Fresh Air Remembering pop songwriter Neil Sedaka
Mar 6, 2026
Neil Sedaka, pop singer-songwriter behind hits like "Calendar Girl," celebrated for Juilliard piano roots and a midcareer comeback. Justin Chang, film critic, weighs in about Pixar's Hoppers. They discuss Sedaka's Brill Building songwriting, reworking classics like "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do," television boosts, and the Elton John–sparked revival.
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Brill Building School Trained Pop Storytellers
- Neil Sedaka learned songwriting in the Brill Building system that trained writers to craft concise three-minute stories for teens.
- He described a daily cubicle routine from 10am–5pm where writers pitched songs and the best fit won sessions.
From Songwriter To RCA Star At 19
- Sedaka transitioned from writer to performer after his songs were recorded by others and he auditioned for RCA at 19.
- Steve Sholes signed him after hearing The Diary, launching a five-year contract that sold 40 million records between 1958–1963.
Syllables Chosen To Serve The Melody
- Sedaka used nonsensical syllables (doobie/do-down) as melodic glue chosen to fit the melody, becoming a vocal trademark.
- He emphasized the marriage of words and music as the guiding rule for choosing syllables.