Originally posted on Comma And:
Last night I more or less idly began watching a documentary on Netflix about Nina Simone – and was right from the start transfixed by her words: “I’ll tell you what freedom is to me – no fear!” From those opening comments in “What happened to you Miss Simone?” I was glued to the screen. One of the words most… Continue reading What freedom is… Nina Simone
The now-defunct online magazine, Doubletake, printed a short but very good article on lyric writing, by Carly Simon, the hugely popular song writer. Amazingly, at one point she was so discouraged about her apparent lack of success with songwriting, that she decided to give up on that career. However, on her ferry trip home, a song from George Gershwin kept playing on the jukebox – … Continue reading How Lyrics work – by Carly Simon
Just watched a BBC documentary on the making of the album “No Secrets” – which includes the song “You’re so vain”. Absorbing. We get to hear from the producer, bassist, sound engineer, drummer, lead guitarist, her manager and most of all Carly herself. What were her inspirations for her songs? What was it like to be at the centre of recording such a phenomenally … Continue reading Songwriter – Carly Simon
Brutal honesty – “that is the route – not just to a relationship with God – but it’s the route to a great song – in fact, it’s the only place you can find a great song – the only place you find any work of art of merit.” – Bono Continue reading Key to great art (3 mins vid)
“the friendship that you gave has taught me to be brave”… Phil Oakey and Giorgio Moroder, title song in 80s romcom film “Electric Dreams”. Continue reading Great Line!
Review of the jawdropping documentary on Nina Simone, musical artist, songwriter, radical. Reasons to watch the film. Continue reading Film Review: What freedom is… Nina Simone
