Cut Cut Cut Cut Cut!

So, my dissertation is going to be based around cut-ups of popular songs and I have been hard at work on my planning and preparation.

I've come up with over 30 possible songs that tie in with my theme.  I will only need around 15 songs but I want to see which cut-ups come out with the most interesting material.

Using the cut-up tool called The Text Mixing Desk at The Lazarus Corporation http://archive.lazaruscorporation.co.uk/cutup/textinput.php I've now got to the point where I am about to go through each of the cut-up lyrics and highlight and record the text that leaps out at me as being most interesting/unusual/useable.  When I've been through each lyric, I shall try to whittle down to 15 ish 'best' ones that I think can be woven into some kind of story.

I may be some time...

William S Burroughs

King of the Cut-ups

 

New Hair, New Attitude?

Just had a big birthday and decided to celebrate with a new hair colour.  But will it make me any more creative?  Or any less lazy?  We shall see, shan't we...?

 

Right, that's it!

No more procrastinating. I have to get this thing written. It may be a one-woman show, it may be a novel, it may be a screenplay. I am not really sure how it’s going to pan out. But decisions have been made - the main one being I HAVE A BLOODY DISSERTATION TO WRITE - DO SOMETHING NOW!!!!
With this small matter in mind (and the added bonus of knowing that I will not be able to do it next summer when I’m meant to - pesky kids and their school holidays!) I am DEFINITELY (no faffing about anymore) doing it this term. The decision is made. I have even started research and notes. Actually I’ve been researching it for ages but have now got to move up a gear.
So, I am going to do the NANOWRIMO. I need to write 20,000 words for the dissertation so the 50,000 target of the Nano should see me well clear. Hurrah! Wish me luck, offer me encouragement, send me virtual cups of coffee. Thanks.
http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/dashboard

Bleurgghhh!

Today I am mostly feeling like this - too much white wine last night. Can’t get out of my pyjamas.

Avoidance

Today I have been mostly making and eating cakes. Not productive in a writing sense, but bloody tasty.

Songs I Remember from my Youth

A good starting point for writing comedy songs seems to be a familiar tune, altered extensively, but still with enough of the original for people to be able to grab hold of it quickly.
Some songs I have come up with as possibles are:

• It’s a Long Way to Tipperary
• Pack up Your Troubles
• Knees up Mother Brown
• Daisy, Daisy
• Oh Dear What Can the Matter Be?
• Bonnie Bobby Shaftoe
• Soldier, Soldier, Will You Marry Me?
• My Grandfather’s Clock
• John Brown’s Body
• My Darling Clementine

• Oh Susannah!
• She’ll be Coming Round the Mountain
• Kumbaya
• Day Trip to Bangor
• My Old Man’s a Dustman
• Any Old Iron
• My Old Man Said Follow the Van
• You Are my Sunshine
• Doin’ the Lambeth Walk
• Roll Out the Barrell
• Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
• There’s a Hole in My Bucket
• Does Your Chewing Gum Lose its Flavour on the Bedpost Overnight?
• I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside

I have obviously been a bit more with it today than of late, as I seem to have come up with quite a few. Any glaring omissions? Let me know.

Things my Nana Used to Say

My Nana once told me a story about losing her knickers on Blackpool railway station. She was a bit of a one, my Nana, and I miss her.


Here are some things she used to say:

• ‘Not so dusty, well brushed’ (in response to ‘How are you?’)
• ‘Choke up, it might be a gold watch.’
• ‘Stop being such a mardy arse!’
• ‘Ey up, me duck.’
• 'All in, bottle of gin.'
• 'All out, bottle of stout.'
• ‘Shut up, Ron, you silly bugger’ (or similar, but more profane, chastisement!)

Funny things said by people older than you are priceless, and are great fodder for characterisation.
Got any to add? Feel free.

Musical comedians - a very short list

      


So today has been spent coming up with what has turned out to be way too short a list of musical comedians.
The style I’m looking for is a bit music hall, a bit cabaret, a bit transvestite…
Here’s what I’ve got (feel free to suggest):

• Richard Stilgoe and Willie Rushton
• Victoria Wood
• Hinge and Brackett
• Joyce Grenfell
• Monty Python
• John Shuttleworth
• The Two Ronnies

A one woman show needs a comitragic musical interlude, one thinks.

Here we go then...

Today I am mostly feeling like this: