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BC Jean Pieter Henket

“All of I sudden, I was


‘The Songwriter’”
Songwriter’s Monthly - Feb. ’11, #133 http://www.scribd.com/SongwritersMonthly
BC Jean is a stunning and stylish young of to eat or not to eat made her crack
w o m a n w i t h b l o n d e h a i r, d a r k and she expressed something along the
penetrating and perceptive eyes, and a lines of “I wish I were a
charged smile that radiates her inner boy!” [Meaning, if she were, she could
just eat a slice of pizza without the

“It’s me being agonizing pre-ingestion period of soul-


searching followed up by the post-

honest and digestive remorse and guilt!]

vulnerable in Toby recognized the power in those


words and the duo began crafting a

the studio.” song. The result? The phenomenal hit


for Beyoncé entitled, “If I Were A Boy.”

zeal like a powerful halogen flood light. After that track, BC received the
If you do a search for her, it’s nearly credentials of “hit songwriter” and her
impossible to find an image where she career received a nitro-injected burst of
is not adorned in youthfully chic black neck-snapping speed. Currently, BC has
clothing and
sporting a softly
glistening shade
of pink lipstick.
BC has an
irrepressible
passion for
performing and a
sharp instinct for
writing. And she
owes her success
to . . . pizza?!

Briefly, as the lore


that has been
passed along
from article to Pieter Henket
article goes, BC
was in a songwriting session with Toby two singles out: Kimberly Caldwell’s
Gad [Alicia Keys, Fergie, Kelly Clarkson, “Desperate Girls and Stupid Guys” and
Jordin Sparks, Demi Lovato, Miley her own, “Just A Guy.”
Cyrus, Colbie Caillat, etc.] and she was
hungry, craving pizza. However, since BC was kind enough to call Songwriter’s
she was a girl, she couldn’t justify Monthly to discuss her approach to
sabotaging her diet for one measly, songwriting, her love of performing and
nagging craving. Ultimately, the stress her in-depth knowledge of . . . guys!
Songwriter’s Monthly - Feb. ’11, #133 http://www.scribd.com/SongwritersMonthly
“Hi, this is BC,” the artist introduced. hint of the trademark rasp found in her
Despite the demanding schedule of powerful vocals was starting to seep
traveling, performing and promoting into her voice. “If it’s not a natural
her single, BC’s voice was vibrant, process, then it’s usually not for me.”
sweet and energetic.
“However, I do write in all sorts of
“If it’s not a different ways,” she continued. “I’m
kind of a chameleon in the studio. I’ve
natural process, written with so many different people
that I think I’ve taught myself just to
then it’s usually go with the flow. For instance, I could
be with a guitar player and he is just
not for me.” strumming while I’m singing melodies
over top or I could be with a track guy
Impressed by her exuberance, I working on a more urban vibe.”
wondered aloud, “Aren’t you tired,
shouldn’t the road be wearing you out One thing that does remain consistent
by now?” in how BC works is to get the tape
rolling right from the start to record
“No,” she exclaimed. “Now it’s even everything . . . especially those initial
more fun. It’s good, really good!” ideas.

I shouldn’t have been surprised by BC’s “I need to record whatever happens on


seemingly limitless energy because her my first listen to a track because
bounce is clearly evident in not only the whatever my instinct is to do with it,
beats to her music, but in the rhythm that’s usually where the song should
and word choice of her lyrics, as well. go. If I overthink a melody, it starts to
BC has a dynamic writer’s voice that become . . . not good.”
sparkles with an infectious vitality.

“Thank you,” she acknowledged. “ If I overthink a


“ T h e r e ’s n o t a p l a n b e h i n d m y
songwriting, it’s not me trying to have a melody, it starts
similarity in my songs. I guess it’s just
coming out naturally . . . it’s me being to become . . .
honest and vulnerable in the studio.”
not good.”
There is a definite caught-in-the-
moment feel to BC’s lyrics, almost like “So, you’re not a fan of rewrites?” I
she’s freestyle rapping, just spitting out asked.
the lyrics as natural as can be.
“Rewrites could totally kill a song.
“Yeah!” she agreed. “Sometimes when I Usually, first instincts are the right way
overthink a song, I throw it away.” A for me to go,” she reaffirmed.
Songwriter’s Monthly - Feb. ’11, #133 http://www.scribd.com/SongwritersMonthly
Maintaining focus on co-writing, I asked and real and relatable in the chorus,
how BC prepared before entering a and then with the verses, you know,
session. sometimes they’ll be a little bit more
descriptive,
detailed, or even
metaphorical.”

“Your song
‘Break Up Sex’ is
almost two songs
in one,” I noted.
“The verses
could be a
ballad, but then
you really kick it
up and turn it
into a fun,
upbeat track at
the chorus.”

Pieter Henket “Right, right


e x a c t l y ,” s h e
“Every day is so different,” she agreed.
informed. “I always have my notebooks
with me, so I’ll have numerous song “I love that pivotal line, ‘Should we end
titles, concepts, ideas or just poetry on this with what we do best?’ The whole
hand. If something doesn’t come mood of the song drastically changes at
naturally, if I don’t have anything that’s that point.”
flowing through my brain at the
session, then I will pull out a notebook
and go to my resources. Usually, if I do “There’s always
go in with a concept or an idea, I’ll end
up singing something completely truth in my
different anyway,” she laughed.
stories.”
BC has a keen sense of knowing how to
keep it simple while still writing with “Yeah, I love that song!” BC exclaimed.
enough depth to tell a story that “That one started with a title. I was
listeners can identify with. like, ‘We need to write about this break
up sex thing that the kids are talking
“You can’t get too complicated with the about these days.’”
chorus of a song — you want it to be
simple, not too much thinking and easy “But it sounds like there’s a bit of truth
to remember. I try to keep it honest in the verses of this song,” I probed.
Songwriter’s Monthly - Feb. ’11, #133 http://www.scribd.com/SongwritersMonthly
“There’s always truth in my stories,” Richie Supa — an amazing writer who
she revealed. “I didn’t necessarily go has written with Aerosmith — and some
out and have break up sex with other writers . . . Jodi Marr [Orianthi,
Mika, Ricky Martin, Jonas Brothers,

“It’s my Yellowcard, Steven Tyler, etc.] and we


were all just kind of hanging out on our

therapy, it helps lunch break from writing. Someone was


strumming the guitar and Richie started

me understand humming some Aerosmith type melody


and I was like, ‘What is that?! Is that a

my feelings.” song already?’ Richie was like, ‘I don’t


know.’ And I was like, ‘Let’s go with

everybody, you know . . .


but the conversations
come up. There is truth
behind the concept.”

“So you weren’t calling up


guys saying, ‘Uhm,
maybe we should break
up today?’”

“No, it’s not like that!” BC


replied laughing hard.

BC has also written and


recorded a moving ballad
entitled “Used.” The lyrics
take a hard look at a
relationship and offer

Meeno Peluce, Courtesy J Records.


some real insight into
human behavior. There
are so many incredible
lines that it seemed this
had to be a track she
worked on for quite a bit,
one she spent a little
more time crafting than
the others.

“ N o t r e a l l y,” s h e
responded, “That one was
kind of quick. I was with
Songwriter’s Monthly - Feb. ’11, #133 http://www.scribd.com/SongwritersMonthly
that, right now!” We didn’t even eat, we you have a favorite part?”
went back in and wrote the song, it
happened pretty quickly.” “Wow, I’ve never thought about this
before, no one’s ever asked me
that . . .” BC fell quiet for a minute.
“After a session, “Hmm . . . the whole process is
awesome. After a session, it’s like a
it’s like a weight weight has been lifted off of my
shoulders, but the best part for me
has been lifted is . . .” More silence. “I don’t know . . .
everything!”
off of my
As noted earlier, BC Jean has a spirited
shoulders.” center-stage personality. She’s upbeat,
outgoing and infectiously positive. Even
“Even with all those great lines in the though she initially received accolades
lyrics, it just flowed?” for being a writer, with such a charged
personality, was remaining behind the
“Yeah, it’s really cool when that stuff scenes ever really an option for her?
just comes out. It’s my therapy, it helps
me understand my feelings.” “No,” she stated firmly, “I’ve always
been the showgirl! I’ve always put on
“Is it hard to express your
feelings when your in a group
situation like that?” I wondered.

“In the beginning of my career,


going into a session, I’d have all
these lyrics and all these ideas,
but no one could read them! I
was sooo protective and
insecure and shy and would not
throw any ideas out there. Now,
it’s just like . . . I have no
shame!” she replied laughing.

“There are so many moments


with a song,” I pointed out, “the
rush of the initial inspiration,
the heat of the writing, the high
of knowing you’ve nailed it, the
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excitement of taking it into the


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studio, the thrill of performing it


in front of an audience, etc., do
Songwriter’s Monthly - Feb. ’11, #133 http://www.scribd.com/SongwritersMonthly
little shows for my dolls and my family to work on that.” BC thought for a
and made my friends be in girl groups moment, then realized, “There wouldn’t
with me — they were my background be just one song, there would have to
singers and dancers. The writing for be a million! Girls are wired way too
other people thing just kind of landed in intense!”
my lap starting with Beyoncé wanting
to sing ‘If I Were A Boy.’ After that, “You’re probably starting to get tired of
being an artist was something I had to talking about the ‘pizza’ story and ‘Just
fight for! I had always been ‘The Artist,’ A Guy’ and all that, is there anything
then all of a sudden, I was ‘The you haven’t had a chance to mention
Songwriter,’ and it was kind of weird. that you’d like to bring up?”
But it helped create this buzz and
credibility so that the next time I “Well,” she began almost shyly, “It has
walked into the studio, people actually nothing to do with my songwriting, but
took me seriously. It was something I I am a judge on Alloy Entertainment’s
never would have imagined, but now TV show called TALENT
I’m getting calls to write for so many [www.alloytv.com/thetalentshow]. And
amazing artists! I enjoy both parts very then I’ll be starring in a scripted series
much.” which will start filming at the end of the
month.”
“What was your initial reaction when
you found out Beyoncé would be “Very cool. Congratulations!”
releasing your song?” I asked.
“Thank you.”
“Wait, that’s my song!” she laughed.
As we concluded our conversation, BC
“The hit for Beyoncé was ‘If I Were A expressed that she would love it if you
Boy’ and the first single for you is ‘Just f o l l o w e d h e r o n Tw i t t e r [ h t t p : / /
A Guy,’ you seem to have a great deal twitter.com/BCJean], liked her on
of insight when it comes to guys.” Fa c e b o o k [ w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m /
BCJeanMusic], or friended her on
“Apparently,” she admitted, then added, myspace [www.myspace.com/bcjean].
“Yet I’m single!” Besides acting, over the next few
months, BC hopes to release another
“In ‘Just A Guy’ there is a line that single. Later in the year, the plan is to
states, ‘For me to explain a girl would hit you with a full album!
take a whole other song.’ Are you up to
that challenge? Can you write a song Note: All three songs mentioned in this
that explains a girl?” article [“Just A Guy,” Break Up Sex”
and “Used”] can be heard at BC’s
“I don’t think I know what a girl is! I website: www.bcjean.com.
think we’re just crazy, that’s what I
think. But you know what? You’ve just If you still can’t get enough, click HERE
inspired me. Thank you. I’ll have to get for one extra special BC treat!
Songwriter’s Monthly - Feb. ’11, #133 http://www.scribd.com/SongwritersMonthly

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