Messy
I often wonder — if a journey of recovery is indeed part of your brand — your creative force — what happens (what do you write about) when/if you get well? What happens when you overcome that thing that defined you and for better or worse (usually worse) became your brand? That’s a messy question. 😳
Shelly & Kathleen Go To The Movies
Going out is not as simple as it used to be. I wish there were some kind of Theater Concierge who meets you in front of the theater and walks you through the whole process. Tickets, parking validation, popcorn, and then escorts you to your seat. And helps you find your car later. l would pay extra for that. 🍿
Healthcare For Songwriters
SONA worked tirelessly to make healthcare a reality. I was on the board of this amazing grassroots organization for a number of years. I stepped down recently to make room for new blood so I can’t take any credit for the heavy lifting but I’m still proud to have been a founding member and very proud of SONA for this GET! 💪🏽🥁🎶
Jones Beach
It was a Quadruple Threat: Lucinda Williams, Bob Dylan, Wilco and Willie Nelson. That’s rich. Catching performances from senior artists is time sensitive. Let’s just be real. I’m getting older. They are too. Go when you can. Take it all in. Cherish them even when they don’t sing your favorite song. And hugs to Jones Beach — my home-away-from-home — for the nostalgia and for still being there too. ❤️
Grammy Time
It appears that the re-imagining of “What a Girl Wants,” performed by Christina Aguilera and Sabrina Carpenter for Spotify’s 25th Anniversary is ‘nominat-able’ in the category of Best Pop Duo or Group Performance for the 2026 Grammy Awards. It’s a thrill to have had these two powerhouse songstresses from two completely different generations bring the song back into the spotlight with the soulful accompaniment of superb LIVE musicians. 😀😀😀
Carmy Does Bruce
All things considered, I AM looking forward to seeing ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere.’ Jeremy has his work cut out for him and as much as I’m anticipating the cringe, you just never know. 🍿🍿🍿
Pam
My friend (and songwriting-sista) Pamela Sheyne wrote a little song called “Genie in a Bottle.” Christina Aguilera took it to #1 all over the world. Join Pam and I as we go down a little bit of memory lane with “Genie” 26-years-later and hear what she has brewing in her current box of endeavors. 🧞♀️🧞🧞♂️
Elton and Brandi
One HAS to get into bed with other ppl because you never know how they’ll tap into places within you that never got explored. I get it. But I’ll just say this at the risk of being boo’d: It feels like artists are asking themselves with whom they should pair-up in order to stay on the charts, make history, win an award. Does Great + Great = Great? 😳😳😳😳
My Martini
I’m very precise about how I like my martini. I let the server know that if it doesn’t meet my specifications I will send it back. I’m not a bitch about it, it’s just a matter of fact. I wasn’t always so picky when drinks were 10 bucks. But now that they’re $25 I think I should get exactly what I want.
Freeze
I will always love music and make music and listen to music and crave music and believe music changes minds and hearts. I will always be a songwriter but being a songwriter doesn’t completely define me. And so I’ve wondered if I have earned the space to write about other stuff. 🤷🏻♀️
FireAid Meets Grammys
Many recent parties and celebrations were understandably cancelled out of respect for the grief of the people effected by the LA wildfires. But the showing up of countless iconic stars for FireAid, which raised 60 million dollars, was a godsend. And the choice to move forward with a Grammy night that never lost sight of LA strong was hopeful, uplifting and healing. I’m glad they did it.
Cruising
I’m grateful beyond to have these opportunities to pull back a curtain and share what it is to be a songwriter. Whether on land or in this case at sea. To try to explain that our most favorite state is in that zone when everything but whatever it is you’re writing … simply disappears. It’s magical. 🛳 🐠 🌊 🎶
An Unusual Gift
Smash Mouth’s Steve Harwell (“Walking On The Sun,” “Fast Ball”) passed away in 2023. He was a blast to write with. Never a dull moment. Uncontrollably flirty, yes. Yet Tender. And tasty with words and melody. One does not want to write with ‘boring.’ You write with boring you get a boring song. Plus, he left me with a gift I’ll never forget. 🎄❤️💚
Allee
In the spirit of “The World According To Allee Willis,” the new documentary about the insanely creative, unconditionally loving, outrageous, hilarious, and eternally optimistic Allee Willis, I thought I’d share a personal Allee story with you. If you knew her you have one. I take this from my 2016 GRAMMY nominated memoir “Confessions Of A Serial Songwriter.” Allee had a profound effect on peoples’ lives. She will never be forgotten.
Hello From My Bubble 🫧🫧
If I wasn’t gonna watch the news for a while imagine how more productive I could be. It would give me two more hours every day to get things done here in my Laurel Canyon Bubble. I was effectively putting my money where my last 2 blogs were: get busy. Surround yourself with that which brings you pleasure and meaning.
Looking Forward
We set up the living room with music stands and monitors. Mics and peddles. By the fourth rehearsal my voice was limbering up. I was reaching notes I couldn’t reach the week before. My hands and fingers started going to the right place without forethought. Before I knew it I was in that zone. Deliriously happy. We sounded pretty good. A drummer-away from touring. 😎😎
Joni Under The Stars
My favorite part of the show was when Joni laughed after finishing a song and hearing the uproarious response from the crowd. She sounded like a young child who just caught a dragonfly inside a jar. ♥️
Bottle of Red Bottle of White
All my favorite artists from my past trigger different memories and emotions. Todd taps into crushes. High school. First kisses. Kisses I wish I got, etc. Billy doesn’t do that for me. He pulls me into the tapestry of his life. His world with unforgettable stories. I don’t get sentimental … just nostalgic. Perhaps it’s our Long Island connection. The night was worth every penny we didn't pay for those seats. 😳
Songwriting Beyond 50
Don’t let this youth heavy music business make you feel like there’s no room for you any more. MAKE room. Tell the universe what you want. Believe you can have it. It’s never over. In fact it just may be beginning. Again. 💜
Christina & Sabrina sing “What a Girl Wants” 😀
In a beautiful staged, elegantly filmed celebration of nostalgia and appreciation for the past Christina goes down memory lane. She sings “Come On Over Baby,” “Genie in a Bottle,” and then my jaw drops as Sabrina Carpenter emerges and joins her on “What A Girl Wants.” It’s a song that keeps giving and I’m eternally grateful for its life. ❤️😀🎶
