Toronto Song Project

Flo Rida takes on Harry Nilsson

Sean Leehy belts it out during Harry Nilsson's Without You

Flo Rida takes on Harry Nilsson, at the Irv began and I could not have asked for a greater moment.

Previous Episode: New Music Vs Old Music Live, Part 1 at the Irv
Next Episode: Part 4 at O’Grady’s

Usher Vs Bobby Vinton?

A bit of a slow start with Usher’s confessions part 2, going up against Bobby Vinton roses are red.

While seemingly a world apart in styles, both songs represent an example of a Slow Jam from their respective eras. Neither song had much of an impact on our audience.

Pure Drama

Then things got exciting. Flo Rida takes on Harry Nilsson! Low has to be one of my favorite number one songs from the last 20 years.  It goes up against Harry Nilsson’s without you, 1 of the modern era’s  most classic ballads. 

And just our luck, on the stage, we have our friend Sean Leehy, belting it out which by the way is what he does for a living. 

Feeling the crowd participation In This moment is just amazing. It’s the reason we do this show. Music is the glue that keeps everyone in this room together, laughing and singing. 

Flo Rida takes on Harry Nilsson

While my vote goes squarely with Flo Rida, the crowd and Ashley felt very differently and the crown for round 2 went to Without You, admittedly a great sing along.

Hetero What??

Last up, Bruno Mars versus Lionel Richie and Diana Ross. Not much of a fight. While Bruno Mars his track is pretty formulaic pop, I think it’s safe to say that endless Love did not really age well. 

Our guest on stage Daniel accuses Bruno Mars of being Heteronormative, which i had to look up. To his comment, I would add that in the realm of hit songs, it’s a pretty forgettable one.

More Toronto Music Events

The exciting news, this is our first episode where better now wins! 

Keep watching. We keep improving the show. And how much fun is it rediscovering all these old number one hits? 

Subscribe to us on YouTube and never miss an episode!

You might also like:

New Hit Songs Vs Old Songs
Toronto Music Scene with TILSEN

Song Credits

“Confessions Part II” Single by Usher 
Released: June 1, 2004 
Label: Arista 
Songwriter(s): Usher Raymond, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox 

“Roses Are Red (My Love)” Single by Bobby Vinton 
Released: April 1962 
Label: Epic 
Songwriter(s): Paul Evans, Al Byron 

“Low” Single by Flo Rida featuring T-Pain 
Released: October 9, 2007 
Label: Atlantic 
Songwriter(s): Tramar Dillard, Faheem Najm 

“Without You” Single by Nilsson 
Released: 11 October 1971 
Label: RCA 
Songwriter(s): Pete Ham, Tom Evans 

 “Just the Way You Are” Single by Bruno Mars 
Released: July 20, 2010 
Label: Elektra Atlantic 
Songwriter(s): Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Khalil Walton, Khari Cain 

“Endless Love” Single by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie 
Released: August 1, 1981 
Label: Motown 
Songwriter(s: )Lionel Richie 

Play the Pop Music Game Live!

billboard number one hits

Pop Music: BETTER NOW or BETTER THEN? Monday May 27 2019, 7 pm THE LODGE, upstairs at O’Grady’s 518 Church Street, Toronto Check us out on Facebook and Meetup Play the Pop Music Game Live! Ashley and Steve play the game where we compare new hit songs to old songs live in front of an audience. We pick a new hit song from today, then call a random year for my hat from the 60s …

MorePlay the Pop Music Game Live!

Toronto Music Scene with TILSEN

toronto music scene with tilsen

New on the Toronto Music Scene TILSEN wows with her debut single HURTS. With Steve at Pop Music Toronto, they celebrate Record Store Day 2019 by rummaging for their favorite, all-time albums.

Record Store Day 2019

What better way to spend record store Day 2019, then to interview a brand new exciting Toronto artist like Tilsen.

I met with Tilsen at pop music Toronto in the Broadview & Gerrard area.

Nothing to me is more exciting than talking musical influences, especially with someone who songs I totally relate to.

Debut single HURTS

New on the Toronto Music Scene with TILSEN: I began by asking her about her new single hurts, which was released just a little over a month ago.

To my surprise, the song isn’t so much about a torrid love affair, but more about the power that the people you love have over your emotions.

TILSEN’s music video HURTS

First Encounter at Toronto’s Rivoli

I caught TILSEN’s performance at the Rivoli on Queen West in Toronto. It was a stripped down performance with acoustic guitar and some light electronic accompaniment

I was immediately taken with TILSEN’s music and the quality of her songwriting. Every song was catchy and had an immediate emotional pull. I knew right away I needed to interview her.

Albums that changed our lives

Nothing to me is more exhilirating to me than to meet a great songwriter, and find out their influences.

This is when I invited Tilsen on a scavenger hunt of the pop music Toronto record store, to show me the songs and albums that influenced her the most.

Here is what she pulled. The Beatles Sergeant Pepper, The Beach boys pet sounds, Britney Spears hit me baby One More Time,along with albums by Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, Bjork, and MGMT.

As for me, my first big album discoveries were Abba arrival, the rolling Stones hot rocks, and pretty much the clashes entire catalog.

missing from this video, is a moment where Tilsen and I totally bonded over our love for Joni Mitchell’s both sides now.

Toronto Music Scene with TILSEN

Tilsen promises to release a new single every two months until her EP comes out before the end of the year. I don’t know if I can wait that long.

Please keep following. I will visit her hopefully on the set of her new music video.

More on the Toronto Music Scene

See more videos on the Toronto and World Music scenes, on our Music scene Page.

Hector Xpinoza: Toronto is the BEST CITY!
Pledge Music Complaints from Artist Manager

What is Toronto Song Project?

Toronto Song Project is a Web Series where Steve searches the city for Real People with Real Stories, then writes them a real song based on their life events.

Discover Other Great Singers

Check out our other singers. Everyday real people who share their unique stories about overcoming pain and abuse and learning to thrive. Watch as Steve captures their unique stories with real songs about their lives.

Make sure to subscribe to us on YouTube.

And we are all over Instagram.

New Hits Vs Old Songs LIVE

Monday April 15, 8pm

O’GRADY’S on Church

518 Church Street, Toronto

New Hits Vs Old Songs LIVE

Ashley and Steve play the game where we compare new hit songs to old songs live in front of an audience.

We pick a new hit song from today, then call a random year for my hat from the 60s 70s 80s or 90s. We listen to the number one song from that year and ask the audience: better now or better then?

New Music Vs Old Music LIVE

New Music Vs Old Music

New Music Vs Old Music LIVE

Better Now or Better Then: First time in front of a live audience!  Ashley and Steve compare new music vs old music Live! Billboard number ones from today, to old music 60s to 90s. 

This time in front of a live audience at The Irv Gastro Pub in Toronto’s historic Cabbagetown district!

Watch Episode 1 with Ashley and Steve

Better Now or Better Then?

Better Now or Better Then is a game where we compare New Music Vs Old Music LIVE.

The idea came to me from endless conversations at parties when I found myself defending new music vs old music.  Almost all of my friends, with barely any provocation, will go on a rant about how new music is soulless, manufactured, and predictable.

Older music came from the heart, was genuine and “real”. 

New Music Vs Old Music LIVE

My reaction: You’re comparing oranges to apples, number one hits to classic rock.  Lots of the older music we celebrate today did not reach the billboard top ten, let alone number one. 

So I invented Better Now or Better Then.  It’s a game where we do direct comparisons.  We pick a the billboard number one from after 2000.  We pull a random year from the past, and compare the number one hit from that day.  It’s new music vs old music, in a fair fight. New Music Vs Old Music LIVE!

This Show Needs and Audience

As soon as we posted our first video, I just knew Better Now or Better Then needed an audience.  And drinks.  New Music Vs Old Music LIVE

Meet Jackie

Jacklyne (Jackie) Irvine works out at my gym, the Cabbagetown Boxing Club.  In fact she’s a fighter (I just work on the bags). 

Jackie Irvine, Co-owner at The Irv Gastropub Toronto
Jackie Irvine, Boxer

She was super accommodating when I asked her about performing Better Now or Better Then in her restaurant, and inviting people to watch. 

We turned the whole thing around in less than a week: Posters, flyers, invites on social media, sound equipment.

The Irv Gastropub Toronto
The Irv Gastro Pub, Cabbagetown, Toronto

Old Music 60s

In this installment of Better Now or Better Then: more 1960s music hits than usual. 

Watch the video to see who came out on top!

Ashley Fire

I love the result.  Ashley was on fire.  I have to hand it to her.  She made the transition to doing the show live quicker than I did.  You can hear my voice crack in the opening!  I settled down after a little while.

I won’t comment on how the evening went.  I’ll let the video speak for itself.  Suffice to say, we’ll be doing more.

More Better Now or Better Then LIVE

I am pumped about the result. 

Come and see us live!  Subscribe to us using one of the links below to find out about the next show.  Details coming soon!

Better Now or Better Then LIVE at The Irv Gastro Pub, Poster for the Irv Gastro Pub, Steve Diguer and Ashley Amar, Toronto, MARCH 11 2019
Better Now or Better Then LIVE at The Irv Gastro Pub, Poster

About Toronto Song Project

Do you like to sing?  Do you have a story?  Join Toronto Song Project: https://torontosongproject.com/

Toronto Song Project is…

A Video and Social Media series focusing on local talent and their unique life journey using music. Each ten-minute episode follows director and songwriter, Steve Diguer throughout the GTA, on his quest to find single, passionate people with a talent for singing and an interesting story to tell.  Steve then uses their story to write an original song for them to sing, while filming the entire journey.

Please join us and subscribe to our channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Agonvoca0rd_GA4uDymmA?view_as=subscriber

Toronto Song Project is a work in progress and will only get better with your feedback!  Please leave a comment below and find us on social media.

Official home: https://torontosongproject.com/

Facebook: Toronto Song Project

Twitter: TorontoSongProj

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torontosong…

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LADY GAGA, BRADLEY COOPER – SHALLOW (A STAR IS BORN)
Lady Gaga, Andrew Wyatt, Anthony Rossomando, Mark Ronson
Interscope

J. GEILS BAND – CENTERFOLD
Seth Justman
EMI America

KATY PERRY – DARK HORSE FT. JUICY J
Katy Perry, Jordan Houston, Lukasz Gottwald, Sarah Hudson, Max Martin, Henry Walter
Capitol

THE BEATLES – I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND
Lennon–McCartney
Parlophone R 5084 (UK)Capitol 5112 (US)

THE CHIFFONS – HE´S SO FINE
Ronald Mack
Laurie Records

MARK RONSON – UPTOWN FUNK FT. BRUNO MARS
Jeff Bhasker, Philip Lawrence, Peter Hernandez, Mark Ronson, Nicholas Williams, Devon Gallaspy, Lonnie Simmons, Charles Wilson, Ronnie Wilson, Robert Wilson, Rudolph Taylor
RCA

New Hit Songs Vs Old Songs

New Hit Songs Vs. Old Songs – Better Now or Better Then?

New Hit Songs Vs. Old Songs – Better Now or Better Then?

As an aging member of Generation X, I find myself to be the unlikely defender of new music.  Friends my age – even some Millenials – seem to love trashing the new music they hear on the radio.

I find the songwriting to be solid.  The musical arrangements are sharp, minimalist, and hooky as anything. They hook you more often and faster than in old songs.

It is harder than ever to land hit songs on the radio, and the rewards are much smaller than they were back in the day.

It’s safe to say that landing that top song on the radio is more competitive than ever.

Apples to Oranges

I keep hearing people comparing top 40 to Album rock.  Instead of comparing Beyonce to The Beatles, critics should be comparing her to the Bay City Rollers, or Mister Mister, or any other number of chart-toppers that faded with the Baby boomer generation and Gen X.

So!

I came up with this random test to do what I think is a fair comparison. 

Let’s take a hit song today, then select a random year between 1960 and 1999. Then pit that new song up against a song from that year that occupied the same chart position.

Then we can make a fair comparison of New Hit Songs Vs Old Songs.

Why 1960 to 1999?

The Billboard Hot 100 was launched in 1958. And rock’s last hoorah pretty much ended with nineties.

If there’s a picture that I think defines the new music era we’re in, I think it’s this one.

Hey Rock critic, can you feel her taunt you?

In fact, I mark the beginning of the modern pop era with the launch of Baby One More Time by Britney Spears in January 1999.

This is when electronic beats, and producer driven pop really took hold.

New Hit Songs Vs. Old Songs

Somehow it always comes back to The Beatles.

I believe that every negative thing you can say about Ariana Grande, Drake, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, and Beyonce, was said about The Beatles when they hit the charts back in the early sixties.

Jazz musicians rightfully claimed that rock & roll was – by comparison – basic, predictable, sonically uninteresting, and took much less talent to perform. 

Sound familiar?

Music is in the eye – or ear – of the beholder.  It’s about feeling, emotion, and energy. 

You could easily make the argument that while today’s hits are more minimalist than hits of the past, they are lyrically far more complex. 

Drake and all of Hip Hop are by nature more lyric driven than vintage pop.

It’s about making a connection.

New Hit Songs Vs. Old Songs – Better Now or Better Then?

It all comes down to making a connection with the audience.  That’s what makes music special.

The Billboard Hot 100 is about youth.

And if you’re a fifty-year-old male feeling like music isn’t made for your taste, you would be exactly right

More Better Now or Better Then to come!

I had a blast making this video with my friend Ashley.

The plan is to make lots more so please keep watching, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel.

And we might finally answer the question: New Hit Songs Vs. Old Songs – Better Now or Better Then?

More on the Music Scene

See more videos on the Toronto and World Music scenes, on our Music scene Page.

New Music Vs Old Music LIVE

What is Toronto Song Project?

Toronto Song Project is a Web Series where Steve searches the city for Real People with Real Stories, then writes them a real song based on their life events.

Discover Other Great Singers

Check out our other signers. Everyday real people who share their unique stories about overcoming pain and abuse and learning to thrive. Watch as Steve captures their unique stories with real songs about their lives.

Make sure to subscribe to us on YouTube.

And we are all over Instagram.

Pledge Music Complaints from Artist Manager

Pledge-Music-Complaints-from-Artist-Manager-web

Pledge Music Complaints from Artist Manager Ron Stone.

What started off as a great service

Ron says it himself: In an industry built on a business model of “raping and pillaging artists”, Pledge Music seemed different.

Pledge Music was fan based. It welcomed big acts and small, up and coming talent. It allowed artists to bypass the record companies completely.

What went wrong at PledgeMusic?

Either an idiot or a thief

Someone at Pledge Music made the decision to not keep the money owed to the artists separately. This according to Ron is required by law.

Ron doesn’t believe for a second this wasn’t deliberate.

“The business model created in the 1950s was to rape and pillage the artist,” Says Ron Stone. This is more of the same.

Pledge Music Complaints from Artist Manager

Ron and many others in the industry genuinely thought that Pledge Music would be different.

It offered what artists have longed for since the beginning: artistic and financial independence.

PedgeMusic would finally be a tool, a service that doesn’t screw the artist. “And guess what?” asks Ron. In the long line of music companies that robbed music artists and music fans, Pledge Music was one more.

Buyers not lining up

I hate to minimize the tragedy that this represents. So many artists worked to hard to raise money. Only to have PledgeMusic squander it away.

As a former independent performer, I am in awe of anyone that can raise 10, 20, 50 thousand dollars.

It’s hard to be an optimist. If Pledge Music can’t keep it together, who in their right mind would lend them money? Who would save the company?

It’s hard to see how anyone could step in to pay the artists what they are owed.

Pledge Music just bump in the road

The good news is, the cat is out of the bag.

Artists can and will continue to sell directly to the public. A contract with a major label is becoming more obsolete everyday.

While Pledge Music will likely go by the wayside, another service will replace it.

Musicians and artists can also use other Crowdfunding tools.

For now, my heart really goes out to those artists who were cheated by PledgeMusic. I hope Ron is right. The people who committed the theft will go to court and have to give up their houses and cars.

About Ron Stone

I worked for Ron Stone out of his Los Angeles office from 2012 to 2013.

I truly admire the man for his tenacity and his dedication to the music business. His longevity in this game says it all.

Ron really does have the artist’s interest at heart.

Ron, I hope you get to experience carbs again one day.

More on the Music Scene

New Music Vs Old Music LIVE
New Hit Songs Vs Old Songs

See more videos on the Toronto and World Music scenes, on our Music scene Page.

Watch this video directly on YouTube

What is Toronto Song Project?

Toronto Song Project is a Web Series where Steve searches the city for Real People with Real Stories, then writes them a real song based on their life events.

Discover Other Great Singers

Check out our other signers. Everyday real people who share their unique stories about overcoming pain and abuse and learning to thrive. Watch as Steve captures their unique stories with real songs about their lives.

Make sure to subscribe to us on YouTube.

And we are all over Instagram.

Should Mariah Have Said No to Saudi Arabia?

Should Mariah Have Said No to Saudi Arabia

Should Mariah Have Said No to Saudi Arabia?

Mariah Carey got a lot of criticism for her January 31, 2019 performance in Saudi Arabia. Human rights groups accused her of supporting a tyrant.

Sadly, this is nothing new for Mariah.

Another holiday with a Tyrant

As this video shows, Mariah has taken money on more than one occasion from known tyrants.

The first was in 2009 when she performed at a special party for one Muammar Gaddafi’s sons. She was far from alone in doing this. Beyonce, Nelly Furtado, Usher were just a few of the artists who accepted money from the Lybian leader.

WikiLeaks Blows the Whistle

These performances were a secret until WikiLeaks blew the whistle on them in 2011.

Almost right away, the artists apologized. Beyonce, Nelly Furtado, and Usher reportedly donated the money they made from their shows to charity.

I can find no evidence of Mariah doing the same.

These artists appear to have steered clear from giving similar performances for questionable leaders. Again, not so for Mariah.

Embarrassed and Horrified, But Not For Long

“Embarrassed and horrified.” That’s how Mariah described her reaction when WikiLeaks gave the details on her performance for Gaddafi.

In her statement, she seemed to put the blame on whoever booked the show, though she did admit that it was her responsibility to know who she was playing for.

Fast forward a couple of years, and Mariah was at it again. This time performing for Jose Eduardo dos Santos, the longtime president of Angola.

Said the Human Rights Foundation: “It is the sad spectacle of an international artist purchased by a ruthless police state to entertain and whitewash the father-daughter kleptocracy that has amassed billions in ill-gotten wealth while the majority of Angola lives on less than $2 a day,”

Nicki Minaj also performed for the dictator and was shockingly defensive of the leader and his billionaire daughter whom she praised as having “girl power.”

Should Mariah Have Said No to Saudi Arabia?

Should a different principle apply to artists than other business people?

If I was selling floor mops, and the Saudi Prince took a liking to my product, would the world criticize me for selling them to him? Artists like Mariah are selling music and tickets to their shows. How is that different?

The 64 Billion Dollar Entertainment Plan

MBR is spending a staggering 64 billion dollars on turning Saudi Arabia into an entertainment destination.

In that light, Mariah’s concert appears to be a giant “We are open for business” sign for the country.

This is where Mariah’s show becomes problematic. By appearing as the country’s first international female performer, she is tacitly endorsing the Crown Prince’s plan to create a more modern state.

Barely Scratching the Surface of the Reforms Needed

As this video shows, he’s a long way off.

The arrest, imprisonment, and brutal torture of Loujain al-Hathloul and others shows that MBS has another agenda. One that involves having absolute power, and the ongoing tyranny of the people of Saudi Arabia.

Amnesty International says that women drivers and a few reopened movie theaters “barely scratch the surface of the reform that Saudi Arabia needs.”

What Do You Think?

Should Mariah Have Said No to Saudi Arabia?

Are you a Mariah fan? Does this mean anything to you? Does it change the way you hear her songs?

Please let me know by leaving a comment.

What is Toronto Song Project?

Toronto Song Project is a Web Series where Steve searches the city for Real People with Real Stories, then writes them a real song based on their life events.

Discover Other Great Singers

Check out our other signers. Everyday real people who share their unique stories about overcoming pain and abuse and learning to thrive. Watch as Steve captures their unique stories with real songs about their lives.

Make sure to subscribe to us on YouTube.

And we are all over Instagram.

Source Articles

here are a few of my source articles for this video:

She Wanted to Drive, So Saudi Arabia’s Ruler Imprisoned and Tortured Her
From <https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/26/opinion/sunday/loujain-al-hathloul-saudi.html>

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/21/saudi-arabia-tortured-female-right-to-drive-activists-says-amnesty

Human Rights Watch 

From <https://www.gulf-times.com/story/617233/Saudi-woman-activist-tortured-in-jail-father>

From <https://www.amnesty.ca/news/saudi-arabia-reports-torture-and-sexual-harassment-detained-activists>

Gaddafi Performance:

From <https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/industry-lashes-out-at-mariah-beyonce-and-others-who-played-for-qaddafis-family-245567/>

From <http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/03/09/stars.concerts.scandal/index.html>

MOVED to TEARS by MUSIC

MOVED to TEARS by MUSIC

MOVED to TEARS by MUSIC

This is it! The big day where Steve plays his brand new song for Shawn.

It looks like Steve nailed it in his first draft of the song. Almost. While Shawn is moved by his first listen, Steve still needs to write the bridge. Shawn’s later reaction to the bridge changes everything.

Watch Shaw’s series as a playlist
Watch Shawn’s full episode

Next Episode:
Previous Episode: FUN MELODY & SONG IDEA

Steve Tells the Story

Long before Shawn showed up at my house, I was nervous. I’m worried that Shawn’s standards are way high. He sings classic ballads, songs from popular musicals… I was genuinely worried about how my song would stack up.

Hold the Reins

Here are the lyrics to the song I wrote for Shawn. As you’ll see, things didn’t go as planned:

Flying just off the ground
Terrifying and amazing
Running cause we love to run
All of My heart in each motion
Thunder and hunger

[CHORUS]
Hold the reins and I’ll lift you up
And take you far
From the pain and the hurt you’re feeling
Heaven is here just the two of us
Just be strong
And fly to freedom freedom freedom

I see blood on your brow
Mix it in with your makeup
Paint it all around your eyes
Look just how strong I got on my own
Yet I couldn’t save you

[CHORUS]

Legit Almost Cried

The first session went really well. One lyric especially touched Shawn:

See how strong I got on my own
Yet I couldn’t save you

“Legit almost cried” those words rang true, and that means I did my job. He got goose bumps.

The Bridge

A bridge in a song generally does one of two things:

  1. Reinforce the overall message of the song
  2. Ask “If only…”

The first is pretty obvious. The second means saying “if only you were faithful,” “if only things were different,” “If only I had one more chance.”

In the case of Shawn’s song, the “If only” moment is the Missed me, missed me moment. Essentially the song is saying “if only there could have been more moments like this one”, moments where his Mom would be kind and affectionate, show him, real love.

The bad news

To be honest, the song I wrote him didn’t really resonate with me. I thought there were some interesting moments, but it really didn’t click. I didn’t feel like made magic.

MOVED to TEARS by MUSIC

The bridge was a different story. I was biking home from my cafe when most of it came to me in a very quick moment. Finally I felt like I had something. I couldn’t wait to get it down and play it for Shawn.

Like the first version of the song, I wanted to be in the room when he heard it.

So I booked my friend Dan’s studio, Pet Shop Productions, and performed it for him on guitar.

The result speaks for itself. Finally I felt like I did my job as a songwriter.

What Now?

So the rest of the song is really not at the height of the new bridge. So I’ll make the new bridge the chorus, and write the song around it. Finally, I feel like this is moving forward.

For the song to be good, I Shawn didn’t have to be moved to tears by music. But this is a tough job, and I wanted his endorsement and approval. And this is about as good as it gets.

Watch The Web Series: Shawn’s Story With Extras
His teen Mom, her tragic death, and I WON’T FEEL SORRY

Discover Other Great Singers

Check out our other signers. Everyday real people who share their unique stories about overcoming pain and abuse and learning to thrive. Watch as Steve captures their unique stories with real songs about their lives.

What is Toronto Song Project?

Toronto Song Project is a Web Series where Steve searches the city for Real People with Real Stories, then writes them a real song based on their life events.

Make sure to subscribe to us on YouTube.

And we are all over Instagram.

FUN MELODY & SONG IDEA

FUN MELODY & SONG IDEA

FUN MELODY & SONG IDEA

A quick check in of Steve’s songwriting progress. He has a fun melody & song idea for a Shawn, though the jury is still out on whether he can make it work. The challenge will be to weave together all of the different themes in Shawn’s life that he shared during the interview.

Watch Shaw’s series as a playlist
Watch Shawn’s full episode

Next Episode: MOVED to TEARS by MUSIC
Previous Episode: LYRICS and SONG INSPIRATION

On to something

When I come up with a melody, it either feels really good, or kind of forced and meh. This one feels good. I feel like I have something catchy.

The challenge is, what do I do with it? It feels old fashioned. Even like a kids’ song.

More alarming, in terms of song structure, I think it wants to be an AABA song.

Examples of AABA Songs

If you know the term already, skip this paragraph.

Most popular songs on the radio today follow this format
Verse > Pre-chorus > Chorus >
Verse > Pre-chorus > Chorus >
Bridge > Chorus

The AABA format is simpler. Quite literally, the song has an A part that repeats twice, a B part to break up the pattern, then back to the A part to end it.

Elvis Presley “I Can’ Help Falling in Love” is a great example of a AABA song. So is Ritchie Vallens “La Bamba”. There are countless examples. Often the B part is repeated twice.

Occasionally an AABA song sneaks onto the current Billboard charts. George Ezra – Budapest comes to mind. So does Amy Winehouse – Rehab. Notice both of those songs have an intentionally retro sound which is what made them successful.

Likely what really made them successful is, they were sung by George Ezra and Amy Winehouse.

FUN MELODY & SONG IDEA, but…

Is this approach right for Shawn? It’s easily something he can do. I can even see a retro song it being a really cool style for him.

But since I only have this one song to write for him and get right, I feel like I need to keep working.

I do think the melody has something memorable about it though. I think it’s sweet and even a little irresistible.

What do you think?

Not thrilled with my voice here… I hope that I convey the idea.

MOVED to TEARS by MUSIC
LYRICS and SONG INSPIRATION

Discover Other Great Singers

Check out our other signers. Everyday real people who share their unique stories about overcoming pain and abuse and learning to thrive. Watch as Steve captures their unique stories with real songs about their lives.

What is Toronto Song Project?

Toronto Song Project is a Web Series where Steve searches the city for Real People with Real Stories, then writes them a real song based on their life events.

Make sure to subscribe to us on YouTube.

And we are all over Instagram.