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We figured it was time to talk about rhyme; a cornerstone of songwriting. So we invited one of our favourite singer/songwriters – Blair Packham – to take a closer listen to songs with a plethora of rhymes and one with virtually none!…
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Deep Dive: Penny Lane & Strawberry Fields – how do they work? with Blair Packham
Songwriting master Blair Packham stopped by and we gave a deep dive on The Beatles Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane. Friend of the show Mike MacInnes sat in for Bruce.
Stuff we talked about:
- John Lennon / Paul McCartney comparisons
- Candy Flip’s version of Strawberry Fields
- Key Modulations
- Penny Lane Lyrics & Chords at UltimateGuitar.com
- Strawberry Fields Lyrics & Chords at UltimateGuitar.com
- Blair’s website
- Blair’s new CD Unpopular Pop at iTunes – Buy it now!
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Blair Packham and two of his favourite songs
For this special episode, good friend of the show Blair Packham (frontman of The Jitters, co-creator of Song Studio), brought in two of his favourite songs and together we dove deep into each song. We talked about:
- Blair’s new album Unpopular Pop
- Specificity and universality in lyrics and storytelling
- An episode of Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History: King of Tears about why country songs make us cry
- Songs as vehicles for social commentary
Listen to the show
The Songs
- Good-Ole-Boys-Like-Me_LYRIC-
- Good Ole Boys TAB
- Desperados-Waiting-For-A-Train_LYRIC-
- Desperados Waiting For A Train TAB
Blair Packham packs emotional power
From the moment Blair Packham started to speak, we knew we were in for some great lessons from a master songwriter and experienced teacher. If You Were Mine featured a great bridge and instrumental break. In Her Dreams started out as a story of a woman in a call centre and moved to a daughter caring for an ailing mother. …
Writing from the Head vs Heart: Blair Packham & a lifetime of songwriting insights
Blair shares the very first song he ever wrote, and talks about the difference between writing from the heart and writing from the head. And the Monster Mash.
What’s a cover song anyway?
Our own Michael Proudfoot proudly stepped into the world of cover songs. He uncovered a treasure trove of examples and ideas. Have a listen as the Song Talk Radio team plus Blair Packham (The Jitters) tackles:
- when everything was a cover
- the difference between 45, 78, and 33 1/3 rpm records
- professional songwriters writing for professional singers
- How The Beatles shifted pop culture by both writing and performing their own songs
- Jimi Hendrix covers All Along the Watchtower (Bob Dylan)
- authenticity (Sarah McLachlan) and self-expression
- Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Carole King, Leonard Cohen
- singing someone else’s song – making it universal
- Husker Du, Love Is All Around (Sonny Curtis)
Listen to the whole show
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5-Year Anniversary Spectacular!
For our 5-year anniversary, we visited moments past and our favourite bits. Song Talk Radio Superfan Mike MacInnes joined us (for the 5th time!)
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Some of our favourite theme shows:
- Songs about Mental Health
- Key Modulations with Frank Horvat
- How to Start Writing a Song
- Comedy Songs Special
- Write a song live
- Rhymes-o-rama special
- 80s and 90s Canadian song draft shows
Some of our favourite guest shows:
- Loyrn Taggert
- Blair Packham’s first appearance on the show
- Brighid Fry
- Alyssa Baker
- Jacob Moon
- Michelle Thibodeau
- Daniel Caceres
We talked about:
- How to write lyrics that are specific but open enough to allow the listener in
- The distance between being inspired to write a song and developing it with craft
- What the heck is polytonality?
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Canadian songwriters rock the nineties
Maybe you didn’t ask for it but we did it anyway – the 90’s song draft – this time with Canadian songwriters. Blair Packham sat in for a sick Bruce, Vanessa joined the gang for her song picks, and much fun was had.…
Songs by the Hosts Special
For this special episode, each of the Song Talk Radio hosts shared one of their own songs for discussion. We talked about:
- a Gaurdian article about the Hall & Oates song I Can’t Go For That
- our upcoming show on key modulations
- Bruce’s experience with his producer
- an email we got about our Comedy Songs episode
- writing a song from the bassline (Phil’s song example)
- our episode featuring Blair Packham’s deep dive on two Beatles songs
- are songs being inspired by the #meToo movement (like Neel’s song example)
Listen to the show
The Songs
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The 2017 Year End Wrap-Up Show!
Join the gang as we go over our favourite bits of the last year and lots more stuff!
We talked about:
- songwriting things that Bruce, Neel, and Phil have learned over the past year
- Sean Bertram’s episode and contrast and dynamics in your performances
- Jenny Perez’s episode and her controversial song Mr.
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