Songwriting Zen » Favourite Songs

I Wish I Wrote That #4 – “Under The Milky Way” By The Church

Corey Stewart — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:32:50 +0000

This song by Australian band The Church is a great example of what can happen when a bolt of “divine” inspiration comes your way.

Apparently this song was written in about 15 minutes from start to finish, not a bad day at the office

I remember when I first heard this song saying to myself “this has got to be a hit” and sure enough, it was their only international hit.

What I love about this song is its simplicity, its tasty blend of shimmering 12 string guitar and mandolin and that 2 chord chorus.

Even though Under The Milky Way was written in 1988 it still seems relevant now in its production values and arrangement.

For me it’s a real joy to play. I hope that this song is a real joy to listen to. Unfortunately the original video of the song has been taken down from YouTube but I found the audio.

Enjoy…

Under The Milky Way – The Church

Sometimes when this place gets kind of empty,
Sound of their breath fades with the light.
I think about the loveless fascination,
Under the milky way tonight.

Lower the curtain down in Memphis,
Lower the curtain down all right.
I got no time for private consultation,
Under the milky way tonight.

Wish I knew what you were looking for.
Might have known what you would find.
Wish I knew what you were looking for.
Might have known what you would find.

And its something quite peculiar,
Something shimmering and white.
Leads you here despite your destination,
Under the milky way tonight

Chorus

Instrumental

And its something quite peculiar,
Something shimmering and white.
Leads you here despite your destination,
Under the milky way tonight

Chorus

Under the milky way tonight
Under the milky way tonight
Under the milky way tonight
Under the milky way tonight

**************************************************

Until next time, happy writing,

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician

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Keywords: the church, steve kilbey, songwriting, songwriter, songwriting tip, songwriting idea, songwriting help, songwriting blog, songwriting zen, corey stewart

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I Wish I Wrote That #3 – “Falling Slowly” By Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

Corey Stewart — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:17:44 +0000

If there ever was a movie that makes me want to pick up my guitar and play it to an inch of its life it would be “Once”.

If there ever was a song that makes me want to do the same thing it would be “Falling Slowly”.

I fell in love this song the first time I ever heard it. From the tinkling acoustic guitar motif introduction through to the impassioned extended climax plus the gorgeous harmonies in-between the listener becomes intimately involved in the sexual tension between the two main characters.

Simply perfect. Enjoy…

Falling Slowly – Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

I don’t know you
But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can’t react
And games that never amount
To more than they’re meant
Will play themselves out

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You’ll make it now

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can’t go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I’m painted black
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It’s time that you won

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You’ve made it now

Falling slowly sing your melody
I’ll sing along

**************************************************

Until next time, happy writing,

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician

Keywords: glen hansard, marketa irglova, once, the frames, songwriting, songwriter, songwriting tip, songwriting help, songwriting idea, songwriting zen, songwriting resource, corey stewart

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I Wish I Wrote That #2 – “Wave” By David Sylvian

Corey Stewart — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 01:26:48 +0000

Seeing that it’s Valentines Day today I wanted to share with you a song that I think should be the benchmark of all love songs. The song is called “Wave” and the songwriter is David Sylvian, ex frontman for the early 80′s new-wave-avant-guard-pop band “Japan” and a collaborator of artists such as Robert Fripp (King Crimson) and Holger Czukay (Can).

I wish I wrote this because the song goes way deeper into the emotions of love than I could ever begin to imagine. It’s truly a beautiful piece of music matched with a highly emotive and deeply spiritual document of one persons love for another.

For me, this song is one of those rare gems that never fails to move me emotionally and every time I hear it, a shiver races up my spine.

David Sylvian released this song in 1986 on his second solo album “Gone To Earth” and it’s nine minutes and eleven seconds of sublime aural perfection. The video below is taken from a performance in Tokyo in 1993.

Enjoy…

Wave – David Sylvian

It seems that I remember
I dreamed a thousand dreams
We’d face the days together
No matter what they’d bring
A strength inside like I’d never known
Opened the door to life and let it go

This sun may shine forever
Upon the back of love
A kingdom raised from ashes
And held within your arms
And should the rain break through the trees
We’ll find a shelter there and never leave

I’ll run to you, nothing stands between us now
Nothing I can lose
This light inside can never die
Another world just made for two
I’ll swim the seas inside with you
And like the waves, without a sound
I’ll never let you down

Upon a wave of summer
A hilltop paved with gold
We shut our eyes and make
The promises we hold
A will to guide and see us through
I’d do it all again because of you

I’d tear my very soul to make you mine

*************************************************

Until next time, happy writing,

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician

Keywords: david sylvian, robert fripp, songwriting, songwriter, songwriting tip, songwriting blog, songwriting zen, songwriting idea, corey stewart

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An Insight Into Sting’s Songwriting Process – Video

Corey Stewart — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 05:09:14 +0000

I stumbled across this old video of Jools Holland interviewing Sting (circa early 80′s) today and it gives a brilliant insight into the way that Sting gathers, processes and demos his songwriting ideas before introducing it to the rest of the Police band members

Even though the video primarily focuses on how he come up with “Message In A Bottle” (one of my all time favourite songs) there are plenty of pearls of wisdom to be had if you listen for it.

Look out for the introduction of Dennis as one of the central characters in his songwriting process.

I loved every minute of this video especially the old recording technology I mean, I used to have one of those Tascam 4 track machines (ahh, memories). I hope you enjoyed it too, let me know what you think.

Until next time, happy writing,

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician

Keywords: sting, the police, jools holland, songwriting, songwriter, songwriting tip, songwriting idea, songwriting process, songwriting blog, songwriting zen, corey stewart

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I Wish I Wrote That #1 – “By This River” By Brian Eno

Corey Stewart — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 03:53:24 +0000

I have a lot of favourite songs and favourite songwriters however, if I was going to put my finger on what my favourite song of all time is, it would be “By This River” by Brian Eno.

I have been a huge fan of Eno ever since I started learning and playing music but when I managed to get his “Before And After Science” album I was transfixed by this song.

I was initially grabbed by it’s childlike piano motif which repeats itself throughout the whole song. The melody is almost like that of a nursery rhyme and because of this it had a very high level of immediacy with me.

Even though the format of the song is AAA, it doesn’t need anything else to deepen the impact of the song. “By This River” is a great example of the less is more principle of songwriting. Adding a bridge would take away from the simplicity of the piece.

This song to me shows that Eno is a songwriter of extreme confidence.

Lyrically it portrays a passage of time between two people by a river. I admit there’s not much information to go on however, from the tone of both the music and the lyrics, the song is one of sadness and loneliness.

It certainly makes me feel a tinge of sadness everytime I hear it.

When I discovered this video on YouTube it’s images tied up the loose ends I had about the lyrics of “By This River”.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. Let me know what you think.

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By This River – Brian Eno
Here we are
Stuck by this river
You and I
Underneath the sky
That’s ever falling down, down, down
Ever falling down

Through the day
As if on an ocean
Waiting here
Always failing to remember
Why we came, came, came
I wonder why we came

You talked to me
As if from a distance
And I replied
With impressions chosen
From another time, time, time
From another time

****************************************

Until next time, happy writing,

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician

Keywords: brian eno, songwriting, songwriter, songwriting tip, songwriting help, songwriting idea, songwriting blog, corey stewart

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