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Back story – what every writer is admonished to filter throughout the chapters of a book. Thou shalt not begin with back story is a commandment of the highest order.
Infuse the back story of characters and actions in your novel. Do not hit the reader on the head.
The same tenet is true of song. Do you know the back story of these rock’n roll standards?
- ‘Chicago’ and ‘Ohio’ by CSN
- ‘Suite Judy Blue Eyes’ by CSN
- ‘Coyote’ by Judi Collins
- ‘Layla’ by Derek and the Dominoes
- ‘Something’ by George Harrison
- ‘Tears in Heaven’ by Eric Clapton and Will Jennings
- ‘Yesterday’ and ‘A Day in the Life’ by the Beatles, etc., etc., etc.
- ‘Manic Monday’ by The Bangles
- ‘Running on Empty’ by Jackson Brown
- “Single Ladies’ by Beyonce
- ‘Sunday, Bloody Sunday’ and ‘One’ by U2
- ‘Seven Turns’ by Dickey Betts: https://www.pjcolando.com/life-as-a-miracle-seven-turns/
Here’s the story behind the meaning of this CSN song for me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyquqw6GeXk
When the album came out, I had an affair with an art teacher at the local high school. He lived with a group of guys in a decrepit house with a forlorn couch on the front porch, just as the members displayed on the cover of the album. Visits there were filled with the music of CSN, another way to connect the dots.
But, since I worked at the same high school, and his hair was very long and his reputation disreputable, we kept our liason secret. I’d grown up in small towns, such as the one where the school was (Hebron, a very Biblical word) and knew that gossip was rampant. We didn’t need the complications – or the questions.
Thus, the words of this song directly applied to our public obfuscation.
Click on the links. Enjoy the music, the sound track of my life.
Well, I just learned all sorts of info about Manic Monday! Prince wrote it, and there are rumors he gave it to The Bangles to woo Susanna Hoffs? Good stuff! I’ve heard Sunday Bloody Sunday was about an uprising in Ireland squelched by the government(?) and Tears in Heaven is about Clapton’s deceased son? Other than that, I don’t know much about the other songs. Fun post!
Thanks, Jennifer – I had fun writing, researching, and revealing in the post! Music is magic in my life, a memory enhancer… and the beat goes on. La-di-dah-dee-dah!
Oh, and you’re right about the songs’ origins, Jennifer –
That’s quite a backstory, PJ! You are a walking exclamation point! OMG I love CSN’s “Hopelessly Hoping.” I’m playing it right now. This is why it takes me so long to visit and answer comments. I go down rabbit hole after rabbit hole because fellow IWSG members are so interesting! They bird walk me as well as my second and third graders used to. Have a good one, my friend!
thanks, Louise – the song takes on new meaning when you know the Harlequin, eh!