Why this tune? This week’s tune is another work from my January song-a-day challenge. It’s another example of a song inspired by everyday life. In this case it was breakfast, when I neglected to share the last banana in the house with my wife. My apology took the form of a tango that I recordedContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: The Last Banana”
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Tunes on Tuesday: At Sixty
Why this tune? I wrote the first draft of this song early in 2023, soon after I turned sixty. I wanted to express some of the strangeness of reaching an age that had always seemed so far away. I liked the music but realized that the original lyrics were not delivering the story of heContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: At Sixty”
Tunes on Tuesday: I Love You, Shut Up
Why this tune? I’m sharing Tunes On Tuesday on Wednesday this week (after the long US President’s Day holiday weekend). The idea for “I Love You, Shut Up” started in a conversation among friends where someone in the group may have overstepped the bounds, leading his partner to say “I love you, but shut up.” The storyContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: I Love You, Shut Up”
Tunes on Tuesday: Improbable
Why this tune? I’m spending time this month reviewing and revising songs I have written or started to write, as part of a larger goal to plan out some recording projects for the next year or so. I wrote the first draft of “Improbable” in January – one of my song-a-day creations inspired by aContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Improbable”
Tunes on Tuesday: Let’s Wander
Why this tune? I’m writing this from Los Angeles, where I spent a few days attending the Grammy ceremonies and schmoozing at a series of pre-Grammy parties and mixers. The trip was an outcome of the award I received from the ASCAP Foundation for my song “Let’s Wander.” I came to LA in part toContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Let’s Wander”
Tunes on Tuesday: City of Refuge
Why this tune? This week’s tune is another in my “Parsha Songs” series inspired by the weekly Torah portion. “City of Refuge” was inspired by the commandment in Parashat Masei (מַסְעֵ֣י) to establish “cities of refuge,” as described in Numbers 35:11 “you shall provide yourselves with places to serve you as cities of refuge toContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: City of Refuge”
Tunes on Tuesday: The Changes
Why this tune? I’m continuing the song-a-day challenge I started at the beginning of January, managingto write at least part of a song every day. Today’s contribution is “The Changes,” which started from another phrase on my song ideas list: “sending more condolence cards thanwedding wishes.” That led to this self-referential tune about aging asContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: The Changes”
Tunes on Tuesday: Let Go
Why this tune? I’m starting the new year with a challenge, to write a song a day (or at least part ofone) through January. This challenge is hosted by Sarah Gulish and Kat Reinhert of “Songwriting for ME.” They provide resources and support for music educators who want to write music and teach those skillsContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Let Go”
Tunes on Tuesday: Let’s Resolve (2024)
Why this tune? Tunes on Tuesday starts the new year with an updated version of a song I wrote last New Year’s Eve. It’s a twist on the concept of New Year’s resolutions, calling for us to resolve to “not resolve at all.” It’s really a love song, where the singer implores their love toContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Let’s Resolve (2024)”
Tunes on Tuesday: Thanksgiving With Uncle Rob (2023)
Why this tune? We celebrate Thanksgiving in the US this Thursday, so I’m marking the day with my song for the season, which I wrote in 2011. The version you’re hearing in the video is the 2016 recording with Aaron Myers, which you can find on your favorite streaming services and YouTube. I’m thankful forContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Thanksgiving With Uncle Rob (2023)”
Oren Levine, jazz pianist and songwriter 