Category: Songwriting

With the lyrics all created, composing the song seems to be pretty easy. Based on the chord progression I have created last night, I spent less than 2 hours to finish composing this song.

Of course, lyrics has to be altered to suit the melody. A very dark song that if I like it, I will add it into the Eternally Thankful song collection. Meanwhile, I have added this new song into my daily practicing song list.

FEATHER

I am as light as a feather
Floating in mid-air
Not aware of what’s around me
And that’s fine
Just the way I like it

I am as pure as a feather
White and fair
Not give a damn to all but me
And that’s my life
Just the way I like it

All these restrictions
All these chains and disciplines
All these bullshits
Talks are cheapAll these routines
All these rules making me thin
All these talks
Spare me please

I am relax as a feather
Falling with no fear
Music plays around me
Reminds me of my kind

I am just a feather
In a world of tears
No one lives around me
Do you call it fine?
Do you call it fine?
Do you call it fine?
Perhaps … that’s the way I like it

Copyright © 2005 by Wilfrid K. F. Wong. All Rights Reserved.

Met up with Jason for lunch and I was inspired to come out with a couple of new songs with titles such as “Not Connected”, “Feather”, “Into The Loop”, and “Pulling The Plug”. For now, I have come up with the lyrics for the song “Feather”.

FEATHER

I am as light as a feather
Floating in mid-air
Not aware of what’s around me
And that is fine
Just the way I like it

I am as pure as a feather
White and fair
Not giving a damn to all but me
And that’s my life
Just the way I like it

All these restrictions
All these chains and disciplines
All these bullshits
Talks are cheap

All these routines
All these rules making me thin
All these talks
Spare me please

I am relax as a feather
Falling with no fear
Music played around me
Remind me of my kind
Just the way I like it

I am just a feather
Living in a world of tears
No one care about me but me
Do you call it fine?
Perhaps … this is the way I like it

Copyright © 2005 by Wilfrid K. F. Wong. All Rights Reserved.

It has been a productive trip so far. I have taken some great photos and written 3 songs so far. My idea is that once I am back to Singapore, I will select some of my most beloved pictures and post them in my website and let people vote for the best photo.

Back to my songwriting activity, on the Christmas eve I was with Cynthia in a very porsh Japanese restaurant in Jakarta (S$60 per head). After 3 glasses of Martini, I started writing the lyrics onto the napkin. Ever since I named my upcoming album as Eternally Thankful, an idea came up. Why don’t I write a title song called Eternally Thankful? And so I did. The first verse goes something like this.

Old man knocked at my door, asked me what I adore
All that glitters aren’t that all, be careful what you wish for

And I managed to finish writing the song by Christmas day.

My brother-in-law, Eric, commented that most of my songs are in minor key, which is true. I then asked him how to write major key songs and he showed me a few chords. I said to myself, why not give it a try? I have fun with it. Eric jammed with me on his keyboard with just the first 3 lines of the song. Fun.

Writing a major key song is kind of tough because I am not that used to it. Although Eric and his fiance Julia commented that the song, titled Sunflower has a bit of a dark side here and there, I am indeed very much happy with the result. I am the dark man. What can I do? Extract of the lyrics below.

Sunflower that’s what you’ve become
Sunflower we’ve had so much fun
Sunflower you don’t have a face
Sunflower do you know my face?

Next day, Eric showed me some interesting chords progression with the verses in minor keys and the chorus switches to major keys. Woah, that blew my mind away! And within minutes, the structure of the song was out.

Perhaps it was under the high effect (had some wine and port) and most likely because of the regularity of the song, the end result to me sounds like a trance song with a lot of interesting repeating melody that kind of stick into your head if you know what I mean. Song title is The Words You Said and the bridge of the song as follows.

You are the charm of my life, honey in my cup of tea
I want to spend my life with the concept of you
You are not making easier for me, getting lovlier each day
And I run, I run, I fall into your embrace.

Eric asked me if I could send him a recorded version of the songs and he is keen to take it to his friends who are in the music industry. Hmmmm. That could be interesting.

It is a weekend of music creation so far. My band-mate Jason dropped by my home today to complete the recording of the guitar solo of one of our songs and I have spent the entire morning to perform vocal warmup prior to his arrival.

After sending Jason off and had my quick dinner, I had this sudden urge to write songs. I wanted to write as many as possible but so far, I can only write two songs. Seems to me that this is my barrier. In fact, it is quite rare that I can write two songs on the same night. So far, perhaps twice. I tried to go beyond two but it is just not possible.

I am sensing that there is a change in my music direction. Looks like my music creation is entering another era. It’s about time …

An extract of the lyrics from the 1st song’s chorus, Uncomfortable Silence:

Bit by bit I am melting inside
Bit by bit I wish to disappear
Bit by bit I am wrapped by this …
Uncomfortable silence, uncomfortable silence

And, an extract of the lyrics from the 2nd song’s chorus, It’s Not For You:

Judging the world, sitting up above, seeing all of those you want to see
Lying to yourself, covering the world, seeing all of those you want to see

After thoughts: After typing out the lyrics for me, my sister has gone through quite a tough period herself. And she (was inspired) has offered to translate the song for me. I think her translation is much better than mine.

Remember the Cantonese song I was talking about? Many thanks to my sister Lora, she has typed out the entire song for me over the phone! And here is an excerpt of the song.

I have had quite a hard time translating the song into English. Well, I have given my best shot and hope that it is poetic enough as what Lora requested.

Another challenge I have had was to name the song. And it was till I have finished the translation that I picked the last words of the song as song title.

See below for lyrics in Chinese and English.

Warmest Memories (Translated by My Sister, Lora)

Every day and night I gaze at the far end of the sea
Wish to know My heart is still filled with your faces
Like illusions Like illusions Overwhelming me
Wish to know All these are my actual expectations

But every day I just lost in words
Passing through all those chilly days My stirring wishes cannot be concealed

Today’s me Today’s me Have faced all the changes
I’d rather believe I’d rather believe One day you will return to my side
No longer can change No longer can change The one I was in the past
And I am longing for The one you were in the past

Every day and night I look around
Just wish to catch a glimpse of you
I cannot imagine all these What will you do if you were me?

Dazzle of glamour Your beautiful projection
If I can make one change I will return to that day

Incomprehensible I just silently wish
Incomprehensible I just silently wait
One day One day You will understand all these
That day You will be attached to our warmest memories

Warm Recollection (Translated by Me)

Day and night I look at the distant cape
Want to know if your impression still live in my heart
Like an illustion, like an illustion that covers me
I want to know if all these is realistic expectation

But each day I am quiet, lost in words
I have tasted what coldness is and failed to suppress my wild thoughts

Today’s me, today’s me has tasted all kinds of changes
I’d rather believe, I’d rather believe one day you will return to my side
I cannot change, I cannot change the former me
But I hope to see the former you

Day and night I look at the wide horizon
Only want to indistinctly, secretly to watch
All these I cannot imagine, and if you were me, what would you do?

Beaming with light that cannot be suppressed, your beautiful image
If I can make one change, I would return to that day

Hard to understand the real you, I can only silently hope
Impossible to understand the real you, I can only silently wait
One day, one day you will understand all these
And that day, you will feel attached to all these warm recollection