Brian Bergeron

I’ve never hidden the fact that I wasn’t born with any innate musical ability other than a strong work ethic. I didn’t pick up guitar until 12 and am only a competent rhythm guitar player. I can’t play lead guitar to save my life. I have friends who write great songs because that’s just how they were wired. They can make hooky melodies and relatable lyrics and be satisfied with that. My songwriting evolution is built on musical epiphanies and I think I’m slowly getting there. I often state that sometimes I am completely dissatisfied with my musical catalogue and other times I am very satisfied and think I’m getting somewhere.

I think I’m somewhere in the middle today. I spent a half-hour really listening to “Blonde on Blonde” by Bob Dylan, lauded as one of the greatest albums ever…It’s part of my new resolution to listen to new music and to really listen to it. I’ve owned the album for years but I doubt I’ve even listened to it. I now spend a half-hour to an hour a day listening to music with my eyes closed, and a notebook by my side to write down my observations about the album. I’m glad I started with Dylan and got the following notes:

Not always eloquent in his lyrics though he’s BOB DYLAN…”Pledging My Time” is a song that I think I could write and it’s encouraging. Simple lyrics but his melody and his STYLE is the important thing.
Floored by the track “Visions of Johanna” which is very similar to a blues in its structure. It also echoes “Like A Rolling Stone” in some ways.

I guess basically what I learned today is that I shouldn’t get so down on myself when I don’t write songs that emulate the people that I want to emulate. It’s important that I write songs that I find to be strong and learn the rules for effective songwriting. I have to be my own guy but still make sure that I do things ‘right’ (though doing things right in the arts is up for argument)…

…Anyways, I got really distracted while writing this entry so it lost its punch. Sorry. Hah.