Weblog & News
How I Gave My Song "Good Morning to You My Sweetheart" an Enhanced Remix
This article is for aspiring songwriters. It's about songwriting techniques I used to extend and improve my song Good Morning to You My Sweetheart. In the following paragraphs, you will find out how I put to work the suggestions of a great songwriter who has many hits to his credit.
First, have a listen to the song...
Can't see or hear it? Click here...
"Good Morning to You My Sweetheart" is a charming little song. Ever since I composed the song, I have been singing the first couple of phrases to Tom whenever we wake up and start our day. It's a catchy little tune with clever lyrics that we also sing for folks a our local gigs. However, the song never did get much attention from music streaming websites, having about 120 views on Youtube and definitely not making it to our Top 10 Downloads list. Until I gave it a facelift, and now the views are up considerably, which means a lot to me, because I think it's nice to share upbeat cheerful music that can make people happier.
So, Good Morning to You My Sweetheart is no longer super obscure and ignored, and truly everybody who hears it puts on a smile and tells us they love my little song.
Improvements to my song all started when I attended a local workshop for songwriters.
The Songwriting Workshop
When I attended Songwriters Woodshed hosted by John Gillette and Sue Demel, where I announced that my musical offering to the group would be this way uncool but sweet little cheerful song, I was amazed when Tom and I performed it to see the other songwriters smiling, laughing, and swaying along with my music as we sang! My goodness! The other songwriters were super encouraging and everybody told me they loved my song! I have to say that was super encouraging to me as a kind of obscure songwriter!
Before the workshop I had been working on a new version of this song, because I had found many interesting songwriting suggestions in Jimmy Webb's book, Tunesmith. (Just in case you don't know who Jimmy Webb is, think Wichita Lineman, Galveston, MacArthur Park and numerous other super great Pop hits that he wrote.) I had made several additions to the original simple version, which was really just a ditty: a little Verse-Verse-Chorus "sing it two times through" composition.
Here's a list of the ideas I added to my song while working through Tunesmith:
- a prolog with a fun little bass line and accordion accompaniment,
- an introduction with lyrics that set the stage,
- a couple of 7th chords at the end of the intro, with the last of these being on the 2-chord, to peak the listener's interest,
- a bunch of short little fills throughout the song, which I played on my happy little accordion,
- a bridge that I also played on my accordion, to lead into the second verse,
- a bass line. These days I think songs just really gotta have a bass line,
- vocal harmonies on the chorus, for Tom to sing with me.
That's a lot! It was a lot of composing and twiddling on my part, but it sure was fun to put the suggestions in the book to work to improve my song. And, I think if you compare my new version to the original, you will agree. Especially if you are into songwriting, like me. Perhaps you may even find a Before and After comparison educational and inspiring.
Since I posted the After version at the top of this page, let's check out the original version, now...
The Before and After Comparison: The Original Version
I think my original versions actually not too bad, but my song is much better now, after the enhancements.
Can't see or hear it? Click here...
Let me know what you think
I hope you have enjoyed this page. If you like my music, please head over to our Facebook page or our Youtube channel @tuneytwosome, and leave a comment. Thanks for listening, and happy songwriting!
