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New Project! ...sort of...

I'm listening to This American Life (I told you I'm not only fourteen years old!), and it's a rerun about breakups. One of the regular contributors, while going through a major breakup, decides to write a breakup song, despite the fact that she has no musical talent or song writing experience, and, as a part of this project, gets in touch with PHIL COLLINS for his advice, which he provides (and turns out to be really cool, actually).

I'm sorry, but this is the most awesome breakup story in history, better even than my last major breakup, in which my boyfriend moved out of my house without telling me while I was home visiting my mother ON MY BIRTHDAY (true story!).

And I just have to say that, the next time I have a major breakup, I am totally writing a breakup song (despite the fact that I have no musical talent or song writing experience) and recording it. And becoming an international pop star just like Phil Collins.
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Anonymous said…
I'll bet you write a wonderful breakup song! You should try writing one for your last breakup just for the practice. There's a good song in that story somewhere.

I can help you out as I am just oozing with musical talent. You do the words, I'll do the music. I won't even include any banjo though it might be your ticket to stardom as there aren't any really famous banjo breakup songs these days. A new niche, perhaps? I'm sure you'd prefer it if I stuck to the piano or the guitar. Can do.

Just for the fun of it, what would be your favorite breakup song? I'm a sappy, sentimental sort and I loved Chicago back in the day so "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" and "Hard Habit to Break" nearly bring tears to my eyes (OK, I'm not that bad, but you get the idea). I'm sure you have some great tunes in mind to emulate.

Uh-oh, I almost forgot one of my all-time faves: "Oh No" by The Commodores ("I'm goin' crazy knowing he will be your lover tonight" man, stop it Lionel, you're tearing me apart!)

Phil Collins must be lonely these days. Poor guy. I remember when nearly every song he wrote shot to the top of the charts.
Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 9:40:00 PM CDT
Jay Montville said…
Okay, I'm sorry, but there is a reason why there are no "famous banjo breakup songs" these days--the banjo is only appropriate for (a) happy (or, at least, happy sounding) country songs and (b) songs played by backwoods mutants signifying the imminence of inappropriate touching.

I couldn't write one about my last breakup, just because it doesn't bother me much any more. To write a good breakup song, you have to be in the throes of heartbreak and I'm more in the throes of "I have the (second) most awesome breakup story!", which is not the same at all.

I don't have a single favorite breakup song, but "I'll Do My Crying in the Rain" remade by a-ha and "Stop Your Crying" by Bob Mould always seems to show up on my "Broken Up" mix CDs. Also "Love Bites" by Joan Jett is a classic.

Jay
Monday, August 18, 2008 at 11:20:00 AM CDT
Anonymous said…
I like to think that even backwoods mutants meet, fall in love, and break up. Why shouldn't they get a nice twangy song about their troubles?
Monday, August 18, 2008 at 10:31:00 PM CDT
Katie Alender said…
LOL, I thought you were going to maybe write a book about a person who did something similar.

I didn't know A-ha remade that song! Off to iTunes...
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 10:59:00 AM CDT
Jay Montville said…
Oh, it's a great version, too, Katie. There's actual rain sound effects!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 5:45:00 AM CDT
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