A catchy pop tune I wrote with Debra Barsha, who is singing soulfully it on this nicely produced demo.

Don't Look Down

I wrote the lyric to this aching ballad with a touch of dark humor. The music is by Debra Barsha, who is also singing so beautifully.

One Thing Missing

The lyric to this song is the first thing I could write after the 2001 attacks. I live across the river from where the Twin Towers stood, so it was a visceral experience for my family and me. The lyric speaks obliquely to my torn but hopeful feelings at the time. Jody Gray wrote the haunting music and produced this demo, sung by Laura Berman. The song was covered by Bobbie Eakes and was the title track on her 2005 album, which made the Billboard Jazz Charts. (The album featured songs written or made popular by Paul McCartney, Van Morrison, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley and others. "Something Beautiful" was one of two new tunes on the record.) Again, this is the demo, exquisitely sung by Laura Berman.

Something Beautiful (demo)

Written with my brother Hal for an unproduced animated version of Dr. Seuss's "The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T". I wrote the script for Sony Family some years ago, and on the shelf it still sits. But here's me doing my best Hans Conried, as the mad Dr. Terwilliker, who has enslaved 500 little boys to play his "pianopoly". It is an ode to his hands.

Love March for Two Hands

This song is a waking dream. The narrator wanders Brooklyn Heights and encounters the ghosts of notable locals from years past: authors, poets, composers, activists, a preacher, a burlesque queen... The song was inspired by the Songs from the Ledge street concerts in Brooklyn Heights, performed by Peter Kendall Clark (the Brownstone Baritone) and his brilliant friends, beginning early in the pandemic. It was magical to hear Peter perform the song on the streets where it lives. This track is my original demo. 

GHOSTS OF BROOKLYN HEIGHTS might be the beginning of a longer work exploring the souls of artists who called (and call) New York's first historic district home.

Ghosts of Brooklyn Heights

GHOSTS OF BROOKLYN HEIGHTS demo

This is a final message from Pinocchio, who has endured an unwanted transformation and unnatural life. (NOTE: It is meant to be sung by a countertenor. For the demo, I simply pitched my voice up an octave.)

The song is Pinocchio's recollection of his tortured journey, based on Carlo Collodi's original story, and taking it to a new conclusion. Pinocchio pleads with Geppetto and the Blue Fairy for an end to his tormented life, and to be returned to his original state. The Blue Fairy obliges in the end. Pinocchio is transformed into a tree, growing grand limbs and leaves and roots as Geppetto watches, stricken with loss and regret. Pinocchio's voice finally vanishes into the wood, where he find peace. Beyond the song, Geppetto spends the rest of his days by the tree that was his misbegotten son, and at his death, is buried near its roots.

We tried to make the music evoke the suffering of a newly-sentient wooden puppet with human biological systems pushing through his deadwood as his odd body splinters and strains in response. The unnatural effects of magical and unwanted transformation are far more complicated than fairy tales would lead us to believe.

I wrote the lyrics, and composed the music with Jody Gray, who produced the track. Andy Ezrin is on piano and Italian accordion. I'm playing several ukuleles, imagining them in sympathetic vibration with Pinocchio's wood and strings.

Sentient Marionette demo

Kind of late-60s Nilsson/Lennon with some early Elton John, brilliantly produced by Jody Gray and sung by Kyle Gordon. I wrote this with Jody for the soundtrack of "Clifford's Really Big Movie", for which Jody also wrote the score. Played over the closing credits. Not your typical kiddie song. ©2005 ℗Tunes For Food

Until I Go

A bawdy cabaret-pop song for which I wrote a lyric as a kind of a devilish Noel Cowardly recitative. The brilliant Debra Barsha surprised me by setting it as a sensual but driving Latin tune. This is Debra singing the demo. I understand that Lea DeLaria has been performing this in her act. It's a perfect song for her. ©2012

I Love It

I wrote this when my younger son was four and was trying to cleverly explain away some mischief he had gotten into. His peculiar but compelling logic inspired this song. My brother Hal wrote the music with me and plays the piano. That's me singing in my best Elroy Jetson kid voice. ©2002

I Was Bad

An early midi experiment when I got my first Roland keyboard. A 30-second, Raymond-Scott-inspired bit of antic frantic cartoon lunacy.

Up the Stairs, Down the Hall, Round the Corner, Don't Be Late!

I wrote this song as a reflection on a lifetime together, and how enduring love can melt time.

(Or Has It Been) No Time at All_demo

Songwriter, Lyricist/Composer, Librettist, Television Writer & Producer, Music Lover
SONGS WRITTEN FOR/PERFORMED BY:
Elaine Stritch, Lea DeLaria, Megan Mullally, Bobbie Eakes, Debra Barsha, Mary Cleere Haran, Michael Winther, The Cat in the Hat, ALF, soundtrack songs, including: "Clifford's Really Big Movie", "The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss", "Courage the Cowardly Dog", "Arthur", "Peg + Cat"


DavidStevenCohen

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