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Day Two Hundred Ninety Six (Year Three)

Tonight's post has what feels like a bit of a breakthrough for me.  It starts in a familiar place, and then branches off into something that feels greater than its beginnings, so stick with me on this and see if I can successfully put into words what I'm hoping I can.

So, anyone who has been following of late knows that we've been watching a lot of NBC's The Voice this season.  The show is fantastic and the talent they have, both in judges, and in contestants, has been great this year.  That's not really the point of this though, and neither is the next bit, although it helps to set up what I'm trying to express.  Blake Shelton, famous country singer-type, is one of the judges.  His presence, I think, has gotten the Mrs. to turn the radio dial over to the country stations more of late.  She sheepishly admitted as much to me tonight when she got home from Sioux City.

"It's just so much more in depth than most pop music," she said, "you can tell a whole story that way, and have the chorus change meaning based on the verse that came right before it."

I've always been split between my love of music and my love of fiction.  For years I've told myself that I can only focus on one of the two at any given time.  I've gotten stuck in the rut of that thought process for so long that it had become an ingrained part of who I am.  Perhaps, however, that statement has shown me another option.  Perhaps bringing more of my love of story and detail will free up my writer's block when it comes to lyrics.

It also got me looking at my favorite songwriters, and yes, they're all more storytellers than they are lyric writers.  In no particular order:

- Adam Duritz
- Brandi Carlile
- Stephan Jenkins
- Matt Skiba
- Ed Robertson/Steven Page
- Lennon/McCartney
- Bob Dylan
- Paul Simon
- Tom Waits

the list could go on and on... storytellers one and all.

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