Did I just stop breathing?

As you drive east along Highway 46 leaving California's awe inspiring central coast an interesting phenomenon occurs. Just as you begin to ascend the hilly terrain and think that you have seen the last of the ocean, an amazing vista appears. From this vantage point you are left speechless by a panoramic view of the sea as far as the eye can, well, see.

It is hard to describe what emotionally occurs at that moment. "Breathtaking" pretty much sums it up.

"Breathtaking" is also how I would describe the response a song recently evoked in me. Wasn't expecting it listening to Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. (Don't get me wrong, I expected a great album (and this one exceeded my expectations - I downloaded the album and bought the DVD. This is one to own, even if you are not into SoGo.) The song was simply titled "Until We Fly Away." I won't analyze in great depth, but the transition from the verse to chorus simply took my breath away.

I had to see who wrote this song. (Hint - click the link...yeah, that one)

http://erniehaase.musiccitynetworks.com/index.htm?id=3207#6630


I should have known.


**UPDATE**
you can even hear the part I'm talking about - the link is UNDER the lyrics. (Yes, I know there is a link above the lyrics, but that's another song)

Powered by ScribeFire.

Pop Radio

I don't listen to it by choice. My manager's office is right across from my cage, err...cubicle. She plays the radio all of the time. No big problem. I am always playing something in my little area when I'm there.

The big issue here is that most top 40 stations must only have about 5 actual songs on rotation at all times.

I'm not kidding. If I hear "Hey, Hey, Yeah, Yeah, I can be your girlfriend" one more time I might just attempt to gouge my eyes out with whatever blunt object is within reach.

Dude, whoever you are that she is singing to, PLEASE dump your girlfriend and go out with her so she can shut up and leave the rest of us alone.

Less than two hours left...

Our songwriter's group meeting is in less than two hours. I have a song that I wanted to have critiqued. However, I just decided to rewrite the entire chorus late last night. I wrote most of the bridge during lunch today, but had no piano accessible. (Next time I will try to remember the music store across the street from my office.)



Can our hero pull a rabbit out of his hat?



Will he get the song at least semi-done in time?



Will he even attempt to sing it tonight?



Tune in next time for the nail biting conclusion to our rather anemic and all around boring saga.



*UPDATE*



I knew my song was nowhere near finished (even after around 3 rewrites and a brand new chorus written in about 10 minutes the night before), but I am really excited about the idea, so it finished what I could and gave it a whirl.



I got some very awesome feedback about what direction to take things, which was great because I felt it was not quite what it could be and needed to see it

through fresh eyes. I knew that the story was a bit narrow and personal

and VERY vulnerable, but I figured that I wanted someone to

hear it before I did another rewrite. To be more truthful, I knew in my

gut that there was much more work to be done, but I kind of hoped that

it might be near complete as is.



Someone gave advice about

possibly doing two versions...a "print" version, close to what it is

now, which is very usable for funerals (it's not a dirge or anything,

more of a song of hope), etc, and a more "radio" version.



Still a lot of work to do either way.

Powered by ScribeFire.

One to ponder...

Is currently in my "Quote of the Day" box for 6/14, but is worth repeating -

"The true genius shudders at incompleteness - and usually prefers silence to saying something which is not everything it should be."

Edgar Allen Poe

Powered by ScribeFire.

Blog additions

New additions over to the right left (*UPDATE - changed my template, also). Added a word of the day and quote of the day. Now when you check out my blog you can get you some learnage for free. (Yes, I know...learnage ain't a word)



Maybe someone will actually come over and visit now.





Back to my lonely little corner.

Powered by ScribeFire.

Irons in the fire

I have often wondered how many songs the average songwriter typically works on at one time. (Please, feel free to post with your experience. Hello? Anyone out there???)

I realize that some songs will take longer than others. I have an idea I actually started about 3 years ago that I am just dusting off. It may be time to write it. Of course, other songs may never get to be completed.

The reason I am wondering is that I am currently working on around 9 songs by myself and one cowrite (my FIRST cowrite, which, by the way, has been an amazing experience - Thanks, B.T.! Only two lines left...that is, until we probably decide to rewrite major portions of it!)

I tend to get bored easily with things if they take to long. It takes me a great amount of discipline to focus on the completion of one task. Had I not told you that, you would probably never have known, even if you know me well. My boss thinks I am a very organized and disciplined person. (She looked at me kinda funny when she complimented me on that very subject and, wait for it... I laughed...of course, I explained the whole situation before she gave me my walking papers.)

Perhaps my problem is no sense of urgency. Funny, but I always tend to work well when under outside pressure. I thrive on deadlines. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I hate deadlines, but there is something about the thrill of creating and producing in that setting. In November of last year I decided to write a wedding song for a dear friend as a gift. Of course, me being me, I decided the week before the wedding. I got it done. (She cried when I sang it. I love it when a song can evoke a response like that, though it may have been because she was getting married.)

While I'm on the subject of how many songs I have in the works, The balance between quality and quantity always comes up. This topic has long been covered by writers far more qualified that I. One recent habit on the quality side I have developed is not writing every idea I have. I don't want to just write ideas. At the very least I want to write the good ideas. As I grow, I intend to expertly craft GREAT ideas. (One day, anyway.) But for now I have spent a great deal more time than I used to fleshing out an idea before I ever write a line. A lot of not so good ideas have met their demise in this process. On a positive note, it has helped bring a previously elusive depth to my storylines and allowed me to reach deeper for lines and phrases.

It appears I wrote that last paragraph essentially to come to the conclusion that some of my current songs need to be finished just to get them out of the way and make way for bigger, better ideas. Gotta walk before you run. Besides, honestly...some of them just aren't that good.

Have you ever had someone just gush over how cute their funny looking little child is? (I have four, btw. Cute kids - not funny looking children.) I know we all think our songs, aka "babies" are all great, but face it - some are just plain funny looking. It doesn't mean you love them less. You just don't go whipping out their picture at every public gathering.

However, if all you have is funny looking children, aren't you bound to eventually have at least ONE that people think is cute? (provided you, like my brother who has EIGHT, keep having kids)

So when it comes to writing songs, how many irons in the fire is too many?

Powered by ScribeFire.

The quest for relevance

There is a constant struggle i have with this blog. What tone should i be taking - Serious, irreverent, insightful, or just fun? Should i make this a place of deep spirituality or light frivolity? On top of all of that, how can i be relevant to others in this, my insignificant corner of the universe?



Something in me says that it would be wonderful if i gave someone a new perspective on a subject, or gave them a great idea for a song. Maybe make this a place for deep devotional material to aid someone in their journey. Another part of me just LOVES a good laugh. Sometimes I don't care what i write, i just have to be me.



I think that is it. I have to be me, and "me" is a little bit of each of those options above (with an extra helping of goofy on the side.) I'm most comfortable being me. Why should i attempt to be someone else?



So I'm going to just be me.



God has already created a Billy Graham, a James Dobson, and a Max Lucado. He already has a Joel Lindsey and a Sue C. Smith. He already had a Martin Luther, an Adoniram Judson, and a Nate Saint.



The deeper question is, does he have me being all i can be for Him?



Isn't that the epitome of relevance in the life of the believer?



I suppose I can dwell on missed opportunities...could haves, should haves, and would haves until i am paralyzed with painful regret. I can second guess and go over in my mind how things might have been a million times over.



OR, i could realize that "me", right here, right now, is what God wants to use.



"Me", right here, right now, is all i have to give for the Kingdom of God.



"Me", right here, right now. Fully acquiescing to the Potter's expert hand, no matter how the finished vessel is to be used.



True relevance is being used by the Master, wherever and however He sees fit.

Powered by ScribeFire.

Only in America, the land-o-plenty...

There are approximately 240 different varieties of salad dressing at the Kroger in Troy, MO.

High fat, low fat, low carb, store brand, national brand, weird and funky, organic and exotic.

Honest.
I counted them.