Green Light Moments are when the Universe tells us we’re on the right path. Not for a minute since we began creating the Musical SNIPPED! have I had a second thought about the endeavor. And on the morning of our first staged performance I got a sign from the Universe … a Green Light Moment if there ever was one ... that life was saying "yes ..read more

Bruce is the ultimate road trip soundtrack. Always singing about going somewhere. A long walk home. Being Born to Run. Thunder Road. Humans, even the ones who are content with their lives, are in pursuit in their fantasies. I can’t imagine ever not being in pursuit of something. I think I'd die ..read more

10 cc’s Graham (I’m Not In Love”) Gouldman and I were guests on The Naked Lunch Podcast hosted David Wild and Phil Rosenthal. I’m in awe of this man … his history, creativity, writing process. I was honored to be part of the conversation. I think you might enjoy it ..read more

Meet Glen Burtnick. I’m sure many of you already have. He’s been around, he gets around, he stays around. He’s a lifer. Kind of like me. ? Glen and I go back. We were set up on a songwriting blind date in the early 90s by Warner Chappell’s David Stamm. It was old school. A recording artist wasn’t typically in the room. You created a song and then launched it into the Universe and waited for a bite. Sometimes you got one. On a snowy winter day I fishtailed my little white Miata to Glen’s house in New Jersey. It was a trek. That never mattered. Songwriting was delicious. I lived for it ..read more

It only makes sense that musicians are attracted to musicians. They speak a common language and have a common obsession. For me the attraction started with Paul McCartney and never stopped — cute dark-haired guitar players. Adam was one. Though he had other characteristics that appeared to balance out my raison d’être if you will. We were suited. When we met I was on the pop songwriting tragectory — running off to fertilize backing tracks with the latest producer of the month; he was on the film scoring track, alone in his studio writing cues. In that way we were living in separate wor ..read more

A “Wifey” is defined (by me) as one of your best besties. Everyone has one. You may call them by another name. Perhaps a pet name that stuck when you were kids. My “Wifey” Suzan was given this term of endearment by my husband at least 20 years ago years ago when I rebuked an opinion I solicited from him. Exasperated, but not without humor, he said “Why don’t you go ask your wife.” I knew he meant Suzan. And so it began. As some of you know Suzan was sent to LA as my publisher in 1997 — the same year I had my first worldwide smash and a baby. I needed help. Career Guidance. She let me nap un ..read more

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I got on the plane last week to cross the pond. I had a feeling it would be a good trip but as it turns out that’s an understatement to say the least. “Hello” is what I shouted when I walked onto the stage to play “What A Girl Wants” and “Bitch” at The Other Songs concert — a celebration of songwriting — at the London Palladium. I had no idea I was going to be open the show ? which made me even more anxious than I already was. But as soon as I saw all those friendly faces looking back at me I knew it would be ok. I remembered all the words to my songs ..read more

Good morning from London. I’m here because I was invited to perform at The Other Songs concert, a pre-curser to the Ivor Novello Awards and a fundraiser for worthy charities. I was in the audience last year. It’s a big deal. The London Palladium is no small venue. Also on the bill: Bernie Taupin and Celeste ?. Did I say I was nervous? I didn’t but I am. I’m quite comfortable these days, standing in front of an esteemed audience of my peers and speaking. It’s my guitar playing skills or lack of them that concern me. And I decided after much thought, not to bring my security blanket — my Taylo ..read more

The last thing I do on the final day of every semester in my college songwriting class is play my students one last song. That song is “Make Your Own Kind of Music” — a message about following your own heart whether or not anyone else follows behind you. This 1969 inspirational staple was written by the incomparable Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. But with her soulful spirit and mother-earth voice, nobody would argue that Mama Cass Elliot was the perfect messenger and no doubt a reason the song resonated so profoundly. She walked the walk. She certainly did make her own kind of music, literally ..read more

Just finished teaching my third year of songwriting to college students. I’m turning off the ring light until August. Teaching is not something I aspired to do but life sometimes deals us delightful twists and turns. It’s a joy to have a 14-week conversation with a new group of 12 kids every semester. Each class is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get. I always start the first class by telling students that everything I say is my opinion. But I’ve earned my opinion and they are wise to consider it. With that, we move forward with a sense of adventure and open minds ..read more