This week’s pick is an anomaly, as I haven’t actually listened to this song this week. Rather, it has provided inspiration. I am in Silverlake this week, beginning sessions for Matt Nathanson‘s new record, and today’s song presented me with a bit of a challenge. The general feel was one that, historically, I would say I haven’t particularly embraced. At any rate, I was having a hard time finding my place in the tune during the morning session. We broke for lunch and I took a spin on my bike around Silverlake Reservoir, all the while running the chorus of the song around in my head. What I really needed to get myself past relying on normal go-to ideas.
“Modern Love” had been thrown around a few times in pre-production as an example of an unusual pop hit. Here’s a song that starts in 6/4, is nebulous as far as whether the whole thing is a verse or a chorus or what, and it was a monster hit. So with all this in mind, I took a page from the Bowie songbook, created a part in my head, returned to the studio and dropped the idea into the last repeat of the chorus. Poof, my part was born and it was a perfect fit. My approach to the rest of the song fell into place shortly after and I ended up tracking most of it live with the rest of the band. And thanks to everyone’s input the song itself more than transcended [my original impression of] the feel, which, really, was the whole point. Very rewarding. Thanks, Dave! Sorry I kinda dissed you last week.
