WARNING:
THIS BOOK IS EMOTIONALLY INTENSIVE.
MAY CAUSE PASSION,
RAPTURE, TEARS,
AND / OR AN
UNCONTROLLABLE URGE TO FALL IN LOVE.
( EITHER FOR THE
FIRST TIME, OR ALL OVER AGAIN! )
READ WITH COMPLETE
ABANDON!
WOW!
What a
rush!
I've
never
read a book dealing
with the craft of songwriting that is so emotionally intense! But
that's EXACTLY what its author, Pamela
Phillips Oland, intended. She lets us
know right up front that we're in for quite an emotional roller coaster
as she
guides us through the development of ideas for songs that come from
deep within
our heart and soul.
In Pamela's own words, "The book is designed to engage you in the
rewarding quest to make writing about love - whether love found or love
lost - a truly uplifting, gratifying, and releasing expereince."
Now,
I know,
writing "love" songs
may not be your specialty, but admit it, don't you sometimes feel that
powerful desire to write what you feel in your heart.
OK, we're all suppose to write FROM the heart, but I’m talking about
real matters OF the heart. Love ... that real, incredible,
seemingly indescribable emotion that hits you,
grabs you, knocks you silly, makes you say and do some pretty crazy
things to
win the heart of someone else, and then, if it doesn't work out, it can
also
knock you flat on your face, making you wish you could just die.
What a
roller coaster! What an emotion! AND … what a book!
"Music
is Love
in search of a word"
Author unknown
So begins the Preface of Pamela Phillips
Oland's, "The Art of Writing Love Songs". When I first laid my
hands on this book I knew I was in for a real great time.
Last fall I reviewed Pamela's "The Art of Writing Great Lyrics" for The
Songwriter's Connection and I've also met this wonderful lady when she
was a guest at the Northern California Songwriter's Association Annual
Conference a couple of years ago. Total quality all
the way. Whether you read her books or
attend her seminars, you'll gain a world of knowledge and learn how you
can immediately apply that knowledge to whatever kind of songs you
write.
While "The Art of Writing Love Songs" does focus on the creation of
"love" songs,
you can still use the same basic principles in writing for other
genres.
(By the way, as of last month the NCSA has
now expanded to become the West Coast Songwriter's Association!)
I became so involved with the exercises in this book that
it was hard to put it down, like a great mystery novel. Of
course, love songs are my particular
favorite to write (I have a card in my wallet that identifies me as the
"World's ORIGINAL Card-Carrying Incurable Romantic"), so it was easy to
get completely absorbed. Pamela shares so many
wonderful ideas and ways of saying "I love you" that she's done more
than written a book on songwriting. She's
created a workbook for those serious enough about the craft that
they'll use it over and over. And each time it's used
(and not just read), new insight and fresh new ideas will evolve.
"I'm
In
The
Mood For Love!"
What does love mean to you? Take a
moment ... a L-O-N-G moment ... and really think about that
single, simple word. How many times
have you tried to say "I love you" and felt those three simple words
just aren't enough and you keep searching for a better way to describe
how you feel. Thank goodness we have the love song!
Now, think again. What does love mean to you?
Think of someone you love right now with complete abandon and passion,
giving your whole heart and soul to this person, nothing held back in
reserve. Or, if you're currently not
involved, think of someone you once loved that way. Think about
how you love (or loved) them. Think about why you love (or loved)
them. You feel that emotion? That indescribable feeling?
Keeping
It
Real
OK, now TRY to put yourself in the other person's shoes ... why
do they love you (or did, as the case may be)? How do they love
you? Pamela helps us to try and see love through another's eyes
... not an easy task. We've just touched on two of the
many approaches a songwriter can take to explore the emotions of love
and we can go on exploring a whole array of angles to express these
feelings. The more ways you can see love, the more
ways you have open to you to write about love.
If we're cynical about love, and we write only from our own experiences
and viewpoint, we'll only be capable of writing cynical love
songs. If love has never treated us wrong (yeah,
right!), then all of our love songs will be happy, uplifting
songs.
Either way (or, for that matter, any way in
between) it spells out just one thing ... B-O-R-I-N-G! As
songwriters we can't afford to let that happen to us!
No one says we have to use our own real life experiences
for our lyrics, but that's nothing knew.
We use our imagination, fantasy, even other people's
imaginations. We watch other people who are in love (or
perhaps breaking up), even total strangers, and try to create lyrical
love stories (mini soap operas, perhaps?)
"All
you need is love"
Lennon
- McCartney
There's no two ways about it, "The Art of
Writing Love Songs" by Pamela Phillips Oland is the
real thing ... it's I-N-T-E-N-S-E! It's a
heavyweight workout. In my opinion it's
"just what the doctored ordered". It's
what we need as songwriters to help us understand a nearly impossible
to understand emotion that's just too big for words. But words
are
our stock in trade, so we better have all the help
we can get on our side to get the job done.
And ... to do it well.
Here's a promise from Pamela to each of us, "This book is
designed to engage you in the rewarding quest to make writing about
love – whether love found or love lost – a truly uplifting, gratifying,
and
releasing experience." She also promises that
through her book we'll also discover new ways to enhance our own love
for others, especially that certain someone special. (And you
thought
you couldn't love them anymore than you do right
this minute? HA!)
Get it. Read it. And see for yourself ... this lady is a
lady
of her word.
A promise made ... a promise kept.
Copyright © 2003 by Jace
Carlton
Jace
Carlton
lives in the Nashville, TN area and is a member of NSAI. A
Freelance Writer /
Photographer, Poet, Author, and former Radio DJ, he now enjoys a career
as a Songwriter, and a
collaborator much in demand predominantly in the Country genre, but
also enjoys occasionally writing for A/C, Pop, R&B, Smooth Jazz,
and
Cabaret.
As a Freelance Writer he has contributed reviews on new CD's to online
newsletters and regularly contributed book and concert reviews along
with personal commentary on the music industry to Nashville's Songwriter's
Connection e-Zine.
Jace is also the creator of the Change Your Stars! website
and its
companion daily motivational / inspirational e-mail message that's read
by over 14,000 people all over the world. For a free subscription
click here
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