The Subdued Piano, Week #3
Sir Paul has made it to my writing prompts on piano interpretation. Of course he has. He is one fourth of the legendary Beatles. Not including him would be tantamount to travesty. Today, your job is to express emotions about Paul McCartney’s song, Maybe I’m Amazed.
Creative Idea Gal’s Thoughts
Maybe I’m Amazed earns my vote for cheesy love song. Its piano riffs sound dangerously close to organ playing – – the stuff that made its way into most disco songs from the 70s. Notwithstanding the cheese factor or the corny appeal of the song, I give the song its due props for the way it makes me feel.
Creative Idea Gal’s Emotion
My emotion for today’s song is “yearning.” I’m not sure exactly what I’m yearning for, but I feel it. I’m already married to the love of my life and we have two beautiful girls, so it can’t be a loss of love. I don’t know, really, but I willingly let the song take me from the comfort of my sandy footing into the depths of the ocean that keeps breaking and cresting.
There is something surreal about this song that I can’t quite explain. Is it because I know that Paul as the composer, singer, and piano player is part of the most influential band of all time? Is it because this is the type of old-fashioned hokey love song that is no longer made today?
Maybe a little bit if everything. Maybe I’m the one who is amazed at how Paul practically screams the second verse of the song, as if he’s emphasizing the point that he is happy that his wife was so supportive of him. I like to interpret that as Paul’s sincere yearning. Yearning for what, I don’t know, but it makes me yearn for some of that, too.
Tips on How to Evoke Emotion in Nonfiction Writing
- Tip #8 – Sharpen your personal slant (on topics)
Having an opinion about things is easy. You either like something or you don’t. Sharpening those opinions, however, becomes more of an art form that makes the writer stretch his talents and abilities to better express himself. Having a personal slant on topics is to take an opinion one step further.
I like strawberries because… the tartness of the fruit makes me pucker and I feel silly when I pucker. I cannot stand sports because… I do not see the value in having adult men run around chasing a little ball for a few hours. Really, it does not matter what your opinion is, so long as you can learn to distinguish your writing with solid reasons or information to support your opinion.
Helpful Resources
“Voice, slant, and tone emerge when the writer moves beyond mechanics and begins to speak honestly and authentically to his or her audience.”– Barbara Mariconda (Chapter 9 in Step-by-Step Strategies for Teaching Expository Writing)
“A bias is a particular opinion or slant—a judgment on the part of the writer based upon his or her own personal viewpoint.” – Education.com
Writing Prompt 071
Prompt: Express emotions about Paul McCartney’s song, Maybe I’m Amazed.
- Step 1: Listen to the song first. Then, watch the video performance. Does the song speak to you?
- Step 2: This song is intended to be a love song. Irrespective of your relationship status, how do you feel about the song?
- Step 3: Express your emotions about this song. Pay close attention to the way that Paul sings the song.
Please be sure to leave comments about this writing prompt. We want to hear from you!
About the Author
Amanda M. Socci, J.D., is a freelance writer with 14 years of experience writing professionally. Socci currently cuts her blogging chops on her personal portfolio blog, the Creative Idea Gal blog, and on an online news site, Mount Vernon Patch. Inspired by Nina Amir’s Write Nonfiction in November writing challenge, she created a unique 10-month training program for Writenonfictionnow.com and Writenonfictioninnovember.com blog visitors.
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