Big Yard are a band truly on the rise. Their latest single 'Melody' is a fun-filled and nostalgia-ladened piece of 'big band pop that we love. We sat down the brains behind the project, Darryl Scotti, to learn all about the 5 songs he loves, exclusively for FLEX!
He says "I chose to list my all time favorites I simply love from a few of my all time favorite artists. Not that my personal songwriting catalog is similar to these great classics they are just songs I love."
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1. Sting - Shape of My Heart
I love the texture of this song with the influences of the different styles and genres. I love his vocal and sense of time. The guitar work is classic and he plays it live. I’m a huge fan of Sting from his early catalog to his most recent. He writes like no other as a bassist finding a melody. He’s brilliant.
In fact, we will be releasing an arrangement of one of his all time classic hits later this year from back in the Police days. A song that’s been covered by many an artist entitled, ‘Every Breath You Take’. However in our arrangement, unlike it’s ever been done before, in a different key and a slower tempo with a featured bass solo by my producer Larry Antonino (Ronnie Laws, Pablo Cruise, Air Supply), and a very hip but subtle key change on the outro that our guitarist Aaron Howard came up with. I think Sting would enjoy this rendition and I hope he hears it one day.
2. Billy Joel - Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
A seven minute musical journey from the streets of New York City to the cafes of Milan or Venice. I love this well crafted piece of genius for it’s weaving in and out of multiple genres and time signatures. It’s a beautiful love song actually about his life that only the great Billy Joel could pull off.
I recently went to one of his farewell shows this year and I sense, by the way he and his band delivered it (one his all time greats), that he’ll miss performing it. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he bangs it out from time to time on his own concert grand at home while enjoying a glass of wine at a private party in his well deserved retirement.
‘A bottle of Red, a Bottle of White it all depends upon your appetite’
Cheers to you Mr. Joel. May your days be serene, your years be long and your memories be full. Grazie mille, Pianoforte.
3. Paul McCartney - The Long and Winding Road
This for me is the most beautifully well written ballads, not only out of the Beatles catalog written by McCartney, it is arguable one of the most beautiful ballads of all time in my opinion. A 'true story' lyric of a pathway to a farm he could see from a window that was written at a time of sadness in McCartney's life.
The long and winding road
That leads to your door
Will never disappear
I’ve seen that road before
It always leads me here
Lead me to your door
His emotion, the simplistic manner in which he weaves the lyric around the story line in the melody moves not only a music listener or McCartney fan it inspires songwriter's and evokes an experience both soothing and entertaining that takes the listener out of their self in many directions and into the story. This is a hallmark for a truly masterful work of artistry.
Kudos to you Sir Paul McCartney.
4. Andrea Bocelli - Bésame Mucho” (“Kiss Me a Lot”)
This was originally written as a bolero by Consuelo Velasquez, a Mexican songwriter in 1941. In this rendition it is skillfully interpreted by Andrea Bocelli, arguably the greatest male tenors of all time.
A beautifully written unrequited love song with a lyric and melody based on feelings. Bésame Mucho is a song about the anticipation of love and not the reality of it.
The lyric in the song translates to:
‘I want to have you right by me
to look at me in your eyes and
see you beside me
I think that maybe tomorrow
I’ll be away far far from where you’ll be
Kiss me more, kiss me much more times
as if this beautiful night is the very last time’
Bravo Bravo!!! Bellissimo Senior Bocelli.
5. Casting Crowns - Prodigal
I love not only this song but the band and everything they are. Casting Crowns is the single best selling Contemporary Christian Band in history that has stayed true to their calling throughout their journey since 1999. Songwriter Marc Hall, the founder in all his success as a touring band has never left his work as a youth pastor still to this day. He has found a way to exemplify humility, sacrifice and service in an industry that can strip you of all these qualities.
I love the emotion of the lyric, the melody and the production is genius. It stands and will stand the test of time. Another true hallmark of a great song.
Living on my own, thinking for myself
Castles in the sand, temporary wealth
Walls are falling down, storms are closing in
Tears have filled my eyes, here I am again
And I've held out as long as I can
Now I'm letting go and holding out my hand
Daddy, here I am again
Will you take me back tonight?
I went and made the world my friend
And it left me high and dry
I drag your name back through the mud
That you first found me in
Not worthy to be called your son
Is this to be my end?
Daddy, here I am
Here I am again
Don't forget to stream 'Melody' now from Big Yard:
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