tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68380205579984994022024-03-14T01:55:52.309-04:00The Creative Outlet of StratPlayerMusings on writing, guitar, and other creative pursuits by Chris J. FriesStratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-74299617798112350612015-03-09T08:21:00.001-04:002015-03-09T08:21:17.276-04:00Closed For Renovation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rzEFvJ_69ywff9CC602irq_l1c4K6_FNiDh1nONzR0rjkByj3FzawaAZV-nVIb5lixmJXlCwaKs8cI530Jt20kuQs6Ga9UylFAzI4FHxuh0H7cH3wnZcte4jSb2pvuhKvMTCbZTDazsH/s1600/Closed-Sign1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rzEFvJ_69ywff9CC602irq_l1c4K6_FNiDh1nONzR0rjkByj3FzawaAZV-nVIb5lixmJXlCwaKs8cI530Jt20kuQs6Ga9UylFAzI4FHxuh0H7cH3wnZcte4jSb2pvuhKvMTCbZTDazsH/s1600/Closed-Sign1.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Hi.<br />
<br />
If you're visiting my blog looking for a new <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2015/01/create52-1-fool.html" target="_blank"><b><i>Create52</i></b></a> entry or a post where I share some of my writing or music, then I'm afraid I owe you an apology. Because there isn't one today. And there won't be one again for the forseeable future.<br />
<br />
I'm stepping away from my blog.<br />
<br />
I need to take some times to re-evaluate and refocus on the things that are really priorities in my life, and I'm afraid that writing and blogging are not at the top of the list. Things like my wife and my family and my faith are. <br />
<br />
I realized this past week that there are some things askew in my life and I need to correct them -- like when I was sick and let some important things slide and yet still felt that my blog and a <i><b>Create52</b></i> post was somehow a priority. It's really not. My writing and music-making are just hobbies, and my blog was intended as a way just to share some of the output of those hobbies. That's all.<br />
<br />
So for now, I'm taking some time to shed the extra clutter in my life, so that I can refocus on the things that really are priorities to me. And my blog is part of the clutter.<br />
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If you've been a visitor to this blog, please don't feel that I think you're not important -- it's not that. I greatly appreciate you taking the time to visit and comment and take part in the things I've shared here.<br />
<br />
And someday I may post here again. I know I'll keep writing at some level, and I'll still play and make music. But not for a while. And when I do again, they are going to take their rightful position as much, much lower priorities in my life.<br />
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In the meantime, I thank you again for taking the time to stop and visit, and I wish you all the best.<br />
<br />
<br />StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-82250316036833301032015-03-02T15:08:00.000-05:002015-03-02T15:08:06.160-05:00Create52: #9 -- I Got It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIDqfpGNNs007ITK_uyDBEam6oXNGcOg7HHLVZj6_m6yi4QHZetIkURIbKACJD6ioJsSsaD0Eu7-ctAK4gr-r8Ad1mVv2kz4olEuS2C2aCaVadHAj_2ARbfj8XaKONK8ft0FmbQ5V_fwz/s1600/You+Got+It.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIDqfpGNNs007ITK_uyDBEam6oXNGcOg7HHLVZj6_m6yi4QHZetIkURIbKACJD6ioJsSsaD0Eu7-ctAK4gr-r8Ad1mVv2kz4olEuS2C2aCaVadHAj_2ARbfj8XaKONK8ft0FmbQ5V_fwz/s1600/You+Got+It.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you're a clock watcher, you might have noticed something about this edition of my <b><i>Create52</i></b> series of blog posts: It's the first one so far this year that wasn't pre-written so it could be put up early in the morning.<br />
<br />
The main reasons for that is because I've been very busy the last week AND I am currently home sick. I was sick all weekend and didn't even touch my computer. My granddaughter had a bad cold, and then her mom did, and them my lovely wife got it along with a horrendous sinus infection, and guess what? Now I got it.<br />
<br />
But even though I feel like... less-than-optimum, shall we say, I am still committed to the<b><i> Create52</i></b> and am getting this post up. It may not be first thing in the morning, but it's still Monday, so it still counts, right? <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0QDXGV-wvknK1t3Q_gb3DzXJTKT7Ir0XFO1Cy_-asyxsacRVt1L0N47fXIyRCcvd6lnOtPmXPUXtL80dXEkvQmV7T6pFLgnv1rJwfxcR2kirT5uyrozD_yKWHfHRSBh4T2dIgUYzCvM1/s1600/Create+52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0QDXGV-wvknK1t3Q_gb3DzXJTKT7Ir0XFO1Cy_-asyxsacRVt1L0N47fXIyRCcvd6lnOtPmXPUXtL80dXEkvQmV7T6pFLgnv1rJwfxcR2kirT5uyrozD_yKWHfHRSBh4T2dIgUYzCvM1/s1600/Create+52.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a></div>
At this point, let me remind you what the whole intent of this '<i><b>Create52</b></i>' thing is: This is number nine of what I plan to be year-long series of 52 posts under my self-imposed 2015 blogging initiative -- to create something new and share it here on my blog each and every Monday.<br />
<br />
If you'd like, you can get a little more background about my <i><b>Create52</b></i> goal <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2015/01/create52-1-fool.html" target="_blank">HERE, in my first Create52 post of 2015.</a><br />
<br />
So for today, I'm going to offer another piece of music and a bit of writing, all of which tie to the "I Got It" theme, or at least as close as I can get in my addled, medicated state...:<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">I Got It #1 -- "<i>I Got It</i>"</span></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-33863.php" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy31dkv43F8gPEj82Ld8YRIHiINl1p-OE0TDrALZP7rzSZYEwbqjrZVZuMVJYcgsRqyBNK6t0hcOL71b8BRWiZvuHW8roHHf-qEPduEZUSYJ0FPhc7BCpY8MPeBn1XxZHRyAYp90hdO0wh/s1600/I+Got+It.png" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
I recently added another jam to wikiloops, titled -- yep: "<i><a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-33863.php" target="_blank">I Got It</a>.</i>" It is a jam that was based on two tracks added by user "ZamZam". He uploadeed a piece called "<i>Get It</i>" then added some more keys and drums to it and called it "<i>Getting It.</i>" I really liked the cool jazzy, funky, slightly-spacey groove and added a couple of guitar tracks. One was a wah-wah rhythm track and then a lead track. <br />
<br />
I kind of like how the finished piece turned out. See what you think. You can click on the images to the left or right, or on the link <a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-33863.php" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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It was one of those pieces that was put together quickly, but doesn't sound complete like an improvised throw-off.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-33863.php" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vB_XmzOlqmvaeXVt97x_x_y6CsBwQY8TG9J0rq8sffmQQGtUc4orsg8HbRO5lFt8-cyoJfr-w7wIumxN_E83ZPLHXJkMdzqjXb_dPHSqDJsHqm2UNShjk0U8IHLqbAtzbiC4wVOfVfZH/s1600/StratPlayer_Avatar.png" /></a>It's maybe a little too much of a smooth-jazz feel, but I still think it has some redeeming qualities. I like the funky rhythm guitar and the lead turned out pretty good. I hope there's enough soul in it to overcome the "jazz lite" vibe.<br />
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As always -- I'm interested in your feedack and thoughts. Feel free to leave a comment letting me know what worked for you and what didn't.<br />
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And, of course, thank you very much for taking the time to listen! I really appreciate it!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">I Got It #2 -- "<i>No Imagination</i>"</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60feUJEwE0g2cdWFl_1xTfsAlxjE9hZjuE8qnku8eQUFVruUe1I-JlBFYrCjYHdj1-BzyzE5bzrwA6bpWu4CS8TL3sxDLKQQz0CHdXoNaMNK9LyuCSavPuwOihB9kAgTTgeYGvKsKPbUg/s1600/50+Word+Stories+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60feUJEwE0g2cdWFl_1xTfsAlxjE9hZjuE8qnku8eQUFVruUe1I-JlBFYrCjYHdj1-BzyzE5bzrwA6bpWu4CS8TL3sxDLKQQz0CHdXoNaMNK9LyuCSavPuwOihB9kAgTTgeYGvKsKPbUg/s1600/50+Word+Stories+Logo.jpg" height="197" width="200" /></a></div>
Back in my <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2015/02/create52-7-getting-it-right.html" target="_blank"><b><i>Create52</i></b> post #7</a> I shared a 50-word story "<i>No Imagination.</i>" I had sent it to Tim at <a href="http://fiftywordstories.com/">FiftyWordStories.com</a> and hadn't heard anything about it. He published the other story I had sent with it ("<i><a href="http://fiftywordstories.com/2015/01/29/chris-j-fries-im-alive/" target="_blank">I'm Alive</a></i>") but hadn't said anything about "<i>No Imagination</i>" so I assumed he was passing on it.<br />
<br />
Turns out I was wrong -- that story did get accepted and published. Tim notified my on the 23th and then put it up on February 24th,<br />
<br />
Os if you haven't already read it here on my blog, I invite you to go to Fifty Word Stories and check it out: <a href="http://fiftywordstories.com/2015/02/24/chris-j-fries-no-imagination/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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Sometime you don't discover you got it until after you've assumed you didn't.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">I Got It #3 -- "<i>Cat Sitting</i>"</span></b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/So_happy_smiling_cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/So_happy_smiling_cat.jpg" height="200" width="171" /></a>And to give this post some other new writing, I'm sharing a "10x10" post I made at the Creative Copy Challenge writing prompt site.<br />
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A "10 x 10" is a story of ten lines of ten words each, using the ten prompt words in order, and in the correct position within each line (the first word in the first spot in the first sentence, the second word in the second spot in the second sentence, etc). <br />
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From the prompt words, I came up with a story of a reluctant brother stepping up to say "I got it," in helping out his sister who's travelling. <br />
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See what you think -- the ten prompt words are all highlighted in the story below:<br />
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=======<br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><b>Cat Sitting</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Scrabbled</b> together offerings from six cans and three dry packages,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A <b>technicolor</b> blend of kibble, meat and strange smelling mysteries.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The writhing <b>mob</b> at my feet sings in joyous anticipation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I set the <b>keys</b> aside and start to fill bowls</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Another group enters the <b>doorway</b>, drawn by the clanking sound;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The kitchen is filled with <b>bleating</b>, purring, and eager meowing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I ask myself – Are we really <b>related</b> to each other?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The only cat I've liked was my <b>costume</b> in kindergarten,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">That Halloween my cat suit had eyes like <b>fires</b> inside.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Now feeding my sister's cats is part of my <b>repertoire</b>.</span><br />
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=======</div>
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Thank you so much for stopping by, listening, and reading! I hope you enjoyed what I've offered!<br />
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Now I'm going to go back to bed to shiver under the covers. I've got it, but I <b><i>really</i></b> want to get rid of it!<br />
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Got it?<br />
<br /></div>
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StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-77611521261507006272015-02-23T06:00:00.000-05:002015-02-23T06:00:01.810-05:00Create52: #8 -- Good Enough<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0waEJjInuSf0m_l3FO0fNhdziFKIDLz1Hz5EF_16kGtDlku8xyFe9oR415VGwbfBBZ184Zr5MltX2li-cvudOfOQc30spxW-cTg-DkUHhpRnMq6OvF9JVluj9CesUHmPwpB_yq0iTpXa/s1600/Duct-tape_Moving_Van.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0waEJjInuSf0m_l3FO0fNhdziFKIDLz1Hz5EF_16kGtDlku8xyFe9oR415VGwbfBBZ184Zr5MltX2li-cvudOfOQc30spxW-cTg-DkUHhpRnMq6OvF9JVluj9CesUHmPwpB_yq0iTpXa/s1600/Duct-tape_Moving_Van.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(<i>image from <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duct-tape_Moving_Van.jpg" target="_blank">wikimedia commons</a></i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
My last two <b><i>Create52</i></b> posts have touched on the two poles of creativity -- <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2015/02/create52-6-impromptu.html" target="_blank">in-the-moment improvisation</a>, and dedicated <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2015/02/create52-7-getting-it-right.html" target="_blank">editing and refining of a piece</a> to make it the best it can be.<br />
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Sometimes there's a need for something in the middle. Restrictions of time, energy, materials, or whatever may force the creative effort to end at a point where it's just "good enough".<br />
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You may have a piece where you're not going for off-the-cuff improvisation, but you just don't get the opportunity to make all the changes and refinements you'd like -- you're finally forced to slap some duct tape around it and hit the road, hoping it all holds together.<br />
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This week, that's where I'm at.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0QDXGV-wvknK1t3Q_gb3DzXJTKT7Ir0XFO1Cy_-asyxsacRVt1L0N47fXIyRCcvd6lnOtPmXPUXtL80dXEkvQmV7T6pFLgnv1rJwfxcR2kirT5uyrozD_yKWHfHRSBh4T2dIgUYzCvM1/s1600/Create+52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0QDXGV-wvknK1t3Q_gb3DzXJTKT7Ir0XFO1Cy_-asyxsacRVt1L0N47fXIyRCcvd6lnOtPmXPUXtL80dXEkvQmV7T6pFLgnv1rJwfxcR2kirT5uyrozD_yKWHfHRSBh4T2dIgUYzCvM1/s1600/Create+52.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a></div>
But first, let me refresh you on what the whole point of this '<i><b>Create52</b></i>' thing is: This is number eight of what I hope is a year-long series of 52 posts under my self-imposed 2105
blogging initiative -- to create something new and share it here on my
blog each and every Monday.<br />
<br />
If you'd like, you can get a little more background about my <i><b>Create52</b></i> goal <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2015/01/create52-1-fool.html" target="_blank">HERE, in my first Create52 post of 2015.</a><br />
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Now back to that thought of "good enough:"<br />
<br />
Due to a hectic past few weeks, I have not be able to get as much creative work done as I would like. I 've managed to do some editing of an earlier story in preparation of its submission, but little else. No time for messing around making music and not much time to do any new writing.<br />
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So this week, my <i><b>Create52</b></i> is only a couple of things that, even combined, barely make it as "substantial" enough to meet my third <i><b>Create52</b></i> guideline. And in both cases, I'd maybe prefer to edit them some more, but one has already been posted, and the other one I just haven't had the time to do.<br />
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Both will have to be good enough.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Good Enough #1: He Talks With His Hands</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">I've written 50-Word Stories for quite a while and really enjoy that format. You can look back through my older <i><b>Create52</b></i> posts and also the "<a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/p/my-writing.html" target="_blank">My Writing</a>" tab to see some examples.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">The other day, I happened to stumble on a similar but slightly larger format -- the 100-word story. <a href="http://www.100wordstory.org/" target="_blank">HERE</a>'s the website that I found (100wordstory.org).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://100wordstory.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Hands-tiny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://100wordstory.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Hands-tiny.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a>I haven't formally submitted anything to the site, but I did notice that in addition to accepting submissions, they also offer an open monthly photo prompt where you simply reply with a story in the comments. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">So I gave it a try. The photo they had up for February is to the right, and I tried to create a 100-word story based on that image of hands.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Since those are a man's hands I ended up with a story from the female POV. I think it turned out OK, and I did actually take some time to edit and refine it, but in the end, I also wanted to get at least something 'completed' to share for my Create52 post. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">So I called this story "good enough" and submitted it. see what you think -- I call it "<i><a href="http://www.100wordstory.org/photo-prompt/#comment-38512" target="_blank">He Talks With His Hands</a></i>:"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">=====</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><u><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">He talks with his hands.</span></span></b></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">He talks with his hands.<br /><br />His expressive fingers dance in the air, accentuating each spoken syllable with frills of motion.<br /><br />He’s done it as long as I’ve known him, from his waving gesture when he first approached me in the college library, to him wringing his hands this morning when he said we needed to talk.<br /><br />His fluttering hands remind me of a baton-free musical maestro, bringing forth each note from a devoted orchestra, or perhaps a powerful wizard generating potent magic out of thin air.<br /><br />It’s fascinating to watch.<br /><br />But it doesn’t ease the pain of his underhanded betrayal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">=====</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Good Enough #2: The Special Affair</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.artfire.com/uploads/product/1/581/84581/9384581/9384581/large/tutu_dress_dusty_pink_lace_bit_of_fluff_bodice_babies_3-24_months_a915a8fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.artfire.com/uploads/product/1/581/84581/9384581/9384581/large/tutu_dress_dusty_pink_lace_bit_of_fluff_bodice_babies_3-24_months_a915a8fb.jpg" height="148" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">But also speaking of 50-Word stories, I've been working on a couple of them lately, and want to submit one for February to Tim's <a href="http://fiftywordstories.com/" target="_blank">FiftyWordStories</a> site.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">But while I have a few "finished," none of them strike me as quite "submittable" as they stand. I still need to tweak and edit a bit to get them to that state.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">But I also want to share one here.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">So I'm offering one that is "good enough" -- again, mainly because I don't have any more time to improve it before sharing. I call it "<i>The Special Affair.</i>"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">======</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><u><b>The Special Affair</b></u> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">I struggle to fasten my pants. The suit fit perfectly at my wedding, but that was years ago.<br /><br />I hope my date doesn't mind.<br /><br />I peek into her room. Giggling, she rushes to me in a swirl of pink lace.<br /><br />"I'm ready for the Daddy - Daughter dance," she squeals.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">======</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Well, there you go -- two <i><b>Create52</b></i> offerings that aren't quite what I'd call "edited to perfection," but hopefully are still "good enough." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Do you think "good enough" is acceptable? If deadlines or other reasons force you to reach a point where you simply can't edit any further, are you satisfied with "good enough," or do you choose to go for "not at all?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Thank you so much for visiting! See you next Monday for another post in my <i><b>Create52</b></i> series! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-72440528288174598632015-02-16T06:00:00.000-05:002015-02-16T08:09:53.279-05:00Create52: #7 -- Getting it Right<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4G5TYC49PdpGzQTr5HNvqdhqAN8bkza4-UFGlNiZk2_Ct58yC7qmX3XD2y0IgHiEZMy_Oop3Av_JTy_rAfn5CgkppHpgElLW9S6_XIGZrrj1F8Z6fFQSFWJZJrG4iLACUvkc65RxLNFDG/s1600/clock-70182_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4G5TYC49PdpGzQTr5HNvqdhqAN8bkza4-UFGlNiZk2_Ct58yC7qmX3XD2y0IgHiEZMy_Oop3Av_JTy_rAfn5CgkppHpgElLW9S6_XIGZrrj1F8Z6fFQSFWJZJrG4iLACUvkc65RxLNFDG/s1600/clock-70182_1280.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(<i>image from pixabay</i>)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2015/02/create52-6-impromptu.html" target="_blank">my last <i><b>Create52</b></i> post</a>, I talked about the fun of creating impromptu things, and I shared some music and writing that I'd made on the spur of the moment. But for this post, I'm going in the opposite direction:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>Sometimes it's worth taking the time to get it right.</b></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Building a watch requires that each gear has to mesh perfectly in order for it to function. This type of work is hard to do on an impromptu basis -- you have to have a solid plan to make each gear and to know where each component goes. You can't just improvise your way through the process. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Some creative efforts are that way, too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0QDXGV-wvknK1t3Q_gb3DzXJTKT7Ir0XFO1Cy_-asyxsacRVt1L0N47fXIyRCcvd6lnOtPmXPUXtL80dXEkvQmV7T6pFLgnv1rJwfxcR2kirT5uyrozD_yKWHfHRSBh4T2dIgUYzCvM1/s1600/Create+52.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0QDXGV-wvknK1t3Q_gb3DzXJTKT7Ir0XFO1Cy_-asyxsacRVt1L0N47fXIyRCcvd6lnOtPmXPUXtL80dXEkvQmV7T6pFLgnv1rJwfxcR2kirT5uyrozD_yKWHfHRSBh4T2dIgUYzCvM1/s1600/Create+52.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a><br />
But before I go any further, let me offer another reminder of what I'm doing in this <i><b>Create52</b></i> post:<br />
<br />
This is the seventh of what I hope is a year-long series of 52 posts under my self-imposed 2105
blogging initiative -- to create something new and share it here on my
blog each and every Monday.<br />
<br />
If you'd like, you can get a little more background about my <i><b>Create52</b></i> goal <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2015/01/create52-1-fool.html" target="_blank">HERE, in my first Create52 post of 2015.</a><br />
<br />
Now let's get to some examples of what I was talking about at the beginning of this post:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Getting it Right #1: <i>Git Right On Wit It</i> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Recently, I took another very cool <a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/" target="_blank">wikiloops</a> jam I'd found and added two quick guitar tracks. I called it "<a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-32466.php" target="_blank"><i>Git On Wit It</i></a>". As another off-the-cuff jam, it was certainly fun to do, and my rhythm and lead guitar tracks weren't completely terrible. In many cases, I'd have called it "good enough" and moved on, perhaps even sharing the piece here.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">But the more I listened to the finished track, the less I liked it. </span><br />
<a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-32738.php" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-32738.php" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QDkzLbZmXq8-r8MR-S8o_kd1SKkDUt1XUw-xM0GWsfL5F0_EPFx77fajmPukIJNDI8jp1zTiulE2DoNANojm1oDioJ9f8_eBdDNd1-bQdQmdG4y703eZ1zi3X6QzSY981yE-O5BzAyE8/s1600/GitRightOnWitIt.png" height="200" width="130" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The underlying jam I'd used was excellent -- the intricate layers of drums (by "Baer" and "MrAdamOnDrums"), xylophone ("Fred"), upright bass (wikiloops founder "Dick"), and saxophone ("MrSnuts") had come together really well, but my loose improvised guitar on top just didn't do the jam justice.</span><br />
<br />
So I called a do-over.<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I took the time to really listen to that jam track, learning and documenting each section a little better ("Ah hah! There's only 14 bars in this part -- not 16!"). Then I added not two, but <i><b>eleven</b></i> distinct guitar parts, with several takes until I was happy with each one.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-32738.php" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-32738.php" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vB_XmzOlqmvaeXVt97x_x_y6CsBwQY8TG9J0rq8sffmQQGtUc4orsg8HbRO5lFt8-cyoJfr-w7wIumxN_E83ZPLHXJkMdzqjXb_dPHSqDJsHqm2UNShjk0U8IHLqbAtzbiC4wVOfVfZH/s1600/StratPlayer_Avatar.png" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">All that time and effort paid off, I think. I call the revamped version, "<a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-32738.php" target="_blank"><i>Git Right On Wit It</i></a>" and I invite you to check it out by clicking on the pictures on either side, or by clicking <a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-32738.php" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">It's still not perfect (the tone I chose for one of the lead tracks ended up really making it really buried in the mix, for one thing), but I do think it is WAY better than my earlier thrown-together version.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Improvisation is fun and magical when it works out, but some things are worth taking the time to get right. I think this jam was one of them.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Getting It Right #2: <i>No Imagination</i></span></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60feUJEwE0g2cdWFl_1xTfsAlxjE9hZjuE8qnku8eQUFVruUe1I-JlBFYrCjYHdj1-BzyzE5bzrwA6bpWu4CS8TL3sxDLKQQz0CHdXoNaMNK9LyuCSavPuwOihB9kAgTTgeYGvKsKPbUg/s1600/50+Word+Stories+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60feUJEwE0g2cdWFl_1xTfsAlxjE9hZjuE8qnku8eQUFVruUe1I-JlBFYrCjYHdj1-BzyzE5bzrwA6bpWu4CS8TL3sxDLKQQz0CHdXoNaMNK9LyuCSavPuwOihB9kAgTTgeYGvKsKPbUg/s1600/50+Word+Stories+Logo.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">As much fun as it is writing something on the fly in response to prompt words, that is actually not my normal mode of operation. A big reason why my writing output remains so low is that I am a horrendous self-critic and in my 'serious' writing, I typically nitpick every word until I'm satisfied.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here's a brief example. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">This is a piece I submitted back at the end of December to the site, <a href="http://fiftywordstories.com/" target="_blank">50-Word Stories</a> -- one of two I'd sent in. The other piece ("<a href="http://fiftywordstories.com/2015/01/29/chris-j-fries-im-alive/" target="_blank"><i>I'm Alive</i></a>") was accepted and posted on the site, but this one was not.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Yet this is the one that I worked the longest on, and actually the one I thought was the 'better' piece. I had edited and revised it many times in the weeks leading up to its submission. It's kind of funny to think that a story consisting of all of 50 words goes through a lot of editing, but in this case, it did.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The story may not have been accepted at 50-Word Stories, but I still think it is the stronger piece, and it was worth the time to get it right. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">See what you think -- I call it "<i>No Imagination</i>": </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">=====</span><br />
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<a href="https://img1.etsystatic.com/001/0/5731787/il_fullxfull.369995297_k1yj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/001/0/5731787/il_fullxfull.369995297_k1yj.jpg" width="190" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><u><b>No Imagination</b></u></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />I imagine us together.<br /><br />I imagine you committing. I picture us making plans. <br /><br />But you can't see it.<br /><br />Instead, you tell me to get off your porch. Then you slam the door.<br /><br />So I take my <i>Acme Vacuums</i> sales kit and leave, hoping your neighbor has a much better imagination.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">===== </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">So do you think these pieces of music and writing were worth taking the time to get right? Do you tend to lean that way in general? Which do you prefer -- In-the-moment creation, or meticulous editing and revision? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Thank you so much for visiting! See you next week for another <i><b>Create52</b></i> post!</span><br />
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StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-41383288256324342572015-02-09T06:00:00.000-05:002015-02-09T06:00:00.564-05:00Create52: #6 -- Impromptu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cliparts.co/cliparts/Lid/5Ek/Lid5Ek4i4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cliparts.co/cliparts/Lid/5Ek/Lid5Ek4i4.jpg" height="320" width="315" /></a></div>
<br />
I like improvisation -- that sense of juggling ideas on the fly, creating impromptu things off the cuff, in the moment with little preconception, and hoping that something good comes out of it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0QDXGV-wvknK1t3Q_gb3DzXJTKT7Ir0XFO1Cy_-asyxsacRVt1L0N47fXIyRCcvd6lnOtPmXPUXtL80dXEkvQmV7T6pFLgnv1rJwfxcR2kirT5uyrozD_yKWHfHRSBh4T2dIgUYzCvM1/s1600/Create+52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0QDXGV-wvknK1t3Q_gb3DzXJTKT7Ir0XFO1Cy_-asyxsacRVt1L0N47fXIyRCcvd6lnOtPmXPUXtL80dXEkvQmV7T6pFLgnv1rJwfxcR2kirT5uyrozD_yKWHfHRSBh4T2dIgUYzCvM1/s1600/Create+52.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a>Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised by what I end up creating; sometimes I fall off the tightrope and crash to the ground amid a pile of poorly-executed results. But either way, the fun of creating in the moment is still worth it.<br />
<br />
Or at least I hope it is.<br />
<br />
But before I go any farther, let me offer a reminder of what I'm doing here in this <i><b>Create52</b></i> post: This is the sixth of what I hope is a year-long series of 52 posts under my 2105
blogging initiative -- to create something new and offer it here on my
blog each and every Monday. You can get a little more background about my <i><b>Create52</b></i> goal <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2015/01/create52-1-fool.html">HERE, in my first Create52 post of 2015,</a> if you'd like.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Impromptu I -- Improvised <i>'Wistful Reggae'</i> </span></b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-31862.php" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-31862.php" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0-e-oFagKCsPyWryDHqUC3dmiYMblXRttcnHvnLO7lYVliJOmrowaPFnYG0aSQppTFaabq1r5zA-FWf6WfU-NINN6_7KjEkMfisNOSBzMqFVpBUYbp__h5_epJkDxbAhKcFXfS2MhTvt/s1600/Wistful+Reggae.png" height="200" width="164" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I recently added another track to <a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/" target="_blank">wikiloops</a></span></span> -- this is the fabulous online jam site where you can create and interact with hundreds of other musicians around the globe via uploaded and shared jams. I found an overlooked reggae track by the user "pingala" which I thought was kind of cool. I liked the keyboard-driven, slightly-weird, reggae mix and thought it would be fun to add some guitar.<br />
<br />
So I added three guitar tracks, all kind of spacy and ambient, and all recorded quickly in a spur-of-the-moment series of improvised tracks.<br />
<br />
As always, it was fun to do, but here's the thing -- listening back to the final version, I'm not sure I really like it. Take a listen and see what you think. You can click on the picture to the right, my 'StratoRapor' icon to the left, or on the link <a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-31862.php" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-31862.php" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-31862.php" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vB_XmzOlqmvaeXVt97x_x_y6CsBwQY8TG9J0rq8sffmQQGtUc4orsg8HbRO5lFt8-cyoJfr-w7wIumxN_E83ZPLHXJkMdzqjXb_dPHSqDJsHqm2UNShjk0U8IHLqbAtzbiC4wVOfVfZH/s1600/StratPlayer_Avatar.png" /></a></div>
This is one of the things about Impromptu creativity -- it can be kind of hit or miss. It can have a certain kind of unique energy that is often missing in tightly-woven, heavily-structured pieces which have been recorded and re-recorded until each part is 'perfect'. And when it works, it's magical. This is why Deadheads love certain live recordings and often shrug their shoulders at the records the Grateful Dead made in the studio.<br />
<br />
But it can also end up being as disappointing and unsatisfying as watching a juggler drop balls all over the place. It can be frustrating because it gives hints as to what "might have been," and yet still fall sort.<br />
<br />
I don't know -- maybe I'm too hard on myself. If nothing else, it's something 'new' that I created which didn't exist before.<br />
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And that's the whole point of <i><b>Create52</b></i>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Impromptu II -- In Prompts, Too!</b></span><br />
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But sometimes the muses come through and the impromptu efforts pay off, too. <br />
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<a href="http://www.gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Writingonlaptop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Writingonlaptop.jpg" height="84" width="200" /></a></div>
I didn't want this edition of my Create52 to have only a piece of music I find lacking. So I thought I'd try some off-the-cuff piece of writing since I haven't got anything else new and finished to share. I visited the old <a href="https://creativecopychallenge.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Creative Copy Challenge</a> website to see what their latest ten-word prompt was, and spent a half-hour or so to come up with this, which I call "<i>A Fluke of Nature</i>."<br />
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I'm not going to suggest that it's stellar writing, but for a rough-draft, spur-of-the-moment, thrown-together impromptu piece that used all ten prompt words in order, I think it turned out fairly well.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGC-utf9o7WLlSELoutU01uOTnN5870nXksBwZ4MtX5LH1BiMiPYUckKHKfwPXWVP6dYmuo2gRdphuqMXOJvFJJCLYXzymZhqa748dDxQvfVjjYpsjqAsWvOGxouqb1bnboq961v474l4/s1600/tropical_dock-t2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
You can check it out <a href="https://creativecopychallenge.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/writing-prompts-creative-copy-challenge-371/" target="_blank">HERE</a> or below (the ten prompt words are in <b>bold</b>):<br />
<br />
<br />
=====<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><a href="https://creativecopychallenge.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/writing-prompts-creative-copy-challenge-371/" target="_blank"><b>Fluke of Nature</b></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><a href="http://www.experian.com/blogs/data-breach/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Doctor-clipboard.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.experian.com/blogs/data-breach/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Doctor-clipboard.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a>Doctor Nathanial Hawkins paused, uncertain how to respond to his newest client. As a highly-sought and very successful plastic surgeon to the rich and powerful, he’d almost become jaded to the odd requests he’d had in his career, but he still found himself flustered at what Brooke Swanson was asking.<br />
<br />
“I’m not sure it would be… in your best interest,” he finally said.<br />
<br />
“You don’t have to be <b>subtle</b> with me,” she said. “I want your blunt assessment, not your sugar-coated opinions. Is it possible?”<br />
<br />
Hawkins sighed and regarded her — mid-thirties, beautiful, excellent health, and obscenely wealthy. In<b> essence</b>, she was the perfect patient for much of his work. But she wanted much more than a tummy tuck or a new nose.<br />
<br />
“Yes, I actually think it could be possible. But I question the ethics of doing it.”<br />
<br />
She laughed. “I don’t care about the ethics. It’s my decision and it’s between you and me. I’ll sign whatever release forms you want to make sure your ass is covered. I only demand absolute secrecy. But I would hope you have had enough experience with the <b>subterfuge</b> needed to hide your work from the prying public.”<br />
<br />
In his mind, he ran through the procedures required. Each would be extensive and challenging. But they would also be ground-breaking.<br />
<br />
“You won’t be able to hide it forever,” he said. “Something of this magnitude will eventually leak out.” <br />
<br />
“I only need long enough to heal. Then my pilot and my staff will fly me out the US. I already have the island set up, thousands of miles away from the news media and the lawyers. All I’ll have around me will be the <b>froth</b> from the <b>rolling</b> waves and blue water in every direction.”<br />
<br />
Hawkins let his thoughts <b>wander</b> again. If what she was asking for worked, it would be amazing, unlike anything ever attempted. The results would be simply <b>marvelous</b> to behold. He would become even more famous — not just to the aging elite desperately searching to maintain the illusion of youth. He would become a household name. <br />
<br />
And he had to admit to himself he was excited about it.<br />
<br />
# # #<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGC-utf9o7WLlSELoutU01uOTnN5870nXksBwZ4MtX5LH1BiMiPYUckKHKfwPXWVP6dYmuo2gRdphuqMXOJvFJJCLYXzymZhqa748dDxQvfVjjYpsjqAsWvOGxouqb1bnboq961v474l4/s1600/tropical_dock-t2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGC-utf9o7WLlSELoutU01uOTnN5870nXksBwZ4MtX5LH1BiMiPYUckKHKfwPXWVP6dYmuo2gRdphuqMXOJvFJJCLYXzymZhqa748dDxQvfVjjYpsjqAsWvOGxouqb1bnboq961v474l4/s1600/tropical_dock-t2.jpg" height="129" width="200" /></a>Hawkins removed his hat and wiped his brow. The tropical sun was relentless, but the view across the sparkling lagoon was spectacular. Brooke Swanson had chosen well on this isolated island. He followed the ripples as she swam up to the dock.<br />
<br />
“So what do you think, Doctor Hawkins?” she said after breaching the water. “You still like your work?”<br />
<br />
“Call me Nate,” he said. “They removed my license following the trial. I’m no longer technically a doctor.”<br />
<br />
“I’m sorry about that,” she said.<br />
<br />
“I’m not. It was worth it.”<br />
<br />
“I’m glad you feel that way. I flew you down because I wanted to make sure. And also to offer to increase your payment as restitution. I didn’t intend to ruin your career.”<br />
<br />
He admired the sleekness of the plasticized skin covering the buoyancy chambers along her sides; the intricate way the dorsal fin had been grafted onto her spine; the smooth <b>streamline</b> of curves as her merged legs flowed into the wide fluke of her dolphin-like tail; and the delicate way the embedded tubes ran under her cheekbones from her sinus cavities to the artificial gills implanted along her neck.<br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><a href="http://understanddolphins.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/flukescloseup.jpg.w560h420.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://understanddolphins.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/flukescloseup.jpg.w560h420.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>She used her arms to tread water in front of him, her webbed fingers sweeping gracefully through the water<br />
<br />
He thought her even more beautiful than she had ever been.<br />
<br />
“You didn’t ruin my career,” he said. “You made it.”<br />
<br />
He laughed. “The <b>operation</b> was a complete <b>success</b>, and because of you, I’ll be forever known as the man who made a mermaid.”<br />
<br />
# # #</span><br />
<br />
===== <br />
<br />
So what do you think -- did either of these impromptu pieces turned out worthwhile? And even if not, was the fun of improvised creativity worth enough as it's own reward?<br />
<br />
Do you like improvisation and creating impromptu things yourself on the spur of the moment?<br />
<br />
<br />
Thank you so very much for visiting -- I greatly appreciate it! See you next Monday! <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-13230535447790896502015-02-02T00:42:00.000-05:002015-02-02T17:27:42.737-05:00Create52: #5 -- Hands and Fear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0QDXGV-wvknK1t3Q_gb3DzXJTKT7Ir0XFO1Cy_-asyxsacRVt1L0N47fXIyRCcvd6lnOtPmXPUXtL80dXEkvQmV7T6pFLgnv1rJwfxcR2kirT5uyrozD_yKWHfHRSBh4T2dIgUYzCvM1/s1600/Create+52.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0QDXGV-wvknK1t3Q_gb3DzXJTKT7Ir0XFO1Cy_-asyxsacRVt1L0N47fXIyRCcvd6lnOtPmXPUXtL80dXEkvQmV7T6pFLgnv1rJwfxcR2kirT5uyrozD_yKWHfHRSBh4T2dIgUYzCvM1/s1600/Create+52.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a></div>
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2015 has rolled into February, and --- wonder of wonder -- my<i><b> Create52</b></i> goal is still going strong. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Today, I'm sharing more writing, including some exciting publication news.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But first, if you're a new visitor to my blog, let me say "welcome!" and
explain what I'm doing here. This is another entry in my 2105
blogging initiative -- to create something new and offer it here on my
blog each and every Monday of 2015. You can get a little more background about my <i><b>Create52</b></i> goal <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2015/01/create52-1-fool.html">HERE, in my first Create52 post of 2015,</a> if you'd like.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hands of Fear</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://us.cdn3.123rf.com/168nwm/ronfromyork/ronfromyork0911/ronfromyork091100052/5921753-mannes-hand-greift-aus-der-simulierten-wasser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://us.cdn3.123rf.com/168nwm/ronfromyork/ronfromyork0911/ronfromyork091100052/5921753-mannes-hand-greift-aus-der-simulierten-wasser.jpg" height="200" width="147" /></a></div>
<br />
I've completed another piece of writing -- this is a piece of flash, under 1000 words, called "<i>My Father's Hands</i>". It's kind of dark, but I also think it has the potential of being a pretty good story. Right now, I'm sharing it with my critique group, but after a round of review and edits, I'll send it out for consideration of publication. I'll probably start with the site, <a href="http://www.everydayfiction.com/" target="_blank">Every Day Fiction.</a><br />
<br />
Here's a brief sample of "<i>My Father's Hands</i>":<br />
<br />
======<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The sounds of splashing faded as
my focus narrowed. The musty smell of the lake and the gurgle of beer spilling
out from a can as it rolled across the pier slipped from my consciousness. Only
my vision remained, centered on a frozen image of my father's hands, as if my
mind was capturing it on film. Around his hands, waves of water paused
mid-crest and droplets hung motionless in the hot summer air. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Time and tide both waited.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Dad's right hand stretched
upward, fingers spread wide, almost as if he were waving. His left hand was
closing, either forming a clenched fist or trying to grasp at something other
than empty air. I'd had plenty of experience with both his clenched fist and
his callous grasp, but it was still difficult to predict which one was coming.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">His hands were rough and scarred
-- a testament to a life of brutal harshness. The pinky of his right hand bent
sideways at an odd angle, a remnant of it getting crushed under a pallet of sheet
metal. Dad often joked about it, laughing about having a liquid lunch in the
parking lot and then coming back into work a little too drunk. He was proud of
the fact that he'd finished his shift without his supervisor finding out about the
accident.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Seeing his stern hands bursting
up through the surface of the lake touched some scars in me, too.</span></div>
<br />
======<br />
<br />
I'd share more, but it's only 1000 words and -- like I said -- I'm sending it out for consideration of publication. But I promise to keep you updated should anything come of it...<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Publication News!</b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.everydayfiction.com/stories/wp-content/themes/direct-response/images/logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.everydayfiction.com/stories/wp-content/themes/direct-response/images/logo.jpg" height="43" width="320" /></a></div>
But speaking of updates about publication and <a href="http://www.everydayfiction.com/" target="_blank">Every Day Fiction</a>: My flash-fiction piece, "<i><a href="http://www.everydayfiction.com/idle-musings-by-chris-j-fries/">Idle Musings</a></i>" has been accepted for publication! And it's published today!!!<br />
<br />
This is my first publication acceptance anywhere outside of the micro-fiction I've had published at <a href="http://fiftywordstories.com/">FiftyWordStories.com</a>, and I'm pretty excited.<br />
<br />
This story is a very writer-centric humor piece, so I don't know how well it will appeal to non-writers. But I was very pleased and thankful for the wonderful feedback and assistance given by the slush-readers and editors at EDF. In fact, the story was originally submitted under a different name and one of the editors helped come up with a much catchier (and much less confusing) title for the piece. If you're a writer and have a fear of submission, take matters into your own hands and try out EDF -- even if you get rejected, you'll get great feedback from a very supportive staff.<br />
<br />
I invite you to read "<i>Idle Musings"</i> over at <a href="http://www.everydayfiction.com/" target="_blank">Every Day Fiction</a> -- I'd love to know what you think!<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Publication News -- Part 2!</b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcQHZ3fwm_agRLdZTQJjvBST_Kc9ksqYk96E2OBhJh-RNe32gY8nIZIZiEqgURG2sD6XxkJKiBkL9RZYduyLSDNGlqAJOoVQNY0W_EayjryruT9_A-a3mIj_0cByOUDn9jz-uSbL6zJ7H/s1600/50Word+stories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcQHZ3fwm_agRLdZTQJjvBST_Kc9ksqYk96E2OBhJh-RNe32gY8nIZIZiEqgURG2sD6XxkJKiBkL9RZYduyLSDNGlqAJOoVQNY0W_EayjryruT9_A-a3mIj_0cByOUDn9jz-uSbL6zJ7H/s1600/50Word+stories.jpg" /></a></div>
And speaking of publication and <a href="http://fiftywordstories.com/" target="_blank">Fifty Word Stories</a>: I had a publication success over there this past week, too!<br />
<br />
My 50-word science-fiction micro-story, "<a href="http://fiftywordstories.com/2015/01/29/chris-j-fries-im-alive/" target="_blank"><i>I'm Alive</i></a>" was accepted and posted on January 29th. Site owner Tim Sevenhuysen e-mailed me with the acceptance late last week and then posted the story the very next day.<br />
<br />
You can check out the story <a href="http://fiftywordstories.com/2015/01/29/chris-j-fries-im-alive/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. I'm always interested in whatever feedback you'd like to give.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Taking Fear Into Your Own Hands</span></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.destiny.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/overcoming-fear-580x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.destiny.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/overcoming-fear-580x200.jpg" height="110" width="320" /></a></div>
Speaking of fears and taking things in your own hands, let me also offer you a short piece I wrote in response to the last 10-word prompt at the <a href="https://creativecopychallenge.wordpress.com/2015/01/27/writing-prompts-creative-copy-challenge-370/#comments" target="_blank">Creative Copy Challenge</a> website. I used a similar format to my last 10 x 10 piece, with 10 lines of 10 words each.<br />
<br />
But here, the prompt words are also used in order, but always as the first word. In addition, I added them as the tenth word in every line, but in reverse order (the prompt words are in <b>bold</b>). It made for a restrictive format where it was hard to get the lines to flow together well, but I came up with a piece about conquering your fears.<br />
<br />
See what you think:<br />
<br />
======<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b>Edgy</b> people can rarely put their fears permanently into <b>storage</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b>Height</b>, spider, or night — can their phobias be forgotten? <b>Seldom</b>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b>Cobbled</b> together remedies enable them to get through the <b>darkness:</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b>Goat</b> milk, served warm, can help things be less <b>disturbing.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b>Flower</b> scents at home soothe fears of, “out there, <b>somewhere</b>…”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b>Somewhere</b> inside is power to turn fear into a <b>flower</b>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b>Disturbing</b> panic can be devoured, like garbage by a <b>goat</b>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b>Darkness</b> loses its fight against courage, however it is <b>cobbled</b>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b>Seldom</b> is life better than when fear’s reduced in <b>height</b>;</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b>Storage</b> in the mind gets re-stocked with things less <b>edgy</b>.</span><br />
<br />
======<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Should We Fear the Kargrandes?</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HSIDWoez91GlrcfhNs53pa3Sl39unhnPsGfxWe-RupaTE0XC8iYf1hzGuq2aTdD8i_ufE_fU9wyQPL-ivTGEPF7kaTvyiPDpQUpf2nK3NcobgkkMP1ZQHpN2ZTTgOkdyrPPvUs8CcmHC/s1600/header2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HSIDWoez91GlrcfhNs53pa3Sl39unhnPsGfxWe-RupaTE0XC8iYf1hzGuq2aTdD8i_ufE_fU9wyQPL-ivTGEPF7kaTvyiPDpQUpf2nK3NcobgkkMP1ZQHpN2ZTTgOkdyrPPvUs8CcmHC/s1600/header2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Finally -- Have you heard about the Kargrandes? What are they?!?!<br />
<br />
Are they something we can offer our hand to in peace, or are they something we should fear???<br />
<br />
Find out more <a href="http://www.whatarethekargrandes.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a> and keep an eye out for them on April 7th!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-9400444897121019022015-01-26T05:08:00.000-05:002015-01-29T11:53:28.641-05:00Create52: #4 -- Can't Stop the Rain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSANzNyAbu4HvFjIoneA_0gC3BWGlXXbHYGDPF5AbM0q5QKEm_tzyWTyPcCnLgijYPcISlD_o7mYn_agesHNc0xx1TsUYA5PR8I3dM2drj4mvZLVpkz3z6a5R1tbFvhjN1yk0qn-TbsKg/s1600/Rainy_road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSANzNyAbu4HvFjIoneA_0gC3BWGlXXbHYGDPF5AbM0q5QKEm_tzyWTyPcCnLgijYPcISlD_o7mYn_agesHNc0xx1TsUYA5PR8I3dM2drj4mvZLVpkz3z6a5R1tbFvhjN1yk0qn-TbsKg/s1600/Rainy_road.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0QDXGV-wvknK1t3Q_gb3DzXJTKT7Ir0XFO1Cy_-asyxsacRVt1L0N47fXIyRCcvd6lnOtPmXPUXtL80dXEkvQmV7T6pFLgnv1rJwfxcR2kirT5uyrozD_yKWHfHRSBh4T2dIgUYzCvM1/s1600/Create+52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0QDXGV-wvknK1t3Q_gb3DzXJTKT7Ir0XFO1Cy_-asyxsacRVt1L0N47fXIyRCcvd6lnOtPmXPUXtL80dXEkvQmV7T6pFLgnv1rJwfxcR2kirT5uyrozD_yKWHfHRSBh4T2dIgUYzCvM1/s1600/Create+52.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This is the fourth Monday of 2015, and the last one in January -- which means that my<i><b> Create52</b></i> goal has made it through the entire first month!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
This has been a fun thing to do and now I'm fully committed. In fact, I can't stop doing this any more than I can stop the rain from falling. So let's use that as a theme for today's <i><b>Create52</b></i> entry.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But first, if you're a new visitor to my blog, let me say "welcome!" and
explain what I'm doing here. This is another entry in my 2105
blogging initiative -- to create something new and offer it here on my
blog each and every Monday of 2015. You can get a little more background about my <i><b>Create52</b></i> goal <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2015/01/create52-1-fool.html">HERE, in my first Create52 post of 2015,</a> if you'd like.<br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Can't Stop the Rain #1 </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-31594.php" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-31594.php" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5ou5uJHFXK9jo9_sd8Sh2T5WJVDZ4Qhk6oJJJJyPGPsMtVc6rBUgF45GNfKxNsQwK0Anh5332jgB5eVmQvUNOTS9iZN3tGyiGLCWftuGfe7ndWOnQ0DSWLeYEzK30tQORxfEBN-gRAFV/s1600/wikiloops+cant+stop+the+rain.png" height="200" width="143" /></a> This is another piece of music I put together for the wonderful jam site, wikiloops.com. I found a fabulous track originally done with keys by the user Marceys, then added to with drums by Jaymny and bass by OB-Lix. The original track was called "Can't Stop the Rain" by Marceys, so I stayed with that name.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
You can take a listen by clicking on the images to the left or right or on this link: <b><a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-31594.php" target="_blank"><i>Can't Stop the Rain</i></a></b>.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
For this tune, I added a clean rhythm guitar track and a echo-y, distorted lead guitar track. I tried to keep my playing to a minimum during the "verse" sections to allow the beautiful piano and bass playing to come through. During the "chorus" sections, I stayed close to the chord progression in my lead for most of the song, although I stretched out a bit at the end. </div>
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<a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-31594.php" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-31594.php" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vB_XmzOlqmvaeXVt97x_x_y6CsBwQY8TG9J0rq8sffmQQGtUc4orsg8HbRO5lFt8-cyoJfr-w7wIumxN_E83ZPLHXJkMdzqjXb_dPHSqDJsHqm2UNShjk0U8IHLqbAtzbiC4wVOfVfZH/s1600/StratPlayer_Avatar.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But other than taking time to learn the progression and changes for my rhythm, this still ended up being a bit of a "jam" piece in that my lead is a first-pass recording. I definitely hear some things that can be improved, but overall, I think it worked out pretty well. I enjoy the wistful feel of the song that Marceys put together and it was fun to play over.</div>
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Thank you very much for listening!<br />
<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Can't Stop the Rain #2</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcQHZ3fwm_agRLdZTQJjvBST_Kc9ksqYk96E2OBhJh-RNe32gY8nIZIZiEqgURG2sD6XxkJKiBkL9RZYduyLSDNGlqAJOoVQNY0W_EayjryruT9_A-a3mIj_0cByOUDn9jz-uSbL6zJ7H/s1600/50Word+stories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcQHZ3fwm_agRLdZTQJjvBST_Kc9ksqYk96E2OBhJh-RNe32gY8nIZIZiEqgURG2sD6XxkJKiBkL9RZYduyLSDNGlqAJOoVQNY0W_EayjryruT9_A-a3mIj_0cByOUDn9jz-uSbL6zJ7H/s1600/50Word+stories.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I was also inspired by the title and music to come up with another 50-word story. I haven't heard back* on the last two stories I submitted (mentioned in my <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2015/01/create52-1-fool.html"><b><i>Create52</i></b> post #1</a>) to Tim Sevenhuysen at <a href="http://fiftywordstories.com/">FiftyWordStories.com</a>, so I'm not sure if I'm going to submit this one. Actually, since I'm sharing it here, I probably won't, and will send Tim two different pieces a little later in February.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But I hope you still enjoy it:</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>==========</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisd1auZfg_QeayjfMifbFl5CnQYXnsONpEl-muIdweDhguQJzsaDmvXfEQcbNetn68I7aCd8ZWkdmIg1tlLmtuq9Q27yQheQQ1gf-v0GyioP9rg5fbxJrtnzsuiw8iDXMKXHHyDA_Lhpr0/s1600/Rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisd1auZfg_QeayjfMifbFl5CnQYXnsONpEl-muIdweDhguQJzsaDmvXfEQcbNetn68I7aCd8ZWkdmIg1tlLmtuq9Q27yQheQQ1gf-v0GyioP9rg5fbxJrtnzsuiw8iDXMKXHHyDA_Lhpr0/s1600/Rain.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><u><b>Can't Stop the Rain</b></u></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The rain falls, and I'm forced to remember.<br /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Watching through the rivulets streaming down the window as you left that morning, I had no idea that you'd never return.<br /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Still, I've tried to move on. <br /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">On sunny days, I've even stopped thinking of you.<br /> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But I can't stop the rain.</span></div>
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==========</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
*<b>NOTE</b>: 1/29/2015 update: Since originally writing this, I have heard back from Tim on one of the two stories ("<a href="http://fiftywordstories.com/2015/01/29/chris-j-fries-im-alive/" target="_blank"><i>I'm Alive</i></a>"), and Tim published it at FiftyWordStories.com today! I'll have more to say about this in Monday's <i><b>Create52</b></i> post, but in the meantime you can check out this 50-word sci-fi story <a href="http://fiftywordstories.com/2015/01/29/chris-j-fries-im-alive/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. <br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Thank you very much for stopping by and taking part in my ongoing <i><b>Create52</b></i> effort. I really appreciate it!</div>
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StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-39872128220346782932015-01-19T06:27:00.000-05:002015-01-19T09:36:11.151-05:00Create52: #3 -- Voice of Chunk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKU76uJHkoAQG_6tdIuH-0nhqj9phsJU6bTFU5YSWN6fCZHGrXf5LFiJJ0_36MmYiHTs3RSwbXczqIgHvO-BhohKKemuNBn_k24nikK2Vre-OF5zsSHykag6FFdHTF5myI-tbN7EUVEhdX/s1600/Voice+of+Chunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKU76uJHkoAQG_6tdIuH-0nhqj9phsJU6bTFU5YSWN6fCZHGrXf5LFiJJ0_36MmYiHTs3RSwbXczqIgHvO-BhohKKemuNBn_k24nikK2Vre-OF5zsSHykag6FFdHTF5myI-tbN7EUVEhdX/s1600/Voice+of+Chunk.jpg" height="320" width="319" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0QDXGV-wvknK1t3Q_gb3DzXJTKT7Ir0XFO1Cy_-asyxsacRVt1L0N47fXIyRCcvd6lnOtPmXPUXtL80dXEkvQmV7T6pFLgnv1rJwfxcR2kirT5uyrozD_yKWHfHRSBh4T2dIgUYzCvM1/s1600/Create+52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0QDXGV-wvknK1t3Q_gb3DzXJTKT7Ir0XFO1Cy_-asyxsacRVt1L0N47fXIyRCcvd6lnOtPmXPUXtL80dXEkvQmV7T6pFLgnv1rJwfxcR2kirT5uyrozD_yKWHfHRSBh4T2dIgUYzCvM1/s1600/Create+52.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a></div>
Here's the question for today:<br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>Have you ever used a piece of music as inspiration for writing?</i></b><br />
<br />
Today is the third Monday of 2015, and for this week's<i><b> Create52</b></i> entry, I've done just that -- twice.<br />
<br />
But first, if you're a new visitor to my blog, let me say "welcome!" and explain what I'm doing here. This is the third entry in my 2105 blogging initiative -- to create something new and offer it here on my blog each and every Monday of 2015. My creative offerings have been writing and music so far, and you can read more about the thoughts behind my <i><b>Create52</b></i> goal <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2015/01/create52-1-fool.html">HERE, in my 1st post of 2015</a> if you'd like.<br />
<br />
For this Create52 post, I'm using another artist's music to inspire my writing. Let me first start with the song:<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Voice of Chunk I -- The Song</span></b><br />
<br />
In 1988, John Lurie and his band, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lounge_Lizards">The Lounge Lizards</a> released their third album <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Voice-Chunk-Lounge-Lizards/dp/B00000AFRC">The Voice of Chunk</a></i>. A cool mix of New York attitude, punk-meets-jazz sensibility, wry humor, poly-rhythmic funk grooves, sensual sax, and angular guitar by Mark Ribot, it is an album I really like, and I find it holds up well even today, 25 years after it's release.<br />
<br />
The album is filled with a lot of songs that I like, such as the second song of the album -- the hard-edged grooving titular cut, <i>Voice of Chunk</i>. I love the haunting horn lines over the funk groove with the driving bass and piano riff. The way the two saxes and trombone blend is mesmerizing, and the guitar solo is edgy and fun. I also love the way it dissolves at the end into the floating horn riffs over the piano.<br />
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Here's the album cut:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/1QViAZa41bk" width="420"></iframe>
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It may sound like there's a lot of unstructured off-the-cuff improvisation in the song, but surprisingly, it is pretty tightly arranged. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm3rEZiJFIc">HERE's</a> another video of the band playing the song live on TV -- notice how closely they cover the song part-by-part and yet still make it feel fresh and in-the-moment? I think that's pretty awesome.<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Voice of Chunk II -- The Short Story</span></b><br />
<br />
I find that there's a lot of potential for interpretation and creative thought in the music of <i>Voice of Chunk</i>, but that's not actually what ended up inspiring me.<br />
<br />
It was the title.<br />
<br />
"Voice of Chunk" -- just what does that mean???<br />
<br />
I really have no idea what John Lurie, his piano-playing brother Evan (musical creator behind <a href="http://backyardigans.wikia.com/wiki/Evan_Lurie">"<i>The Backyardigans</i>"</a>), and the rest of the band had in mind with the title, but when I listened to this song last week, the words "<i>Voice of Chunk</i>" kind of turn root in my mind and planted seeds.<br />
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<a href="http://blog.movers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/istock-moving-truck1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://blog.movers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/istock-moving-truck1.jpg" height="136" width="200" /></a></div>
I came up with a short story that may be a bit different than what the Lounge Lizards were going for. It's about 2,500 words and is currently being shared with my critique partners in preparation of final polishing before being sent out into the world in submission and -- hopefully -- eventual publication.<br />
<br />
So, unfortunately, you won't be getting the whole thing here. Sorry to disappoint you. But in order to meet my guidelines for my <i><b>Create52</b></i> bloggy-thingy, let me at least offer you a sample.<br />
<br />
Here's the opening (as currently written):<br />
<br />
======<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b>Voice of Chunk</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /> The Anderson place next door was on the market for less than a month after they moved to Florida. When Marge and I noticed the "Sold" sign in front, we weren't surprised -- Tom and Dotty had been dedicated about maintaining their home and it was one of the nicest houses in our cul-de-sac. Throw in good schools, a quiet neighborhood, and motivated sellers and we figured we'd have new neighbors pretty quick. They might not grow to be as close as the Andersons had been –- our kids had all grown up together, after all –- but we were still eager to meet the new arrivals.<br /><br /> The moving truck came on a Saturday morning. Marge was weeding and I was starting to mow when the semi pulled in with three men in coveralls. It was almost four hours later before a black SUV parked next to the moving truck. A burly man with bulked-up shoulders got out of the SUV, gestured at the boxes stacked in the driveway, and then swore loud enough for me to hear over the trimmers I was using. I shut them off and waved at the guy, but he turned away without responding. <br /><br /> At the time I thought that maybe he just hadn't seen me.<br /><br /> "They damn well shoulda been done by now," I heard him say. "C'mon, Chunk. Get your ass out of the car." <br /><br /> He stormed into the house as a woman climbed out of the passenger side. She was heavy-set with stringy hair, wearing an over-sized sweatshirt that was much too thick for the warm, muggy afternoon.<br /><br /> She glanced around like a mouse expecting a cat to pounce at any moment before her gaze eventually came to rest on me. Her eyes were pretty, but her face was a mask of fear and sadness. I waved again.<br /><br /> "Hi!" I called. <br /><br /> She briefly raised her hand in my direction before lowering her eyes and rushing into the house.<br /><br /> The moving men took another hour and a half to finish up and then the truck left. We didn't see any more of either the man or woman, although Marge said she did catch a glimpse of the SUV pulling into the garage before the door closed for the evening.<br /><br /> Our new neighbors didn't seem too interested in being neighborly.</span><br />
<br />
======<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Voice of Chunk III -- The 10 x 10</span></b><br />
<br />
But the short story wasn't all of it...<br />
<br />
"<i>Voice of Chunk</i>" was still on my mind when I made a post last week on the resurrected <a href="https://creativecopychallenge.wordpress.com/">Creative Copy Challenge</a>, website, and there, I went in an entirely different direction with the phrase. <br />
<br />
I enjoy the CCC -- it was a website I spent a lot of time writing at several years ago, but the guy who'd started it (Shane Arthur) had to step aside and, despite some valiant efforts from several people (like <a href="http://anklebuster.com/">Mitch Allen</a>), it faded away. Well, evidently someone named Anne is trying to revive it and it's up and running again, with new prompts posted every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
Each prompt gives ten words -- you just write whatever you want and share it in the comments, using the ten words in your entry. I used to do a thing I called "10 x 10:" Ten lines of ten words each, using the ten prompt words in order AND in the proper spot within each line (the first is the first word of the first line; the second is the second word of the second line; and so forth). It may not always result in a very cohesive story, but it's a fast way to generate some writing and a fun way to stoke the creative juices. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_r/Boston/2011-2020/2012/10/29/BostonGlobe.com/Enterprise/Advance/Images/jfk010-787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_r/Boston/2011-2020/2012/10/29/BostonGlobe.com/Enterprise/Advance/Images/jfk010-787.jpg" height="124" width="200" /></a>I used the words from last week's prompt to create a 10x10 also entitled "<i>Voice of Chunk.</i>" I even made it rhyme, but it's definitely not what I'd call poetry.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://creativecopychallenge.wordpress.com/2015/01/13/writing-prompts-creative-copy-challenge-369/#comments">HERE's </a>the link to it at the CCC, and I've copied it below (the prompt words are highlighted):<br />
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======<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b>Voice of Chunk</b><br /><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b>Tricks</b> and schemes buried beneath soft words and smiled platitudes;<br />No <b>limit</b> to meaningless things he says to influence attitudes.<br />Like a <b>telephone </b>marketer selling empty dreams at outrageous prices,<br />He speaks to <b>jiggle </b>your phobias and stroke your vices,<br />and thrives on rallies, <b>driving </b>crowds of rabid followers wild.<br /><br />No sound bites for the <b>multitude </b>to elicit their wows;<br />He serves up heaping piles of <b>crepe </b>papery, fragile vows.<br />In TV interviews, he’ll sit behind the <b>desk </b>and grin,<br />his voice of chunk spewing sugar coated promises, <b>wafer </b>thin.<br />But it works — just like giving candy to a <b>child</b>.</span><br />
<br />
======<br />
<br />
So thee you go -- <i><b>Create52</b></i> number three: "Voice of Chunk" in three parts. With both my thanks and sincerest apologies to John Lurie and The Lounge Lizards for any misuse of their title.<br />
<br />
Thank you very much for stopping by and reading!<br />
<br />StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-67495959126246561632015-01-12T05:07:00.000-05:002015-01-12T05:07:53.435-05:00Create52: #2 -- Back Out / Out Back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0QDXGV-wvknK1t3Q_gb3DzXJTKT7Ir0XFO1Cy_-asyxsacRVt1L0N47fXIyRCcvd6lnOtPmXPUXtL80dXEkvQmV7T6pFLgnv1rJwfxcR2kirT5uyrozD_yKWHfHRSBh4T2dIgUYzCvM1/s1600/Create+52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0QDXGV-wvknK1t3Q_gb3DzXJTKT7Ir0XFO1Cy_-asyxsacRVt1L0N47fXIyRCcvd6lnOtPmXPUXtL80dXEkvQmV7T6pFLgnv1rJwfxcR2kirT5uyrozD_yKWHfHRSBh4T2dIgUYzCvM1/s1600/Create+52.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So this is January 12th -- the date of the scheduled second entry in my <b>Create52 </b>weekly blogging event. I hope the new year is treating you well so far, and I thank you very much for taking the time to stop by my blog,<br />
<br />
Let's get right to today's offering:<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Back Out</b></span><br />
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Since I started last week's <b>Create52</b> post with a confession, how about I do it again:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM40Kdzh2qqiL5tBY5WLBrz06fArsE9SxPgDNzNf73fodKgOn4BTIaT3zz4PHglYkR_pdd_xmWh2dHumIp_XOKHe8-MKUdytbJs1I32ThvdVR1UojpbPYKEzZ5zLrK_M91IvZfYEhuPNZV/s1600/no_U_turn_sign.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM40Kdzh2qqiL5tBY5WLBrz06fArsE9SxPgDNzNf73fodKgOn4BTIaT3zz4PHglYkR_pdd_xmWh2dHumIp_XOKHe8-MKUdytbJs1I32ThvdVR1UojpbPYKEzZ5zLrK_M91IvZfYEhuPNZV/s1600/no_U_turn_sign.png" height="200" width="198" /></a></div>
I have to admit that in the past, I might have backed out of something like this by now. I mean, my intentions are great, and this is something I really <i>want</i> to do, but there are still <b><i>51</i></b> more entries to make! And it takes a lot of time and commitment to regularly create new things for this blog.<br />
<br />
Yes, there have been times where, in spite of my best intentions, I might not have stuck with it.<br />
<br />
But you know what? This time I am.<br />
<br />
I'm still creating new things and not backing out. Instead, I'm getting back out here with more to share. And I confess I'm feeling pretty good about that.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Back in the Outback</span></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-29365.php" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRotJT-pVVRY8se-q92RY4qEHsH6nnpUB9sr0CaF3ftTg-wuEGTkBfrzW0siIJl9ZfY_Pg-4bJtRjG_at2p0D5w3r0mnXoTMFwWCvzoH4cp0Kwvaod5qWnU3esoGImEFu7rblJD_atUxIp/s1600/Outback.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a>Today, the first thing I want to offer you is a musical piece. It's a <a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/" target="_blank">wikiloops</a> jam I call "<i><a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-29365.php" target="_blank">Back in the Outback</a>.</i>"<br />
<br />
I took a very cool Australian-themed track made by wikiloops user, "<i>jamlady,</i>" looped it twice to make it longer, added bass, and then laid down three tracks of guitar on it -- one spacy, distorted, and full of delay; one a chiming rythym; and the last one a lead that one wikiloops commenter said was something between Mark Knopfler and David Gilmour. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-29365.php" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vB_XmzOlqmvaeXVt97x_x_y6CsBwQY8TG9J0rq8sffmQQGtUc4orsg8HbRO5lFt8-cyoJfr-w7wIumxN_E83ZPLHXJkMdzqjXb_dPHSqDJsHqm2UNShjk0U8IHLqbAtzbiC4wVOfVfZH/s1600/StratPlayer_Avatar.png" /></a>I think I would probably have to agree -- I guess I can wear my influences pretty blatantly at times. :)<br />
<br />
This might not be your normal verse-verse-chorus kind of song, but I hope you still like it. Take a listen and see what you think,<br />
<br />
You can click on the image, my "StratoRaptor" icon, or <a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-29365.php" target="_blank">HERE</a> to check it out.<br />
<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Out Back</span></b><br />
<br />
And for a bonus offering for this <b>Create52</b>, I'm serving up another small sample of my writing -- a new piece of poetry I created especially for this blog post. I took the phrase, "out back," and let my imagination wander, and this is what I came up with. <br />
<br />
It's a bit of free verse. There is no particular rhyme scheme, although there are a lot of rhymes in it. I hope you like it -- it's a bit different from my normal writing:<br />
<br />
======<br />
<br />
<b><i>Out Back</i></b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNMHtCKpfFZ6ejuGY6U3jYyq4sx_uFer1uNSyD_aGjkyAkDUcF1_PEx5sv5ydnev8HroX8g0jtBrAdmXHqPj-6oux2QPXFAxdGBpklJ1d6we1V_CqMwiL0zlurcr61I-uzvhGFcIqlTdW/s1600/Swingset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNMHtCKpfFZ6ejuGY6U3jYyq4sx_uFer1uNSyD_aGjkyAkDUcF1_PEx5sv5ydnev8HroX8g0jtBrAdmXHqPj-6oux2QPXFAxdGBpklJ1d6we1V_CqMwiL0zlurcr61I-uzvhGFcIqlTdW/s1600/Swingset.jpg" height="138" width="200" /></a>Out back, I hear the children play;<br />
<br />
The swings swoop and sway, their chains creaking<br />
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amid the laughter, and young voices shrieking<br />
<br />
with delight.<br />
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Chasing after each other, they frolic in a choir<br />
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of giggles and whoops as they swing ever higher;<br />
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A timeless sound. I hear it every day, unless it rains,<br />
<br />
until the quiet of the night.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wORWWFXoQF6x9i2S0aL6H2kWiUF3bb4xwJkIdQxaAW_ZWfclVSdfSRVp2MZ3S3oinfZx6fnFMOi6m4r_i58qEKVLvbyrdDPOkugyWAYLEQ4SxXwOEtBT57Ok6O7ebuCakNnyVfeUh582/s1600/Broken+Swing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wORWWFXoQF6x9i2S0aL6H2kWiUF3bb4xwJkIdQxaAW_ZWfclVSdfSRVp2MZ3S3oinfZx6fnFMOi6m4r_i58qEKVLvbyrdDPOkugyWAYLEQ4SxXwOEtBT57Ok6O7ebuCakNnyVfeUh582/s1600/Broken+Swing.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
Out back, I hear a few muffled clinks<br />
<br />
from a swing, hanging by the links of its broken, rusty chain.<br />
<br />
No laughing refrain – the choir shall not sing again;<br />
<br />
not here any more.<br />
<br />
The swings are banging, un-ridden in the wind.<br />
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A gusty blast, and one thinks of voices past,<br />
<br />
of laughter I no longer hear. At the end, I remain here,<br />
<br />
wishing for before.<br />
<br />
======<br />
<br />
<br />
Thank you so much for visiting, listening, and reading! See you next week for another <b>Create52 </b>entry!<br />
<br />
<br />StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-36015259195735640722015-01-05T05:08:00.000-05:002015-01-05T05:08:02.229-05:00Create52: #1 -- The Fool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0QDXGV-wvknK1t3Q_gb3DzXJTKT7Ir0XFO1Cy_-asyxsacRVt1L0N47fXIyRCcvd6lnOtPmXPUXtL80dXEkvQmV7T6pFLgnv1rJwfxcR2kirT5uyrozD_yKWHfHRSBh4T2dIgUYzCvM1/s1600/Create+52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0QDXGV-wvknK1t3Q_gb3DzXJTKT7Ir0XFO1Cy_-asyxsacRVt1L0N47fXIyRCcvd6lnOtPmXPUXtL80dXEkvQmV7T6pFLgnv1rJwfxcR2kirT5uyrozD_yKWHfHRSBh4T2dIgUYzCvM1/s1600/Create+52.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Happy 2015!<br />
<br />
I hope this new year will be a wonderful one for you, filled with much joy and many blessings!<br />
<br />
For me, it will also be a year of a new blogging theme -- something I'm calling <b><i>Create52</i></b>: Every Monday in 2015, I will share with you something new that I've created. Writing and music, for the most part, but who knows what else might show up? The year is young and filled with possibilities!<br />
<br />
I'll just keep it within these three simple guidelines:<br />
<ul>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9wL46MMzMJCmNg2G-nm9GD9jUYYzZ6YHGqA0zPaLsJdAeBp1_k_t3Z3adTCCWBB77p6QldLpZ_qgpJKJqIxd5rVvO-PIJgEI0KpS5rX16azx1axDNBmrRRmM6q3pryKe3DfgUgPxxIBw/s1600/Guidelines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9wL46MMzMJCmNg2G-nm9GD9jUYYzZ6YHGqA0zPaLsJdAeBp1_k_t3Z3adTCCWBB77p6QldLpZ_qgpJKJqIxd5rVvO-PIJgEI0KpS5rX16azx1axDNBmrRRmM6q3pryKe3DfgUgPxxIBw/s1600/Guidelines.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>
<li><b>It must be something original that I've created within the previous 30 days.</b> No retreads or dredging up of old material. The goal is to highlight new work I've made -- which also urges me to actually create new work. This is really my primary goal.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>It should be substantial enough to be worthy of sharing.</b> This is kind of a judgement call, but I won't try to pass off a ten-word piece of writing as an acceptable amount of new material.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>I have to share at least a representative segment of the piece</b>. I might not share the whole piece I've created -- for instance, if I've written a short story and submitted it for consideration of publication somewhere, I won't share it all here. I might just talk about it and offer an excerpt, but that at least shows that I'm creating. </li>
</ul>
<div>
As I said above, my goal is not really to create work specifically for my blog. The goal is to write and submit (and hopefully get published), and to use the Create52 posts to share how this is going. At least for my writing -- my music is a little different. I'm not "submitting" that anywhere other than my blog, so you're the primary audience there, but I want to create more music in 2015 also.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Other than sticking to these guideline, I will try to be as entertaining and creative as possible in how I put these <b><i>Create52</i></b> posts together. I'm sure things will probably evolve over the course of this year.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But let's get on with the first one for 2015 -- it's a fool's offering in three parts:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Fool -- Part 1</span></b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3FanKfA8-eXPP94HYTf9K2WUXtZuwSzyH63brqzvqY5ql3rT8Ifyeat7cRB0JjCVK3RVO-9s0tLXWU-FiPBXulCy1dVcCaz9S6m_Zn46fbi7yUdF4a5PTxG14u7BGUbF_NBQAxfvACK1/s1600/The+Fool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3FanKfA8-eXPP94HYTf9K2WUXtZuwSzyH63brqzvqY5ql3rT8Ifyeat7cRB0JjCVK3RVO-9s0tLXWU-FiPBXulCy1dVcCaz9S6m_Zn46fbi7yUdF4a5PTxG14u7BGUbF_NBQAxfvACK1/s1600/The+Fool.jpg" height="200" width="114" /></a></div>
<div>
As I put this together, I have to be upfront and admit that the whole<i> <b>Create52</b></i> concept might be a foolish endeavor. After all, I've had many goals for writing and creating come and go over the years, most of them unmet and unrealized. This thing could just be me setting myself for more failure.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But you know what? I'll do it anyway.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'll be a fool...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the Tarot deck, The Fool is the first card of the Major Arcana -- the card of beginnings, of a protagonist embarking on a journey. On the card, the image appears to be of someone who is blindly taking a path that could lead to ruin.<br />
<br />
But the Fool is perhaps not really so foolish -- to quote <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fool_%28Tarot_card%29" target="_blank">wikipedia</a>: "<i>He represents the mystical cleverness bereft of reason within us, the childlike ability to tune into the inner workings of the world.</i>" Other phrases used are "holy madness" and "crazy wisdom."<br />
<br />
In Christianity, this theme of '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_wisdom" target="_blank">divine madness</a>' is echoed in the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foolishness_for_Christ" target="_blank">Fool for Christ</a>" traditions -- those people who appear foolish to society, but do so only because they've completely surrendered themselves to a higher purpose.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I take all of that as a good sign.<br />
<br />
This <b><i>Create52</i></b> might be a fool's journey, but its one I'll gladly start. My intentions are nowhere near as lofty as a deeper all-encompassing pursuit of God, but He is still part of it. I think it would be truly foolish to not recognize that God is ultimately the source of ALL creativity, and whatever meager offerings I muster up here are only because of His grace.</div>
<div>
<br />
But enough preamble -- let's get this fool's journey started...<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Fool -- Part 2</span></b></div>
<div>
<br />
To kick off <i style="font-weight: bold;">Create52</i>, allow me to offer this 50-Word story I recently wrote, appropriately called "<i><b>The Fool</b></i>:"<br />
<br />
=====<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><u>The Fool</u></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjd749uHHLxTJfm2Z2B-pO9Fa02OaPgcWgov6kh4vHcyks2FRqsVrdoUE4rskwfOlkWDK-zsBAE9eIrNVYkFgMcUoEdjh4udaPWedcIfbW-_Gwyq_2fcd5iyGG6AxiYiFPR78_MLhWtyNN/s1600/Diner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjd749uHHLxTJfm2Z2B-pO9Fa02OaPgcWgov6kh4vHcyks2FRqsVrdoUE4rskwfOlkWDK-zsBAE9eIrNVYkFgMcUoEdjh4udaPWedcIfbW-_Gwyq_2fcd5iyGG6AxiYiFPR78_MLhWtyNN/s1600/Diner.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The diner regulars probably consider him a fool.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Every Tuesday, Stuart arrives in shabby clothes, sits in Doreen's section, orders meatloaf, and asks her out.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Doreen smiles, but always says no.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Stuart perseveres. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Every Tuesday night, home in his mansion, he tells his butler, "Next week she will say yes." </span></div>
<br />
=====<br />
<br />
You may think a single 50-word story is not quite 'substantial' enough to pass the second of my guidelines above, and I would agree with you. It's not.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaG06Lgeeh7E95OEMncaN6e7Zg1fzcWYUkNOyNAJp1b0U3s79hbPxm2cP61Io7C1mQemxmUq1LF75pCEvDBmVccRMzg5XyHHKw6XFXBBK3WWTaI1bgTbAK_XpMVxaWTLmXaOpmMmgjaS8b/s1600/50Word+stories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaG06Lgeeh7E95OEMncaN6e7Zg1fzcWYUkNOyNAJp1b0U3s79hbPxm2cP61Io7C1mQemxmUq1LF75pCEvDBmVccRMzg5XyHHKw6XFXBBK3WWTaI1bgTbAK_XpMVxaWTLmXaOpmMmgjaS8b/s1600/50Word+stories.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
But "<i>The Fool</i>" above is actually one of three 50-word stories I recently wrote -- the other two have been submitted to the <a href="http://fiftywordstories.com/" target="_blank">50-Word Stories</a> website for consideration of publication.<br />
<br />
The site is run by Tim Sevenhuysen and his <a href="http://fiftywordstories.com/submissions/" target="_blank">rules for submissions</a> say no more than two in a 30-day period. So this third one gets offered to my blog readers instead, and I think it meets the guideline of a "representative segment" of all the stories together.<br />
<br />
And a side note about the 50-Word Stories site: I've not had a lot of my writing published to date, but I have had some put up there. In fact, my story from last April -- "<i><a href="http://fiftywordstories.com/2014/04/23/chris-fries-the-sound-of-forgetting/" target="_blank">The Sound of Forgetting</a></i>" -- is currently the highest-rated story on the site. I'm both pleased and amazed. But also motivated.<br />
<br />
So while it's not much, in week one, <b><i>Create52</i></b> has already inspired me to write and submit.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Fool -- Part 3</b></span><br />
<br />
Since I'm featuring some writing, I'm not offering any music I've created for this initial <b><i>Create52</i></b> entry. But I still think a soundtrack of some sort is in order.<br />
<br />
So how about an old favorite song of mine? It's perhaps one of the greatest pieces to emerge from psychedelic San Francisco in the 1960's. This song is from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quicksilver_Messenger_Service_(album)" target="_blank">1968 debut album</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quicksilver_Messenger_Service" target="_blank">Quicksilver Messenger Service</a>, and is a track also entitled -- appropriately once again -- "<b><i>The Fool</i></b>". <br />
<br />
Take a listen:</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/iVAOaFS8xOM" width="420"></iframe>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
I really enjoy this song and I hope you do, too. The wild wah-wah and slinky vibrato of guitarist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cipollina" target="_blank">John Cipollina</a> grabs me every time I listen to it, and the part that starts at 4:55 is particularity cool. The song itself is long (over 12 minutes) with a ton of changes, but I encourage you to at least stick with it until the vocals at the 7-minute mark.<br />
<br />
So there you go -- My beginning effort of <b><i>Create52</i></b>, with foolishness in three parts: Introduction, background music, and some new writing generated as the result of a desire to create more in 2015.<br />
<br />
I may be fooling myself, but I think this <b><i>Create52</i></b> journey is off to a good start.<br />
<br />
Thank you for stopping by -- I really appreciate it, and I hope to welcome you back each Monday this year for more foolishness!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-19356321327745345412015-01-01T16:17:00.001-05:002015-01-01T16:17:26.570-05:00Happy 2015!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/New_year2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/New_year2015.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Happy New Year!<br />
<br />
I hope that 2015 is a fabulous year for you!<br />
<br />
For me, it will be a year of new emphasis on writing, music, and other creative efforts. I really hope to share a lot of new material on my blog this year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDvJOY30Brv1EXaUOT8BfeI8sqlEB_7-aZSYvZAsQmiEJ0-YSJjQf82DtJs5EZSLq8fW49kATbLFOaZK9j5JM4fePSZpiO4cTGw747hNxDDo59SFxlE5o-CuswOBUzMdrHe8i0qeHKsg/s420/STMcC+Presents+'BOTB'%2B(Top%2BPhoto).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDvJOY30Brv1EXaUOT8BfeI8sqlEB_7-aZSYvZAsQmiEJ0-YSJjQf82DtJs5EZSLq8fW49kATbLFOaZK9j5JM4fePSZpiO4cTGw747hNxDDo59SFxlE5o-CuswOBUzMdrHe8i0qeHKsg/s420/STMcC+Presents+'BOTB'+(Top+Photo).jpeg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
Because of this renewed commitment to generating creative output, I am no longer taking part in the Battle of the Bands blogging event, so if you've stopped by looking for my January 1st BOTB offering, I'm afraid I have to disappoint you.<br />
<br />
You can visit <a href="http://stmccpresentsbattleofthebands.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Stephen T. McCarthy's BOTB blog</a> for links to all the current participants. I encourage you to check them out -- even though I 'm no longer posting, I will still be voting on all the other blogs.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0QDXGV-wvknK1t3Q_gb3DzXJTKT7Ir0XFO1Cy_-asyxsacRVt1L0N47fXIyRCcvd6lnOtPmXPUXtL80dXEkvQmV7T6pFLgnv1rJwfxcR2kirT5uyrozD_yKWHfHRSBh4T2dIgUYzCvM1/s1600/Create+52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0QDXGV-wvknK1t3Q_gb3DzXJTKT7Ir0XFO1Cy_-asyxsacRVt1L0N47fXIyRCcvd6lnOtPmXPUXtL80dXEkvQmV7T6pFLgnv1rJwfxcR2kirT5uyrozD_yKWHfHRSBh4T2dIgUYzCvM1/s1600/Create+52.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a>But I also hope you will be sure to come back here on Monday January 5th for the first installment of what will be a 52-week series of posts offering you some of my creative works -- I am calling it <b><i>Create52</i></b>.<br />
<br />
I think it will be a fun series of posts, and I look forward to sharing it all with you throughout the year.<br />
<br />
See you Monday!<br />
<br />StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-40061980674118483412014-12-22T10:04:00.000-05:002014-12-22T11:29:24.661-05:002014 Wrap Up: BOTB Results, Update, Music, and More<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/mix941kmxj.com/files/2012/12/Christmas-Presents-iStock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/mix941kmxj.com/files/2012/12/Christmas-Presents-iStock.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Today is my last post of the last month of what will soon be 'last year,' and there are a few things I would like to wrap up before taking a break for the Christmas holiday:<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Deja Vu Blogathon</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.dlhammons.com/2014/10/the-deja-vu-blogfest-2014.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.dlhammons.com/2014/10/the-deja-vu-blogfest-2014.html" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpV-YsWEFgI-xrcosJ5DqULCr7_yPOAmHxor78IZmZg9C7Wzu-4ggzJumdp6xvQpcg6F8w50ONxCjxOj6md6RbLBYQjSF84ka-6TkS5iaV-LYcY1Yiku4HvE08drmyQdmJRCxbLfGlJIdX/s1600/deja_vu_2014.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
First off, let me offer a sincere "Thank you!" to all who visited and commented on my <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/12/deju-vu-day-of-do-over.html" target="_blank">Deja Vu blog post</a>. I really appreciate all the kind words.<br />
<br />
It was also great getting to visit all the posts of the many bloggers who participated. I tried to visit <b><i>every single blog</i></b> in <a href="http://www.dlhammons.com/2014/10/the-deja-vu-blogfest-2014.html" target="_blank">DL's Linky-List</a>, and I commented on most of them. The only ones I didn't comment on were the ones who hadn't put up Deja Vu posts at the time of my visit. So if you did so late in the day and I missed it -- I apologize. But I DID actually visit your blog at one point looking for it. <br />
<br />
I just didn't keep a record of which blogs didn't have a post up so I could go back later, and I confess I'm too lazy to go back through 75 blogs again looking for the ones that posted late. :)<br />
<br />
Fianlly (and especially!): "THANK YOU" to my writing buddy <a href="http://www.dlhammons.com/" target="_blank">Don 'DL' Hammons</a> for hosting the blogathon -- It was a lot of fun to do between my last Battle of the Bands (BOTB) entry and its results post.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Battle of the Bands Results</b></span><br />
<br />
...And speaking of Battle of the Bands:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ1zhynpzhQCK5bi84VBoAxa6bAKSkqm1LiMopoRjmJaKsL-LG56idhqMuGOd3UBdIqFb6386OPIUDJ5ApA0bC5-6GDdhCWWgPo5kZWkDF3ThXBe1ZDoVLdWWljMqPWdoKYvRe-JGIZQ/s320/BATTLE+OF+THE+BANDS%21+%28BOTB+Top+Photo%29.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ1zhynpzhQCK5bi84VBoAxa6bAKSkqm1LiMopoRjmJaKsL-LG56idhqMuGOd3UBdIqFb6386OPIUDJ5ApA0bC5-6GDdhCWWgPo5kZWkDF3ThXBe1ZDoVLdWWljMqPWdoKYvRe-JGIZQ/s320/BATTLE+OF+THE+BANDS!+(BOTB+Top+Photo).jpeg" height="150" width="200" /></a>The results from <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/12/battle-of-bands-god-rest-ye-merry.html" target="_blank">my December 15th Battle of the Band (BOTB) post</a> did not end up anywhere as close as I thought it might be. I took a lot of time going through tons of videos of <i>"God Rest ye Merry, Gentlemen"</i> on You Tube before deciding on the two that I ultimately chose, and I thought I had two worthy contenders. Truthfully, I did expect the Phil Keaggy and Kim Hill version to win, simply because it was much closer to a traditional interpretation of the song, but I thought the Pillar version might get a few more votes and make it competitive.<br />
<br />
Personally, I really like both versions, but for different reasons. I like the energy, moody ambiance, and guitar of the Pillar version. There are some excellent dynamics in this take, from quiet and spacy to high-energy, although the growl/scream at the apex of the build-up is a bit much.<br />
<br />
But I also find it interesting that although Pillar is nowhere near the "traditional" version of this song, it is one of the few versions I found on YouTube where they do more of the "traditional" verses, including the second verse with the often misunderstood line, "<i>The which his mother, Mary, did nothing take in scorn</i>." Most versions skip this verse, as the Kim Hill and Phil Keaggy cover does.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://jgospel.net/media/80466/.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://jgospel.net/media/80466/.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a>However, I do love the guitar, bass, and flute and haunting vibe of the Keagy / Hill version. There is still a cool mix of old and rocking-new in this version, but with a much more 'traditional' vibe. And of course the guitar playing is wonderful. So in the end, I find myself in much the same position as several other voters -- I like the Pillar version, but I'm voting for Keaggy and Hill.<br />
<br />
So my vote adds to their landslide victory, with the final tally:<br />
<br />
<b>-- Pillar: 2</b><br />
<b>-- Keaggy / Hill: 11</b><br />
<br />
I guess Christmas brings out the traditionalist in me, too. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Battle of the Bands Update</b></span><br />
<br />
...And while we're on the topic of the BOTB:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://media.peakprosperity.com/images/john-mauldin-podcast-teaser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.peakprosperity.com/images/john-mauldin-podcast-teaser.jpg" height="200" width="177" /></a></div>
I'd mentioned before in my<a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/12/introspection-music-and-botb-results.html" target="_blank"> results post from my December 1st BOTB</a> that I have some upcoming changes planned for my blog. But I have to confess that I've also been all over the map as to how these changes will impact my participation in the BOTB going forward. Honestly, I've waffled between deciding to quit and deciding to stay many, many times over the last month.<br />
<br />
But, in the end -- despite my assurance to Stephen McCarthy in the comments of that BOTB results post -- I've finally decided to step aside from the BOTB -- or at least for a while.<br />
<br />
It was not an easy decision -- I have really enjoyed taking part, and I will definitely continue to vote on the other BOTB blogs on the 1st and 15th of each month. But I will not be making any BOTB posts myself in 2015 (or at least that's the plan as of now).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Od_SH-APoTvlaPXle-5ZUUOPo_gwJ5uOYjbhKkYULswoMmCA25t7LGEDnvVqW4YVQkuZv60Rx1eyVRPkvdQJK6OahFfbTUW8h2gOSHv1HkeCGuVclon_4_IWN7PNuSiregUXM5V-9psr/s1600/Signing-Off.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Od_SH-APoTvlaPXle-5ZUUOPo_gwJ5uOYjbhKkYULswoMmCA25t7LGEDnvVqW4YVQkuZv60Rx1eyVRPkvdQJK6OahFfbTUW8h2gOSHv1HkeCGuVclon_4_IWN7PNuSiregUXM5V-9psr/s1600/Signing-Off.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>My blog is titled, <i>"The Creative Outlet of StratPlayer,"</i> but in the BOTB posts, I'm really offering nothing creative of my own -- I'm just sharing videos of other people covering songs and asking you to pick which one you like best. It's fun -- I do enjoy getting to comment on the music and give background on the songs, and even trying to interject some creative stuff into my BOTB Results posts.<br />
<br />
But, truthfully, the Battle of the Bands posts are not quite in line which what my blogging intent really is. And that creative intent is what I want to refocus on for 2015.<br />
<br />
So, with regret, I am announcing that I will not be hosting BOTB posts in 2015... <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Create 52</b></span><br />
<br />
...But speaking of my creative intent for this blog:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDT42ldcuPhfInSsQxzwQJQP4jBtUv0fYb2UbUQT9QkyFuz1wjTc7r8ifkxkanI3u1W_SqI8y2Q-AL3t9eGszlfFVpcdw85FY_JKKY2l31Ev7isGiwy9_I6q9AGV5M0412L8fyIal1j1q/s1600/Create+52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDT42ldcuPhfInSsQxzwQJQP4jBtUv0fYb2UbUQT9QkyFuz1wjTc7r8ifkxkanI3u1W_SqI8y2Q-AL3t9eGszlfFVpcdw85FY_JKKY2l31Ev7isGiwy9_I6q9AGV5M0412L8fyIal1j1q/s1600/Create+52.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a></div>
In 2015, I will be trying something new on my blog -- a thing that I'll be calling "<b>Create 52</b>."<br />
<br />
Under this name, I'll be making a new post on Monday of each week with at least one new creative piece I've created -- music or writing, mostly, but who knows what all may end up here? <br />
<br />
As I mentioned above, my intent is to refocus my blogging energy to highlight the thing I create, and also renew my efforts to actually creating on a regular basis. So as part of the "Create 52" push, I will be increasing my writing efforts as well as generating music on a regular basis.<br />
<br />
I'll explain more of what I'm going for with my first "Create 52" post on Monday, January 5th, but for now I will say that I'm definitely looking forward to this refocused effort on creating and blogging.<br />
<br />
I hope you will enjoy what you see here in 2015!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Music: For the Fun of It</b></span><br />
<br />
...And speaking of creating:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-29493.php" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-29493.php" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOp20deXjJYjYgGbKaGAVWW52jouRDUMgiMWhqKn9ojyVDNg9rTG8_dEEE0QuKbzw-0YdoJOELKNK4hUGixs4YBFVLX_n1HTb3Bsm8n32FO3RJ2kR0DEe9peo0ZR27GmxiGDbncrnlEugv/s1600/For+The+Fun+of+It.png" height="89" width="320" /></a></div>
Let me close out 2014 with one more musical offering -- it's not a Christmas song, but you can consider it a small Christmas gift.<br />
<br />
This is another <a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/" target="_blank">wikiloops</a> jam, but it's one where all the pieces were already in place and I just added a single track of lead guitar. The user 'scrawfrd02' had laid down an acoustic guitar track and then added another track of piano, bass, and other keys, including a catchy little line of pseudo-horns in the background. Then the wikilooper, 'Jaymny,' added some drums (and the intro count-off) to the piece. I found their jam fun and compelling and wanted to take part.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-29493.php" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-29493.php" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vB_XmzOlqmvaeXVt97x_x_y6CsBwQY8TG9J0rq8sffmQQGtUc4orsg8HbRO5lFt8-cyoJfr-w7wIumxN_E83ZPLHXJkMdzqjXb_dPHSqDJsHqm2UNShjk0U8IHLqbAtzbiC4wVOfVfZH/s1600/StratPlayer_Avatar.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
So I added a single guitar track on top of it -- a lead where I tried to not overpower all the tracks that were already there. I used that little 'horn' line as the starting point the lead I added. I recorded it in stereo with differing delays for the left and right channel, went for a smooth but edgy distorted sound, and tried to put it far enough into the mix so that it blended in without dominating the other parts.<br />
<br />
I think it turned out OK for a quick, "off-the-cuff jam" kind of thing. <br />
<br />
Click on the image of the StratoRaptor to the left, the image of Wikiloops track above, or here on <a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-29493.php" target="_blank">THIS LINK</a> to check it out. Feel free to comment on what you think of it -- I 'm always interested to hear feedback on what worked, what didn't, and on ways to improve.<br />
<br />
Thanks for listening! <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Merry Christmas!</b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.acswebnetworks.com/1/2021/PeaceonEarth9x16JPG_lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.acswebnetworks.com/1/2021/PeaceonEarth9x16JPG_lg.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
...And finally, and perhaps most importantly:<br />
<br />
I want to be sure to wish you and your family a very, very merry Christmas, and a wonderful New Year!!!<br />
<br />
I hope your holiday season is filled with love and joy, and that 2015 will be a year of blessings and great things for you and your loved ones!<br />
<br />
See you January 5th!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-55937722751487457562014-12-19T05:00:00.000-05:002014-12-19T05:00:02.594-05:00Deju Vu: Day of the Do-Over<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpV-YsWEFgI-xrcosJ5DqULCr7_yPOAmHxor78IZmZg9C7Wzu-4ggzJumdp6xvQpcg6F8w50ONxCjxOj6md6RbLBYQjSF84ka-6TkS5iaV-LYcY1Yiku4HvE08drmyQdmJRCxbLfGlJIdX/s1600/deja_vu_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpV-YsWEFgI-xrcosJ5DqULCr7_yPOAmHxor78IZmZg9C7Wzu-4ggzJumdp6xvQpcg6F8w50ONxCjxOj6md6RbLBYQjSF84ka-6TkS5iaV-LYcY1Yiku4HvE08drmyQdmJRCxbLfGlJIdX/s1600/deja_vu_2014.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Today is the <a href="http://www.dlhammons.com/2014/10/the-deja-vu-blogfest-2014.html">Deja Vu Blogfest</a>!<br />
<br />
Organized by my good friend, <a href="http://www.dlhammons.com/">DL Hammons</a>, with <a href="http://nicolezoltack.blogspot.com/">Nicole Zoltack</a> helping out this year, the purpose is simple -- to allow bloggers to revive a favorite post from the past year and give it a do-over. To offer one of their neglected, overlooked, and under-appreciated posts a new chance to shine. As DL says:<br />
<br />
<i>"On December 19th, anyone who decides to participate will <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">re-post</b> their favorite blog offering
from earlier in the year, or one that you believe failed to receive the
exposure it deserved." </i><br />
<br />
I considered several older posts for my Deja Vu do-over, but finally decided on this one, where I offer my first piece of music with the "Forgotten Voices" theme -- "<i>Streak of Moonlight</i>." Even after two later entries ("<a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/07/my-name-is-romance.html"><i>My Name is Romance</i></a>" and "<a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/10/forgotten-voices-bell-song.html"><i>The Bell Song</i></a>"), I still consider this to be the 'best' one, and it remains one of my most favorite musical creations.<br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy this (slightly edited for presentation) post from 4/8/2014:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
==================================================</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Streak of Moonlight </b></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Robin_Lakes_Moonlight_%283871896805%29.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Robin_Lakes_Moonlight_(3871896805).jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>(image from <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Robin_Lakes_Moonlight_%283871896805%29.jpg">wikimedia commons</a>)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
What do you know? It's been less than a month between my posts! :)<br />
<br />
Today I want to share with you my most recent solo, non-wikiloops, musical piece. I call it<i> "Streak of Moonlight"</i>. I've uploaded it to <a href="https://soundcloud.com/stratplayercjf">my SoundCloud page</a> and
you can also listen to it <a href="https://soundcloud.com/stratplayercjf/streak-of-moonlight">HERE</a>, or right from this blog by clicking on the
embedded player below. I hope you like it -- you can read more about it
below...<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="no" height="250" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/143796475&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&visual=true" width="80%"></iframe>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I hope you enjoyed it!<br />
<br />
This piece is all me -- I put together the drum tracks
from editing and combining some MIDI drum loops that I found, then I
added some simple keyboards, bass, rhythm guitar, more keys, lead
guitars, a smattering of ambient background guitars.<br />
<br />
But
there's something else about this piece that was a new experiment for
me -- hear the voices? <br />
<br />
I've realized that the human voice can add a
tremendous amount of emotion and focus to a piece. But I don't sing --
trust me on this. So what to do? Well, I don't want to sample vocals
from another musician, and I don't want to deal with copyright
infringement, and I'm not going to spend money on what's basically a
hobby, and I'm still a little too insecure about my own pieces to try
and get any singers I might know to record something for me, so my
choices are pretty slim...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.internetmonk.com/wp-content/uploads/radio_listeners.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.internetmonk.com/wp-content/uploads/radio_listeners.jpeg" height="171" width="200" /></a>Enter the wonder of
recordings of old, forgotten radio programs -- I'll stay away from any
of the well-known classics. So hopefully in the case of the things I
use, the artists involved are long gone and if there were copyrights,
they've likely either expired or been shuffled through so many hands
that they've essentially been lost. Plus, at this point, what I'm doing
is not a commercial endeavor -- I'm not making any money off of this.
I'm giving it away for free. So if there <i>were</i> still a valid and
tracked copyright that I've unintentionally infringed on by using short
samples of radio broadcasts from 70 or more years ago, there are
certainly little if any damages, and I will gladly give full and proper
attribution or comply with any 'cease and desist' orders should they
ever come my way.<br />
<br />
So, there you go.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.digitaldeliftp.com/DigitalDeliToo/Images/31-01-24-Love-Story-Mag.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.digitaldeliftp.com/DigitalDeliToo/Images/31-01-24-Love-Story-Mag.png" height="200" width="139" /></a>This piece is called <i>"Streak of Moonlight"</i> because the vocal samples come from a episode of a 1936 radio romance which was entitled -- you guessed it --<i> "Streak of Moonlight." </i>The snippet of strings is also from that recording.<br />
<br />
I
took my time putting together this piece. Each layer assembled was
done slowly, and I like how this turned out. There's still some of that
'jam' feel to it (especially in the double guitars during the third
lead break), but it has some nice structure to it, too, I think. It
also has a bit of a "chill" feel with some ambient, delay-heavy guitars
in the background and my simplistic keyboard drones mixed in.<br />
<br />
I really hope you enjoy this, and I'd love to know what you think. Feel free to comment and let me know...<br />
<br />
Thanks for listening!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
=================================================== </div>
<br />
<br />
Thank you so much for stopping by during this blog-fest and re-visiting my blast from the past!<br />
<br />
I also encourage you to visit the other bloggers taking part in today's Deja Vu blofest. There is a <a href="http://www.dlhammons.com/2014/10/the-deja-vu-blogfest-2014.html">Linky-List</a> at DL's blog listing all of the participants -- check it out <a href="http://www.dlhammons.com/2014/10/the-deja-vu-blogfest-2014.html">HERE</a>, and take a tour of all the do-overs going on around the blogosphere!<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com68tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-30297034731376500072014-12-15T06:00:00.001-05:002014-12-15T08:04:38.350-05:00Battle of the Bands: "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/Images/Hutchins/God_Rest_Ye_Merry_509.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/Images/Hutchins/God_Rest_Ye_Merry_509.gif" height="278" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Merry Christmas!<br />
<br />
Yes, it's December 15th already. We're halfway through the month of December and Christmas is fast approaching! Are you ready?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ1zhynpzhQCK5bi84VBoAxa6bAKSkqm1LiMopoRjmJaKsL-LG56idhqMuGOd3UBdIqFb6386OPIUDJ5ApA0bC5-6GDdhCWWgPo5kZWkDF3ThXBe1ZDoVLdWWljMqPWdoKYvRe-JGIZQ/s320/BATTLE+OF+THE+BANDS%21+%28BOTB+Top+Photo%29.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ1zhynpzhQCK5bi84VBoAxa6bAKSkqm1LiMopoRjmJaKsL-LG56idhqMuGOd3UBdIqFb6386OPIUDJ5ApA0bC5-6GDdhCWWgPo5kZWkDF3ThXBe1ZDoVLdWWljMqPWdoKYvRe-JGIZQ/s320/BATTLE+OF+THE+BANDS!+(BOTB+Top+Photo).jpeg" height="150" width="200" /></a>Today is also the date for the final Battle of the Bands (BOTB) of 2014. As with <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/12/battle-of-bands-linus-and-lucy-live.html">my last BOTB</a> post, this one is going to have a Christmas theme!<br />
<br />
So let's get right to it...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
One of my favorite traditional Christmas carols is "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Rest_You_Merry,_Gentlemen"><i>God Rest ye Merry, Gentlemen</i>.</a>" This song has been around for a very, very long time, although no-one knows exactly how long. It was officially published in 1833, but existedt long before that. The earliest recorded reference to the song is from 1780. Several sources say it even goes all the way back to the 15th century. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Besides the uncertainty about its origins, there is also often confusion over some of its lyrics. The first line has been frequently <a href="http://literalminded.wordpress.com/2010/12/25/merry-gentlemen/">misunderstood</a> and the topic of <a href="http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/music/godrestye.asp">much discussion</a>. Other lyrics have been, too (<i>"Why exactly does the song <a href="http://literalminded.wordpress.com/2011/11/25/the-witch-mary/">call Mother Mary a 'witch'</a>???"</i>).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://image.slidesharecdn.com/godrestyoumerrygentlemen-141017041522-conversion-gate02/95/god-rest-you-merry-gentlemen-3-638.jpg?cb=1413537351" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://image.slidesharecdn.com/godrestyoumerrygentlemen-141017041522-conversion-gate02/95/god-rest-you-merry-gentlemen-3-638.jpg?cb=1413537351" height="150" width="200" /></a>But even with confusion over its origins and some of the lyrics, one thing that is very easy to understand about this song is that it is clearly a <i>Christian</i> Christmas carol -- there are no <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0byH9h1ClBY">flying reindeer</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0uhieKvRXc">talking snowmen</a>, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgIwLeASnkw">wintery vehicular homicides</a> here.<br />
<br />
This is a song expressing joy at the birth of Jesus and finding comfort in the salvation that He has brought.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In addition to the joyful message of the song, I also love the haunting, timeless melody and the way it plays off the chords. I find <i>"God Rest ye Merry, Gentlemen"</i> to be a song that offers a tremendous amount of potential for musical expression and interpretation. All you have to do to see this is explore a bit on You Tube. There is an amazing range of versions of this song available: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrxWwdLtQ6k">old standard</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H6XEIEqYik">swing-meets-rap</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BtgBNrymcY">big-production-orchestra-and-choir</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCJRq3Y9Seo">Dio/Iommi metal</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXoJoHvho5M">obligatory-Mannheim Steamroller</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACJM5BDxJhc">Celtic harp</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIyClkDt1K4">pop-diva</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxHJjbz-gAY">Charlie Daniels-bluegrass</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n-O15YCwg8">smooth-jazz-saxophone</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOH4NDw0ilc">TV-show-acapella-and teen-pop</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6euy15a-aY">country-shuffle-jazz</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlsJD8RlhbI">Annie Lennox-electronic-meets-Renaissance</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfuuBKtQ_O0">Irish jig</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyjRDUe4-8E">throbbing-metal-guitar</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3JMcW1D69g">Jethro Tull-jazz-meets-prog-rock</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT69nrITp5g">modern-reggae</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8QQGucMOvc">epic-synth-production</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHzJlDTZw44">low-budget-rap</a>.<br />
<br />
Yes, there are a gazillion covers of this song in almost every style imaginable. If you can't find a version of this song you like, you just haven't looked hard enough.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So which versions did I choose for this Battle of the Bands?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Well, I seriously considered several of the ones I mentioned above, but then I finally decided to go in a different direction: After all, this is a Christmas song with a blatantly Christian message -- so why not feature two versions by Christian artists?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
OK -- but even within that genre restriction, this song encompasses a wide range of styles and I still had several possibilities. But I narrowed the list until I had two contenders.<br />
<br />
Below are the covers that I chose -- I really like both and enjoy their decidedly different approaches to the song.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Let the Battle Begin!</span></b><br />
<br />
First up is a version by the Christian rock band <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillar_%28band%29">Pillar</a>, doing a modern, edgy take on the song. This is from a 2012 Christmas single that has not appeared on any of their albums, I don't believe. See what you think:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/9H-YrPtr70A" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<br />
Next is a version featuring two Christian artists -- the renown guitarist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Keaggy">Phil Keaggy</a> and singer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Hill_(singer)">Kim Hill</a>, doing a somewhat more traditional rendition from the 1990 Christmas compilation album, <i><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/our-christmas-sony-mw0000316478">Our Christmas</a></i>:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/1iAL7wWxLkI" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Your Vote </span></b><br />
<br />
So
now it's your turn to add input: Which version do you like
better? Pillar's modern, rocking version, or the one by Keaggy & Hill with its take on a more traditional approach?<br />
<br />
I
invite you to listen to both of these
and give them each an honest chance. And remember that this is a contest about
the music -- not the images in the videos, Please use your ears to judge, not
your eyes.<br />
<br />
After
listening, please vote in the comments as to which
version you think is
best, or which speaks to you the deepest. Feel free to also share as
much
as you would like about how any of the above videos strike you, even
if it's less than positive. <br />
<br />
Then -- afterwards, check out the other BOTB bloggers to vote on their battles:
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://farawayeyes1.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Far Away Series (FarAwayEyes)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://stmccpresentsbattleofthebands.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Stephen T. McCarthy's Battle of the Bands Blog</a></li>
<li><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tossing it Out (Arlee Bird)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://yourdailydose-robin.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Your Daily Dose (Robin)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://discconnected.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">DiscConnected (DiscConnected)</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://mikespainwrites.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mike's Ramblings (Mike Pain)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://curiousasacathy.com/" target="_blank">Curious as a Cathy (Cathy Kennedy)</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.thesoundofonehandtyping.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">John Hilton (The Sound of One Hand Typing)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://dolorah.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Book Lover (Donna) </a></li>
<li>And even <a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Alex J. Cavanaugh</a> sometimes...<a href="http://curiousasacathy.com/"> </a></li>
</ul>
<br />
Thank you very much for listening and for voting -- come back
and visit again next week to find out how the voting has
gone. I'll make a post then with my own vote, announce the
winner, and then talk some more about upcoming changes to my blog in 2015.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
But before that, you can also visit on the 19th for my post in the "<a href="http://www.dlhammons.com/2014/10/the-deja-vu-blogfest-2014.html">Deja Vu</a>" do-over blogfest. <br />
<br />
In the meantime, I hope you get to enjoy the
Christmas season! Remember to rest ye merry!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-89858046871849795742014-12-09T06:00:00.000-05:002014-12-09T06:00:03.324-05:00Introspection, Music, and BOTB Results<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/The_Thinker,_Auguste_Rodin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/The_Thinker,_Auguste_Rodin.jpg" height="320" width="214" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Rodin's<i> 'The Thinker'</i> -- Image from <a href="http://wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/The_Thinker,_Auguste_Rodin.jpg">wikimedia Commons</a>) </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Introspection</b>
</span><br />
<br />
I've been doing some thinking lately. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/brain-and-cognitive-sciences/9-69-foundations-of-cognition-spring-2003/9-69s03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/brain-and-cognitive-sciences/9-69-foundations-of-cognition-spring-2003/9-69s03.jpg" height="200" width="168" /></a>Nothing Earth-shattering; just some ideas about how best to focus and apply my creative impulses and ways to use my limited free time. I'm not sure if thinking about creativity can be considered creative thinking, but I'm at least trying to be creative as I think of creating new ways to highlight the things I've created.<br />
<br />
Got that?<br />
<br />
Anyway -- I've made some decisions and set some goals that I want to accomplish in the upcoming new year. And since my I consider this blog to be geared toward <i>"the creative outlet"</i> of your humble author, all these decisions and goals will eventually impact what you see here. Again -- nothing major, but looking ahead, I want to give you a heads-up that I have some new things planned for my blog. <br />
<br />
I'll give you more details on the results of my introspection as we get closer to 2015.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Music
</span></b><br />
<br />
And speaking of introspection:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-28255.php" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-28255.php" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vB_XmzOlqmvaeXVt97x_x_y6CsBwQY8TG9J0rq8sffmQQGtUc4orsg8HbRO5lFt8-cyoJfr-w7wIumxN_E83ZPLHXJkMdzqjXb_dPHSqDJsHqm2UNShjk0U8IHLqbAtzbiC4wVOfVfZH/s1600/StratPlayer_Avatar.png" height="200" width="200" /></a>I recently took a (post-joyful-and-gluttonous-family-feast) free moment on Thanksgiving two weeks ago to download another very cool jam from <a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/" target="_blank">wikiloops</a> and to lay down a simple rhythm guitar track over it. Then, the next day, I quickly added two more guitars and came up with this piece, I call, <i>"<a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-28255.php" target="_blank"><b>Thanksgiving and Introspection</b></a>."</i> <br />
<br />
I loved the mix of drums, flute, and keys that "MrAdamOnDrums" had set up in the jam, and found it a very fun thing to play over. I think the result end up being a little spacey and... um, introspective?<br />
<br />
Feel free to click on the link in the title or on the <b>StratoRaptor</b> icon to the left in order to check it out. I'm very thankful for you taking the time today to listen!<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">BOTB Results </span></b><br />
<br />
And speaking of today:<br />
<br />
This is December 9th! <br />
<br />
<a href="http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130327130901/peanuts/images/5/5e/A-Charlie-Brown-Christmas-image-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130327130901/peanuts/images/5/5e/A-Charlie-Brown-Christmas-image-1.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>Did you know that 49 years ago, on this day in 1965, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Charlie_Brown_Christmas" target="_blank"><i>A Charlie Brown Christmas</i></a> made its TV debut on CBS??? <br />
<br />
I've twice used music from this wonderful Christmas special in previous Battle of the Bands (BOTB) posts -- last year for <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2013/12/botb-121513-christmas-time-is-here.html" target="_blank">my first BOTB post</a>, and in my <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/12/battle-of-bands-linus-and-lucy-live.html" target="_blank">most recent one from last week</a>. There, I pitted two live guitar renditions of <i>"Linus and Lucy" </i>against each other. Gary Hoey played one and Danny Gatton the other.<br />
<br />
I'm glad that both versions received some votes, but I'm also not surprised that Danny Gatton got more. To my ears, it's easily the better version. <br />
<br />
Yes, I gladly admit that Gary Hoey has talent -- he has chops galore and does a rocking, somewhat interesting version -- framing the piece with the Hendrix-esque opening and closing riffs, adding room for the bass and drums to add fills, and offering plenty of wah-wah shredding. But somehow, it just doesn't quite grab me. It feels too pre-canned, too generic, too artificial. From saying the song is, "by Charlie Brown" (I think you mean "Vince Guaraldi," Gary -- Charlie's a cartoon character) to blandly pointing at the drummer during every break (okay -- yes, that's a video criticism, not an audio one, but it matches the effect I get from the lackluster interpretation), it just seems put-on to me. It's like Gary's not really feeling it -- it's flashy, but he's just going through the motions. No, I can't fault his technical ability and respect him for it, but the delivery still seems blase.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://dannygatton.com/Graphics/Toulmin/danny_tele_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://dannygatton.com/Graphics/Toulmin/danny_tele_4.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Danny Gatton -- from <a href="http://dannygatton.com/">DannyGatton.com</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the other hand, Danny Gatton seems to be riding a wave at a break-neck pace, teetering on the edge of disaster, careening around those frets with heartfelt abandon. It feels like even <b><i>HE</i></b> doesn't know what note's coming next. I picture him smiling with a, <i>"Whoa! Did I just play that?!?!"</i> expression on his face. Maybe that's not the case -- he might have played that ending medley a gazillion times exactly the same way -- but it <i><b>SOUNDS</b></i> like it's new and exciting. It feels to me like he's serving it up with his heart and soul in every measure of the tune. And the playing is exemplary as well, even more-so than Gary Hoey -- Danny's is fast, expressive, and full of nuance, even at blinding speed. Gatton's not just regurgitating the riffs he's drilled into his subconscious through rote repetition -- he's fully in-the-moment, expressing a range of emotion, and having fun with the audience. <br />
<br />
Even if Danny Gatton was <i>less</i> proficient on the guitar than Gary Hoey (and I submit Danny is clearly much <i>MORE</i> proficient), I'd still vote for feeling over flash.<br />
<br />
So -- just in case you couldn't tell, I'm adding my vote to the Gatton group to seal the win:<br />
<br />
<b>Danny Gatton -- 8; Gary Hoey -- 4.</b><br />
<br />
Thanks for visiting! <br />
<br />
I invite you to come back on the 15th for another Christmas-themed, special Battle of the Bands.<br />
<br />StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-64700567112014567262014-12-01T05:00:00.000-05:002014-12-01T05:00:01.082-05:00Battle of the Bands: "Linus and Lucy" Live!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYmTv2esemJHf7X4TDu1NsuH8gbSNg1anmPT1_9_PWrScHm7PUchMODnjQCfTiR-vrFDQH5l4wpxY-KF2XwAAu8XWTJSP7BTLy273mMhUNtS0sLlzTH3MX5UO6Ar0h4okAKwW5iZScBkm/s1600/Linus+and+Lucy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYmTv2esemJHf7X4TDu1NsuH8gbSNg1anmPT1_9_PWrScHm7PUchMODnjQCfTiR-vrFDQH5l4wpxY-KF2XwAAu8XWTJSP7BTLy273mMhUNtS0sLlzTH3MX5UO6Ar0h4okAKwW5iZScBkm/s1600/Linus+and+Lucy.png" height="240" width="320" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Happy December!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ1zhynpzhQCK5bi84VBoAxa6bAKSkqm1LiMopoRjmJaKsL-LG56idhqMuGOd3UBdIqFb6386OPIUDJ5ApA0bC5-6GDdhCWWgPo5kZWkDF3ThXBe1ZDoVLdWWljMqPWdoKYvRe-JGIZQ/s320/BATTLE+OF+THE+BANDS%21+%28BOTB+Top+Photo%29.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ1zhynpzhQCK5bi84VBoAxa6bAKSkqm1LiMopoRjmJaKsL-LG56idhqMuGOd3UBdIqFb6386OPIUDJ5ApA0bC5-6GDdhCWWgPo5kZWkDF3ThXBe1ZDoVLdWWljMqPWdoKYvRe-JGIZQ/s320/BATTLE+OF+THE+BANDS!+(BOTB+Top+Photo).jpeg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
Today is the first of the month which means it's time for another installment of <b>The Battle of the Bands (BOTB</b>). This blogging event was originally started by
<a href="http://xtremelyun-pcandunrepentant.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Stephen T. McCarthy</a> and
<a href="http://farawayeyes1.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">FarAwayEyes</a>
back in August of 2013. It occurs on the 1st and
the 15th of every month, and I think it's a fun way to share and discuss music. Each of the
bloggers taking part offers their readers a choice of two (or
occasionally more) versions of the same
song, performed by different recording artists. And the readers get to
vote for their favorite rendition.<br />
<br />
With it being December, it's also a great time for a battle of Christmas music, or at least in this case, some music which has a tie-in to Christmas (for my BOTB post on December 15th, I'll feature a much more traditional Christmas song).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZT7ZLCd8ffom7RXCtAAjtojodLMZViS0Ezde_ReON8eFMUj0LdGVH4fqOYQmW7IBNwKMd1Kle_olFVD6ek2SROwwuDfGrRllFC3z4P-8qTgngrPKg60CrOY1ViCAatQtqxWBtUhhPavBG/s1600/Linus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZT7ZLCd8ffom7RXCtAAjtojodLMZViS0Ezde_ReON8eFMUj0LdGVH4fqOYQmW7IBNwKMd1Kle_olFVD6ek2SROwwuDfGrRllFC3z4P-8qTgngrPKg60CrOY1ViCAatQtqxWBtUhhPavBG/s1600/Linus.jpg" height="151" width="200" /></a>One of my favorite Christmas things is the TV special, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Charlie_Brown_Christmas">A Charlie Brown Christmas</a>.</i> First broadcast in 1965, this animated special of '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanuts">The Peanuts</a>' gang drawn by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_M._Schulz">Charles M. Schulz</a> is something I love to see every year. Part of it is tradition -- it's one of the earliest TV specials I recall seeing, and it's been on every year since I was 5 years old. But besides nostalgia, I also love the gentle, warm way it touches on the importance of friends, redemption, acceptance, and it's timeless message about the over-commercialization of the holiday and what the true meaning of Christmas really is. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/archive/0/0f/20140920040131!Music_album_record_a_charlie_brown_christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/archive/0/0f/20140920040131!Music_album_record_a_charlie_brown_christmas.jpg" height="198" width="200" /></a></div>
And also, there's another reason to love <i>A Charlie Brown Christmas</i> -- the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Charlie_Brown_Christmas_%28album%29">fabulous music</a>!!!<br />
<br />
Composed and performed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vince_Guaraldi">The Vince Guaraldi Trio</a>, the soundtrack from <i>A Charlie Brown Christmas</i> is filled with wonderful, timeless songs. In fact, I even featured "<i><a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2013/12/botb-121513-christmas-time-is-here.html">Christmas Time is Here</a></i>" from this soundtrack last year for my very first BOTB post, and so I thought I'd visit it again this year. <br />
<br />
In this battle, I'm using one of the most iconic tracks from the album -- the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linus_and_Lucy"><i>Linus and Lucy</i></a> theme. It's probably the least "Christmas-y" song since it features no words and seems to have little to do with the holiday other than it's association with this TV special. But it's also probably one of the most well-known tunes from this album -- it went on to become the theme for the Peanuts and virtually every other Charlie Brown special.<br />
<br />
I'm not going to use the original in this battle since I think it might win over any contender, but for your reference (and listening pleasure), here is that original jazzy version by the Vince Guaraldi Trio:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/x6zypc_LhnM" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<br />
Great song, isn't it? I love the vibe, the changes, and the soulful playing -- even if someone doesn't like jazz, they often like this. It transcends genre.<br />
<br />
There are a LOT of covers of this song that I could use for a battle, but being a guitarist, I'm going with two very different interpretations of it, both of which are done live.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Let the Battle Begin!</span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
First up is guitarist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Hoey">Gary Hoey</a>, with a live performance of the song. Gary's done a lot of Christmas covers, with several "Ho Ho Hoey" <a href="http://garyhoey.com/discography/">CDs available</a> along with Christmas shows. This might not be a song you would expect to hear Hendrix references, but Gary pulls it off. Here's a live video from 2009:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dhrFau64s9I" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<br />
Another guitarist who covered this song was the phenomenal Tele-master <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Gatton">Danny Gatton</a>. During the late 1980s and early 1990's, he typically incorporated it into a medley that ended his concerts -- he'd work in snippets of "<i>The Orange Blossom Special</i>," and many other bits into a blazing song that covered 8 to 10 minutes. Here's a video from You Tube which showcases mainly just the <i>"Linus and Lucy"</i> beginning, done live in Washington DC in 1989. While it doesn't have all the amazing playing that would typically come after, it does focus on the song-at-hand, which prevents clouding the waters of this battle. See what you think:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/s0_PNrl9Wds" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Your Vote </span></b><br />
<br />
So
now it's your turn to add your input: Which cover do you like
better? Gary Hoey's hard-rocking version with the great playing, or Danny Gatton's telecaster-shredding rendition from the beginning of his show-ending medley?<br />
<br />
I
invite you to listen to both of these
and give them each an honest chance. And remember that this is a contest about
the music -- not the images in the videos, Please use your ears to judge, not
your eyes.<br />
<br />
After
listening, please vote in the comments as to which
version you think is
best, or which speaks to you the deepest. Feel free to also share as
much
as you would like about how any of the above videos strike you, even
if it's less than positive. <br />
<br />
Then -- afterwards, check out the other BOTB bloggers to vote on their battles:
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://farawayeyes1.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Far Away Series (FarAwayEyes)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://stmccpresentsbattleofthebands.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Stephen T. McCarthy's Battle of the Bands Blog</a></li>
<li><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tossing it Out (Arlee Bird)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://yourdailydose-robin.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Your Daily Dose (Robin)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://discconnected.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">DiscConnected (DiscConnected)</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://mikespainwrites.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mike's Ramblings (Mike Pain)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://curiousasacathy.com/" target="_blank">Curious as a Cathy (Cathy Kennedy)</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.thesoundofonehandtyping.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">John Hilton (The Sound of One Hand Typing)</a></li>
<li>And even <a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Alex J. Cavanaugh</a> sometimes...<a href="http://curiousasacathy.com/"> </a></li>
</ul>
<br />
Thank you very much for listening and for voting -- come back
and visit again next week to find out how the voting has
gone. I'll make a post then with my own vote and also announce the
winner.<br />
<br />
And in the meantime, I hope you enjoy the Christmas season: Its great music, its wonderful traditions, the joy of family, and -- of course -- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeVDOu2_Fuc">The True Meaning of Christmas</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-89772204591903488572014-11-21T13:47:00.002-05:002014-11-21T13:49:54.079-05:00Passing Time: Music, BOTB Update, and Harold Ramis<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr align="center"><td><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Double_face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Double_face.jpg" height="284" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>(Image from <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Double_face.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a>)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<h3>
Music </h3>
<br />
It seems lately, I get very little free time, so I'm never at a loss for finding ways to pass the little time I'm given. One of my favorite ways to pass the time is playing my guitar and making music. I used to pass a lot of time at the excellent jam track site, <a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/" target="_blank">Wikiloops</a>, but I hadn't visited since July -- there have just been many other things that have commanded my attention.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-27740.php" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-27740.php" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vB_XmzOlqmvaeXVt97x_x_y6CsBwQY8TG9J0rq8sffmQQGtUc4orsg8HbRO5lFt8-cyoJfr-w7wIumxN_E83ZPLHXJkMdzqjXb_dPHSqDJsHqm2UNShjk0U8IHLqbAtzbiC4wVOfVfZH/s1600/StratPlayer_Avatar.png" /></a>Last night I had some free time to pass, so I decided to remedy that long absence and do some jamming. Looking through the wide selection of jam tracks, I found an older track of drums, bass, and keys and decided to add some guitars. I call the result, "<i>Passing Time</i>". Click on the images to the left or below, or on the link in the following paragraph to check it out (and I'd <i>LOVE</i> to be able to embed it somehow within my blog post like a YouTube video, but no such luck).</div>
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<a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-27740.php" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-27740.php" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkBAs5ja7NCqidotU9KE86sS96sQXuyuOdTcFVJJhROAEHF_sRVPoFCWcmOZ7ZMeudXcaXuGW2EwtGc7vY8LWmeVZI-VMGTQgZH3oQe7Q9zuY1sbTal52jCQXWHWcCS5MlM-b1_IFgDnj/s1600/Passing+Time+Wikiloops+Image.png" height="200" width="141" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-27740.php" target="_blank">"Passing Time"</a> was a fun piece to do, and I hope you enjoy it.<br />
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Lately, I've passed most of my time musically either learning new songs and practicing for the worship team I serve with at church, or making a recording of my own with a lot of detailed tracks. This wikiloops track was a return to the old, fun, off-the-cuff jam mentality. I downloaded the mix by "MrAdam OnDrums" and "Bass-By-Face," played through with it twice to learn the melody line, and then added a rhythm guitar and a lead, both recorded on the first pass. It was refreshing to be in the moment and let the results stand, and not worry about redoing tracks to tweak them.<br />
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Sometimes, time seems to pass best when you're focused on being in the moment, and not looking back or looking ahead.<br />
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<h3>
BOTB Results</h3>
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Almost a week of time has passed since <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/11/battle-of-bands-whos-that-lady.html" target="_blank">my last Battle of the Bands (BOTB) post</a>. I featured "<i>Who's That Lady</i>" by the Isley Brothers -- both their 1973 version and their little-known original version from 1964. I also threw in a version by Santana.<br />
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Although Santana did get a vote, I hadn't expected that version to win and actually worried that it might not get ANY votes. Still, it was such an interesting version of the song I wanted to include it.<br />
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<a href="http://ashy2classy.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/the-isley-brothers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ashy2classy.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/the-isley-brothers.jpg" height="152" width="200" /></a></div>
But I do think that both the Isley Brothers versions are very good. I'd always loved the 1973 version and really enjoyed the 1964 original once I discovered it. I thought the battle would be tight, and that the original version might even win.<br />
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Turns out I was initially right, but then -- as time passed -- I was wrong. The battle started out neck-and-neck, but then the 1973 version ran away with it. Myself, I'd really like to vote for the 1964 version -- the sound is smooth, cool, and soulful and I love the organ and guitar, along with the horn break. Against many other songs, I'd definitely vote for the 1964 version of "<i>Who's That Lady?</i>" But in this battle, it would mean voting against the 1973 version, and there's just no way I can do that! So chalk up another vote for the classic 1973 version with the awesome guitar by Ernie Isely:<br />
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<span id="bc_0_24b+seedN6SKD" kind="d">Final Tally: <b>Isley Brothers (1973), 8; Isley Brothers (1964), 3; Santana, 1</b></span><br />
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Oh, and also, in passing, here's an interesting aside:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/i/2014/02/24/Harold-Ramis-OBIT-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/i/2014/02/24/Harold-Ramis-OBIT-2.jpg" height="200" width="166" /></a>In that last BOTB post, I started with a reference to Beverly D'Angelo since her birthday was November 15th. I also managed to find some connections between her and The Isley Brothers, using the National Lampoon movies, "<i>Vacation</i>" and <i>"Animal House</i>." And <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Ramis" target="_blank">Harold Ramis</a> was the common link. <br />
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Well, guess what? Today is Harold Ramis' birthday. Yep -- he was born November 21, 1944. <br />
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But the sad thing is that while we may still be able to pass our time with all the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000601/" target="_blank">great movies and other work</a> he left us with (like the classic <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075578/" target="_blank">SCTV</a>), Harold's time of passing has regretfully already passed -- he died earlier this year (February 24th).<br />
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So let me help pass some more of your time by remembering the passing of his passing. There are several "Harold Ramis Remembered" videos out there that I found to do that with, but here's one that I liked:<br />
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Spend some of your passing time, passing the time by watching some of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000601/" target="_blank">Harold's work</a>.<br />
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And afterwards, if you've passed some much time passing time that you wonder if your time of passing has passed, here's another Harold Ramis "Moe Green" SCTV clip to help you out:<br />
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Thanks for visiting and passing some of you time with me! I really appreciate it!</div>
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StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-60450898729869682762014-11-15T13:35:00.000-05:002014-11-15T13:35:13.791-05:00Battle of the Bands: "Who's That Lady?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/80/Isley_brothers_3_%2B_3_album.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/80/Isley_brothers_3_%2B_3_album.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Today is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_15" target="_blank">November 15th</a>, so you all know what's special about today, right?<br />
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<a href="http://movieactors.com/freezeframes22/ChistmasVacation9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://movieactors.com/freezeframes22/ChistmasVacation9.jpeg" height="114" width="200" /></a>Yep -- it's the birthday of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverly_D%27Angelo" target="_blank">Beverly D'Angelo</a>! <br />
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Beverly (born 11/15/1951) is one of those actresses who has been in a ton of roles and always looks familiar to me on the screen, but who I can never quite remember her name. I always find myself asking, <i>"Who's that lady?</i>" when I see her. I'm not sure why -- she's pretty well-known. She's often associated with her role as Ellen Griswold in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Lampoon%27s_Vacation_%28film_series%29" target="_blank">National Lampoon Vacation</a> series of movies, but she has also played supporting roles in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000350/" target="_blank">a host of other movies and TV shows</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ1zhynpzhQCK5bi84VBoAxa6bAKSkqm1LiMopoRjmJaKsL-LG56idhqMuGOd3UBdIqFb6386OPIUDJ5ApA0bC5-6GDdhCWWgPo5kZWkDF3ThXBe1ZDoVLdWWljMqPWdoKYvRe-JGIZQ/s320/BATTLE+OF+THE+BANDS%21+%28BOTB+Top+Photo%29.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ1zhynpzhQCK5bi84VBoAxa6bAKSkqm1LiMopoRjmJaKsL-LG56idhqMuGOd3UBdIqFb6386OPIUDJ5ApA0bC5-6GDdhCWWgPo5kZWkDF3ThXBe1ZDoVLdWWljMqPWdoKYvRe-JGIZQ/s320/BATTLE+OF+THE+BANDS!+(BOTB+Top+Photo).jpeg" height="150" width="200" /></a>But besides being Beverly's birthday, November 15th is <i><b>also</b></i> the day for another entry in the <b>Battle of the Bands</b> (BOTB) blogfest. This blogging event was originally started by
<a href="http://xtremelyun-pcandunrepentant.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Stephen T. McCarthy</a> and
<a href="http://farawayeyes1.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">FarAwayEyes</a>
back in August of 2013. It occurs on the 1st and
the 15th of every month, and I think it's a fun way to share and discuss music. Each of the
bloggers taking part offers their readers a choice of two (or
occasionally more) versions of the same
song, performed by different recording artists. And the readers get to
vote for their favorite rendition.<br />
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It might seem odd to start a BOTB post with a mix of Beverly D'Angelo and a picture of the Isley Brothers, but it is Beverly's birthday, and after all -- they <i><b>ARE</b></i> connected:<br />
<ul>
<li>Beverly D' Angelo played Ellen Griswold in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Lampoon%27s_Vacation" target="_blank"><i>National Lampoon's Vacation</i></a>.</li>
<li><i>National Lampoon's Vacation</i> was directed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Ramis" target="_blank">Harold Ramis.</a></li>
<li>Harold Ramis was one of the writers of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_House" target="_blank"><i>National Lampoon's Animal House.</i></a></li>
<li><i>National Lampoon's Animal House</i> featured <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG7KCOO76Wc" target="_blank">the classic toga party</a> with a performance by the 'band' <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otis_Day_and_the_Knights" target="_blank">Otis Day and the Knights.</a></li>
<li>During that toga party in the movie, Otis Day and the Knights sang the song, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shout_%28The_Isley_Brothers_song%29" target="_blank"><i>"Shout".</i></a></li>
<li><i>"Shout"</i> was originally written and recorded in 1959 by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEjLFpU2pJ4" target="_blank">the Isley Brothers</a>.</li>
</ul>
See? It's all related!<br />
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Anyway, speaking of the Isley Brothers...<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Let the Battle Begin!</span></b><br />
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In 1973,The Isley Brothers went from the original threesome of vocalist brothers O'Kelley, Rudolph, and Ronald to an extended family group which included younger brothers Ernie on guitar, Marvin on bass, and brother-in-law Chris Jasper on keyboards. To highlight the new makeup, they chose the title <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_%2B_3" target="_blank"><i>"3+3"</i></a> for their album that year -- their 11th as a group, but the first with the mix of the three original members and the three 'official' new additions.<br />
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They also had a hit from that album, titled, <i>"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/That_Lady_%28song%29" target="_blank">That Lady</a>,"</i> although it was called <i>"That Lady (Part 1)"</i> for the shortened single version. The song featured Latin-sounding percussion and a psychedelic-funky-sensual vibe with prominent distorted guitar by Ernie.<br />
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Take a listen to the full album cut:<br />
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Great song, isn't it?. And do you like the guitar? I do. Ernie Isley's guitar playing has often been referred to as "Hendrix-influenced," although that could probably describe 99% of the guitarists in 1973 at some level. But with Ernie, the comparison was legitimate and deeper than most: Hendrix had played and toured with the Isley Brothers from 1963-1965 and had lived in the Isley home during much of that period. Young Ernie was definitely influenced.<br />
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But besides the trippy Hendrix-ish guitar, Santana-like percussion and organ parts, and abrupt ending (made worse by the above video cutting off the last note), there's something else interesting about this song:<br />
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It's a cover.<br />
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And you know who did the original version? The Isley Brothers.<br />
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In 1964, they had actually released it as a single with some different lyrics under the original title, <i>"Who's That Lady?"</i> However, back in 1964, the single was pretty much ignored and never charted.<br />
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But I think that original version is a cool, smooth, soulful rendition with a nice horn break and some organ that I know Mr. McCarthy will definitely appreciate. Here's the original 1964 version, also by the Isley Brothers:<br />
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It's a pretty cool version, I think. Even without the Hendrix-like guitar and Sanata-ish percussion of the redone 1973 version.<br />
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Oh, and speaking of Santana -- did you know he also did a cover of this song? In 1990, for the album <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirits_Dancing_in_the_Flesh" target="_blank"><i>Spirits Dancing in the Flesh</i></a>, featuring Alex Ligertwood on vocals. It's a little different rendition. I don't often include a third rendition in BOTB battles, but I think this one is interesting enough to add to the mix. Based on the comments on the YouTube page of the video, some people don't care for it at all. Others love it.<br />
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See what you think:<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Your Vote </span></b><br />
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So
now it's your turn to add your input: Which version do you like
better? The funky hit 1973 "cover" version by the Isley Brothers, their 1964 original version, or Santana's 1990 interpretation?<br />
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I
invite you to listen to all three
and give them each a chance. And remember that this is a contest about the music -- not the images in the videos, While there shouldn't be much in these videos that might sway you, please use your ears to judge, not your eyes.<br />
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After
listening, please vote in the comments as to which
version you think is
best, or which speaks to you the deepest. Feel free to also share as
much
as you would like about how any of the above videos strike you, even
if it's less than positive. <br />
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Then -- afterwards, check out the other BOTB bloggers to vote on their battles:
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://farawayeyes1.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Far Away Series (FarAwayEyes)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://stmccpresentsbattleofthebands.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Stephen T. McCarthy's Battle of the Bands Blog</a></li>
<li><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tossing it Out (Arlee Bird)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://yourdailydose-robin.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Your Daily Dose (Robin)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://discconnected.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">DiscConnected (DiscConnected)</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://mikespainwrites.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mike's Ramblings (Mike Pain)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://curiousasacathy.com/" target="_blank">Curious as a Cathy (Cathy Kennedy)</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.thesoundofonehandtyping.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">John Hilton (The Sound of One Hand Typing)</a></li>
<li>And even <a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Alex J. Cavanaugh</a> sometimes...<a href="http://curiousasacathy.com/"> </a></li>
</ul>
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Thank you very much for listening and for voting -- come back
and visit again next week to find out how the voting has
gone. I'll make a post then with my own vote and also announce the
winner.<br />
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And in the meantime -- take some time to enjoy a classic old comedy movie like <i>National Lampoon's Animal House</i> with John Belushi, or <i>National Lampoon's Vacation</i> with Chevy Chase and... errr, ummm... who's that lady???<br />
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<br />StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-28011481696556323022014-11-07T21:00:00.001-05:002014-11-07T22:50:20.832-05:00Sympathetic Vibrations: BOTB Results and More<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.openlettersmonthly.com/stevereads/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/sympathetic-vibrations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.openlettersmonthly.com/stevereads/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/sympathetic-vibrations.jpg" height="320" width="205" /> </a></div>
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Sympathetic vibrations are vibrations that arise in one body, induced because another body nearby is vibrating. If I pluck the open E string on my guitar, the other strings will begin vibrating slightly, even though I never touched them.</div>
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Some frequencies will resonate more than others -- an E-Flat will not induce many sympathetic vibrations in the other open strings, since they are all tuned to pitches that are closer to natural intervals of that open E. </div>
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I kind of enjoy the way certain seemingly-unrelated facts and details actually induce sympathetic vibrations of inter-relatedness. It's fun to uncover these elements of resonance.</div>
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Let me give you some, from various assorted things I uncovered -- elements that are related and intertwined and hopefully interesting to you, too. Oh, and I'll also even try and work in the results from my last Battle of the Bands post in the process:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Let's start with today. It is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_7" target="_blank">November 7th</a> as I write this. Touching on sympathetic vibrations, today is the 74th anniversary of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacoma_Narrows_Bridge_%281940%29" target="_blank">Tacoma Narrows bridge collapse</a>, which happened on November 7th, 1940:</li>
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<ul>
<li>Steady 40-mph winds across the bridge's span created resonance wihin the structure -- sympathetic vibrations that amplified each other in a positive feedback loop, with much-less-than-positive results. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibration" target="_blank">The vibrations</a> were strong enough to destroy the bridge.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vibrations" target="_blank">The Vibrations</a>" was also the name of a band from Los Angeles that actually made the first recording of the song, "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hang_On_Sloopy" target="_blank"><i>Hang on, Sloopy</i></a>" in 1964. If Sloopy had been on the Tacoma Narrows bridge on Nov 7, 1940, Sloopy would have <b><i>really</i></b> needed to hang on. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The Vibrations may have released the first version of "<i>Hang on Sloopy</i>," but the version released by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_McCoys" target="_blank">The McCoys</a> (with 16-year-old <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Derringer" target="_blank">Rick Derringer</a>) in 1965 was the one that became the hit. It evidently resonated with the record-buying public much more:</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>"<i>Hang on Sloopy</i>" also resonates with the state of Ohio, where it is the official rock song of the state, <a href="http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Ohio's_State_Rock_Song_-_Hang_On_Sloopy?rec=1878" target="_blank">passed by resolution in 1985</a>. Here's some of the wording from that resolution:</li>
</ul>
<i>WHEREAS, "Hang On Sloopy" is of particular relevance to members of the Baby Boom Generation, who were once dismissed as a bunch of long-haired, crazy kids, but who now are old enough and vote in sufficient numbers to be taken quite seriously; and</i><br />
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<i>WHEREAS, Adoption of this resolution will not take too long, cost the state anything, or affect the quality of life in this state to any appreciable degree, and if we in the legislature just go ahead and pass the darn thing, we can get on with more important stuff; and</i></div>
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<i>WHEREAS, Sloopy lives in a very bad part of town, and everybody, yeah, tries to put my Sloopy down</i></div>
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<ul>
<li>Part of the reason Ohio adopted an official rock song is because The McCoys were from Dayton, Ohio. But also, Ohio has <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Ohio" target="_blank">a legitimate rock 'n' roll heritage</a>: <a href="http://www.rockhall.com/?gclid=CJ67v6zR6cECFYU7MgodOSkAWw" target="_blank">The Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame</a> is in Cleveland, and Ohio was the birthplace of such diverse artists as Devo, Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails, Joe Walsh, and Boz Scaggs. Ohio has a lot of sympathy for those rock 'n' roll vibrations.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Another band from Ohio is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Keys" target="_blank">The Black Keys</a>, who are from Akron, Ohio. The Black Keys won Grammy Awards in 2013 for Best Rock Song for "<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonely_Boy_(The_Black_Keys_song)" target="_blank">Lonely Boy</a></i>" from the album <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Camino_(The_Black_Keys_album)" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">El Camino</a>, which also won Best Rock Album (and this video is the official video for the song, with over 39 million views). This song clearly resonated with the Grammy voters:</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>Another winner at those 2013 Grammy Awards was Gotye for "<i>Somebody That I Used to Know,</i>" the song I featured in <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/11/battle-of-bands-somebody-that-i-used-to.html" target="_blank">my last BOTB post</a>. The song won the 2013 Grammy for Single of the Year. In my BOTB, I posted it against a remake, "mash-up" version Gotye also made from all the videos people had created using that song. I think the song is catchy, if not stellar, but I really like the quirky, fun effect in the mash-up video. I think the mash-up resonated more with me, so I add my vote to that version to give it the win:</li>
</ul>
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<b><b>Gotye (original) -- 6; Gotye (mash-up) -- 8.</b></b></div>
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</b>
<ul>
<li>In my BOTB post, I found it interesting that how the song and its 'remake' touched on issues of originality and covers and samples. But here's something also very interesting that I didn't mention about the song (becuase I just discovered it today): <a href="http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/gotye-waves-goodbye-to-1m-he-used-to-know/story-e6frfn09-1226640487976" target="_blank"><b>Gotye is paying ALMOST HALF of the royalties</b></a> from the song to the estate of a deceased South American guitarist! Why? Because of the samples Gotye used and because of a deal set up well before the song ever became a hit. See? There's that issue about sampling, and originality, and covers, and ownership again. It matters. A LOT. There is very little sympathy when someone uses another artist's vibrations without permission -- Gotye might have risked losing <b><i>ALL</i></b> of his royalties without a deal in place.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The samples Gotye used in "<i>Somebody I Used to Know</i>" are by guitarist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luiz_Bonf%C3%A1" target="_blank">Luiz Bonfa</a> from the song "<i>Seville</i>." It's not on You tube by itself, but if you check out the video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4FlqXQu0Go" target="_blank">THIS ALBUM</a> and go to the 29:10 mark, you'll hear the sample that Gotye used.</li>
</ul>
<ul><a href="http://api.ning.com/files/DmWKX8GKoMmcESxL7zkL5KfvPP592ErjWqm5wERGhBStJyJOcJ4q-EWrFf9mrZT1dAeVgDxecKdSDV70rYb13Ay0gWevhcpK/riodejaneiro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://api.ning.com/files/DmWKX8GKoMmcESxL7zkL5KfvPP592ErjWqm5wERGhBStJyJOcJ4q-EWrFf9mrZT1dAeVgDxecKdSDV70rYb13Ay0gWevhcpK/riodejaneiro.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a>
<li>Luiz Bonfa had a long career in Brazil -- he was originally born in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_de_Janeiro" target="_blank">Rio De Janeiro</a> in 1922. Besides the link to Gotye's "<i>Somebody That I Used to Know</i>," Bonfa is known for his music for the 1959 film, <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053146/" target="_blank">Black Orpheus</a>,</i> which also included music by the famous Bossa Nova composer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant%C3%B4nio_Carlos_Jobim" target="_blank">Antonio Carlos Jobim</a>. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Rio De Janeiro was also the birthplace of writer and professor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K.C._Cole" target="_blank">K.C. Cole</a>, who wrote the book "<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sympathetic-Vibrations-Reflections-Physics-Life/dp/0553342347" target="_blank">Sympathetic Vibrations</a></i>" in 1985, which is pictured at the top of this post, The city is also the home of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio%E2%80%93Niter%C3%B3i_Bridge" target="_blank">Rio-Niterói Bridge</a>, one of the largest box-girder bridges in the world.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Even though it is not a suspension bridge, it is subject to wind-induced oscillations, much like the Tacoma Narrows Bridge was. <a href="http://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/content/article/10.1680/stbu.2010.163.2.87" target="_blank">There are papers</a> describing how damaging resonance can be prevented by attenuating the sympathetic vibrations by adding opposing mechanical oscillations to dampen the ones caused by the wind. Modern technology helps Sloopy hang on. Here's some video of this bridge that's NOT breaking down in the wind:</li>
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Thanks for reading! See you November 15th for another BOTB post!</div>
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StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-2922401503698839332014-11-01T06:00:00.000-04:002014-11-01T06:00:00.474-04:00Battle of the Bands: "Somebody That I Used to Know"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ1zhynpzhQCK5bi84VBoAxa6bAKSkqm1LiMopoRjmJaKsL-LG56idhqMuGOd3UBdIqFb6386OPIUDJ5ApA0bC5-6GDdhCWWgPo5kZWkDF3ThXBe1ZDoVLdWWljMqPWdoKYvRe-JGIZQ/s320/BATTLE+OF+THE+BANDS%21+%28BOTB+Top+Photo%29.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ1zhynpzhQCK5bi84VBoAxa6bAKSkqm1LiMopoRjmJaKsL-LG56idhqMuGOd3UBdIqFb6386OPIUDJ5ApA0bC5-6GDdhCWWgPo5kZWkDF3ThXBe1ZDoVLdWWljMqPWdoKYvRe-JGIZQ/s320/BATTLE+OF+THE+BANDS!+(BOTB+Top+Photo).jpeg" /></a></span></b></div>
<br />
It's November 1st, time once again for the <b>Battle of the Bands</b> (BOTB), the blogging event originally started by
<a href="http://xtremelyun-pcandunrepentant.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Stephen T. McCarthy</a> and
<a href="http://farawayeyes1.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">FarAwayEyes</a>
back in August of 2013. It occurs twice every month -- on the 1st and the 15th -- and is a fun way to share and discuss music. Each of the bloggers taking part offers their readers a choice of two (or occasionally more) versions of the same
song, performed by different recording artists. And the readers get to vote for their favorite rendition.<br />
<br />
In<a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/10/battle-of-bands-last-time.html" target="_blank"> my BOTB post from October 1st</a>, I put together a battle based on <i>The Last Time</i> and <i>Bitter Sweet Symphony</i> -- a song that led to lawsuits over the use of samples and opened the question as to when is a new song really a cover, and "how much" of a sample is acceptable to use? I also touched on some of the issues regarding sampling and copyrights regarding my use of <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/10/forgotten-voices-bell-song.html" target="_blank">samples from Lily Pons in my piece, <i>"Bell Song"</i> in my last post.</a><br />
<br />
In this battle, I'm doing something a little different, but touching on some of those same issues. Today, I'm highlighting a "cover" that was re-done by the original artist, but not using any new or "original" sounds, but instead using samples of other covers of that artist's original song.<br />
<br />
So let's get on with it:<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Let the Battle Begin!</span></b><br />
<br />
In July of 2011, the Australian (born in Belgium) musician Wouter Andre "Wally" De Backer released the song <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somebody_That_I_Used_to_Know" target="_blank"><i>Somebody That I Used to Know</i></a> under his commonly-known name of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotye" target="_blank">Gotye</a>. The song became an enormous hit -- it reached #1 in many, many countries and has been heard a gazillion times. The 'official' video is below -- it has over 570 million views on You Tube. Yes, that's <i><b>570 MILLION</b></i> -- it a hugely popular song!<br />
<br />
Give a listen:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8UVNT4wvIGY" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
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It's an catchy song, isn't it? Simple, but with a clever arrangement, interesting instrumentation, and a universal sentiment that anyone who has loved and lost can relate to at some level. The song has nice dynamic range, a melody that really sticks in your brain, and a chorus that is easy and inviting to sing along with.<br />
<br />
This video has also sparked a TON of covers -- thousands of them! Most of them from "unknown" musicians. This song became an internet phenomenon, infesting social media, flooding You Tube, and stoking the entirely modern urge of people to make videos of themselves.<br />
<br />
In the past, the "music mass producers" used to be a small number of sources distributing their limited 'product' to the masses, but as this sea of videos shows, it has now become commonplace for the masses to create their <i>own </i>music and to share it among themselves, even if it's often only parodies and cover material. I find this a thoroughly fascinating transition, although perhaps a little overwhelming -- there is now just SO MUCH music available out there that no human will ever be able to hear it all. <br />
<br />
Someone could spend endless hours on You Tube listening to all the covers of <i>Somebody That I Used to Know</i> -- there are <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOKuAigsrec" target="_blank">acapella versions</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9NF2edxy-M" target="_blank">versions with 5 people on 1 guitar</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1-Z7Ac32Tg" target="_blank">metal-guitar versions</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnnDhumNLyg" target="_blank">versions with 5 people on 1 bouzouki</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlCnrMZO72c" target="_blank">choir versions</a>, and untold thousands of others, both real and parody.<br />
<br />
Goyte -- whose solo records have often featured musical samples saw some potential in this treasure trove of material, and put together his own "cover" video. Here's what he said about it:<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Reluctant as I am to add to the mountain of interpretations of Somebody
That I Used To Know seemingly taking over their own area of the
internet, I couldn't resist the massive remixability that such a large,
varied yet connected bundle of source material offered. <br /><br />Thank you to everyone who has responded to Somebody That I Used To Know via YouTube. It's truly amazing!<br /><br />All
audio and video in Somebodies is from the YouTube user videos featured,
each of them a cover or parody of Somebody That I Used To Know. No
extra sounds were added to the mix, but I used some EQ, filtering,
pitch-shifting and time-stretching to make the music. I avoided using any existing remixes of the song, or any covers from tv talent shows. </i></div>
<br />
Here's the sampled re-cover of the original covers of the original song, remixed and "created" by the original artist -- <i>Sombodies: A YouTube Orchestra:</i> <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/opg4VGvyi3M" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
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This is a lot of fun, huh?<br />
<br />
But here's a question: Is this a "cover" or a "parody"? Or a cover of parodies? Or a parody of covers?<br />
<br />
Or is this really even Gotye's "song"? Well, yes -- of course the source song itself was his, but in this video, Gotye does none of the performance and makes none of the sounds. It's all samples of other videos. So is it really even "his" work???<br />
<br />
Does it even matter?<br />
<br />
Probably not to many, but I find it interesting how it again touches on a lot of the same issues of ownership of songs, and "originality," and "inspiration" versus "sampling" that came up in the Oct 1st BOTB post with <i>The Last Time</i> versus <i>Bitter Sweet Symphony</i>, and in my "Forgotten Voices" sampled tunes. <br />
<br />
Does making a YouTube of yourself covering a song violate the copyright? Maybe. Or does it depend on the intent? This is why that "parody" versus "cover" thing matters. Perhaps sharing something for free on YouTube versus charging for downloads probably helps determine the intent.<br />
<br />
Perhaps. But at any rate -- even if people suddenly felt some weird desire to make them -- I'm pretty certain that you'd <b>never</b> see this many homemade cover videos of <i>The Last Time</i> on YouTube. I also strongly doubt that the owners of the copyright of that song would ever choose to make a fun remix video from those recorded covers. More likely there would be an army of lawyers rapidly dispatched and the cover videos pulled as soon as any sprouted on You Tube.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Your Vote </span></b><br />
<br />
So now it's your turn to add your input: Which version do you like better? The original by Gotye, or the sampled "cover of the covers," also "by" Gotye? And what do you think about some of the issues I mentioned regarding originality and sampling and covers and all of that?<br />
<br />
I invite you to listen to both version
and give them each a chance. And while I usually tell you to focus on the music and not the video, here the videos are the core components, so today you should keep your eyes open to enjoy them!<br />
<br />
After
listening (and watching), please vote in the comments as to which version you think is
best, or which speaks to you the deepest. Feel free to also share as much
as you would like about how any of the above videos strike you, even
if it's less than positive. Add in your thoughts about "sampling" versus "original" material versus "parodies" of songs on YouTube.<br />
<br />
Then -- afterwards, check out the other BOTB bloggers to vote on their battles:
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://farawayeyes1.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Far Away Series (FarAwayEyes)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://stmccpresentsbattleofthebands.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Stephen T. McCarthy's Battle of the Bands Blog</a></li>
<li><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tossing it Out (Arlee Bird)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://yourdailydose-robin.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Your Daily Dose (Robin)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://discconnected.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">DiscConnected (DiscConnected)</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://mikespainwrites.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mike's Ramblings (Mike Pain)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://curiousasacathy.com/" target="_blank">Curious as a Cathy (Cathy Kennedy)</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.thesoundofonehandtyping.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">John Hilton (The Sound of One Hand Typing)</a></li>
<li>And even <a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Alex J. Cavanaugh</a> sometimes...<a href="http://curiousasacathy.com/"> </a></li>
</ul>
<br />
Thank you very much for listening and for voting -- come back
and visit again next week to find out how the voting has
gone. I'll make a post then with my own vote and also announce the
winner.<br />
<br />
And in the meantime -- feel free to drop by my blog often. Don't let yourself just become somebody that I used to know!<br />
<br />StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-38354122975643343362014-10-24T14:48:00.000-04:002014-10-24T15:07:11.666-04:00Forgotten Voices: The Bell Song<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uhgSUKt0BiWnmJrW2u_Vqd35Hvmju2EKUYVedoreyk7-osHBzuo2YufYZ2FZpPEHeZn29ZDKbVc9riMwt-5PRLc2MuIqESLiq7vYegglFbYd4THFjZez3pO9y5b0WXClvSTtcvs0u_Sl/s1600/Radio+Digest+Lily+Pons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uhgSUKt0BiWnmJrW2u_Vqd35Hvmju2EKUYVedoreyk7-osHBzuo2YufYZ2FZpPEHeZn29ZDKbVc9riMwt-5PRLc2MuIqESLiq7vYegglFbYd4THFjZez3pO9y5b0WXClvSTtcvs0u_Sl/s1600/Radio+Digest+Lily+Pons.jpg" height="320" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Radio Digest from 1931 with Lily Pons on cover)<br />
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I haven't posted much music on my blog lately, but I've just finished another piece in my <i>"Forgotten Voices"</i> collection and I'd like to share it with you (you can also see <i>"<a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/04/streak-of-moonlight.html" target="_blank">Streak of Moonlight</a>"</i> and <i>"<a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/07/my-name-is-romance.html" target="_blank">My Name is Romance</a>"</i> for the other pieces in this collection so far).<br />
<br />
<i>"Forgotten Voices"</i> is based on the idea of using voices from old radio broadcasts of the 1930s as the foundation for new music I create. I don't sing, so I think this is a fun way to get some human voices into my pieces without worrying too much about infringing on copyrights (see my <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/10/battle-of-bands-last-time.html" target="_blank">BOTB post with The Verve</a> for good reasons why it's best to avoid sampling material with protected copyrights).<br />
<br />
In searching for some vocal material to use for a song, I came across a recording that just said it was from a radio broadcast of a piece called "<i>The Bell Song</i>" aria from sometime in the 1930s. I loved the haunting voice and started to build a tune around some samples from it. I chopped and rearranged, adjusted timing, added MIDI drums, some keyboards, bass, some bell sounds, and nine or ten guitar tracks (rhythm, fills, and leads). <br />
<br />
This piece took a long time to make, but I like how it turned out. Take a listen and then I'll talk a little more about the source vocal samples (<a href="https://soundcloud.com/stratplayercjf/the-bell-song" target="_blank">HERE's</a> the link ot it at SoundCloud if the embedded player below doesn't work):<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/173586019&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe>
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Thanks for listening! I really appreciate that, and I hope you enjoyed what I did with this.<br />
<br />
But, as I mentioned above about those vocal samples from the radio: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGt-HYC2a0medACFoGy1FvOyq-1-YEHKdpYgkhVEYgQZZ4o3-W30RxyNVSRGU0oWj9NiiVdZFRgnOHRYrB33pfzLvSXuPuG67nxKYyGf8yKoP2if1lZlSoYbFWVMZTZdSi9O2H91kzCQL/s1600/Lily+Pons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGt-HYC2a0medACFoGy1FvOyq-1-YEHKdpYgkhVEYgQZZ4o3-W30RxyNVSRGU0oWj9NiiVdZFRgnOHRYrB33pfzLvSXuPuG67nxKYyGf8yKoP2if1lZlSoYbFWVMZTZdSi9O2H91kzCQL/s1600/Lily+Pons.jpg" height="200" width="158" /></a></div>
While recording this (it took a long time to put all the pieces together), I did some searching and discovered, that "The Bell Song" is actually a well-known aria from an opera called "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakm%C3%A9" target="_blank">Lakme</a>" written by Leo Delibes in 1882. It was performed many times during the 1920s to 1940s by the famous opera singer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lily_Pons" target="_blank">Lily Pons</a>. It became her "featured piece" and was strongly associated with her. She even did it in a 1935 movie starring Lily Pons and Henry Fonda called "<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Dream_Too_Much" target="_blank">I Dream Too Much</a></i>".<br />
<br />
And I'm pretty sure that's Lily Pons singing in the samples I've used in my re-imagined "<i>The Bell Song</i>".<br />
<br />
Which this brings up the questions:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://img.timeinc.net/time/magazine/archive/covers/1932/1101321017_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.timeinc.net/time/magazine/archive/covers/1932/1101321017_400.jpg" height="200" width="151" /></a>Is a "famous" singer doing a well-known aria really a "forgotten voice?" Also, one of the points of using old radio "forgotten voices" is to avoid infringing on copyrights -- so how loose of footing am I on here?<br />
<br />
Well, I think the first question may be valid, but it's still been around 80 years or so since the samples I used were originally recorded, and Lily's been deceased since 1976. And I think there's likely a good percentage of people who've never heard of her. So I'll give this question a, "not preferred, but acceptable" answer. While I really enjoyed making this, in general I'd much rather use truly unknown or "forgotten" voices.<br />
<br />
As to the copyright: That is definitely a valid question. But after some thought and research, here's what I think.<br />
<br />
-- With recordings, there are actually two areas of copyright. The written song itself and the recording of a particular performance (that's why the Verve had to settle out of court twice). Here, the actual song was written in 1882 and I'm pretty certain it's now in the public domain. I doubt if the estate of Leo Delibes has any qualms about me using samples of the aria from his opera.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://movie-poster-universe.com/img/posters/i-dream_35_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://movie-poster-universe.com/img/posters/i-dream_35_a.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a></div>
-- But the recording could be an issue. For example, if the download I sampled was from the soundtrack of the 1935 movie, then <a href="http://www.rko.com/" target="_blank">RKO Pictures</a> could still own the copyright or it has passed through a legitimate and legal chain of ownership since. But after listening, I'm pretty sure the samples I've used are <b><i>NOT</i></b> from that soundtrack. Plus, there are also tons of other versions of Lily Pons doing this aria out there on the Internet, and to my ears, it doesn't sound like I've used any of the ones that I found on YouTube. Like I said, it was her "signature piece" and was performed many, many times by her. So I'm acting in good faith that the version I've used was recorded specifically for a radio broadcast and that the origin has been lost through the years.<br />
<br />
-- However, just because I don't know exactly where a recording of a radio program comes from it does not technically remove me from any legal obligations to the true copyright holder. But that's a risk with the whole "Forgotten Voices" concept -- In all of these songs, the original source recordings and copyrights are potentially lost through the years, and so I'm doing my best to not intentionally infringe on anyone known (or likely to even still care).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://usbetweenthewars.wikispaces.com/file/view/Radio-1930s.jpg/172514863/Radio-1930s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://usbetweenthewars.wikispaces.com/file/view/Radio-1930s.jpg/172514863/Radio-1930s.jpg" height="200" width="175" /></a></div>
-- Also, with the "Forgotten Voices" pieces, I'm only using small samples and am clearly adding my own "new" material, So it is obvious that I'm not trying to just reissue and profit from someone else's work -- I'm hopefully adding enough of "me" that I'm creating entirely "original" material.<br />
<br />
-- Finally, I'm also clearly not trying to profit from anyone's work because I'm not -- you know -- making <i>ANY</i> profit. I'm sharing these freely and not charging a thing. This points to the "intent" of using these samples. What I'm doing may not cleanly fall under the "Fair Use," guidelines, but I'm at least definitely trying to minimize damages to any potential copyright holders who may still be out there somewhere.<br />
<br />
So that covers my legal thoughts -- but what about my recording itself? <br />
<br />
Well as always -- I really hope you enjoyed it, and I'm happy to hear any feedback you might care to offer.<br />
<br />
Thanks again for listening!<br />
<br />StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-20559805375818520962014-10-22T13:32:00.000-04:002014-10-22T15:35:29.993-04:00Jeff Goldblum's Not Dead -- He Just Forgot His Mantra (BOTB Results and More)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNocIevBMWDZo8vjJwLuzyMTKv9QNkB1JpvHY9Qvjr1o81343X8JW1sM_rdHPAqFfEPmy5dxln8m1nvVsEqgdcwE5BqgUe1xGf97wrrzF4Yi17hKraguBZDOctEPOdN-fDgbvWiSCJpdE7/s1600/Jeff+Goldblum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNocIevBMWDZo8vjJwLuzyMTKv9QNkB1JpvHY9Qvjr1o81343X8JW1sM_rdHPAqFfEPmy5dxln8m1nvVsEqgdcwE5BqgUe1xGf97wrrzF4Yi17hKraguBZDOctEPOdN-fDgbvWiSCJpdE7/s1600/Jeff+Goldblum.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(<i>Image from <a href="http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/jeff-goldblum/images/13452926/title/jeff-goldblum-photo" target="_blank">Fanpop</a></i>)</span></div>
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I'm a guy who enjoys finding connections, inter-relatedness, and surprising twists. It's something I just like to play around with. <br />
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This post was originally intended to give the results of my last Battle of the Bands (BOTB) post and perhaps offer a couple of creative tidbits to the few readers who venture by this blog, but I wanted to do more than just share these things in a bland list, so I decided to see if I could create some interesting segues of connectedness for today's post.<br />
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Let's see...</div>
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1. Well, today is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_22" target="_blank">October 22</a>, 2014, one week since <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/10/battle-of-bands-billie-jean.html" target="_blank">my last BOTB post</a>. It's also the 62nd birthday of actor <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000156/" target="_blank">Jeff Goldblum</a>, who was born on this day in 1952.</div>
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2. Jeff has been the subject of persistent, recurring internet and media rumors and hoaxes regarding his alleged death, including ones from <a href="http://www.enstarz.com/articles/7485/20121003/jeff-goldblum-dead-hoax-2012-actor-died-in-new-zealand-newest-hoax-target.htm" target="_blank">2012</a> and <a href="http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/ehxpq9/jeff-goldblum-will-be-missed" target="_blank">2009</a>. He is actually NOT dead.</div>
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3. The Michael Jackson song <i>"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Jean" target="_blank">Billie Jean</a>"</i> is also about rumors and allegations. This song has had many covers made of it, including the ones by Robert Randolph and The Civil Wars I featured last week. I was expecting Robert Randolph to win this battle, but that was okay since my main goal was to feature him as an artist, and I think that worked out pretty well. Plus, The Civil Wars even got a couple of votes, which is also great and entirely understandable -- they do have amazing singing ability. But I also have to vote for the wonderful music of Robert, and in the end, he wins this going away, <b>8 to 2 </b>with my vote.</div>
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4. Michael Jackson's <i>"Billie Jean"</i> video was also parodied by Steve Martin in the opening of the January 6th, 1984 debut of the short-lived comedy TV show, "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Show" target="_blank">The New Show</a>":</div>
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5. Guess who also appeared in that January 6th <i>The New Show</i> premier? Yep -- Jeff Goldblum.<br />
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6. He's appeared in a ton of things. Among the many movies Goldblum has appeared in is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Chill_%28film%29" target="_blank"><i>The Big Chill</i></a>, the 1983 movie about a group of University of Michigan friends reuniting after the suicide of one of them. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYqcad3cIW0" target="_blank">HERE'S</a> the scene of them in the procession of cars driving to the cemetery.<br />
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7. Michigan is also the site of a real funeral home that offers a way for mourners to stay in their cars for more than just the drive to the cemetery. Here's a recent news item about it: "<a href="http://Michigan funeral home provides drive-thru option" target="_blank">Michigan Funeral Home Provides Drive-thru Option</a>". Using that 6-word headline as the basis for a rhyming 6-word Newsday piece, I came up with this little rhyme:<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i><b>Michigan</b></i> helps advance the mortuary arts,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">with <i><b>funeral</b></i> choices for mourning hearts,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">after one <i><b>home</b></i> made this adoption:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">A policy that <i><b>provides</b></i> the chance</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">to grieve during a <i><b>drive-thru</b></i> glance;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">A busy, "mourners on the go," <i><b>option</b></i>.</span></div>
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8. Speaking of a drive-thru -- there are many claims as to which restaurant had the first one, but <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-N-Out_Burger" target="_blank">In-n-Out Burger</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_in_the_Box" target="_blank">Jack in the Box</a> were two places where they were adopted early. Millions of cheeseburgers have been handed out from drive-through windows ever since.<br />
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9. And did you ever see the 1986 movie, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091064/" target="_blank"><i>The Fly</i></a> with Jeff Goldblum? Cheeseburgers are also a recurring motif in that film, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KAxCuArvG0" target="_blank">THIS CLIP</a> gives one short snippet of them being used.<br />
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10. But for short film snippets featuring Jeff Goldblum, most people would have to say this 3-second clip from Woody Allen's 1977 movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075686/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt" target="_blank"><i>Annie Hall</i></a> is probably one of the most memorable. It's his only appearance in the film:<br />
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11. A <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantra" target="_blank">mantra</a> is a repeated word or syllables used to focus and quiet the mind during meditation. Supposedly, it is during this time of inner quiet that one's thoughts can become enlightened.<br />
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12. <i>"Quiet Thoughts"</i> is also the name of a jazzy jam I added a lead-guitar track to over at <a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack.php" target="_blank">wikiloops</a>. I haven't shared any of my music in quite a while here, so I wanted to include one as part of this BOTB-update post. I do have some new music I've been working on for a long time, and I hope to have it finished soon, but in the meantime, I hope <a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-16481.php" target="_blank">THIS TUNE</a>, with my attempt at a jazz lead I did back in March of this year is enjoyable. I really liked the bass, drums, and rhythm guitar tracks created by the other wikiloops jammers and 1 wanted to add a lead. I don't have what I'd call great jazz chops -- I just like to play:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-16481.php" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-16481.php" border="0" src="http://www.wikiloops.com/images/avatars/stratplayer_avatar.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Quiet Thoughts"</i></td></tr>
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13. Do you know who else likes to play jazz music? Jeff Goldblum. Read about it <a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/05/25/312857631/jeff-goldblum-plays-a-jazz-show-almost-every-week-no-really" target="_blank">HERE</a>. As Jeff also says in the article, "I just like to play."<br />
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Yeah, Jeff -- me too.<br />
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P.S.: Glad you're not dead.<br />
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StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-1233738961173053092014-10-15T06:00:00.000-04:002014-10-15T06:00:00.782-04:00Battle of the Bands: "Billie Jean"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">It's October 15th, time once again for the "Battle of the Bands
(BOTB)," the blogging event originally started by <a href="http://xtremelyun-pcandunrepentant.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Stephen T. McCarthy</a> and <a href="http://farawayeyes1.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">FarAwayEyes</a>
back in August of 2013. It occurs twice every month -- on
the 1st and the 15th -- and is a fun way to share and discuss music. Each of the bloggers taking part offers their
readers a choice of two (or occasionally more) versions of the same
song, performed by different recording artists. And the readers get to vote for their favorite rendition.</span><br />
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<a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/10/battle-of-bands-last-time.html">Last Time</a>, I chose <i>The Last Time</i> and focused on legal battles over copyrights and a controversy about how an original song can maybe really be an unoriginal cover. <br />
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Today, I'm staying away from controversy and just offering two covers of a very well-known song -- with both of them done live. I think each version brings some unique elements to the song, and I'm curious to see what everyone thinks. Plus I'm hoping to again introduce you to a musician you might not be familiar with.<br />
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And as a side note -- even though the original song was released in the '80's, this battle
features two versions that have both been recorded in THIS century!
That's kind of unique for us BOTB bloggers, lol! <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Let the Battle Begin!</span></b><br />
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In January, 1983, Michael Jackson released the second single from his all-time sales-leading <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_%28Michael_Jackson_album%29">Thriller</a> </i>album: <i>"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Jean">Billie Jean</a>."</i> It reached #1 in many countries and has sold a gazillion copies. It's an extremely popular song and is so well-known that it would likely win against almost any cover version.<br />
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And there's a ton of cover versions out there. Besides the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi_XLOBDo_Y">original by Michael Jackson</a> and his live performance of it <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD9mRHo1CXI">from Motown 25</a> that introduced the Moonwalk to the world, there's a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0uWF-37DAM">dark acoustic version</a> by Chris Cornell from Soundgarden, a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgVqX0a49HM">version played on guitar</a> by a young Korean (with over 25 million views), a fun one by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkbZlautuUc">The Bottle Boys</a>, a cool creative <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qJW0CgP-bA">drum/keyboard choreographed</a> version by duo M. Henry/J. Robinett, a soulful version by one-man band <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JghgJToVP00">Scott Dunbar</a>, and an almost endless supply of others. I could probably do BOTB posts only on <i>Billie Jean</i> for the next ten years and not run out of material.<br />
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However that's not really my desire. I like the song well enough, but as with my BOTB posts featuring <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/09/battle-of-bands-concrete-jungle.html"><i>Concrete Jungle</i></a> and <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/09/battle-of-bands-ode-to-billy-joe.html"><i>Ode to Billy Joe</i></a>, I've got a specific artist in mind that I want to highlight more-so than the song. In fact, I only decided on <i>Billie Jean</i> for this battle because I started with the artist and searched for cover songs that he'd done.<br />
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So let's start with his version of the song...<br />
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But first -- If I mention "pedal-steel guitar" to you, what do you think of? If you're familiar at all with the instrument, you might go with the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSvQmzE3JAo">traditional playing in country songs</a>. Or maybe something like the country-ish pedal-steel parts played by Jerry Garcia in Crosby, Stills, and Nash's "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_hYdywoV_Q"><i>Teach Your Children Well.</i></a>"<br />
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If that country music sound is all you think of, you've probably never heard of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Randolph_and_the_Family_Band">Robert Randolph</a>. Robert's approach to pedal-steel is a little different than the traditional country one. Having started in the <i>'<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_Steel_%28musical_tradition%29">Sacred Steel'</a></i> Christian gospel music tradition, Randolph brings a lot of soul to his pedal-steel playing, and he melds it with blues, rock, and jazz influences. Take a listen to his instrumental rendition of "<i>Billie Jean</i>" from 2004, recorded live for a European TV show, and see what you think:<br />
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If you like this, I heartily encourage you to check out some of his other work, like a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLtQtjNAnHI">newer 2013 single,</a> a sadly under-heard <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piqZ3vGBswY">rockin' single from 2006</a>, an awesome cut from his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtxYAQt8Fhg">2004 Austin City Limits performance with Luther Dickenson</a>, a gospel-like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxrDTFBHTnQ">2010 performance</a> at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Festival, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt1ucKJ93B8">Robert doing Hendrix in 2013</a> in a jazz setting as part of a <a href="http://theiridium.com/events/203/les-paul-guitar-tribute-mondays-featuring-robert-randolph-w-the-les-paul-trio/">Les Paul tribute night</a>, or any of a long list of his other You Tube videos. You can also visit his <a href="http://www.robertrandolph.net/">official website</a> to learn more.<br />
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Next, it's time for the competitor:<br />
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When I was searching for a worthy adversary for Robert Randolph, I first thought of featuring Chris Cornell or the young Koren guitarist I mentioned above. But then I ran across another cover of this song by the highly-acclaimed-but-now-defunct duo, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Civil_Wars">The Civil Wars</a>. I'd heard some of their Grammy-winning work before and have been struck by the amazing interplay of their vocals. I'd seen "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfzRlcnq_c0"><i>Poison and Wine</i></a>", really liked "<i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExAM8D7cfbI">Barton Hollow</a></i>", and thought "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnkM_ebv9BI"><i>The One That Got Away</i></a>" was haunting and powerful. But I hadn't really heard them live and in this performance I was taken by how much fun they seem to be having doing this 2011 version of <i>Billie Jean</i>. It's a radical contrast to their brooding songs and their <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/christandpopculture/2013/07/the-last-battle-of-the-civil-wars/">tension-filled collaboration</a> and <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-civil-wars-officially-split-20140805">eventual breakup</a>. Have a listen:<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Your Vote </span></b><br />
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So now it's your turn:Which version of <i>Billie Jean</i> do you like better? The rockin' instrumental one with the great pedal-steel playing by Robert Randolph, or the sparse and fun acoustic version with the wonderful harmonizing by The Civil Wars?<br />
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I invite you to listen to both version
and give them each a chance.
And try not to focus on the video images too much (close your eyes if you must)
-- the battle is about the music, not the video production.<br />
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After
listening, please vote in the comments as to which version you think is
best, or which speaks to you the deepest. Feel free to also share as much
as you would like about how any of the above recordings strike you, even
if it's less than positive. <br />
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Then -- afterwards, check out the other BOTB bloggers to vote on their battles:
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://farawayeyes1.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Far Away Series (FarAwayEyes)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://stmccpresentsbattleofthebands.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Stephen T. McCarthy's Battle of the Bands Blog</a></li>
<li><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tossing it Out (Arlee Bird)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://yourdailydose-robin.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Your Daily Dose (Robin)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://discconnected.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">DiscConnected (DiscConnected)</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://mikespainwrites.blogspot.com/">Mike's Ramblings (Mike Pain)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://curiousasacathy.com/">Curious as a Cathy (Cathy Kennedy)</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.thesoundofonehandtyping.wordpress.com/">John Hilton (The Sound of One Hand Typing)</a></li>
<li>And even <a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/">Alex J. Cavanaugh</a> sometimes...<a href="http://curiousasacathy.com/"> </a></li>
</ul>
<br />
Thank you very much for listening and for voting -- come back
and visit again next week to find out how the voting has
gone. I'll make a post then with my own vote and also announce the
winner.<br />
<br />
And in the meantime -- be careful what you do; don't go around breakin' young girls' hearts....<br />
<br />StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-29307086167175610592014-10-08T14:10:00.002-04:002014-10-08T14:19:53.362-04:00Blood Moon Updates: BOTB Results & Newsday Rhyme<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://science.nasa.gov/media/medialibrary/2011/12/02/Hackmann1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://science.nasa.gov/media/medialibrary/2011/12/02/Hackmann1.jpg" height="320" width="309" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Image from <a href="http://science.nasa.gov/media/medialibrary/2011/12/02/Hackmann1.jpg">NASA</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
Hopefully you don't take this as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_Moon_Prophecy">yet another sign of the impending apocalypse</a>, but I'm actually posting something on my blog besides a Battle of the Bands (BOTB) post!<br />
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Today was a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_eclipse">Blood Moon </a>-- a total lunar eclipse, the second of the <a href="http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/27mar_tetrad/">tetrad of 2014-2015</a>. It was thankfully very clear where I live and I was up early and got to see it this morning. It was absolutely gorgeous and very cool. I took several photos, but my iPhone either couldn't focus on it or focused on the foreground and left the moon as a small dot in the picture. Not too impressive, so I hope you don't mind that I borrowed an image from NASA.<br />
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I've been wanting to try and be a little more active on my blog (a familiar refrain), so while I don't really have anything of major significance to share, I'm going to use the occasion of this lunar eclipse to at least give the results of last week's BOTB post. Plus I'll also offer a teensy morsel of <i>"the creative outlet of StratPlayer"</i> by including a rhyming Newsday piece.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Battle of the Bands Results</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ1zhynpzhQCK5bi84VBoAxa6bAKSkqm1LiMopoRjmJaKsL-LG56idhqMuGOd3UBdIqFb6386OPIUDJ5ApA0bC5-6GDdhCWWgPo5kZWkDF3ThXBe1ZDoVLdWWljMqPWdoKYvRe-JGIZQ/s320/BATTLE+OF+THE+BANDS%21+%28BOTB+Top+Photo%29.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ1zhynpzhQCK5bi84VBoAxa6bAKSkqm1LiMopoRjmJaKsL-LG56idhqMuGOd3UBdIqFb6386OPIUDJ5ApA0bC5-6GDdhCWWgPo5kZWkDF3ThXBe1ZDoVLdWWljMqPWdoKYvRe-JGIZQ/s320/BATTLE+OF+THE+BANDS!+(BOTB+Top+Photo).jpeg" height="150" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In <a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/10/battle-of-bands-last-time.html">my last BOTB post</a>, I shared two versions of </span></span><i>The Last Time,</i> with the second one done by a band that was attempting to rip off the Rolling Stones with unoriginal material before lawyers managed to save the trampled rights of the holders of the original copyrights. OR -- I shared two completely different songs, with the second of them done by a band who was bullied into surrendering its rights to entirely original material by zealous lawyers unleashed by the greedy owners of the first song. It depends on your perspective, I suppose.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span>
In the end, regardless of the intents of those involved, the Verve agreed out-of-court to relinquishing all the rights to <i>Bitter Sweet Symphony</i>, and these became 'the same song' for all intents and purposes.<br />
<br />
Personally, I think it's clear that the Verve relied heavily on the sample of the symphonic production of <i>The Last Time</i> done by the Oldham Orchestra. But the issues gets murky as to what, if any, agreement was in place for using that sample, "how much" of the sample was OK to use, and who exactly owned the rights to that sample. I also think if the Verve had only used the sample as a small part of a larger composition that was clearly "different" from the sampled work, there might not have been as much of a fight, Or -- unfortunately -- if the song had not been a successful hit, likely no-one would have cared as much. Money tends to affect perspectives.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span>
In the voting from the BOTB post, the results are a 5-5 tie as to which song is the favorite "version" (with the esteemed Mr. McCarthy voting for the Oldham Orchestra). So it's my job to break the tie. I was a bit surprised by how many people didn't really care for either version, with the Verve song called "boring." I find myself liking both versions for different reasons. But I think that while it's a bit repetitive and relied entirely too much on the original sample, <i>Bitter Sweet Symphony</i> is the better song. It's deeper lyrically, has very interesting production (this is one of those 'headphone songs' where you hear a ton of cool snippets in the background), and an infectious groove. I like the guitar riff in The Last Time, but that damn sample used in Bitter Sweet Symphony will plant itself in my brain for days. ;)<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span>
So I break the tie by going with The Verve, making the final vote:<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span><b> The Verve 6, The Stones 5, Oldham Orchestra 1</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rhyming Newsday</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://pthumbnails.5min.com/10353713/517685641_3_294_220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://pthumbnails.5min.com/10353713/517685641_3_294_220.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/08/loose-ends-botb-results-seven-tag.html">Back in August</a>, was the last time I posted a "Newsday" item. I originally did these as "Tuesday Newsday 200" stories, where I'd write a 200-word story based on a recent news item that I'd found. The last time I did it, I went for a different approach. I took the headline and created a short rhyming piece based on the words in that headline. It was fun to do, so I'm doing it again for today.<br />
<br />
Here's the headline I'm using with a link to the story itself:<br />
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<i><b>"<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/woman-says-she-dug-dead-dad-seeking-real-143720763.html">Woman says she dug up dad's grave 'with respect'</a>"</b></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">This headline has nine words, so I'm going to use those as the basis for a nine-line piece where each line has exactly nine words, and where each line also uses the words from the headline in the proper order. Oh -- and there has to be a rhyme scheme, too. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">See what you think:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">=====</span></span></span>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Woman</b></i> omitted in the will still wanted her share;<br /> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">She <i><b>says</b></i> her dad really meant to be fair,<br /><br />but that <i><b>she</b></i> was cheated by her sister's neglect.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />And so she <i><b>dug</b></i> up a plan to finally uncover,<br /><br />what had been closed <i><b>up</b></i>, and she would recover<br /><br />the real copy of her <i><b>dad's</b></i> will to inspect.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yet she got nothing from the<i><b> grave</b></i> but regrets;<br /><br />It wasn't a will -- he'd been buried <i><b>with</b></i> cigarettes!<br /> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Desperate, she rummaged his casket, but still with <i><b>respect</b></i>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">=====</span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span>Thanks for reading!<br />
<br />
I'll be back on the 15th with another BOTB post, and maybe even sooner. And now you can't say I only post once in a blue moon -- blood moons work, too.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span>StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838020557998499402.post-79100434399769756452014-10-01T07:22:00.000-04:002014-10-01T12:24:17.660-04:00Battle of the Bands: "The Last Time"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ1zhynpzhQCK5bi84VBoAxa6bAKSkqm1LiMopoRjmJaKsL-LG56idhqMuGOd3UBdIqFb6386OPIUDJ5ApA0bC5-6GDdhCWWgPo5kZWkDF3ThXBe1ZDoVLdWWljMqPWdoKYvRe-JGIZQ/s320/BATTLE+OF+THE+BANDS%21+%28BOTB+Top+Photo%29.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ1zhynpzhQCK5bi84VBoAxa6bAKSkqm1LiMopoRjmJaKsL-LG56idhqMuGOd3UBdIqFb6386OPIUDJ5ApA0bC5-6GDdhCWWgPo5kZWkDF3ThXBe1ZDoVLdWWljMqPWdoKYvRe-JGIZQ/s320/BATTLE+OF+THE+BANDS!+(BOTB+Top+Photo).jpeg" /></a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br />It's October 1st, time once again for the "Battle of the Bands
(BOTB)," the blogging event originally started by <a href="http://xtremelyun-pcandunrepentant.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Stephen T. McCarthy</a> and <a href="http://farawayeyes1.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">FarAwayEyes</a>
back in August of 2013. It occurs twice every month -- on
the 1st and the 15th -- and is a fun way to share and discuss music. Each of the bloggers taking part offers their
readers a choice of two (or occasionally more) versions of the same
song, performed by different recording artists. And the readers get to vote for their favorite rendition.</span><br />
<a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/09/battle-of-bands-ode-to-billy-joe.html"><br /></a>
<a href="http://stratplayercjf.blogspot.com/2014/09/battle-of-bands-ode-to-billy-joe.html">Last time</a>, I featured a controversial musician in Henry Kaiser; Now I'm choosing a different type of controversy for this <i>Last Time</i>.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Let the Battle Begin!</span></b><br />
<br />
In 1965, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rolling_Stones">The Rolling Stones</a> released their first single in the UK written by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger -- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Time_%28The_Rolling_Stones_song%29"><i>The Last Time</i></a> (Note this wasn't the case in the US. The band's version of the blues standard, <i>Little Red Rooster</i>, was a #1 hit in the UK but had not been released as a single in the US -- <i>Heart of Stone</i>, also written by Jagger/Richards, had been released in the US in 1964 instead). <i> </i><br />
<br />
<i>The Last Time</i> became the group's third #1 hit in the UK. Take a listen to the Stones' original version:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/eM2b9CcH1KM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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In 1997, the band <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Verve">The Verve</a> released a cover of <i>The Last Time</i>, but named the song <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_Sweet_Symphony"><i>Bitter Sweet Symphony</i></a>. It became a hit and is pretty well-known. Take a listen to their version of the song and see what you think:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/1lyu1KKwC74?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Wait -- what? You don't think this is the same song as <i>The Last Time</i>???<br />
<br />
Well, I can see why you might think that, but legally it <i><b>IS</b></i> the same song, or at least it's close enough to be able to determine who wrote and owns the song: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are given credit as songwriters, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABKCO_Records">ABKCO Records</a>, the firm started by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Klein">Allen Klein</a>, the manager of the Rolling Stones from 1965 - 1970, owns the publishing rights.<br />
<br />
To help you understand this, and to hear how these radically different-sounding tunes might be considered "the same song," let me offer you the all-important missing piece: <br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Loog_Oldham">Andrew Loog Oldham</a> was the original manager and producer of the Rolling Stones from 1963 to 1967, and during that time he also created <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Andrew_Oldham_Orchestra">"The Andrew Oldham Orchestra"</a> to develop studio talent. They made various instrumental and cover recordings, with most of them being orchestral versions of Stones songs. Here's their instrumental cover of <i>The Last Time</i> from 1965:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/9YrllfAMwHI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Ah-hah! There it is -- you hear it? That five-note repeating line in the strings? Or is it seven notes? Or more? Perhaps even a whole song's worth?<br />
<br />
Exactly how many notes of this orchestration did The Verve use in <i>Bitter Sweet Symphony?</i><br />
<br />
It matters. A lot. Millions and millions of dollars worth of "a lot."<br />
<br />
Accusations over the use of the samples from this orchestrated cover of <i>The Last Time</i> degenerated into very messy in- and out-of-court battles and -- as frequently is the case when lawyers, egos, and huge amounts of money collide -- accounts differ. A few accounts say that the Verve did not have any permission to use any samples of the strings in <i>Bitter Sweet Symphony, </i>but many <a href="http://www.thevervelive.com/2005/05/bitter-sweet-symphony-controversy-and.html">more accounts</a> say that there was a 50%-50% licensing arrangement in place for "five notes" and that Klein and Oldham felt the Verve ended up using "too much" of the song, voiding that license.<br />
<br />
The fact that the song was an international hit may have influenced the opinions as to "how much" of a sample was acceptable to use. Big money tends to muddy these kinds of questions.<br />
<br />
Ultimately, pressured by the lawyers of both Klein and Oldham, the Verve settled out of court (twice) and relinquished 100% of both their rights to the songwriting royalties of <i>Bitter Sweet Symphony</i> as well as all of the publishing rights. The song was the biggest (and only) hit by the group, and they received no money from its sales, or from it being licensed by to Nike for use in their commercials, or from any of the many other times you may have heard it at sporting events, on TV, or elsewhere. <br />
<br />
In fact, none of the musicians who might be considered "writers" of this song likely receives any money from it at all:<br />
<ul>
<li>Keith Richards and Mick Jagger wrote the original song <i>The Last Time</i>, and even though they're credited as songwriters on <i>Bitter Sweet Symphony</i>, they've received no money from it<i>,</i> having signed the rights to all of their early songs over to Klein and ABKCO Records as part of a 1970 deal that may or may not have been entirely upfront on Klein's part (again -- accounts differ). Keith Richards called the deal, "<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8134795.stm">the price of an education</a>." </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Whitaker_%28composer%29">David Whitaker</a> was actually the composer who wrote, arranged, and orchestrated the music for the version of <i>The Last Time</i> for the Andrew Oldham Orchestra, but he likely received no money from <i>Bitter Sweet Symphony.</i> I can't find any documentation to verify it, but odds are very good he was paid to do the work in 1965 on a single-time basis, with no rights to any future use of the music.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Ashcroft">Richard Ashcroft</a> from the Verve wrote all new lyrics, and the band added over 50 tracks of new music to the string sample used in <i>Bitter Sweet Symphony</i>, but thanks to the out-of-court settlements, he and the band have gotten to keep no money from the song either. In 1999, when the song was nominated for a Grammy, Jagger and Richards were listed as nominees, and Ashcroft quipped that "it was the best song Jagger and Richards have written in twenty years."</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>It's interesting also that back during those early days, songwriting was
entirely new to Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. All their previous
hits had been covers (<i>Not Fade Away</i>, <i>Time is on my Side</i>, <i>It's All Over Now</i>,
etc), and in trying to write songs for themselves, they also tended to
"sample" from older songs as well. Keith Richards admitted in the 2003
book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/According-Rolling-Stones-The/dp/0811869679">"According to the Rolling Stones"</a> that, 'we came up with <i>The Last Time</i>,
which was basically re-adapting a traditional gospel song that had been
sung by the Staple Singers." I'm pretty sure the Staple Singers never
got any money from <i>Bitter Sweet Symphony</i> either. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<br />
I guess it's a good thing for the Stones that the Staple Singers didn't have aggressive ex-mangers with powerful lawyers, too...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life<br />Try to make ends meet<br />You're a slave to money then you die</i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Your Vote </span></b><br />
<br />
So now it's your turn: Do <i><b>YOU</b></i> think that <i>The Last Time</i> and <i>Bitter Sweet Symphony</i> are the same song? And which "version" of the song do you like best? The "original" reworking of an old gospel song by The Rolling Stones or the "sampled" reworking by The Verve? Or maybe you prefer the 1965 orchestral version by David Whitaker and the Andrew Oldham Orchestra.<br />
<br />
Also -- be sure to add your thoughts on the whole issue of "whose song"
this is -- did the Verve rip-off the Stones and get caught? Or did they
get bullied by lawyers and unfairly give up the rights to their
original work?<br />
<br />
I invite you to listen to each version
and give them a chance.
And try not to focus on the video images too much (close your eyes if you must)
-- the battle is about the music, not the video production.<br />
<br />
After
listening, please vote in the comments as to which version you think is
best, or which speaks to you the deepest. Feel free to also share as much
as you would like about how any of the above recordings strike you, even
if it's less than positive. <br />
<br />
Then -- afterwards, check out the other BOTB bloggers to vote on their battles:
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://farawayeyes1.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Far Away Series (FarAwayEyes)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://stmccpresentsbattleofthebands.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Stephen T. McCarthy's Battle of the Bands Blog</a></li>
<li><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tossing it Out (Arlee Bird)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://yourdailydose-robin.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Your Daily Dose (Robin)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://discconnected.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">DiscConnected (DiscConnected)</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://mikespainwrites.blogspot.com/">Mike's Ramblings (Mike Pain)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://curiousasacathy.com/">Curious as a Cathy (Cathy Kennedy)</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.thesoundofonehandtyping.wordpress.com/">John Hilton (The Sound of One Hand Typing)</a></li>
<li>And even <a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/">Alex J. Cavanaugh</a> sometimes...<a href="http://curiousasacathy.com/"> </a></li>
</ul>
<br />
Thank you very much for listening and for voting -- come back
and visit again next week to find out how the voting has
gone. I'll make a post then with my own vote and also announce the
winner.<br />
<br />
And in the meantime -- May today not be <i>The Last Time</i> you get to enjoy this <i>Bitter Sweet Symphony </i>of life, but always be sure to cherish every minute you have!<br />
<br />StratPlayerCJFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07341440379767694905noreply@blogger.com24