"Slightly Out of Tune?"

Most musicians, or people in general that have a ‘good ear,’ are able to differentiate between being “in tune” or “out of tune.”

Below are two definitions that I found to describe a non tangible concept that is pretty abstract.

“..the condition of having correct musical pitch, or of being in key..”

ALSO..

“agreement in pitch..”

So, we have to agree .... I like that!

I have a good ear..... my poor mother was born unable to hear a pitch and replicate it. The plus side to that? She could/can always enjoy most music. Think about that... being able to sit in any concert, all levels... any musical, anywhere that someone steps up to play an instrument or sing the National Anthem..... and NEVER squirm over a note or dissonant chord. What a blessing!

So, this brings me to a song that is in my repertoire.

DESAFINADO (Slightly Out of Tune)

At first, I thought, “.. ok, just another Latin song.”

No, it’s NOT just another Latin song. It is a brilliant work of art! The original text is written by Newton Mendonca, with music by Antonio Carlos Jobim -- ahhhh love Jobim! Yes, you have heard of him! Step into an elevator and eventually the strains of BOY FROM IPANEMA will surround your assent to the top floor. That’s right! HIM!

The song is a medium bossa nova, written in the key of F. The first two verses are filled with metaphors that link a relationship to a beautifully written/played piece of music. The melody is filled with extra accidentals to help give that ‘out of tune’ conveyance [ in music and relationships].

Love is like a never-ending melody
Always have compared it to a symphony
A symphony conducted by the lighting of the moon
But our song of love is slightly out of tune

Once your kisses raised me to a fever pitch
Now the orchestration doesn't seem so rich
Seems to me you've changed the tune we used to sing
Like the bossa nova, love should swing

The lyrics in the slight bridge, describe the ‘song’ [ie relationship] with “being different” stating that the words “don’t even rhyme.” The melody, in keeping with the lyrics, has added even more accidentals at this point in the song.

We used to harmonize, two souls in perfect time
Now the song is different and the words don't even rhyme
Cause you forgot the melody our hearts would always croon
So what's good's a heart that's slightly out of tune

Now comes the really brilliant part of the song! [yeh.. music geek here!]

The final verse of the song suggests that the relationship, like a song needs to be tuned. “Tune your heart to mine” .. “join with me in harmony.” As the lyrics/relationship change .. the melody has now found its way to the key of F major, with no additional accidentals!

Tune your heart to mine the way it used to be
Join with me in harmony and sing a song of loving
We've got to get in tune again before too long

There'll be no desafinado
When your heart belongs to me completely
Then you won't be slightly out of tune
You'll sing along with me.

Brilliant! I have goose bumps. That is not just composing..... that is ART! Take the time to look at the music....the words alone do not do it justice. [Let me know if you would like to see a copy.]

What?! No Bridge??

Jazz Standards have a 'bridge'..... probably one of the reasons they are deemed 'standard.'

I am currently working on updating my rep.
Two of the new (to me) songs are about the moon.

THAT, in itself, is somewhat cliche'.. but the songs are popular and timeless.

One of my favorite elements of the traditional standard is the bridge ...or the section that connects the verses in the song. Sometimes the bridge has a schmaltzy melody..

exa. "Teach Me Tonight".. if it weren't for that mid section... I may not have learned that particular song.

"The sky's a blackboard high above you

and if a shooting star goes by
I'll use that star to write I LOVE YOU
A thousand times across the sky."

The bridge in "Orange Colored Sky" is priceless... a veritable FUN spew of words
that literally keeps the singer on his/her toes!!

Do NOT let the pianist run away with the tempo on that song...
you WILL be 'in a spin' by the time you sing the bridge!

"... then the ceiling fell in and the bottom fell out,

I went into a spin and I started to shout!..."

The bridge in "It's Only a Paper Moon" is short and trite ... but in all fairness, the song was written in 1933:

"...without your love, it's a honky tonk parade

without your love, it's a melody played in a penny arcade."

....Back to my moon songs...

"Fly Me to The Moon" Bart Howard (1954)

"How High the Moon" Nancy Hamilton and Morgan Lewis (1940)

I read through the lyrics, decided on a tempo, sang through the tune, checked the key
.. then... noticed the structure: AA [It is generally AABA]

"WHAT?? NO BRIDGE??!! Both songs about the moon, haven't a bridge?!"huh!

OK, then.

I'll let it go .. this time.

Recently, I had a real musician's moment .. made me feel like a real DIVA. My Trio finished our special midday concert at the Jewish Home ..
a quartet of dancers was preparing to perform next.

I walked through the tables of residents and guests to retrieve my cart...
as I walked by people,
they began clapping for me!
What a thrill! Made me feel like a real movie star!