Scored for: voice, piano, guitar(s), bass, and drums
I set out to write a “bubble-gum pop song” fit for a teen diva, and came up with Can’t Dance. The lyrics capture the awkwardness of high school nerds who lose themselves in each other and to the music. My friend and fellow composer Stephanie Meyers provides the “diva” for this one, accompanied by several of our talented friends.
This is a live stream VCFA internet broadcast recording from 12 August 2015.
Scored for: solo voice and guitar
I have two children who survived the unpleasantness of the divorce of their mother and I when they were young. This song is my apology to them, and reaffirmation of my love for them and my grandchildren.
This recording is a live stream VCFA broadcast to the internet from the Songwriter’s Festival concert on 12 August 2015. Reed Robbins accompanies on guitar.
Scored for: solo voice and piano
Finding You is an original love song to my wife of over 20 years, and is fairly autobiographical.
This is a live performance from VCFA streamed to the internet on 10 February 2017. The pianist is Claudine Joelle Robbins.
I took three pop songs I wrote and arranged them as a suite for unspecified instruments, although the key is brass-friendly: “1. Drop Dead Blues”, “2. Don’t Give Up On Me”, “3. I Wanna Be a Rock Star”.
I provided a group of friends/musicians with chords, melody, tempo, and they took it (improvised) from there.
On this live recording are Eli Thomas (violin), Alex Hill (baritone sax), Andy Herring (euphonium), and TJ Maher (guitar). This is a live 2014 concert recording.
By the way, I also posted a live-stream recording of me singing #2. Don’t Give Up on Me.
And now for something completely different… this is an original country & western tune (with original lyrics), and me singing the vocals in my best “Johnny Cash”.
Steven K Sanford 