I had a bit of an epiphany yesterday as I was in a writing session. There I am haggling over some lyric ideas and the word choices with the co-writer. I think the reason is I started to understand a few songs ago [ones that I had written] that the first draft is the one that comes from the heart, but it isn’t always the perfect way to say what is being said. Thus a first draft is much like the blue print.
We had a melody that came right away, which is great. The chorus ended up being what we worked out first after the melody. Once the beginning framework was there I started looking at the lines I really liked knowing I’m the one that’s going to be singing it. Research mode began to kick in because a title showed itself. The title came up being extremely common which isn’t something I care for. Interestingly another word kept creeping in with the phrase we had and when that word was added to the title, bingo it set it apart. Two more lines were poured over and over to where I finally got to like the changes and boom the chorus was finished.
The verses are the next to enter the playing field. We’re a verse and a half into it. The melody is there, most of the first draft of the verses are there and that’s where it currently sits… Awaiting more time to be finished. To the long time Single of the Day reader you’ll know that sometimes songs come quick, sometimes they’re slaved over for many days and hours. That’s the nature of the beast. The essence is the creation once it’s finished.
T. Rex came before my time. But even to this day, there is something about this song that really smacks of cool – the essence. To be a fly on the wall in the room where this song was conceived would be something I’d like to time travel to do. Marc Bolan drips with the essence of rock ‘n’ roll. The attitude. The Presence. The ‘It’ factor. He had it. I don’t know much about Marc, but I do know that he comes from the U.K. and lots of the super cool rock of that era came from there.
This song has be covered numerous times by artists. The other famous version I’m aware of is by The Power Station. Other artists include Blondie and Joe Perry. I’ve been known to perform it live as well. It’s one of those songs that people instantly react to. It’s primal. It’s easy. It’s cool. Not familiar with this song? What rock have you been hiding under and aren’t you happy you crawled out from under it today? Don’t own it? Get it now or you’ll be uncool.
(** Disclaimer: If T. Rex’s label decides to get it on with me, I’ll have to bang that audio off the server with a mallet. The post will remain to show that I too want essence. **)