Sara,
When I heard your demo for Yellow the first time, I really liked it, but I did have thoughts about the arrangement. Listening back to the alternate I suggested, I realize it makes no sense, but at that moment, for whatever reason, it did. I thought the song should start with a hook, then break down in the pre-chorus before the chorus, to really lift it. You rejected my edits; thankfully, your arrangement was already set in stone in your mind even though it was just a demo. I also thought the melody could vary more and that some of the lyrics needed to change. The next day you emailed a new version with some small tweaks and more production, which I really loved.
It didn’t hurt my feelings; sometimes we take each other notes, other times not. I think we know when to push and when to trust the other's instincts. I think we’ve always been natural collaborators and have grown to understand that compromise is what makes Tegan and Sara. We’re a band with two voices, who shuffle toward a middle, rather than stake our ground on the outskirts. We don’t avoid conflict, but we don’t deliberately create it either. We can be stubborn, and we both like to have control, but I think we have come to understand that we need one another and we make each other better — especially when it comes to songwriting. Sometimes there is no need for compromise. Sometimes you just know that something is right, or great, or the way it should be, and I’m glad we seem to mostly know the difference: when it’s time to fight for something or time to get on the same side and fight together.
So, I’m glad you kept your original arrangement for Yellow. I can’t time travel back to the moment I heard Yellow and give different feedback, but if I could, I might suggest speeding it up, just a little. But I’d definitely leave the arrangement as it is.
Tegan
Tegan, I remember you saying that Sofia heard a song on this album during the making and said it was the best Tegan and Sara song she ever heard and it happened to be written by Sara - was that song Sofia was talking about Yellow? If not, care to share which one it was? 😊
Also - I just love Yellow so much. It might be one of my favorite T&S songs. I’m so excited to see you all play this fall, it’ll be my first show 🥹
when i think of y'all sending demos back and forth and editing/collaborating i immediately think of it's not fun don't do it lol. "i want YOUR voice to do it"
there's something cool about seeing siblings / collaborators able to disagree without it being the end of the world, as i can be quite conflict averse.