmouth which is in Hampshire here and in New Hampshire there.Washington to Washington.I'm in Chichester. I noticed one of those in New York.The list is endless.I think I'll have one of those Digestive biscuits now.Damn. All gone. I'll have to buy some tomorrow.

[mazz]

When I was in London I saw speed "humps" which we call speed "bumps" here. Or we used to. In SF a street I drive on now and again recently added bumps but has a sign that says speed "humps" Talk about corruption!! I love the English language and the differences in how it's spoken here in the US and in UK, Australia, etc. Jolly good fun, bro. G'day.

[hummingbird]

Quote:Quote:It's tea for the British.OK. Sometimes coffee too.I have to say that the some of the best ideas I've had have happened when I'm doing something completely unrelated to music.I just gotta know why the Brits call cookies 'biscuits.' In the South, a biscuit is a big 'ole buttermilk fluffy floury concoction. which came first, the biccy or the buttermilk scone?

[jchitty]

Quote:Quote:I just gotta know why the Brits call cookies 'biscuits.' In the South, a biscuit is a big 'ole buttermilk fluffy floury concoction. which came first, the biccy or the buttermilk scone? Wish I knew, Hummingbird. Jeffe, thank's for the info on biscuits.Mazz, in the South we say the word, "hosepipe" for a garden hose...I think that is also a term used in England.I hope I'm not being obsene here, it's not my intention, but the big British slang word I've heard constantly on the internet is 'bollocks.' That cracks me up. I also get a kick out of 'rubbish', "knickers in a twist," and 'takeaway.'

[jeffe]

Any time Chits.Yes, we do use hosepipes.Lol. All those British slang words are ones I know well. The first one is a part of the male anatomy. Well, two parts actually.Rubbish is also litter.Knickers are panties.Takeaway. I've had a few of those.There are some cross translated words that would get you some funny looks over here.'Fanny' for example. In the US it is your bottom (or ass.) In th UK it's a lady's front bottom (vagina). Imagine telling someone they have a big fanny here!!!!!Pants. We we call them Trousers.and briefs. We call them Pants.Confused?