Posted: May 23rd, 2010
And the Hits Just Keep on Comin'
Posted: May 21st, 2010
This week was a close call. What he eventually created came from a deep and honest place. I doubt if he’d have written this song if he wasn’t so backed against the wall. It’s beautiful and true.
Check it here, and, as always, please spread the word and subscribe to the Connor McGuire YouTube channel.
Amazing
Posted: May 14th, 2010
I don’t think Connor expected his ‘Song a Week Project’ to develop into the creative journey it’s become. The process is taking him places he otherwise never would have ventured. Once again the new song has brain-bombed me and I can’t stop singing it …
Check it here, and please subscribe to the Connor McGuire YouTube channel.
Seven is a Lucky Number
Posted: May 6th, 2010
Connor’s seventh song is a radical departure. It blends his usual writing style with his Pack Mentality mash-up sensibilities. The song, propelled by a beat he played on a floor tom with a tambourine laid on the skin, soars like classic Peter Gabriel, but more likely references Bat for Lashes or Animal Collective. Once again Connor succeeds and surprises. Check it here, and please subscribe to the Connor McGuire YouTube channel.
For Beatle Fans Only
Posted: May 4th, 2010
More and more I see that growing up with the Beatles was a privilege that other generations may never experience. Their unparalleled creative growth – which paralleled my growth as a singer and songwriter – was an endless inspiration to me, and countless other music makers, in the sixties. A friend sent this link, as friends do, thinking I might enjoy it. Turns out, watching it brought the occasional tear to my eye. Like me, these guys know every single nuance of this performance. If they got one wrong, I didn’t notice – but I may have been blinded by the sheer joy of seeing this music played live.
So, for my fellow Beatle fans:
Posted: May 2nd, 2010
This rang so true to me and made me laugh. Derren is talking about his admiration for Helena Bonham Carter and in particular their attendance at a VIP gathering after a Rufus Wainwright show.
“Since then I have found myself alongside her many times, normally when in Rufus’ company, but never said hello. On each occasion I pass by imagining she wouldn’t know me from Adam: then, when I leave, I wonder if she might have done, and whether I had seemed rude. Such are the conflicts of C-rate celebrity.”
Derren Brown’s always excellent blog is here
How *Does* He Do It??
Posted: April 27th, 2010
Six weeks, six new songs! I can’t say he makes it look easy – as you’ve seen, it hasn’t been – but I can marvel at the fact that he continues to create a brand new, and amazingly good, new song every week! This week’s song is a hard-rockin’ full-band-style arrangement, leaving behind the acoustic vibe from weeks four and five. Check out “House of Cards” here or on the YouTubes. Send your friends. And if you haven’t yet, subscribe to the Connor McGuire YouTube channel.
Epic Fail Narrowly Averted
Posted: April 21st, 2010
Connor’s Week 5 song for his ‘Song a Week Project’ could be his best yet, despite the fact that it ended up being a ‘Song a Day Project’. The suspense is killing me! Please support Connor’s work by subscribing to his YouTube channel and leaving encouraging comments.
Posted: April 13th, 2010
Every week of Connor’s ‘Song a Week Project’ has had it’s challenges. Week four was no exception. His plan to simplify the process by eliminating a full band arrangement and writing on an acoustic guitar just created a higher expectation for the lyrics – which became a struggle. I’m proud to say that Connor won that battle, and that “Getting Over It” (or whatever the official title will be) is a truly beautiful, thoughtful and damned catchy song. I’ve been singing it all morning!
If you know anyone who would take the time to view and comment on Connor’s ‘SWP’ vids (or, better yet, subscribe to the series), please direct them either to this site or to the YouTube page where it’s hosted.
What Connor is doing with his ‘Song a Week Project’ is brutally difficult work. Making something from nothing – the delicate alchemy of songwriting – can be a gut-wrenching endeavour at the best of times, and doing it on a schedule like this is something I don’t think I could do. I watch his progress with a mixture of fear and loathing … and pride.
Check this out to see a great song being created:
Posted: April 7th, 2010
Best yet! This was a really good idea.
PART TWO: