Podcast Summary: All Of It – "Hear Some New 'Public Song Project' Submissions"

Host: Kushan Avadar (filling in for Alison Stewart)
Producer/Guest: Simon Close
Date: March 26, 2024
Focus: Showcasing new submissions to the Public Song Project, with a particular spotlight on adaptations of Irving Berlin's work.

Overview

This episode celebrates the ongoing Public Song Project, which invites musicians of every experience level to submit new songs inspired by works in the public domain. With WNYC’s centennial approaching, there’s a particular focus on music from the 1920s, spotlighting Irving Berlin's enduring legacy. Producer Simon Close joins host Kushan Avadar to discuss Berlin’s fascinating songwriting history and to share two new project contributions: one by indie artist Donna Shevskaya and another by Jonathan Coulton.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Public Song Project Status (01:31 - 03:32)

• Halfway mark in submission period: About six weeks remain, with the deadline on May 12.
• Everyone is welcome: “You could be in a band, you might be a working session musician, or you might just pick up an instrument in your free time. Everybody's welcome to participate.” – Kushan Avadar (01:43)
• Major names involved: Past and upcoming special guest contributors include Valerie June, Arturo O’Farrill, They Might Be Giants, Rhiannon Giddens, and Béla Fleck.
• Resources and information: Submissions and project info available at wnyc.org/publicsongproject, with resources like recording spaces at libraries and streaming of released tracks.

2. Spotlight on Irving Berlin (03:32 - 05:36)

• Focus on 1920s music: Highlighting Berlin because “a lot of the contributions we've gotten have been Irving Berlin tunes, which isn't surprising because he wrote a lot of timeless classics…” – Simon Close (03:34)
• Berlin’s biography highlights:
  • Born 1888, emigrated to NYC with Jewish Belarusian/Russian family.
  • Early job as singing waiter in Chinatown.
  • “Never learned how to read or write music… wrote all of his songs on the piano and then would, like, hire someone to transcribe them for him.” – Simon Close (04:19)
  • Lived to 101 (died 1989), possibly witnessed late 20th-century pop culture.

3. Donna Shevskaya and ‘What’ll I Do?’ (05:39 - 09:17)

• Artist background:
  • Donna Shevskaya is the performance name of Anna Beckerman; the name reflects her Russian-Jewish heritage.
  • Recently released acclaimed album, “Long Is the Tunnel.”
• About the song:
  • Berlin’s “What’ll I Do?” (1923/1924) from the first Music Box Revue.
  • Thematically about longing and absence, possibly inspired by Berlin’s late wife or fiancée Ellen McKay’s enforced absence by her father (they married anyway).
  • “The song is about missing somebody, only having a photograph to remember them by.” – Simon Close (06:23)
• Performance:
  • Donna’s version delivers an intimate, aching “sob ballad” take.
  • Notable moment: “What'll I do? When you are far away and I am blue, what'll I do?” – Donna Shevskaya (07:36).

4. Jonathan Coulton and ‘All Alone’ (10:10 - 14:06)

• Artist profile:
  • Brooklyn-based, known for “nerd rock,” and former NPR “Ask Me Another” house musician.
  • Releases all music under Creative Commons, enabling wide sharing and adaptation—“philosophically similar” to public domain.
  • “He encourages, quote, student film podcast, awesome dance remixes of all of his work. So I think just kind of philosophically it’s a similar idea of encouraging people to collaborate and adapt work—perfect for this project.” – Simon Close (11:15)
• About the song:
  • Berlin’s “All Alone,” another poignant “sob ballad” from a 1920s Music Box revue.
  • Performed with the original review’s concept in mind: separated lovers singing alone by the telephone.
• Performance highlights:
  • Coulton’s mellow baritone channels the spirit of the song’s loneliness and longing.
  • Memorable lyric: “All alone by the telephone, waiting for a ring, a tingling…” – Jonathan Coulton (12:36)

5. How to Participate and Further Info (14:06 - 14:38)

• Where to learn more and submit: Visit wnyc.org/publicsongproject.
• Why participate:
  • Access recording resources via community libraries.
  • Stream all submitted and featured songs.
  • Chance to have your work highlighted and join in upcoming centennial events.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Irving Berlin’s method:
  “He wrote all of his songs on the piano and then would, like, hire someone to transcribe them for him.” – Simon Close (04:19)
• On Donna Shevskaya’s roots:
  “Her name is Anna Beckerman, but Donna Shevskaya is ... both her middle name and her great grandmother’s surname. And a lot of her music sort of explores family and heritage....” – Simon Close (05:47)
• On Creative Commons vs. Public Domain:
  “A Creative Commons license is something that allows the creator of a work of art to still retain ownership ... but provides a pretty broad license for anybody else to adapt that work.” – Simon Close (10:55)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:31] – Introduction to Public Song Project and call for submissions
• [03:32] – Introduction of this episode’s theme: focus on Irving Berlin’s work
• [03:54] – Background on Irving Berlin’s life and songwriting approach
• [05:39] – Donna Shevskaya’s background and “What’ll I Do?” intro
• [07:36] – Donna Shevskaya performs “What’ll I Do?”
• [10:10] – Jonathan Coulton background and Creative Commons philosophy
• [12:17] – Jonathan Coulton performs “All Alone”
• [14:06] – Resources for submitting to the Public Song Project

Conclusion

This episode offers listeners a dive into both public domain culture and the continuing influence of Irving Berlin, tying in the communal, collaborative spirit of today’s musicians. Audiences are encouraged to contribute, engage, and reimagine the songs of the past for WNYC’s centennial celebration.

For more details or to get involved: wnyc.org/publicsongproject