Category: Writing as a Career

You should be very proud of yourselves!

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Quora: The Quality of Popular Music

just words

Original question: How do the record executives decide what music is in demand? Do they give the public what they are wanting, or just play certain music and then say that it is what people want?

My Answer:

That’s a good question!

I think it would be pure speculation, whether they tried to guess what the public is wanting, or not. Your assertion they play music “then say that it is what people want” makes me chuckle.

I spent 25-years in radio. During my career, radio would make or break a song. It’s still important, and what I’ll tell you here is still valid.

The bottom line is, these three truths: There are great bands out there you’ll never hear about; there are mediocre-in-every-way artists who are pushed by labels and agencies who you’d THINK were the best Continue reading “Quora: The Quality of Popular Music”

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Mark Urso Releases “Stardust” on Friday!

Announcement time!

I’m proud to release my second CD, “Stardust,” a nice assortment of guitar-focused music, covering the usual suspects with a fresh approach; the Dead, Dylan, Patty Smyth, Randy Newman, Lowell George, and of course Hoagy Carmichael and Mitchell Parish!

Thanks to the inimitable Salvatore Fontana and guitar hero Brandon Raimondo, who join me for a couple trance inducing jazzy original compositions. I renovated Stardust, Continue reading “Mark Urso Releases “Stardust” on Friday!”

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What great chord progressions have you found, transcribing popular music?

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For soft rock, people might be surprised at which songs are simple, and which use inventive and unusual chords. I’ve reverse-engineered hundreds of popular songs. I’ll toss out a few examples of what I’ve discovered:

The Easys

Certain artists, like Elton John and John Mellencamp, are not reinventing the wheel with the music they write. It’s extremely straightforward, usually 4/4 Continue reading “What great chord progressions have you found, transcribing popular music?”

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Singing The Praises of Singing

I have nephew attending college in New York, majoring in English. I saw Robbie over the weekend, but forgot to ask him if he was planning on becoming a rap star with his degree.

Probably not.

But why not?

Something about “poetry,” whether my class (which I aced) at Boston College years-ago, a quaint, stuffy little book, a professor with eyeglasses … the images conjured up by the word “poetry” are hoity-toity to me.

You too? At least, the image of poetry isn’t like rap music.

I keep wondering, why not?

I wonder, why didn’t they tell me in school, Continue reading “Singing The Praises of Singing”

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A Personal Letter from David Attenborough

I am as cool as attenborough banner dark

Dear Good Personal Friend,

As you know, it’s getting cold in the Northeast USA. Squirrels are stocking up for a nutty Christmas, the common housecat waking to a frosty rooftop, and humans busy roasting toasty chestnuts, sending plumes of white smoke out the chimneys of their winter homes … putting bicycles away for the season.

urus theodorus
artist’s depiction

During the harsh winter the rare Italian Bear (Ursus Theodorus) does something remarkable. His unique contribution to society is … He sings!

Similar to the animatronic Country Bear made famous by Walt Disney, Theodorus, like all bears, does hibernate in the cold part of the year, but unlike others, he has trouble sleeping, so spends winter creating, whittling away in his cozy den for months on end … taking only a periodic nap now and then. Continue reading “A Personal Letter from David Attenborough”

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Chapter Thirty-Two: Aina’s Dreams

The following is a sample from my first novel. Hint: it’s about a cat named Fuzz and a girl name Aina!

Chapter Thirty-Two: Aina’s Dreams

“How many times will we have Beef Wellington today!” Aina kept the smile going as she rocked, up and … yes, feet on the floor … to deliver some food to Fuzz, for sure!

“Make it so!” would be what Aina said usually, doing her best “Picard” voice, and not bad for a girl, Fuzz thought … when the actual food delivery took place, and this moment, which was happening right now, is, for Fuzz, the most wonderful blend of technological imagery and stark, hunger satisfying, undeniable, reality. Continue reading “Chapter Thirty-Two: Aina’s Dreams”