IMMORTALITY
By Dianne Baumgartner (songwriter)
A "HIT" song represents Immortality.
Janis Joplin has immortality!!!
I love her dearly, but she will never hear me say it.
You have to have "Priorities" in life. Is it the almighty dollar, or dimestore kisses that turn to gold? Is it bowing to the world, or being true to yourself? Is it a "Great Song" (no matter what) or a good friend?
If you collaborate you can probably relate to the songwriter/friend priority. I have always, and will always prefer a good friend to a great song. Yes, a great song can offer you a blinded glimpse of immortality, but a good friend can give you a clear vision of reality. The benefits of collaborating/co-writing are many.
Someone to share your dream.
Someone to share the endless expenses of the long and demanding process from Demo to Publisher to Recording.
Someone to increase your marketing potential.
Someone to share the joy when you finally get that Publishing Contrat.
Someone to share the sorrow when "Nothing ever happens".
Someone who keeps you believing in the Song and in yourself.
That isn't just a collaborator….that is a friend!!!
I consider "The Creative Process" of co-writing songs to be an even more intimate relationship than that of a lover. Their Vows are Beliefs and Trust. They mingle beyond the flesh, but deep into each other's minds and hearts and souls. There is always, somewhere, a compromise, a small relinquishing of one's own ego. But,their bonding is born of Inspiration and The Song they create together as one. This defines posterity. It is a most sacred union, like two artists sharing the same canvas. It seems almost impossible, but collaborators do it every day!!! And, on a human level, Friendship is the tie that binds them. They keep each other focused on what really matters. They coach, co-operate, and comfort each other, and they never stop loving the same thing….."Their Song", for it represents themselves. Too often co-writers become competitors. Competition is good, it's healthy too, but not when it divides friendships.
The key word to co-writing is "Respect". If you have respect, you will have a friend, and you will always consider your friend first, above and beyond your creation -- your song. Their feelings, their needs, their strengths and their weaknesses….. these are the things through "Words & Music" that create collaborators. These are the things that create songs!!
In 24 years of creating songs, I still don't have a "HIT" song. But, I've heard it said that at the end of your life if you can count your really good friends on one hand, you're lucky. Largely due to this "Great World Of Music", I can count my really good friends on both hands at least two times.
That, to me, is
"IMMORTALITY"