We’re going to spend some time with this series looking at how other people create things. Last week we watched an animator work out a scene. This week we’ll look at how a musician thinks about a pop song.
Here, Donald Fagan of Steely Dan discusses and demonstrates aspects of his song “Peg” with Warren Bernhardt. He explains why the song is the way it is, and where he got ideas for creating it.
Music theory is one of those mystical subjects to me. I understand it when it is being explained, and can hear it, but the language and use of it escapes me personally. I find people who can do this sort of thing to be rather amazing, but I know it isn’t really that amazing — it’s what they do, and very possible if one applies oneself.
I think we all have these sorts of talents, that is, the kind that amaze other people but are just “what we do.” We don’t see what we do as amazing. We often see our mistakes, and ways we could have done better.
Some people write, some draw, some paint, some dance, some make music… it is so common it seems necessary and essential.
Here is PT 1 of the interview:
and part II:
And, if you’d like to hear the original song for reference, here’s Peg by Steely Dan:
