From: owner-harbinger-digest@smoe.org (harbinger-digest) To: harbinger-digest@smoe.org Subject: harbinger-digest V8 #7 Reply-To: harbinger@smoe.org Sender: owner-harbinger-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-harbinger-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk harbinger-digest Sunday, February 2 2003 Volume 08 : Number 007 HARBINGER DIGEST To post, mail harbinger@smoe.org To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger-digest To get list info file, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: info harbinger-digest Today's Subjects: ---------------- (harbinger) Political Paula: Comments on Songwriting for Peace [ Subject: (harbinger) Political Paula: Comments on Songwriting for Peace Thanks for the heads up! Wonderful to hear something (ANYTHING!) new from Paula and to hear her speak her mind so boldly! I love the irony and wit, and am thrilled she is sharing it. As far as a song goes...I think it is good, but a bit too uneven to be great. The intro is a bit too similar to the "COWBOYS" feel (maybe that is the point, though, to give a common reference point?) and has a kind of sensualness about it that doesn't go in line with the rest of the track. But once she kicks in to her "dolly" mode, I think it is successful in building a good melody and strong chorus. To me, the lyrics sway from satire to preaching to wit to tongue in cheek irony...I would have liked to have seen a bit more consistency and storytelling. I think it would be more successful if it was either a straight empassioned plea or a complete satire in line with the "My Hero" theme. Cowboys is a great example of a song keeping its focus throughout....but maybe Paula was aware that a large percentage of the listeners who loved the song missed the point and would scream out "I wanna be your cowboy, Paula!" or "What is this Tammy Wynette stand by your man crap!" so she needed to be a bit less ambiguous in her viewpoint to ensure no one thought she was applauding GWB. I guess I am stuck on some of the great political songs in the 60s and 70s...Marvin Gaye's "What's Goin On"...buffalo springfield "For What It's Worth (stop children, what's that sound...)", Joni Mitchell, etc. I think those used the politics of the day, but made the message accessable to a universal situation. This track (and George Michael's less successful "Shoot the Dog" (go to http://www.aegean.net, skip intro, click NEWS, then click SHOOT THE DOG to see and hear it) are so specific that the tracks can feel dated after a few listens and lose the impact they originally intended. I fully support artists using their art to express their politics and use their platform of fame to help carry good messages to the masses. But I am also a slave to songwriting and think that if artists are serious about gettting their messages across, it needs to be in a way that people want to listen to the message over and over. Here's a friend of mine's take on the message for peace that I think is catchy and could work in any generation to make people think and is more in line what I think works well to get a message across (She just won 2 John Lennon Songwriter awards. Good stuff) (But I admit that with as many people as liked the song, there are just as many who think it is pretentious and laughable, so who knows?) Army of Angels performed by Gail Swanson http://newutil1.tonos.com/genram.ram?hn=real&id=/profiles/audio/streams/536874010/600138713.rm Maybe I'm wrong? Any comments? Would love to have this forum get back to really discussing Paula's music. Was surprised there wasn't more discussion about "Heart Door" when it came out. That's one of my fave Paula tracks and I think she was insane to keep it off AMEN. Steven from Helsinki By the way, I just programmed an online radio show of new talent over at TONOS.com (run by David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager, and Babyface). Check it out. I think you might find some killer artists. http://www.tonos.com/app2/tonosradio/jsp/index.jsp You can either play all songs, or read what I wrote about the featured artists and just listen to what interests you. I think it is worth the while of anyone looking for an alternative to the junk that is on popular radio right now. > -----Original Message----- > - ----Original Message Follows---- > From: "Kara & Tina saturngirls" > Reply-To: harbinger@smoe.org > To: harbinger@smoe.org > Subject: (harbinger) the wait is over! > Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2003 18:47:24 -0500 > > Hey everyone!!! > > Head on over to Paula's website to hear her new song "My Hero, Mr. > President". I think we'll all be a little surprised by the > "twang" of it, > but is sooooo Paula!!! > > Tina - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 1 Feb 2003 08:03:03 EST From: BigHAIR844@aol.com Subject: (harbinger) the new song Can't decide if i like it or not... I mean, the song isn't bad; the melody reminds me of Ob-La-Di-Ob-La-Da by the Beatles. Plus, her message is right on! But i don't think it will do well as a radio single. Would have made a better hidden track. Are there plans for this song as the next single? my two cents... ~jean - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ End of harbinger-digest V8 #7 *****************************