Oh the things we can hear about ourselves when it comes to the Internet and the amazing stories it can bring. Or rather the interesting things I hear about myself via word of mouth. I do enjoy some good salacious news like anyone else, it’s mind numbing what people do actually conjure out of thin air to make themselves feel better when it relates to others. Then again, I really ought to be used to this by now – it’s part of being a public persona. Which brings me to a little post about some of the stuff I’m hearing that isn’t really true and I’ll debunk ’em right now. Yes, 9 BS facts about Jody Whitesides everyone thinks are true.
So lets get to this little list of tomfoolery that should stop spreading…
9 BS Facts:
- Jody is a dwarf. Believe it or not, I’ve actually heard this and wondered how in the world it came about. Especially when I do actually stand at 6’4″ or 193.04 cm. It’s even on my biography page! Yet still… there are some who don’t believe until they meet me.
- Jody is already dead and has been replaced by a clone like in Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Or much like the controversy surround Sir Paul McCartney and the infamous photo of him crossing the street barefoot in front of Abbey Road Studios. I’m still very much me. Though I have also crosse the infamous street in front of Abbey Road Studios barefoot, in the dark and the rain. Unfortunately the photographic proof is too dark to tell if it really was me.
- Jody dated Taylor Swift. Seriously? While I can understand dating her from a height perspective, she is tall and I am taller, I’ve never actually met her. Maybe this recent idea stems from the song I wrote as a joke poking a little fun at her. Regardless. No, I’ve never dated Taylor Swift.
- Jody is a Vampire. This is pretty funny when you think about it. I don’t have fangs like a vampire. It is true that I plan on living a good 150 years without serious medical help. But I attribute that to exercise, sleep, and eating healthy, not from sucking blood.
- Jody owns a TV. Yup, I’ve been made to be one of the masses on this one. Must be because so much music that I’ve done has appeared in TV shows in the past several years. However, I do not own a TV. Never have. I may some day in the future, but that time has not yet come. Some of you must think “Well, how do you watch stuff and talk about it?” The simple answer: technology – you don’t need a TV to watch stuff any more.
- Jody is a girl. It’s true that I’ve gotten email addressed to Ms. Jody Whitesides. I’ve even had people exclaim “Wait, you’re a guy?!?” When they meet me or talk to me via phone or video chat. Yes, despite the gender bias of my name, I am not a female. I’m 100% male.
- Jody has a phobia of horror movies. What?!? As a person who isn’t afraid of much of anything, I’m having difficulty understanding where this one came from. Maybe it’s because last year I decided to do 30 days of horror movies in 30 days. Someone must have thought that I was getting over a fear of scary movies. Nonetheless, being the movie buff that I am – I dig horror movies. Have you seen The Conjuring?
- Jody can’t ski for shit. If we’re taking the term shit literally, then no, I’m not. However, if we take the concept of meaning that I can’t ski, well… then the reality is, unfounded. Turns out I’m a good skier. Good enough to have been nationally ranked in freestyle events. Though it’s been a few years since I’ve competed on a national level, I can still tear it up – even without a helmet (no, I don’t wear a helmet to ski).
- (Going musical on this one) Jody can’t sing without Autotune. When I was first learning to sing a few years back, I’d admit that I would have loved to have been able to tune myself on the spot. However, as it turns out, I learned to sing the old fashioned way. Trial and error, while recording and listening back. It certainly helps that I can hear if I’m out of tune. So much trial and error eventually got me to the point where I can sing in tune even at times when I can’t hear myself. So no, I don’t not need autotune to sing.
And there ya have it. 9 BS facts about me that really aren’t true. Now you have the straight dope on it. Feel free to share and pass along to anyone not in the know and who thinks otherwise.
We never stop learning, however when I was learning to initially play guitar, I was really into guitar oriented music. One of my favorite guitarists was Zakk Wylde. Which led me to Ozzy Ozbourne and his impressive stable of guitar players over the course of his career. Today I’m looking back at a song that I really liked from a musical standpoint and a lyrical standpoint.
The song is Hero by Ozzy Ozbourne as it comes from No Rest For The Wicked. I couldn’t find an official video, but here’s a YouTuber’s upload of it. The way the guitar defines and moves this song is so awesome that it still strikes me years later. Everything about how the melody is working on the opening instrument to the powerful punch of the guitars setting a very crunchy base for the rest of song to latch on to, it’s a song that didn’t get a lot of attention but certainly deserved it from a songwriting perspective. At least that was my love of it.
Being that I’ve written a different type of Hero song, that has a similar concept of hey – I’m not really a hero, I thought it would be a good idea to post the lyrics as well.
Hero
I don’t want to be a hero
I don’t want to ever let you down
No, I don’t want to let you down
I could try to take you higher
But I don’t want to wear a broken crown
You know it brings me down
Don’t think you’ll ever understand me
I don’t even understand me
Don’t have the power to annoint you
And I don’t want to disappoint
The fools no more
The fools no more
I couldn’t answer all your questions
And if you’re lost I couldn’t find your way
I couldn’t find your way
You know you have to face the music
You changed your tune and don’t know what to play
So don’t you run away
Everybody’s talking crazy
Some think I am a devil maybe
I don’t want to hear about it
Don’t want to have to scream and shout
At fools no more
The fools no more
So, I don’t want to be a hero
Don’t want to sit upon your crippled throne
I’ve got a life of my own
I am not your destination
Or a road that’s gonna lead you home
So, baby please don’t go
Please don’t go
Please don’t go
Please don’t go
Please don’t go
Please don’t go
Please don’t go
Please don’t go
Please don’t go
Writer: OSBOURNE, OZZY/WYLDE, ZAKK/SINCLAIR, JOHN/CASTILLO, RANDY
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
I must be feeling heroic in a way as I’m calmly working towards my next step in music. Finished a trailer for spec yesterday, that I’ve already been told is really awesome. We’ll see how it turns out.
For today’s throwback thursday I’m going back only a short bit. Mostly because I’m digging on these words which make up rolling in the deep that were created and the voice that gave them power. That’s right, lets relive a little magic created by Ms. Adele. Man what a voice. Maybe it’s because she’s British. More likely it’s because she’s seriously talented. The two together are a potent combo. Don’t you agree?
Rolling In The Deep
There’s a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch and it’s bring me out the dark
Finally, I can see you crystal clear
Go ahead and sell me out and I’ll lay your ship bare
See how I’ll leave with every piece of you
Don’t underestimate the things that I will do
There’s a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch and it’s bring me out the dark
The scars of your love remind me of us
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
The scars of your love, they leave me breathless
I can’t help feeling
We could have had it all
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hands
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
Baby, I have no story to be told
But I’ve heard one on you and I’m gonna make your head burn
Think of me in the depths of your despair
Make a home down there as mine sure won’t be shared
The scars of your love remind me of us
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
The scars of your love, they leave me breathless
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me),
I can’t help feeling,
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all,
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hands
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
Could have had it all
Rolling in the deep
You had my heart inside of your hands
But you played it with a beating
Throw your soul through every open door
Count your blessings to find what you look for
Turn my sorrow into treasured gold
You’ll pay me back in kind and reap just what you’ve sown
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
We could have had it all
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
It all, it all, it all
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hands
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hands
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
But you played it,
You played it,
You played it,
You played it to the beat.
Songwriter(s):Paul Epworth, Adele Laurie Blue Adkins
Do I imagine that I’d ever do a cover of this? No. Not likely. However, I won’t rule it out – but I’d rather just enjoy Adele and the way she imagined it.
Umbrella
A couple of years back I used to be vigilant with a blog called Single of the Day. One day I featured an artist by the name of Jennings who did a cover of the infamous song by Rihanna and Jay-Z called Umbrella. Right here I’m posting one of the two videos I could find on YouTube by Mary Jennings, both of which are live performances and not the album recorded version I have in my collection. Either way it’s still a great rendition that I prefer over any other version I’ve heard.
Lyrics:
You had my heart, and we’ll never be worlds apart
Maybe in magazines, but you’ll still be my star
Baby ’cause in the dark, you can’t see shiny cars
And that’s when you need me there
With you, I’ll always share
Because when the sun shines, we’ll shine together
Told you I’ll be here forever
Said I’ll always be your friend
Took an oath, I’ma stick it out to the end
Now that it’s raining more than ever
Know that we’ll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella
(Ella ella, ay ay ay)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella, ay ay ay)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella, ay ay ay)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella, ay ay ay ay, ay ay)
These fancy things will never come in between
You’re part of my entity, here for infinity
When the war has took its part
When the world has dealt its cards
If the hand is hard, together we’ll mend your heart
Because when the sun shines, we’ll shine together
Told you I’ll be here forever
[- From: http://www.elyrics.net -]
Said I’ll always be your friend
Took an oath, I’ma stick it out to the end
Now that it’s raining more than ever
Know that we’ll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella
(Ella ella, ay ay ay)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella, ay ay ay)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella, ay ay ay)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella, ay ay ay ay, ay ay)
You can run into my arms
It’s okay, don’t be alarmed, come in to me
There’s no distance in between our love
So go on and let the rain pour
I’ll be all you need and more
Because when the sun shines, we’ll shine together
Told you I’ll be here forever
Said I’ll always be your friend
Took an oath, I’ma stick it out to the end
Now that it’s raining more than ever
Know that we’ll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella
(Ella ella, ay ay ay)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella, ay ay ay)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella, ay ay ay)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella, ay ay ay ay, ay ay)
It’s raining, raining
Ooh baby, it’s raining, raining
Baby, come in to me
Come in to me
It’s raining, raining
Ooh baby, it’s raining, raining
You can always come here to me
Come in to me
It’s pouring rain, it’s pouring rain
Come in to me, come in to me
It’s pouring rain, it’s pouring rain
Come in to me, come in to me
Songwriter(s):Terius Nash, Shawn Carter
Calm Before
It’s 7:32 p.m. and I’m sitting here on a Saturday night about to head out with some friends for a long time friend’s birthday party. There’s been a little thunder, lightening, rain, and even some hail. Yes, even some hail. Yet, I’m feeling a little peace as there’s about to be a whirlwind of a storm with my PledgeMusic campaign starting on July 10th. Oh the irony, I’m experiencing a calm before the crowdfunding storm and it’s storming outside for real. Somebody pinch me.
A few minutes ago I read the article that was released on the 5th from the Park Record (read the article). I was interviewed about the upcoming crowdfunding campaign. I’m duly impressed. It’s a really good article. Explains the situation extremely well and even makes the vibe a bit compelling. Major thanks to Scott Iwasaki for grabbing a bit to eat at Chubasco’s and doing a nice low pressure interview over some mexican food. What a process it took for me to get to this point. And yet, there might be another twist in the wind due to a chance encounter on the 4th of July.
Getting Ready
In the past week, I’ve shot a video, written two songs for outside projects, and been prepping even more of this coming adventure with my crew. Come Wednesday I have the feeling lots of things are going to change and I want to make sure that I’m giving my full and undivided attention to the process. Which will mean even more video, who knows, it might become a daily process. All the more reason that the last two months of prep are now winding down and I get a few moments of calm before it all hits.
I know come Monday there will be a bit more prep work as the final touches are done up on my PledgeMusic page. The last bits of research and adjustments will get ironed out and then boom – it will start. Stayed tuned because the link to PledgeMusic will be coming shortly and I’ll be calling upon you to help spread the word and donate to the cause. We all need help and I need yours. Thus I’ll have a few extra breaths and a beer or two to celebrate a birthday and the campaign. Enjoy the calm before the impending crowdfunding storm.