Dylan - Freeze-Frame Radio

JD The Jazz Doctor · Grand Poobah

Dylan

Dylan · Leader Of The Banned

JD, if you have any song ideas, I would love to help you flesh them out...

To answer your question...songwriting is never a linear process.

It always starts with an idea, but the starting point is sometimes a chord progression for the melody, sometimes a line for a lyric, or just an idea for a song topic.

Sometimes I will finish a whole melody and then work out lyrics to fit the tone and timing for the song. Other times I have lyrics completed and need to work out a melody. Usually its a little back and forth till it all ties together nicely.

I have had several songs that seem like a gift from God because all I need to do is just write the idea down and I cant write fast enough. But generally its like any kind of writing...you are an English major and know their needs to be a flow....its the same with a song. There is no right or wrong way to compose, but it has to come from the heart. Music is all about emotion.

I am convinced everyone has at least one GREAT song in them. It just need to come from the heart.

If anyone has an idea for a tune, I would be happy to help them work on them.

JennyCat · Living Legend

Dylan, everyone is in bed now. we are the only wierdos on here. wess cose!

JennyCat · Living Legend

woops, never mind. i totally spaced it. you are in wisscahnsin.

Dylan · Leader Of The Banned

You making fun of our accent missy?

Jeremy Riggs · 2011 Super Bowl Champions!

Yea! What the hells with that!!!

I think that's going to be the topic for the whole show monday.

This non-existant "accent" stuff everyone claims we have!

We talk todally normal der hey!

Mocrzy · Patient Zero

ohh-tay...

Trish · The Procrastinating Red-Head

I write songs, too, but I have to write the lyrics and the melody together. I don't know why, but I have to. I'll keep kicking it around until I get it right. I still need to make that tape for Dylan so he can hear them. I got in contact with a local that has a country album out now. Her name is Lori Franke. I told her that I have some songs for her to look at when she has time. She seemed really interested, but I haven't heard from her. Oh, well. They're not going anywhere!

As for the accent thing, yeah, right. It is amazing to me how one country can have so many different accents. I have lived in quite a few places and I find it fascinating. When I moved to Illinois, I moved from Arkansas. I didn't think I had an accent. I didn't have the full blown Arkansas accent, but I didn't notice it until I moved here. It's dropped off almost altogether now, but when I'm drunk, it comes back. It absolutely drives my husband crazy (and I don't mean in a good way). The men at the bar love it, but that may be why my husband hates it.

MzHartz · Permanent Vacation

I know I've got an accent, and I hate it. It also depends on who I'm around. If I'm around a like of people with a southern accent, I'll pick it up in a heartbeat. Same with the Wisconsin/Minnesota type accent. But normally, and like Trish, especially when I start drinking, I have this darn hillbilly accent.

jstdve · CEO - The KOTO Co.

half drunk hillbilly chicks rule !!

confuzzed · Permanent State of Confusion

Now, I have only heard JR speak, but I didn't notice much of an accent so I am lost on this Wisconsin accent thing. Is it different in different parts of the state? I don't think I have one but occassionally I have been told that I have a Philly accent. I also spent five years at college in PA Dutch country so I have a touch of that occassionally.

MzHartz · Permanent Vacation

For the record, I do not consider myself a hillbilly chick. That's why I hate my accent so much.

WFTR · Prophet of the Posts

To throw in some input from the acting side, the creative process for developing a character is the same as song writing. Some times you start with the punch of just one scene or one line and then make decisions that logically and believably build up to and around that point. Some times you know the characters whole story but need to decide how and when to offer important bits of information that tell the story in a limited amount of time.

Accents are a great tool, and a personal favorite. If you can peg the accent, it's a diving board into the characters background and culture and then you have a great template to work from in rounding the person out. All that we do in life is a reaction to that which happens to us and around us, and what we then contribute. Keep that balance, and your acting!