June 2008 Archives

Sometimes, I like to think that a good song can be sung by anyone.

A fine example of this can be found in the Nouvelle Vague project, which saw new bossa nova life being breathed into such new wave classics as I Just Can't Get Enough and Guns of Brixton (and whose leader Marc Collin has recently turned his sights on 80s film music with Hollywood, Mon Amour).

When I'm writing lyrics, however, I often find myself writing with a particular voice, a particular personality, in mind. The thing is, you can never be sure that the song in question will appeal to the person you're writing for - or that he or she will be able to do anything with it, even if it does.

That's why some songs (such as A Dollar You Found In The Street) end up in limbo, waiting, gathering dust.

Still, like any parent, you never give up hope that your song-children will find a place in the world.

Last night, for instance, I got a text message from eliotE telling me that she and her band have finally come up with a melody for Crayon.

So, you see, it's never too late.

• A Dollar You Found In The Street
• Crayon