Singer/Songwriter Mark Adams http://soliloquia.com Original acoustic music and inner thoughts Tue, 18 May 2010 19:38:23 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc Original music and interpretations http://soliloquia.com/original-music-and-interpretations/ http://soliloquia.com/original-music-and-interpretations/#comments Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:56:35 +0000 admin http://soliloquia.com/?p=11 Back in my college days, I read T.S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” and wondered how it would sound if sung. Eliot’s reading of the “Love Song” is chant-like, melodious in its own way, but not musical. My own arrangement (the “Love Song” is in the public domain) is narrative, with a sung refrain, “The women, they come and go, talking of Michelangelo” — note, slightly changed from the original. My interpretation of the “Love Song” fits into a broad catalog of original and interpretive music:

1. Scarborough Fair (arrangement) — A traditional song, popularized by Simon & Garfunkel. It consists of a series of impossible and symbolic requests.

2. When We Were Young (original) — About passing from childhood to adulthood, and what happens to our dreams.

3. Fortress (original) — Being closed in, isolated from the world. Thematically, in the same vein as Simon & Garfunkel’s “I am a Rock.”

4. I For You (original) — A reply to “Fortress” — about not giving up on a friend.

5. Amazing Grace (arrangement) — This hymn has an extensive history, written by a former slave trader and popularized in hymn books and modern performances (Judy Collins & Aretha Franklin). My arrangement is folksy with a country edge.

6. I Need You (original) — This song is popular in some of the pubs I’ve played. A song about love.

7. Old Man Jack (original) — About a troubled war vet, and the deputy he tries to shoot down.

8. I’ll Press On (original) — A declaration. About pressing on through whatever life throws at you.

9. Highways Heading Home (original) — About getting lost, and hoping someone is still there for you.

10. We Never Said Goodbye (original) — A lament. A song for a friend who passed away some years ago.

11. I Was Writing This In The Cafe (original) — Lyrics based on what happens when one thinks about life and its challenges.

12. Saved By Zero/All Along the Watchtower (arrangement) — Dylan’s “Watchtower” can be accomplished in two chords, so it fits nicely with just about any song, including The Fixx’s “Saved by Zero.” Both are apocalyptic.

13. Blowin’ In The Wind (arrangement) — Just about everyone sings Dylan’s “Blowin’ In The Wind.” My arrangement departs from the original melodically.

I played three of these at The Ugly Mug in Soquel:

Set: Fortress, I For You, I Need You

]]> http://soliloquia.com/original-music-and-interpretations/feed/ 0 Another side: Gospel music http://soliloquia.com/another-side-gospel-music/ http://soliloquia.com/another-side-gospel-music/#comments Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:40:56 +0000 admin http://soliloquia.com/?p=9 In addition to songs about love and life, I write gospel music, which I promote at GospelDays.com. Among my original creations are “Lord Jesus Christ,” based on the ancient Jesus Prayer, and a folk arrangement of “Amazing Grace.” I play at outreaches, camps and Christian music festivals.

]]> http://soliloquia.com/another-side-gospel-music/feed/ 0 Welcome to my music blog http://soliloquia.com/hello-world/ http://soliloquia.com/hello-world/#comments Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:15:28 +0000 admin http://soliloquia.com/?p=1 markadams

Hello, I’m singer/songwriter Mark Adams. Combining the styles of folk and rock, I’ve begun a musical journey. I composed my first song about four years ago in Jamaica, and now have a catalog of over 35 original songs and some arrangements. Over the past several months, I’ve been playing at open mics and various coffee houses. I am available for shows and private gigs.

I Need You –

(Press here for more music.)

This site contains:

1. Upcoming shows
2. Booking information
3. Demos
4. About the songs I play

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