Delicious Morsel #10 – Becoming You

Lea grew up dancing to 1940 standard tunes and screaming for Frank Sinatra. In honor of her 90th birthday, “Becoming You” features clarinet, trumpet and warm harmonies with a swing rhythm and feel. Enjoy!

Delicious Morsel #10
Becoming You
February 22, 2017

My dear friend, Frank, requested a custom song this past year for his amazing mom who was turning 90 in July (2016). His hope was that I might write a song in honor of her and her life. So, we spent a bit of time together, driving to a weekend seminar a couple of hours away. During the drive, he told me about his mom, Lea. She grew up in New York and screamed for Frank Sinatra. Listening to the 1940 standards was part of her youth. We talked about some peaks and valleys of a Soul’s journey. As he conveyed information and painted pictures, I kept hearing the words, “Becoming you. Becoming you.”

Over the weekend, the song immediately began coming in… melody… some lyrics… a little more of each.  It’s a mystery to me how these wonderful gifts come, and I am always humbled, amazed and grateful for the process.  Sometimes it arrives in days… sometimes in weeks or months… but in the end, I trust that all is in perfect timing.

This tune has a fun swing feel, in honor of the era. The instrumentation includes piano, clarinet, trumpet, and those smooth 1940 background vocals. When I listen to the song I always want to grab a partner and dance. It makes my heart leap with joy!

When Lea was visiting last summer, I had the honor of playing the melody for her in person with just me and my guitar. But I wish I could see her face when she hears the final mix. I hope she feels like dancing too.

It warms my heart to think of how each of you are “becoming you” every single day, as the lyrics say, “with every thought, every word” and what a privilege it is to be a witness to someone’s spiritual growth and evolution. Thank you for being so supportive of mine.

Thank you to Frank for the song request, and to Lea for the inspiration. Thanks to all the wonderful musicians who brought this song to life. And thanks to the universe for guidance with a new style of music.

Happy dancing!

Janie

Photo by 4924546 on Pixabay.

*The Delicious Morsel series were posts shared with those who supported the Set Me Free CD recording project by pre-ordering music, requesting custom songs, and making donations towards my fundraising campaign on Indigogo. I am so appreciative of this group of stellar beings.

Insider Notes

Carey Rayburn (trumpet) and Eric Vanderbilt-Mathews (clarinet) came to the studio and worked out their harmonious parts in record time. We recorded both of them simultaneously in the same room, although they each had a designated microphone. They have played together before and their musical chemistry was obvious. Thanks, Carey & Eric!