I am so pleased to be guest blogging here at What Does This Song Mean To Me! Music has been a big part of my life my whole life. When I was little, I wanted to be a dj when I grew up. Many people have the gift of playing an instrument, or have a beautiful singing voice. I was blessed with the ability to hear how songs fit together in relationship to each other.
Today I'd like to talk to you about a new song that has really captured my attention. Did any of you watch the show on VH1 "Confessions of a Teen Idol"? I was drawn to it because I remembered nearly all of the men that were appearing on the program, trying to find their way back into the spotlight. I stuck with it because each and every one of them had a compelling story that made me care about who they are now, not just who they were when I was a teenager and had their posters on my bedroom wall. During the course of the show, I found myself particularly drawn to the story of Billy Hufsey. I was so fascinated by him when he was on Fame, and the amount of talent and heart he showed on this show kept me fascinated again. While filming, he wrote a song, called "Better Man", and arranged for some studio time to go in and record the track. At the finale of the show, the producers gave Billy a unique opportunity. They liked the single so much that they created a video to be shown on VH1.com, using this song. Here is that video:
I love this song so much, I went ahead and bought the entire CD, which is available digitally at ITunes as well as other retailers. I've listened to it several times since my purchase, and I am extremely impressed by the whole thing. All but three tracks are written by Billy, and you can tell he is coming from his heart.
For those of you in the Cleveland area, I'd like to let you know that there is a CD release party planned for April 3rd, at the Earth Club. You can find all the details at his Myspace site.
I am proud to present to you another great guest post! Acoustic Jim is a musician who writes his lyrics to express life events. His music is incredibly addicting from the start with its easy going sound. I have found myself playing his songs over and over.
In this post, Jim presents his song "Life Two Point Oh". It exemplifies the world of social networking and social media. Do you find yourself addicted to Twitter, StumbleUpon, Mixx, Facebook, MySpace and Digg? If web 2.0 has become a big part of your life, then I know you will thoroughly enjoy Jim's song. I like to think of it as "The Social Media Song"! Enjoy:
Poke me, Nudge me, Write on my Wall!
What was life like before the Internet? I can’t remember and worse still, I struggle to imagine. The world wide web has changed so many areas of our lives and music is one such area which has been redefined. The way we listen, the way we share and the way that the industry operates. It’s also the inspiration for the title track on my debut EP “Life Two Point Oh”
When writing lyrics I always try to find something that I, and hopefully the listener can identify with. Quite often there is a theme sat right under your nose whether it is based on a personal experience or something you have simply observed. With me using every Internet tool in the book to try and promote my musical alter ego Acoustic Jim, the Internet was the perfect subject.
Web 2.0 is a buzz word banded around by online companies and marketers which encompasses amongst other things the phenomenon of social networking.“Life Two Point Oh” is a play on this buzz word. You can listen to the song and find the lyrics transcribed at www.acousticjim.co.uk
One of the principal ways in which the Internet shapes our lives is in the way in which we communicate. Whether it is email, instant messaging, VOIP (Skype) etc. it is now incredibly easy to communicate with anyone, anywhere in the world at little or no cost. With the likes of YouTube we can share videos of things we’ve seen or even ourselves. Aspiring comedians or musicians can reach a global audience from the comfort of their bedroom as normal folk take the stage, their audience unseen. We can even live out fantasy lives through sites like Second Life. There are after all, only virtual limits when we live through the Internet. We can transcend the physical and live out our fantasies, constrained only by the limits of our imagination.
In the lyrics to “Life Two Point Oh” I have dropped a few names as well as drawn upon certain networking sites which dominate our lives. The song isn’t a criticism of the web. On the contrary it is a celebration; however, there is an air of caution to the song. Like anything if we allow it to consume us it can be detrimental. There is also the voyeuristic element to many of these sites which is open to abuse. My life is now wide open, a novel read by all.
With so much of what I do revolving around the Internet and these sites the subject was extremely apt. I just hope that it doesn’t consume me......
Lyrics: Life Two Point Oh
A break in the day free time comes around A billion voices twitter not making a sound Do I go for glory watching other people dreams Normal folk take the stage their audience unseen Excited eyes look on detached from reality A greater place lies beyond this enhanced reality
So poke me nudge me write on my wall, my life is now wide open, a novel read by all
(chorus)
Second Life’s begun that’s where I’m gonna go, Virtual limits living life two point oh In cyberspace I’m always in control That’s why I’m feeling safe living life two point oh.
I choose the familiar and check on my friends I don’t know you know did I really know you then Who is everybody and what do they do My new life as a daily soap has now come true There are no answers that I can’t get Helped by global friends I’ve simply never met.
So poke me nudge me write on my wall, my life is now wide open, a novel read by all
(chorus)
Have you seen my face tube book you’ll probably want to see No need for this skin an bones cos that’s the real me. Living life through a copper wire Binary goals to which we all can aspire a third life or more we’re always in control but like much these days, its got no soul
So poke me nudge me write on my wall, my life is now wide open, a novel read by all
Second Life’s begun that’s where I’m gonna go, Virtual limits living life two point oh In cyberspace I’m always in control That’s why I’m feeling safe living life two point oh.
HAWK NELSONHawk Nelson is (from left) Jason Dunn - lead vocals, piano (2003-present) Justin Benner - drums (2008-present) Jonathan Steingard - guitar, backing vocals (2004-present) Daniel Biro - bass, backing vocals (2003-present)
GENRE: If you're like me, you’re not seek’n preach’n when you're ready to listen to music. My Sirius radio is locked on Hair Nation and Classic Rewind. Christian rock simply wasn't on my radar. -- that is until I found Hawk Nelson. They've opened up a world of music to me that seriously rocks. Don't take my word for it, check them out. The boys from Petersborough, Ontario are cross classified as pop/punk and Christian rock, and if their name doesn't ring a bell , there's still a good chance you've already heard 'em play.
CROSSOVER SUCCESS: Hawk Nelson has met with success in the mainstream. They portrayed The Who on the NBC drama American Dreams, and they recorded "Bring 'Em Out" (listen below) for the 2005 motion picture Yours, Mine and Ours. This song and "The Show" (listen below) were both used on Sunday Night Football commercials. "Things We Go Through" (listen below) from Letters to the President was also featured in Yours, Mine and Ours. The compilation Charlotte's Web: Music Inspired By The Motion Picture features Hawk Nelson's "Everything You Ever Wanted." (listen below)
HN's latest album is Hawk Nelson is my Friend (check out this cool interactive site). How appropriate the title is. These guys make friends easily; they're really nice guys. See them below with my sons at one of their outdoor concerts. We drove 450 miles for this one. We've seen them five times in the last three years. They're just that good. Their lyrics are unpretentious and meaningful. Their rhythm is contagious, with a powerful driving beat. And their presence on stage is as energy-filled and entertaining as any band I've seen. And I've seen plenty.
As I said, before Hawk Nelson I never considered listening to Christian rock. Now, I love it. The subgenres in Christian rock are as varied as the categories of rock. The bands are as talented, and the messages are positive. I only wish I discovered it sooner. I still have my top two presets on Hair Nation and Classic Rewind, but now my third preset plays Christian rock. IMO there's something there for everyone.
When people list the top ten greatest Rock bands, you see the usual appearances of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Who - on occasion you would see Guns N' Roses up on the list, if not, they're typically not too far behind.
Talks among others debating on whether Guns N' Roses reuniting has been circling for some time now. With Axl Rose being the only original member left in the band, I see comments such as "The best rockband ever!!! I wish one day the original band will celebrate their comeback" being a dead wish based on the latest article with him referring to Slash as "cancer that's better removed." Harsh words, people! It seems this attitude towards Slash has only increased over the years instead of fading away.
I know very little about the issues within the band so there is no existent opinions on my part. So I simply did a little digging, concentrating mainly on Slash - is he that bad to also have Mr. Rose saying "...there's zero possibility of me having anything to do with Slash other than by ambush, and that wouldn't be pretty." and describing Slash playing the guitar as being a "whore for the limelight"???
During my short discovery mission, I'm starting to think Slash can't be that bad - well talent-wise anyway. Maybe this great song - created from a little joking around on the guitar by Slash himself - will hopefully cheer up a few Guns N' Rose's fans!
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Hey Everyone,
