|
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Espina: The marriage between words and music
By Cattski Espina
Til the Cat lady sings
For the past six months, I haven’t been able to write a single song and I haven’t felt like playing for an audience.
That’s just about the same time since I last had my weekly article. I simply disappeared from the pages of Sun.Star just like I disappeared from the music scene.
I’d like to think I got caught up with the idea of growing old, and that maybe it’s time for me to focus on things other than music. Some say it’s ‘growing up’ which sucks, by the way, but I had to consider it. After all, I am really growing old. But somehow it didn’t feel right to push music aside just because I needed a few changes in my life. Six months passed and I decided to do something about my musical unavailability.
One of the first few things I did was accept an invitation to join a free songwriting workshop. I’ve never been to one before. To be honest, it never even occurred to me that there was such a thing. I’ve always thought songwriting cannot be taught. It’s a gift, not a skill. I guess I was wrong because now I realize it can be both.
The workshop materialized through the efforts of songwriter/music producer Homer Cang and a few other songwriting enthusiasts. The small gathering was held at Homer’s new studio dubbed Hagiazo Audio located at #18 Cherry Court in Gen. Maxilom Ave.
Of course, a workshop would be nothing without an experienced and learned person who’s going to share his expertise on the topic. Since it’s songwriting, I would prefer someone who has a lot of hits under his name. After all, hit songs are the barometer for the success of a songwriter.
The guest speaker was Jimmy Borja, a multi-awarded songwriter and producer. He has written songs for artists like Pops Fernandez, Regine Velasquez, Lani Mishalucha, Ariel Rivera and Sharon Cuneta. Judging from the list, you can immediately say that this guy has a lot of hit songs. So, with anticipation, I was all ears. The topic? Commercial Song Writing.
In my past articles, I have been vocal about how commercial songs can be redundant and limited. In fact, I think I might have expressed that I’m a bit against it. So I couldn’t help feeling a little uncomfortable at the beginning of the workshop. But the soft-spoken Jimmy Borja, was successful in educating me and the rest of the group with the technicalities and the parameters of song writing, parameters that I am not so conscious of when I write a song.
My set of rules is made up of just two things; (1) if it sounds right and (2) if it feels good.
I could lay out Jimmy’s set of parameters but they’re very basic and obvious that you can hear them in any commercial song being played on the radio nowadays. In fact, I don’t think I am totally ignorant of these parameters because I am exposed to commercial music like everybody else, and its common structure isn’t too hard to familiarize. I know, in one way or another, I have followed the structure; I just didn’t want to admit it.
For Jimmy, songwriting is both an art and a craft. As a craft, it has to have a set of rules and limitations. However, it shouldn’t be misunderstood that rules can stifle expression. These rules can actually help the songwriter communicate his ideas effectively. Learning, following the rules and working around it will not destroy the writer’s creativity. Finally, he said that since there is no absolute “right” and “wrong” in song writing, the rules can be broken when necessary.
Jimmy ended his session with a quick introduction to the topic of music publishing, but I really didn’t pay attention to it so much. I was moved by his concept of a different kind of marriage—the intangible marriage between words and music that make up a good song. I believe that for as long as every song writer has a grasp of this idea, he or she doesn’t have to be so conscious of the rules.
There’s one more thing I learned from that workshop apart from all the songwriting tips. I realized that I’ve been too much of a child as a songwriter; I’ve been so close-minded and self-centered. It’s probably what they call ‘the arrogance of youth’. But I’m aware of it now and I’m ready to work on becoming better. Who knows, one day I will be invited to a songwriting workshop again, not as a participant… but as the lecturer.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 24, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
