Back At It!

Well, I'm back in the studio, and loving it! It's been a good month and a half at least, but our two little kitties who were recovering in there, from surgery, are all healed up and are doing fine. Now I have my space back and I'm picking up where I left off..and also starting some new songs. I am so blessed with the ability to write songs..it's such a pleasure, and something I absolutely enjoy doing. When Jesus saved me, back in 2003, He changed my life..and my music, and I am so grateful for that! I'm writing songs that I know I would have never written if it wasn't for Jesus doing such a major work in me! It's like, my brain works differently now..and I love it! It's a change that I can't really explain, but it's something that has made a serious difference in my writing. When I was a kid, I listened to a lot of Captain and Tennille, and I still do, today. Something that God showed me is that, when I was kid, and still now, when I listen to C&T, some of their songs are very wholesome, just really sweet songs. Songs that I really enjoy and that anyone could listen to..from small children to seniors. Jesus showed me that ALL of my songs are like that. They refelct Him, though they are not blatant Christan songs, they are sweet, wholesome songs that anyone could listen to. For me, that is so awesome! That Jesus would allow me to write the kinds of songs that I've enjoyed all my life. And it's not just C&T, but ON-J, Glen Campbell, and so many others who wrote and performed songs that knew no age. Again, just sweet songs. And I take no credit for the songs that I write..the inspiration always comes from God..and any talent I may have, comes from Him, as well. He is so good to me and I am forever grateful for all that He has, does, and will do for me! Thank you, Jesus!

A Blessing...

Well, I have a couple of weeks before I can get back to recording. I was on a roll, then something happened that definitely took precedence. Ya see, back during the winter, a small, sweet little kitty decided to adopt us, or was it the other way around? Either way..we quickly bonded with her. Well, a week ago, she didn't show up at her usual time, so I began looking for her. After a brief search, I found her lying underneath our wheelbarrow. She wouldn't move..which for her, was very unusual. I went to pick her up and could tell she was in pain. I quickly noticed that one of her front legs appeared to be broken..my heart sank for her! We took her to the vet and found out that her leg was not broken, but in fact, she had been shot and her little shoulder was shattered..to the point that it could not be repaired. Our vet, who is awesome, told us that the only option was to remove her leg. I was devastated, sad, and angry..angry at whoever made the decision to shoot a poor, innocent, little cat! ...So, her only option was to lose the leg, and ours was to take her in and show her love, like she'd never known before.

Well, she had the surgery last week and is home and doing well. She is occupying the studio until she is healed up, and we can allow her to mingle with our other cats. She is, without a doubt, a huge blessing and we are thrilled to have her as part of our family. She may have lost a leg, but she has gained being spoiled, and we gained a wonderful little family member! She can have the studio as long as she wants! Sometimes other things take precedence..it's not always about us, in fact, it usually isn't. Jesus loves you..and all of His creation!

Little By Little...

Little by little...that's what a friend of mine told me today, and she's right. I had said that I didn't get as much done in the studio, today, as I had wanted to..though, I was pleased with what I did do. It seems, so often, that I go into the studio with the intention of getting "so much" done, but only to realize, hours later, that I only actually got one track down. This comes from not only making lots of mistakes, but trying to figure out the different parts for the song I happen to be working on, on a particular day, and also from being distracted..It seems I often start coming up with new chord progressions, lyrics, and very often ..songs, when I should be recording. The question is, though, how I can I be given something that sounds so good to my ear, and cast it aside, just like that? The answer is, I can't. I lose studio time that way, but I'm always happy to have a new song to work on! So, little by little seems to cover it... it'll get done in due time. However, with each track, I am one step closer to a finished product..and with each track I am happy with what I hear being created. I don't like to rush, or settle for something that I think could be much better..though, with every song and every track, I have to, at some point say, OK, that will do. Otherwise, I might never finish! So, it's little by little...thanks for the reminder, Mich! Y'all remember, Jesus loves you, and wants to know you! :)

What's Happened To The Song?

For a long time, I've been sort of frustrated and a bit sad over the fact that music is not really music, and a song is not really a song, anymore. Sure, there are a handful of songwriters out there who are actually writing really good, original stuff, but most of them seem to be trying to imitate what they hear on the radio, which in my opinion, is not worth imitating...unless of course, you're listening to XM's Sinatra channel, or some oldies station, playing songs from some of the great writers, such as Jimmy Webb, Paul Williams, or John Farrar, etc.. Writing is an art. It takes some semblance of talent and ability, but it also takes, in my opinion, the state of mind on the writers part, that he/she is going to be him or herself. The writer has to be able to know what he or she likes..what type of music, what type of subject..and the other thing, if they're a songwriter AND singer, what THEY sound like! I get so tired of listening to singer/songwriters who are so obviously trying to sound like someone else. They don't have any idea what THEY Sound like. And what's with the lack of good melodies these days..what's happened?? The Melody is so vitally important to the song..it can change a lyric! A great melody can bring to life an otherwise, mediocre lyric..it can create pictures in the mind, that otherwise, with the lyric alone, would not exist. The melody is such a very powerful part of the song..it can also create a feeling that a lyric cannot do on it's own..it can take you to a time or place. A great melody will bring life to a song! However, the Melody is not the only important part..the lyric, the phrasing, the feel, etc..are all important and work together to create a well rounded, and excellent song. Is it more important to write a song that may make money, or to write a great song?? I say it's more important to write a great song..if you're truly about the art of songwriting!! I am blessed to have grown up with fantastic music, and the writers who brought it to me..and I am blessed to know and be friends with some the best writers in the country. No, you probably have never heard of any of them, and that is sad, because most of the greatest writers will never "make it". What does that say about the music industry these days? They want cookie cutter, and I for one, and many other writers will not do cookie cutter. We appreciate what it takes to write a good song! Keep writing, y'all.. and remember, Jesus loves you, and wants to know you! Have a super day!