Posts Tagged Songwriting
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March 27, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
The Ghost of Electricity: War Stories by Jon McLeary # 200 The Last Cigarette In The World
I watch another boat in the harbour sail out Sitting on my own in the bay By the time you get to China on that slow ship I’ll have bitten all my nails and crumbled into the carpet You had no clear idea of what you’re looking for You only knew you couldn’t stay […]Archive
March 21, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
On: Giving Up Everything
Elton John had it wrong – or rather Bernie Taupin if you prefer. Sad songs are not the ones that say so much – it’s only a special type of sad song; where there’s hope peeking through, where there’s an attempt at stoicism – the head being held high, an aim to move on, an attempt at rebirth or a […]Archive
February 28, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Art Garfunkel: What Is It All But Luminous
What Is It All But Luminous: Notes From An Underground Man Art Garfunkel Knopf; First Edition edition Something like starting from the beginning feels like the right thing to do… Do you remember that clip of Art Garfunkel talking absolute-fucking-balderdash between takes in the studio? For his memoir he’s essentially done the same thing. Why […]Archive
January 22, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
The Ghost of Electricity: War Stories by Jon McLeary # 195 Wigan Street
Over the Christmas period there was a fire on Wigan Street in a factory that had asbestos in its roof. I got quite a shock when I saw it on the news – we had lived in the building through the wall right next door for several years. All through Ang’s time at Wellington high […]Archive
December 18, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
The Ghost of Electricity: War Stories by Jon McLeary # 191 Something/Anything?
I Saw The Light was the first song I heard and I remember it was at one of those new-fangled Jeans Stores that were cropping up in Hamilton when I was in high school. I was there with my girlfriend and we were having a crafty pash in a dressing booth and the song came […]Archive
December 11, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
The Ghost of Electricity: War Stories by Jon McLeary # 190 David Brent
I watched the David Brent: Life on the Road movie the other day. It was alright – I like Ricky Gervais a lot though the film broke no new ground and just delivered up more of The Office but in a different context. In the picture David Brent (now a travelling salesman) puts together a […]Archive
December 6, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
The Ballad of The Finn Brothers: A Musical Life Between Them
Neil and Tim Finn. The Finn Brothers. We think of them as a pair. We group them together even when they are off making music independently. They have made two albums together under the family surname. Prior to that they have worked together in two bands, Tim appeared on just the one Crowded House album […]Archive
December 3, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
Songwriter Profile: Chris Knox
From his time with The Enemy and Toy Love through to Tall Dwarfs and his solo career, Chris Knox has been a hero to many, domestically and abroad, for his passionate performances, his writing and his ethos: a DIY song-craftsman. The image of Knox as the man in the stubbies and jandals is a crucial […]Archive
October 25, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
On Song: Five Years Old/Five Years On
Five years ago I released a book. On Song looked at 30 of the best New Zealand songs, 30 of my favourites. We started with a long list of at least 100 songs and whittled and whittled. I say ‘we’ – I am referring to the publisher, Penguin. And me. I was commissioned to write […]Archive
September 21, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
Sweetman Podcast: Episode 82 – Wayne Bell
Welcome to episode 82 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and Le Petite Chocolat. I was in Auckland for a brief visit so I made the most of potential-podcast time and finally caught up with Wayne Bell. Wayne is a drummer, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. I’ve met Wayne a few times across the […]Archive
September 17, 2017 by Simon Sweetman