The Lyric That Nobody Wanted
By Molly-Ann Leikin

     I was commissioned to write a CD of English lyrics for a distinguished European composer named Raimonds Pauls.   All but one song had been completed.   Our creative process was for Pauls to send me his melodies (all fabulous, all with killer hooks), and I wrote my lyrics to them.

     We collaborated on some great songs.

     When we weren't able to find one last melody to complete the project, I suggested I write the lyric first this time, to see if we could stir up some sparkle that way.   Raimonds was fine with that.   However, he was distracted by some sort of a Jubilee, and turned my lyric down, even though Guntars Racs, his publisher and co-writer, wanted very badly to find it a home. 

     Meanwhile, back in California, one by one, seven of my colleagues, all of whom I'd worked with in the past, many of whom shared awards I'd won, passed on my lyric.   They were too busy with bigger potatoes to bother with me.

     Swell.

     And Pauls didn't have another melody because he was still Jubileeing.   I guess they do that in Europe.   But we were still one lyric short.

     Then Guntars struck gold.   He gave my lyric to a phenomenally talented a cappella boy band called Cosmos.   They did, it seems, finish my song, with Guntars' help, and, if I'm lyin' I'm dyin', and I ain't dead, they performed it at Eurovision, which is American Idol without Americans.   Much to our collective amazement and delight, we made the finals, which will be held in Greece, on May 20 th .

     Our song is called "I Hear Your Heart".

     How's that for a rejection story with a happy ending?

     If I can do it, you can do it.

     C'mon - make another phone call.

 

© 2005 Molly-Ann Leikin

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