So the theme for this week is weddings (which is why I'm wearing a bow tie). Gay marriages officially became legal on Sunday in New York with hundreds of couples saying I do, and tomorrow I'm flying to Texas to be the best man in my brother Gerry's wedding. But in Texas (and 44 other states) gay marriages still aren't legally recognized, which means thousands of couples still don't have equal rights. I wanted a song that told the story of one such couple. Thanks to Charles Barksdale making me realize one of the lyrics sucked, and for helping me re-write it, and thanks to Tara Fike for helping me develop the chords. Love you both.
Check it out:
INSPIRATION:
Well I've met many gay couples who live like married people and who don't have equal rights. I wanted to write a song that reflected how normal gay couples are. I used to work at a Red Lobster by Lackland Airforce Base in San Antonio, TX, and I was always surprised by how many gay military couples would come in and have dinner.... a particular couple came in once a week and ordered a bottle of wine. I think maybe in the back of my mind they inspired this song....
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Week #1: MAGIC TIME MACHINE
Okay... so I've had the idea for this song for at least a year now. The song has taken many different forms in my mind over that period but I've finally come up with chords and set it in a definite form structure. My old song-writing partner Tara Fike (who I used to be in a band with) helped me choose which sets of historical lyrics to put together and use. Thanks Tara!
Check it out:
INSPIRATION:
There's this tourist trap restaurant in Texas called THE MAGIC TIME MACHINE, which is actually quite delicious and fun. I always promised someone very dear to me that we would go one day, and it never happened. The idea that things that might-have-been, never would be, is heart-breaking to me and informed the idea of this song. It's about a couple of ex-lovers who need to see each other one last time and hold a shrine, a memorial service, a postmortem, to what could have been. If only they could hop in a real Magic Time Machine and go back to a time they were happy together.
I decided to work on this song first because last week I saw the most wonderful play at INTAR Theatre here in NYC, Drawn and Quartered by Maggie Bofill. In the play two former lovers share one last night together after one of them paints the entire history of their doomed relationship on the walls of the other's apartment.
Hope you enjoy!
Check it out:
INSPIRATION:
There's this tourist trap restaurant in Texas called THE MAGIC TIME MACHINE, which is actually quite delicious and fun. I always promised someone very dear to me that we would go one day, and it never happened. The idea that things that might-have-been, never would be, is heart-breaking to me and informed the idea of this song. It's about a couple of ex-lovers who need to see each other one last time and hold a shrine, a memorial service, a postmortem, to what could have been. If only they could hop in a real Magic Time Machine and go back to a time they were happy together.
I decided to work on this song first because last week I saw the most wonderful play at INTAR Theatre here in NYC, Drawn and Quartered by Maggie Bofill. In the play two former lovers share one last night together after one of them paints the entire history of their doomed relationship on the walls of the other's apartment.
Hope you enjoy!
RULES of 52 Songs:
Okay, so I guess I need to set some ground rules, and hope not to break them.
RULES:
1. Post 1 new song a week for an entire year.
2. The song must be original.
3. The song is allowed be a collaboration.
4. The song can be in any style.
RULES:
1. Post 1 new song a week for an entire year.
2. The song must be original.
3. The song is allowed be a collaboration.
4. The song can be in any style.
Let me explain my 52 Song project
Hello world!
I'm David Davila, a singer-songwriter and playwright from Texas, living in New York City where it all happens. Since I was four years old, or maybe even earlier, I've written songs. I used to spend hours recording them on my 1980's cassette recorder my parents got me for my birthday when I was a kid. Now I'm all grown up and I'm still writing songs. They come to me when I'm in the shower, or on the subway, or driving down highway 281, and I can't get them out of my head until I write them down.
Now, I have all of these snippets of song ideas, and melodies in my head, that have never been finished, and the time has come to do something about it. So I decided to challenge myself to write and post one original song a week for an entire year: 52 Songs.
Now, I know there are other people out there doing 52 Songs projects, but this is not about being the first person or the best person out there. This is about challenging myself to finish writing enough songs to be able to do a solid show with, and being able to accompany myself on guitar at those shows. My guitar playing is pretty mediocre at best, but hopefully by the end of this year it will be amazing. :)
This is about telling stories, putting smiles on people's faces, helping people forget their worries, or think about the choices they've made in their lives. This is about the music, and art. It's the only thing on Earth I feel right doing.
So..... follow me along my journey, as I post a new song each week.
I'm David Davila, a singer-songwriter and playwright from Texas, living in New York City where it all happens. Since I was four years old, or maybe even earlier, I've written songs. I used to spend hours recording them on my 1980's cassette recorder my parents got me for my birthday when I was a kid. Now I'm all grown up and I'm still writing songs. They come to me when I'm in the shower, or on the subway, or driving down highway 281, and I can't get them out of my head until I write them down.
Now, I have all of these snippets of song ideas, and melodies in my head, that have never been finished, and the time has come to do something about it. So I decided to challenge myself to write and post one original song a week for an entire year: 52 Songs.
Now, I know there are other people out there doing 52 Songs projects, but this is not about being the first person or the best person out there. This is about challenging myself to finish writing enough songs to be able to do a solid show with, and being able to accompany myself on guitar at those shows. My guitar playing is pretty mediocre at best, but hopefully by the end of this year it will be amazing. :)
This is about telling stories, putting smiles on people's faces, helping people forget their worries, or think about the choices they've made in their lives. This is about the music, and art. It's the only thing on Earth I feel right doing.
So..... follow me along my journey, as I post a new song each week.
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