Monthly Archives: June 2010

“Why can’t we lie?” – a small peek into my brain

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25
Remember that crazy challenge to write 800 words a day? Well, I’m still typing my way through it. Here’s a slice of last night’s rambling pie – unedited, exposed:
broken. we are all broken. right? but some mask it better than others – like emotional make up. like emotional clothing or something. what if we couldn’t hide stuff – like the movie about lying – about the first man who started lying? what if the rest of us spoke the truth all the time? i think I’m ok with hiding somethings – at least some things. we’d rip each other apart if all we did was tell the truth all the time.

the invention of lying.

it really is amazing that we can act – we can create – we can lie. think about it – no other creature on the planet can lie.
actually – that’s not true

deception is a part of nature – those butterflies/moths who have “eyes” on their wings. those birds who fluff up to look bigger – more intimidating. the bugs who are shaped like tree leaves.
hello?
the whole world is lying.

if God created creatures who survive on deception, how come we can’t lie?

Reason #1 why I don’t want an iPhone.

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49

I saw this commercial recently and thought, “Thanks, Verizon. You confirmed my hesitations to get a smartphone.”

I know, I know. I’m a techie. I’m all into the internet and gadgets and such. If I ever break down and get an iPhone or a Droid my life will quickly become out of control. I have a hard enough time putting my mac down… Imagine if I could take those capabilities with me wherever I went. I know better than to give myself that ease of access.

Because, I’m also into solitude. I’m also into unplugging at the beach. I’m also into weekend getaways where I can actually get away.

And I’m also into quality time – really engaging in face-to-face relationships with people who are right here right now. I know better than to send a quick text to one of my favorite funny friends before I go into a lunch mentor meeting. The phone would beep “text” and I would die from trying NOT to pick up the phone and read what they sent.

In some ways, I think we have forsaken the “now” for the sake of the “next” – next phone call – next email – next funny thing on twitter – next person who wants our attention through our gadget. What about the now? What about the person sitting across the table from us?

Let’s admit it: Sometimes we can be downright rude to the person we’ve invited to spend some time with us.

And, yeah, let’s admit this as well: It is SO HARD to step away from the gadgets. SO HARD.

How good are you at stepping away and unplugging? At giving attention to relationships? Why do you think this struggle is so hard for people like us?

The Makings of A Lady Gaga Song

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31

It’s time to admit it. Her songs are … good. Very well-written, independent of those world-famous videos. To grow as a songwriter, I study good songs. Gaga’s is no exception. I wanted to find out what made a Gaga song tick – what did her writers do to really get that signature Gaga sound? Within about 30 minutes, I’d scanned the lyrics and listened to about a half-dozen of her most well-known tunes.

And here’s some of what I found:

_Structure: Intro, V, PC, CH, V, PC, CH, BR/VAMP, CH CH (with a bit more of the intro thrown in sometimes)
_Style: Techno beat with heavy synths – very rhythmic – club dance
_Lyrics: Pop Culture, Relationships, and Sexual Innuendo (Love Game, Poker Face, Bad Romance)
_Chorus: soaring open melody – pretty (Paparazzi, Bad Romance)
_Verse: short quick rappish singing (Poker Face, Love Game, Telephone)
_Wordless rhythmic sounds in singing (like: Just Dance, Poker Face, etc)
_Syncopated rhythm in some of the words (ale-alejandro, d-d-d-dance, papa-paparazzi, rah-rah-ah-ah-ah-roma-roma-ma)
_Singing turnaround after choruses (Bad Romance, Telephone, Poker Face)
.
Throw in some strange  and colorful wording and there ya have it! Now you can go write a Gaga song. :)
Which Gaga song do you love the most?