Oren Levine

Tunes on Tuesday: Harmony

Why this tune? I wrote this week’s song on the last day of this year’s February Album Writing Month (FAWM.org). FAWM is an annual virtual gathering of songwriters (amateur and pro) from around the world, writing, sharing and collaborating for a month. The stated goal is to write an album (14 songs). It’s a veryContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Harmony”

Tunes on Tuesday: The Closer I Get To You

Why this tune? This week’s song is in memory of the great American singer and pianist Roberta Flack, who passed on this week (February 24). She has a special place in the hearts of people from Washington, DC, where Flack started her musical career. She was already an accomplished singer, pianist and teacher when sheContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: The Closer I Get To You”

Tunes on Tuesday: Road Song

Why this tune? This week’s selection goes back to the standards with “Road Song,” a 1968 tune by Wes Montgomery. It was the title track of his album of that year, a “commercial” project that was also his last album. Montgomery died later that year of a heart attack. The track list includes covers ofContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Road Song”

Tunes on Tuesday: Parking Witch

Why this tune? This week’s song is another reminder that inspiration can come from anywhere. Our friend introduced us to the concept of the “parking witch,” to whom you appeal when looking for a space in a crowded place. We invoked the witch last weekend when looking for parking at Union Market in Washington, DCContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Parking Witch”

Tunes on Tuesday: Fly Away

Why this tune? Tunes On Tuesday revisits one of my January song-a-day songs “Fly Away” from Jan. 23, adding a second verse and bridge to this song for Parashat Metzora ( מְּצֹרָ֔ע ) inspired by a verse about setting a bird free to “make expiation for the house.” I think this is much closer to beingContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Fly Away”

Tunes on Tuesday: The 28th Day

Why this tune? It’s the 28th day of the the January Song-a-Day Challenge organized by Sarah and Kat at Songwriting for Music Educators. I was working on two songs with lyrics for today’s post but wasn’t happy with either. Instead I pulled out the melodica and wrote a short instrumental melody for my daily contribution,Continue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: The 28th Day”

Tunes on Tuesday: Bagel Day

Why this tune? January 15 is apparently National Bagel Day, so I couldn’t not mark the occasion with a new song. It’s also the midpoint of the January Song-a-Day Challenge organized by Sarah and Kat at Songwriting for Music Educators. They call this the “messy middle:” “The excitement of the initial challenge may have wornContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Bagel Day”

Tunes on Tuesday: Ain’t Misbehavin’

Why this tune? This Tuesday is also Day 7 of the January Song a Day Challenge organized by the talented team at Songwriting for Music Educators. For today’s song I updated the lyrics of the American classic “Ain’t Misbehavin’” by Fats Waller and Andy Razaf from 1929. The song entered the public domain on JanuaryContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Ain’t Misbehavin’”

Tunes on Tuesday: Onward

Why this tune? Tunes on Tuesday posts on Wednesday this week to celebrate the new year 2025. The start of the year is also the start of the January Song a Day Challenge organized by Songwriting For Music Educators, Kat Reinhert and Sarah Gulish’s initiative to help music teachers learn the craft of songwriting. IContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Onward”

Tunes on Tuesday: My Dear Acquaintance

Why this tune? This week’s tune was written by legendary singer and composer Peggy Lee, near the end of her 60-year career that included over 250 songs and 1000 recordings. She wrote the song with Paul Horner for an autobiographical musical “Peg” in 1983. The song was dropped from the show, and the show wasContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: My Dear Acquaintance”