The current, apparent craze for co-writing among songwriters is anything but new.
Gilbert & Sullivan, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Carole King & Gerry Goffin, Elton John & Bernie Taupin, Lennon & McCartney, Kurt Weill & Bertolt Brecht, the Gershwins, Felice & Boudleaux Bryant …
In any decade, across all genres, any compilation of the partners' names in timeless collaborations is made more remarkable by the names left off the list than those included.
I've done a few co-writes now. Even at this stage, I've begun to notice differences from situation to situation. Some collaborative efforts flow smoothly, like melted butter on a hot biscuit. Others are a bit of a grind, more like shoveling gravel.
A composer no less revered than Igor Stravinsky has extolled the virtues of 'constraints' during the creative process, equating them with strength in the completed work. So these more challenging co-writes are not a bad thing. In fact, if pursued to a high artistic standard, they can result in songs of enduring quality.
In an attempt to learn more about the fascinating co-writing process, I went online where I discovered this interesting and informative article on the subject. Be warned, it's a bit of a read, but well worth the effort:
http://arpjournal.com/875/collaborative-songwriting-–-the-ontology-of-negotiated-creativity-in-popular-music-studio-practice/
I was surprised and somewhat vindicated, as we all might be, to read Bennet's detailed description of the collaborative songwriting process. He says there are six stages:
"Stimulus, approval, adaptation, negotiation, veto and consensus."
After the initial stimulus or seed idea, these processes are repeated in no specific order, until consensus is achieved on the completed song.
Judy Marshak brought the seed material. From that point on, looks like Marshak & Rose did it by the book!
Why do songwriters cowrite? Because when the member writers are committed to the process, the creative mélange stirred into the pot results in better songs, in a shorter amount of time. The amazing results of everyone's work in Week 6 prove it!
I couldn't be more pleased with what I've learned and how I've grown during this 6-week Challenge. I've managed to connect with several of you, my fellow songwriters, and hope to meet more of you, now that we have common ground on which to run and play.
Kudos to Lily Cheng for putting this Challenge together. What a remarkably talented, perceptive and pro-active young woman you are, Lily.
And to Christopher Ward for his inspiring insights into the creative process. I'll be looking even more deeply into his On Songwriting series. Curious about "Dead Brilliant", his new book, too!
And thanks to my fellow participating songwriters, who gave selflessly, not only in working so hard to write great songs (we all know it's not as easy as it looks), but in providing the invaluable feedback that drives us all to be our very best.
See you in the 'writing room'.
No More Time for Tears
Performed by Judy Marshak
Chorus
No more time for wishing
No more time for tears
For all this time has left the wounds of wasted years
Verse 1
We've been treading deep water
Pulled down by the past
Struggling to close the rift, we're
Near exhaustion, gone adrift here
Weighted down by questions never asked
Verse 2
I was a rider on your journey
Shared some rough terrain
Always asking 'are we there yet?'
Round in circles, unaware that
After all those miles, lost again
Chorus
No more time for wishing
No more time for tears
For all this time has left the wounds of wasted years
Verse 3
We had the steamy nights of summer
The wistful days of fall
But with the bitter frost of winter
Loneliness and heartbreak lingered
Still you promised we could have it all.
Chorus
No more time for wishing
No more time for tears
For all this time has left the wounds of wasted years
Bridge
Measuring the memories
Of a life in photographs
It's not enough, oh it's not enough
So let go of the promises
Remember, we did laugh
I know it's tough, but darlin' you can be tough
Instr, Chorus
Chorus
No more time for wishing
I'm so tired of these tears
For all this time has left the wounds of wasted years
No more time for wishing
No more time for tears
Wishing won't give back the wasted years
© 2014 Judy Marshak & Wayne Rose
