Song title poetry started as a joke and a reaction. At the final days of NaPoWriMo when the prompt came up to write to a Tay Tay word I wanted to give up. Those adverse reactions can be quite strong. It’s not that I don’t like Tay Tay, it’s that when something is so trendy, so in, so pushed by all possible places I lose interest. I fail to see the authentic touch no matter how much girl next door attributes are thrown about. I have no girl nor diva next door who’s anything like that.
On my own prompt station here on Substack, I always say that if a prompt is too much, use it as a starting point. No wrong or right. If you don’t like it, work with it in a way that allows you to create.
It’s about time I listen to my own advice and so the first song title poem was born. I picked up the tingle in the gut that said this is fun. The counter reaction was, this is silly!
Have you seen how many silly ideas are good? Some are right out ridiculous, but not all. People may laugh… but what if they don’t and what if they do?
I decided to try. I devoted each day to a letter in the alphabet. I wrote a post, I wrote about it on Notes, I put up links in my newsletter and here we are. All letters done. We created a community together of rediscovering old songs, new artists and creating something new of something existing. Is it recycled art? Is it repurposed? What was it? You tell me. For the rest of the month, we’ll talk and discuss different aspects of our song title poetry journey.
Today I would like you to share your favourite song title poem in the comments. I’d be happy if you could also invite other readers to come along and read. Maybe a post on your publication if you feel like it. Tomorrow we will choose our favourite song title poem by another substacker. Today is all about your own favourite.
If some consider it to be 'silly' or otherwise a waste of time to try, investigating, playing, experimenting or just exploring curiosity such as 'what if', that is their loss and, in my perhaps naive or view of no consequence - sad.
Even when something does not produce what one expects or results in a 'lesser quality' of output than do other inspirations or prompts, as you have suggested, serendipity will very often delight by discovery of the unexpected or triggering of memories, otherwise lost in the archives of the mind.
So, I congratulate on the song-title prompt and I have enjoyed my own feeble attempts to make something of it and much of what others have produced.
Thank you. I appreciate your gentle 'prodding' or 'provoking' or stimulating of us to try new approaches and not least, at times, a welcome reminder to write.
Take care. Stay safe. ☮️
Oh man, that is difficult.
I've enjoyed playing around with so many of the letters and most of the stories that grew out of them meant a lot to me. Some of them came quickly, and some of them I had to work harder to find a way in, but they were all fun in different ways, so it's tough to pick one. But... I will go with this one, just because I can't listen to Nirvana anymore without thinking about Polly and her Iced Tea! Haha...
NIRVANA
I was SIFTING through the vinyl in the record store when I saw her, over by the Pop section, trying to wipe a lipstick STAIN from the collar of her suede jacket. She said her name was POLLY, and we quickly bonded over our shared appreciation for the little-known Swedish band DIVE.
She asked me if I wanted to grab something to eat with her, and next thing I knew we were heading off to enjoy some MEXICAN SEAFOOD.
She ordered a Long Island Iced Tea, with a SLIVER of lemon, so I ordered a coffee, because I thought we were being sensible and not having alcohol.
It turns out a Long Island Iced Tea is a cocktail, and it's just called that because it's the colour of tea.
I felt so DUMB... 😎