Why the new stuff?
August 7, 2010
I noticed that when I had some time and went back to this site I was drawn to the most recent pages (songs) I had posted. Only I and the wordpress file dates know what those are but there I was, picking them off the list.
Why is that I wondered?
I am guessing that in the creative process those are the “top of mind”. They are the songs that are re-sidual and still echoing. Or, maybe something more subtle. Is it a sub-concious thing that tells the writer that the new songs are “better”? Why is “thinkin’ about it” “better” than “Heaven knows”?
Is it both? I think so.
The top of mind to the songwriter is analogous to the top ten radio show. It is what is current, hip, and playing on their internal station. New stuff comes in. Number one last week slips to number four this week.
And for the creative writer, the latest stuff is the “best” stuff. If not, then why go back to the well? Why edit the piece 20 or 30 times? Why hear it morning, day and night? Why craft? Why try?
Because every writer believes that the piece you will write tommorow or next week is surely going to be “the one”. The one that is still playing 30 years after it was released. A capture of thought, word and melody that becomes a social icon to some group of people across time and space.
There’s nothing new under the sun. People have always loved the new, from the hill in Athens, to facebook status updates. Some “new” is seemingly more meaningful and lasting. Maybe that is the secret to an “old favorite”. )
