Sometimes with Orbison, it's hard to get past the voice to the song. His instrument was so unique and intense and beautiful, we tend to ignore the integrity of the songwriting. But, Blue Bayou is a true classic in its construction. And, as always, Roy hits the core emotional pathos.

People are attracted to and remember the songs that affect them emotionally. How many songs do you really recall that had you sitting there marveling at their cleverness or intelligence or craft? The trick is to apply your craft to genuinely personal (and, therefore universal) emotional themes and express those emotions clearly and honestly through sound choices all the way through the process.

Keep asking yourself those tough quesions: Is this line or phrase communicating the true emotion I'm trying to convey, or is the language too general or mundane? Am I letting my cleverness stand in the way of the emotional core of the song? When we strum the perfect emotional chord while using great song-craft we find the best songs we can write.

Regarding Jesse Winchester: he's a master songwriter. We shared a band in Montreal in the mid-'70s. A real gentleman and a credit to the community of tunesmiths.

Rand Bishop
songwriter/producer/author - Makin' Stuff Up, secrets of song-craft and survival in the music-biz
www.makinstuffup.net

Rand Bishop
Songwriter/producer/author