Do Your Homework & Don’t Panic!
- Trills on a Tuesday
- Mar 26
- 5 min read
Our last rehearsal until after Easter, which seemed to take Eamonn by surprise!
The consequence is we have a lot of homework over the next few weeks until we return on 14 April.
We took a little trip back to the 60's on Tuesday. The 1960s is often called a golden age of music because rapid technological advances, major social change, and a surge of creativity from the baby boomer generation transformed the industry. Music evolved from simple singles into more meaningful, album-focused artistry, influenced by movements like the British Invasion, Motown, and the counterculture. With themes shaped by civil rights, the Vietnam War, and youth rebellion, artists used improved recording techniques to experiment and innovate, creating diverse new styles and a lasting cultural impact.
We started with Thank you for the Days which we last performed in Winter 2024. This song is like a warm hug.
It is a song by the English rock band the Kinks, written by Ray Davies. In a 2018 interview, Ray Davies claimed that the song was inspired by his sister Rosie moving to Australia. "My sister Rosie had gone to Australia, and we didn't have communication — no Internet in those days. She left and said, 'Say goodbye, my loving brother,' and I said, 'Thank you for being my sister.' So, the song's for her, really, and her generation.
Alternatively, Davies attributed the song's "air of finality" to the Kinks' turmoil at the time, even noting that, at the time the band made the song, he felt it might be their last single. He recollected, "Pop musicians aren't meant to go on forever. And around this time, whenever I finished a session, I thought maybe this is the last record I'd ever make. That's why it has this strange emotion to it."
Fortunately, though the Kinks went on to make other records. Lyrically, the song is a melancholic reflection on someone meaningful who is departing. Ray commented, "It's a goodbye song, but it’s also an inspirational song. It could also mean a new beginning. I wanted to write a sad song with an optimistic praise to it." Davies later named it as one of the songs he would like played at his funeral, alongside ABBA's SOS.
The Tenors start us off (Basses don’t join in until later). Keep it quiet but with very clear diction. Sops and Altos sing ‘Thank you for the’ in your head so you are ready to sing, ‘days’ and it doesn’t come as a surprise!
‘the-days’ and ‘bel-ieve me’ are syncopated giving it a swing tempo.
Build up to ‘me’ and keep it going until the end. Remember the song doesn’t end at this point and continues in a more upbeat tempo.
‘I wish today could be tomorrow…..’ should sound like a ray of sunshine.
‘Let it wait’ is one of these phrases you add the consonant on to the next word ‘Let i twait’
Take a big breath at Bar 13 and be ready for ‘And though you’re gone’
This song starts quietly and gradually increases in volume so you can notice the contrast.
Remember to smile when you, ‘Ah’
Don’t exaggerate the ‘me’ at the end. Keep it clean and simple.
Next, we were sent into total confusion and panic with California Dreamin’, a song which we last performed in Winter 2019. In Flagrante was a much smaller choir in those days and this piece was written for three parts only. Now we have grown so much, Eamonn is arranging this song with five parts. This is fine for those who have never sung it before, they just need to navigate which line they are singing from. For the choir members who have previously sung it they will have to adjust to their new parts!
Don’t panic! Look out for Eamonn’s email where he will explain clearly what part you are singing and when and he will add the voice tracks to Dropbox so you can follow your parts from there. Just do your homework and all will fall into place.
California Dreamin’ is a song written by John and Michelle Phillips. The best-known version is by the Mamas & the Papas, who released it as a single in December 1965. The song was written in 1963 while John Phillips and Michelle Phillips were living in New York City during a particularly cold winter, and the latter was missing sunny California. John would work on compositions late at night and brought Michelle the first verse one morning. At the time, John and Michelle Phillips were members of the folk group the New Journeymen, which evolved into the Mamas and the Papas. Michelle Phillips wrote the lyrics "Well, I got down on my knees / And I pretend to pray", but Cass Elliot had sung "began" on the original recording and had continued doing so on tour until corrected by Phillips.
More panic was evoked after the tea and wine break when The Logical Song was sung. This was another one from our back catalogue last performed in Spring 2022.
This song has very many words to fit in a rather mechanical manner. When we do our warm ups you might think the tongue twisters are fun or maybe a waste of time, but songs like this really benefit from them, so pay attention!
The Logical Song is a song by British rock group Supertramp. It was written primarily by the band's frontman Roger Hodgson, who based the lyrics on his experiences being sent away to boarding school for ten years. It was a very personal song for Hodgson; he had worked on the song during soundchecks and completed the lyrics and arrangements six months before proposing it to the band for the album.
In 1980, Hodgson was honoured with the Ivor Novello Award from The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters for The Logical Song being named the best song both musically and lyrically.
Hodgson has said of the song's meaning: "The Logical Song was born from my questions about what really matters in life. Throughout childhood we are taught all these ways to be and yet we are rarely told anything about our true self. We are taught how to function outwardly, but not guided to who we are inwardly. We go from the innocence and wonder of childhood to the confusion of adolescence that often ends in the cynicism and disillusionment of adulthood. In The Logical Song, the burning question that came down to its rawest place was 'please tell me who I am', and that's basically what the song is about. I think this eternal question continues to hit such a deep chord in people around the world and why it stays so meaningful
Eamonn will provide an updated pdf music score with bigger writing.
We then sang through The Rainbow Connection which was in good shape followed by All My Trials, a slightly more current song previously performed 2024. Basses, just remember you are NOT ON THE TUNE!
We covered a lot this week with plenty of new material for some.
Don’t panic; do your homework over the Easter break and you will be ready to impress Eamonn on our return on 14 April
Your voice could be the one that makes the difference in someone's life
Have a very Happy Easter
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