Nashville Trip Blog Log
This is the daily account of my Nashville trip that I wrote for Sue C. Smith's blog.
I thought I would put them here for you convenience.
| January 21, 2006 |
Going to School
If you are looking for Sue, she is on vacation, sitting by the surf, sipping lemonade, and taking in a few rays in San Diego. Phil Mehrens here…Sue asked me to cover for her a couple of days while she is away. If you would like to hear all about it, she will be at my blog place http://blogs.chcchurch.org/PhilMehrens/ She said not to expect to much the next few days…after all she is on vacation (We'll see...maybe she can stand not telling us all about it)
I typed “gracious” into my thesaurus this morning and “Sue C. Smith” popped up in the list. I remember my first year a Write About Jesus listening to her talk to new writers, guarding our hearts in critique sessions, speaking honest but encouraging words about our first attempts at writing, and cheering them on in our passion. I also remember the tremendous regard the other clinicians showed for her…even that Dave Clark, who teases her to death when they do workshops together. Last year, Sue came to be a part of our Christmas musical (we were doing one that she and David Moffitt wrote). It was a huge blessing to our choir to hear her words of encouragement. Moreover, so many times she has personally encouraged me, not only my writing but also in my life and ministry. Brian Copeland told me once “I’d do anything for Sue” (I’d take him up on that, Sue). I know what he means. A lot of people do.
Well, Sue and John, have a wonderful week! Check out Laguna Beach, that is my favorite!
Well, today I go to school. This will be the most concentrated weeks of writing I have ever done. I think Sue gave me all her writing appointments so she could go to the beachJ I guess I will get a little taste of the real world of writing. I’ve got a notebook computer loaded with ideas but have this feeling like I am about to get dusted by the pros. I may have to be digging with Dave through Tony’s wastebasket by the end of the week. Seriously, what a blessing! I am really looking forward to “chasing the idea” with a bunch of wonderful writers whose hearts I have grown to love.
My first class is with Mr. Funderburk, I hope I can remember my locker combination. |
| January 24, 2006 |
Greetings to You, faithful Sue's Blog readers.
This is Phil Mehrens again, sitting in for Sue (I feel like a weekend
newscaster). In case you didn't scroll down to the last post, we are trading blogs for a couple of days. I'm in Nashville writing and she is playing with snakes on the Lawrence Welk golf course on the west coast(what a strange vacation). You can read all about it at http://blogs.chcchurch.org/PhilMehrens/
After 9 hours of driving in the rain and 4 hours of sleep I had my first co-write with Marty Funderburk yesterday. I'm not sure all of my synapses were firing right. I went early to aclimate myself to the writing scene and was able to nail down a melody on a chorus I am working on. Ronnie Freeman and Tony Wood were writing in the next room. I haven't seen Ronnie since Write About Jesus a couple of years ago. Brian White popped in his head to say hey.
We had determined to write a Southern gospel song (I'm pretty green at that genre). The first hook I brought, I was sure would be winner. It was a big winner...a few years ago when sombody else wrote it. Probably due to my brain dead condition, Marty and I had a pretty dry run at first and chased a bunch of rabbits. We worked a long time on a song where we ended up being dissatisfied with the hook. Time to change gears. I finally found the right hook in my files and one great line. I saw the twinkle in his eye and the train started moving. That was a lot more fun. Too bad it happened in the last 30 minutes of the co-write. But Marty encouraged me a lot. He is a great guy and he can write southern gospel in his sleep (come to think of it that is what I was doing).
When I got home last night I was so tired I didn't know which way was up. But I got a great night's sleep and hit the exercise room this morning. That helped a lot.
Writing with Belinda was a gas! We talked about when we first met in a critique class with Billy Sprague and Mark "Gersh" at Estes the first year I was there. The moment is forever etched in my mind because when I played my song...Billy teared up, Mark said "You must love God" and Belinda said "don't put this one in the drawer" but I did put it in the drawer until I pulled it out today. She told me she wanted to hear it again and we ended up fixing the things that didn't work in the song. If nothing else it makes a great song story. It's probably better than the one I was planning to write with her...an inspo love song about King Kong (you have to read her blog to get that).
Writing with Chad was just awesome. It was a different approach to writing than my other co-writes but I fell in love at once with his style. It was really easy to communicate musically. We determined we wanted to write a worship song. We knocked out a "killer" chorus (in our humble estimation) for an up-tempo opener worship song. Then we kind of stalled out on the verses. They just paled in comparison to the chorus. Finally we had another burst and got a verse that was worthy of the chorus. Tony came in and helped us nail a few lines at the end.
Thanks so much, Belinda, Chad, and Tony...and Sue! Jodie, Jubi and I hit the chinese restaurant for dinner. I couldn't stop smiling. What a great day!
I'm writing with James Tealy tomorrow at Universal. Chad said I'm gonna like that. Then Thursday with Twila Labar and Jamie Harvill.
Sue will be back soon. Till then, this is Phil signing off.
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January 25, 2006 |
Hello again, If you like to hear about Sue's bombing mission over Iraq or pregnant seals rather than songwriting, (I told you it was a strange vacation) you probably need to visit my blog where Sue is currently residing. http://blogs.chcchurch.org/PhilMehrens/ (How's that for a teaser, Sue?)
Today I wrote with James Tealy at Universal. Man, talk about classy writing rooms. Great coffee, grand pianos. It's like a bed and breakfast. James and I had a great time sharing about our journeys. We both have been worship leaders in churches that have gone through the headaches of major building programs. We have very similar journeys in the pursuit of songwriting. We both have led worship in other countries and have a heart for missions. He just got back from Turkey...my daughter had a short trip to the same city and type of ministry he was involved with. I could go on..
It was great just to talk and share philosophy about worship songs. That also gave us direction in our writing. I brought a lyric that was a writen as an altar call. We hammered away on phrases and several motifs for the chorus...it took us quite a while to find just the right rhythm and melody but when we did, mmm good. I love that moment when a really hard piece finally falls into place and you look at each other with that..."Yeah" look.
After a lunch break and at San Antonio Taco Co., the verses went together quickly with a few adjustment. We took turns on the piano trying out melodies. We laid down a work tape and had to break before we added a bridge, He e-mailed me a rework on the verse melody that was a great improvement and a bridge idea that is looking good. Maybe this is too much information but it is cool to me to think through all this.
I am formulating a list of the things I am learning this trip Here are a few:
1. Every co-writing session is unique in its flow and approach.
2. Writers have different styles and techniques of writing
3. Every session is full of things to learn from your partner. i.e. James had a cool way of breaking writers block on the melody by charting out the possible lines on paper.
3. Patience, keep at it. Just about the time you are ready to give up on the idea a breakthrough often will come.
4. Hold out for the great idea and melody. Ask yourself, "Can it be better"
5. Listen to everything they tell you in the worshops. It works!
6. Belinda is not really scary, stuff just happens to her.
I'll quit there for now, blogs shouldn't be too long.
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