monday song #14: one of these days
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[show note: i'll be at the pub at vios again next monday (mar 2). i hope to be doing this once a month, maybe first monday each month. still solidifying. see you there.]
number 14. not the pink floyd song.
this little ditty was conceived as a number for a post-modern musical. the hero kicks the ground, looks up to heaven, and in an optimistic and wholesome tenor (or baritone in my case) sings about how things will change for the better, one of these days… of course in the monday songs world, this means a blend of resentment, revenge, madness and ecstacy. it’s a musical i’d love to see. perhaps the title would be the subtitle of this number: “the imminent conversion of sid.”
the influences are all too obvious, at least up front. this is probably the most randy newman thing i have ever written, until it takes a left turn off the diving board. i’m not aware of his using the exact piano figure in the verses, but i wouldn’t be surprised if he did somewhere. there’s only so many utterly simple, old-fashioned, raggy, bluesy, americana progressions to go around. also owes something to nilsson who uses the 1-7-6 figures in his progressions, like “think about your troubles” or “moonbeam song,” which are, after all, the same song. (and it’s a great song!)
the last few releases have come down to the wire. for me, the results have been satisfying, more experimental and dynamic, but the process is a bit stressful when i’m typing this in at 1am on monday morning. this week i will try to get started earlier. or maybe i’ll write a simpler song…
until next week.
