My friend and songwriting partner Ed (Little Eddie) finds music, melodies in lyrics. I have seen him do it. He looks at the lyrics, gets the chorus in his head, and starts noodling on the guitar. It’s not magic, but I think it is pretty amazing, being a non-musician.
I am trying to learn piano. I was the guy with a football, baseball, basketball in his hands growing up. I didn’t have time for band, or learn to play the trumpet my dad bought for me when I was 10, or the guitar he bought for me when I was 14. I was the kid that came in all sweaty and went straight for the Cool Aid jug.
But now I find myself trying to hear the music in the lyrics I write. What I found was… the music is there…if you listen. I might not be hearing the melody, but I hear the instruments. I recently wrote a song called “I’ve Got to See” where I heard strings. And a few horns in various places.
I knew this was a departure from what Ed and I usually do…strings. Oh, I have made requests before regarding the music, in fact the iKon series has some of my suggestions wrapped up in those songs, as well as some other songs we have posted on Sound Cloud.
But this was different. I heard the music.
So, though our usual modus operandi is I handle the lyrics and he handles the music, I suggested strings on this new song. To his credit, Ed listened and embraced what I heard.
I just hope he doesn’t break out his violin and leaves the strings to Cubase and other software to create that symphonic sound.
Yet, I have faith in The Maestro. Little Eddie has yet to let me down….
More to come….
Johnny Eagle
Little Eddie and the Eagle 