One of my first successful co-writes was All The Things with Greg Watton. It happens to be the subject of today’s post. Mostly because I thought it prudent to make a lyric video for it in an acoustic environment. The bonus is that you get to see and hear what I’m singing and how I played the acoustic guitar part in the song. It was written just before I had gone to a songwriter’s conference and it was one of several songs that A&R people from the major labels were interested. That’s always a shot in the arm to boost one’s confidence in what they’re doing. Greg and I have written a few other songs – but none have made to the airwaves yet.
All The Things Lyric Video
http://wp.me/P20RW6-35g
Lyrics & song by Jody Whitesides, Greg Watton
Ever since I was a kid Everyone picked on me
Growing up was the hardest thing For a boy with no self esteem
So I found a little place In the backyard of my mind
Disappeared without a trace Didn’t want them to find me
For every year that passed me by
There was less of me to recognize
I wish I made more room to grow
Instead I hid I didn’t know
All The Things that people say
All The Things that people do
Will bring you down When you let it get to you
All The Things that you don’t know
All The Things that make you fall
Doesn’t really matter When you rise above it all
Now that I’ve become a man You were there to walk me through
Facing each memory Of those who harmed me
Now that I’m trusting you I’ve started exploring everything
Emotions that may drown me Like a river pouring out-
(Chorus)
Finished with the words that hurt
Finished with feeling like dirt
No use living in regret
Instead its best to forget
(Chorus)
Enjoy yourself!
Today I’m finally getting around to changing the strings on my Taylor 615ce with a set of Dean Markley Blue Steel acoustics. After several live performances and a couple of recordings, including a cover of “Not A Bad Thing” by Justin Timberlake, it’s time I sit down and get my first impression of a new line of strings.
Sit with me as I take off some old flat strings that got played to death. Then watch me do things I don’t recommend doing with your strings.
Get tuned up. Stretched out. Ready to play.
Finally top it off with what my initial reaction is to hearing how Dean Markley Blue Steel acoustic strings make me feel. Rather what I think they sound like on my favorite acoustic guitar.
First Impression Dean Markley Blue Steel Acoustics
Transcript:
Sometimes your strings are flat and you need to change ’em.
First things first. Sexy, minimalistic packaging going on. Some kind of sticky thing. Inside we have a package. Sealed strings. Let’s open ’em up. Let’s find out what they’re like.
They come in two winds. They look like they’re kind of color coded. Better read the packaging. High E, is black. The B string is blue. G string is black. D string blue. A string black and low E string, blue. Alternating color scheme. I’m using medium acoustics. Thirteen through fifty-six, my favorite kind. De-tune strings. Get ’em off. Here we go.
Low E string if I remember correctly that is going to be black. The B string. Agh. I can tell you right now that they don’t taste very good. String G. Cryogenically activated strings have a very very odd taste. Don’t eat your strings.
Fly and be free.
Black for the A. The lower strings, they don’t taste any better than the upper strings. Ah, what a symphony of sound that is.
Stretch ’em out just a little bit. Blue steel’s generally don’t require a whole lot of stretching on the electric side. So hopefully they won’t require a whole lot of stretching on the acoustic side.
Handy dandy PolyTune by T.C. Electronics. Awesome app for getting your guitar in tune.
Ok. We’ve got it tuned up. Let’s clip the strings off. Once you’ve clipped the strings it’s a good idea to tune once again. Just incase there’s any slippage.
That’s interesting… No slippage whatsoever, it’s still in tune.
As far as sound goes.
They have a good solid tone to them. Not overly bright but nice and solid at least with the fingertips.
They have a real nice solid tone to them. I really dig it. Don’t sound overly buzzy. They sound nice and big and full. That’s actually a really good thing. I like that.
Dean Markley I think you’ve hit an A+ out of the park home run with these strings.
Word on the street is that Malcolm Young of AC/DC has decided to call it quits. Or rather, put himself on hiatus. For a band that has been a party animal favorite for so damn long, I’d say it’s a good idea that they consider going out without nosediving – but are they? That’s my personal feeling. Malcolm has decided at the age of 61 that it’s time to take some time off. Some news reports state that he’s taking the time off due to serious health issues. Hopefully Mr. Young is not seriously ill. It would be a shame to lose a man who’s guitar work has touched so many people.
AC/DC’s last release debuted at #1 in 29 countries. That’s an insane feat for a band that’s been around for 40+ years. Most bands would love to have a lengthy career like that. Hell a vast majority would love to have just one hit in their pocket that is as big as Back In Black, myself included.
The one smart thing AC/DC has done recently is to make their music available on iTunes. Do you have any of it? In the meantime rock out to this mega-hit. Don’t worry no one is going to harp on you about banging your head to this. Do it in private. Do it in public. You’ll feel better when you do.
Back In Black – AC/DC
Back in black
I hit the sack
It’s been too long I’m glad to be back
Yes I’m, let loose
From the noose
That’s kept me hanging around
I keep looking at the sky
‘Cause it’s gettin’ me high
Forget the hearse ’cause I’ll never die
I got nine lives
Cats eyes
Usin’ every one of them and running wild
‘Cause I’m back
Yes, I’m back
Well, I’m back
Yes, I’m back
Well, I’m back, back
(Well) I’m back in black
Yes, I’m back in black
Back in the back
Of a Cadillac
Number one with a bullet, I’m a power pack
Yes, I’m in a bang
With a gang
They’ve got to catch me if they want me to hang
Cause I’m back on the track
And I’m beating the flack
Nobody’s gonna get me on another rap
So look at me now
I’m just makin’ my play
Don’t try to push your luck, just get out of my way
‘Cause I’m back
Yes, I’m back
Well, I’m back
Yes, I’m back
Well, I’m back, back
(Well) I’m back in black
Yes, I’m back in black
Well, I’m back, Yes I’m back
Well, I’m back, Yes I’m back
Well, I’m back, back
Well I’m back in black
Yes I’m back in black
Hooo yeah
Ohh yeah
Yes I am
Oooh yeah, yeah Oh yeah
Back in now
Well I’m back, I’m back
Back, I’m back
Back, I’m back
Back, I’m back
Back, I’m back
Back
Back in black
Yes I’m back in black
Outta sight
Respect to AC/DC I’ve always kept a special place in my musical library for them. Maybe it’s finally time I learn to play one of their songs and do a cover of them. I know a few of AC/DC’s riffs, but never learned any of their songs all the way from start to finish.
A chairlift ride with a guy from Sacramento lead into a conversation about what I do and that I had a song for the Sacramento Kings. Yup, I was up on a mountain earlier today getting a few runs in. Cause that’s what one should do when their in a resort town getting ready to shoot a music video. Right? Being that it’s the end of the season, there’s only a short window of time where the snow is reasonably skiable. At least for high speed freaks like myself. Yes, I ski fast. No. I do not wear a helmet.
While heading up the hill on a particular ride, I met a guy named Mark who hailed from Sacramento and as skiers do they start chatting about where they’re from and what they do. Thus he asked about the type of music I do and I rattled off the style then mentioned I had a song about the Sacramento Kings. Which of course perks up ears and gets a response. So Mark, if you’re hunting around for the tune, here’s a good place to find it – provided you remembered my name. 🙂
We got into the story of how the song came about, which is a bit of a story in and of itself. Rather than bore you with the text, you’ll have to catch me on the hill on a chairlift next season or maybe on a mountain bike or more preferably at a show, then ask me.
In the meantime, here’s a link to hear the song for the Sacramento Kings and a shout out to their fans! Buy It Now
Do You Want To Play – Sacramento Kings
The Kings are here today
Doin it for their fans and what they want to say
Is Do You Do You Do You Want To Play
Do You Want To Play
Do You Want To Play
We’re gonna stand up stand up
Not sit down sit down
Ain’t tired of all this running around
We’re gonna jump up jump up
And block shots block shots
Ain’t no baskets to be givin away
(chorus)
There’s a foul line foul line
And overtime overtime
Ain’t backin down from either side
There’s warrior cries warrior cries
And aggressive eyes aggressive eyes
Ain’t letting fear get in our minds
(chorus)
We got a special class special class
And fancy flash fancy flash
Staking our claim while talkin some trash
We got some new blood new blood
And some great ones great ones
Pushing the edge to get that championship
(chorus)
Enjoy your day! Good Luck to the Sacramento Kings in the next season.
What could be more out of wack than three white men discussing rap music? That’s right. Jesse Stern starts us off with an off the cuff remark about rap music and George Leger III takes over discussing the state of modern rap in Southern California. Don’t get me wrong. There’s a lot of rap I like for it’s originality, it’s beat, it’s wild-blue-yonder approach. Yet listening to George talk about the artists he’s hearing about from the youth group he works with, is definitely an eye opening and mind expanding situation for myself and Mr. Jesse Stern.
Find out my expression and how I react to a group that I’ve never heard of. Actually all the groups that George mentions are groups I hadn’t heard of until he mentioned them. Jesse takes it all in stride. What ended up happening afterwards is that I’m now more aware of some of the new modern rap coming out of Southern California. Not necessarily a bad thing.
What say you? Who is rapping stuff so awesome that you can’t believe they’re not uber famous yet? Give me some names so I can flesh out my measly commercial rap collection.
White Men Discussing Rap
There’s a lot of really cool rap out.
Productionwise it’s so minimalistic.
Uh Hmmm.
That I… it’s like driving on ice.
Do you do a lot of rap?
I do where I work ’cause the kids, that’s what they want to do.
That’s what the kids are doing these days…
They’re not producing music. They don’t even know what music is. Well, that’s not true. I can’t really say that, ’cause… You know. They. It’s been really intriguing with them to try and turn them on to other kinds of music.
Uh Hmmm.
And other stuff because they’re so into this ridged little clique of music. ASAP Rocky, fuckin’ ah, SPM, South Park Mexicans. Yeah.
Is that a band or a style.
That’s a band.
Ok.
I was about to say if that’s a style, it’s way off my radar.
There’s a band down in Orange called FUNK.
They’re just called FUNK?
They’re just called FUNK. And like all the gangsta kids love ’em. They’re all like, I want FUNK man. I hear it. Like who the fuck is FUNK? FUNK is the they’re a band man.
Funk is that guy right there. He got the funk.
Well, they’re, you know. Eh, South Park Mexicans, SPM, there’s like four or five guys, that’s all they talk about when they talk. ASAP Rocky is one of them.
–
Give me some more rap to check out in the comments.
Enjoy your day!
– Jody
Last night I pulled up a copy of Life’s Been Good by Joe Walsh to test out a copy of an app called CAPO. The idea behind the app is that it can “listen” to a song and transcribe it for you. Showing you the chords, and give the ability to tab it out for guitar players. My initial reaction is – hey that would be really cool to learn songs faster. That’s how they approach selling it and it’s ability. I downloaded it, installed it and fired it up. Then I started traipsing through my iTunes library to find a song that I’ve never learned and wanted to know. That’s where I picked Life’s Been Good by Joe Walsh. I had CAPO “listen” to the song and up popped it’s interpretation of the song. To put it mildly, I wasn’t impressed with it’s chordal rendition of the song. While it was in the right key, however it didn’t get things accurate by any stretch. After which I tried another method in the app to see how good it was for dealing with the tab. Unfortunately even at version 3 with this software it’s not great for something like a Joe Walsh song. I’ll try it out on a more modern song in another day or two, but so far, my ear is 1000x faster and more accurate than the software was on Life’s Been Good.
As for Joe and this song, it’s got such a cool vibe that I when I hear it, I wish I was born in the era when what is no called Classic Rock, was king. I think I would have had a completely different life being a writer and guitar player back then.
Life’s Been Good
I have a mansion forget the price
Ain’t never been there they tell me it’s nice
I live in hotels tear out the walls
I have accountants pay for it all
They say I’m crazy but I have a good time
I’m just looking for clues at the scene of the crime
Life’s been good to me so far
My Maserati does 185
I lost my license now I don’t drive
I have a limo ride in the back
I lock the doors in case I’m attacked
I’m making records my fans they can’t wait
They write me letters tell me I’m great
So I got me an office gold records on the wall
Just leave a message maybe I’ll call
Lucky I’m sane after all I’ve been through
Everybody says I’m cool (He’s cool)
I can’t complain but sometimes I still do
Life’s been good to me so far
I go to parties sometimes until four
It’s hard to leave when you can’t find the door
It’s tough to handle this fortune and fame
Everybody’s so different I haven’t changed
They say I’m lazy but it takes all my time
Everybody says Oh yeah (Oh yeah)
I keep on going guess I’ll never know why
Life’s been good to me so far
Enjoy your day! I know I am – I’m out skiing for a few hours before I have to hunker down and work on the mix for my next single.
Sit down with me and take a little ride as I knock out a cover of Justin Timberlake’s “Not A Bad Thing” with my Taylor Guitar. Like many people I found out about the song last week when it popped up at #10 on the iTunes chart – when I looked at the chart. It’s actually the first time I had glanced at the chart in a while and I was surprised to see some of the songs in the list. Because of this surprise, I’ve decided that I need to check out the chart each Tuesday so I can stay on top of the changing landscape of the music world. Seeing Justin’s name pop up made me think “Hey, I need to hear that.” I took an instant liking to it. So much so that I grabbed my guitar and started working out the chords.
Later that night I video chatted with my buddy Chris Hellstrom to provide a little sounding board as to how I should approach arranging the song (which is a complex pop arrangement with lots of little parts mind you). Chris made the suggestion that I ought to work it out in an alternate tuning. Thus if your wondering why I don’t look like I’m playing the changes of Gmaj, Emin, Dmaj/F# you now know why. The tuning is an open G tuning (D G D G B D) which actually allows for playing the right inversion voicing of the song’s chords and gives the guitar riff a neat, easy way to play it in the bass register.
I recorded the vocals with a Telefunken C12 and ran the Taylor Guitar 615ce direct into Logic X. I used the Izotope Nectar 2 plugin on the vocal to give it a nice shine. Then blended the direct guitar in with the sound of the acoustic as it leaked into the vocal mic.
If you’d like the Tabs of what I’m playing. Contact me on twitter and I’ll tell ya how you can get it.
Not A Bad Thing
Justin Timberlake
Said all I want from you
Is to see you tomorrow
And every tomorrow
Maybe you’ll let me borrow, your heart
And is it too much to ask for every Sunday?
An while we’re at it throw in every other day to start
I know people make promises all the time
Then they turn right around and break them
When someone cuts your heart open with a knife and you’re bleeding
But I could be that guy to heal it over time
And I won’t stop until you believe it
‘Cause baby you’re worth it
So don’t act like it’s a bad thing to fall in love with me
Cause you might fuck around and find your dreams come true with me
Spend all your time and your money just to find out that my love was free
So don’t act like it’s a bad thing to fall in love with me, me
It’s not a bad thing to fall in love with me, me
Now how about I be the last voice you hear tonight?
And every other night for the rest of the nights that there are
And every morning I just wanna see you staring back at me
‘Cause I know that’s a good place to start
I know people make promises all the time
Then they turn right around and break them
Then someone cuts your heart open with a knife
Now you’re bleeding
Don’t you know that I could be that guy to heal it over time
And I won’t stop until you believe it
Cause baby you’re worth it
So don’t act like it’s a bad thing to fall in love with me
Cause you might fuck around and find your dreams come true with me
Spend all your time and your money just find out my love was free
So don’t act like it’s a bad thing to fall in love with me, me
It’s not a bad thing to fall in love with me, me
Not such a bad thing to fall in love with me
No I won’t fill your mind with broken promises
And wasted time
And if you fall
You’ll always land right in these arms
These arms of mine
Don’t act like it’s a bad thing to fall in love with me
Cause you might fuck around and find your dreams come true with me
Spend all your time and your money just to find out that my love was free
So don’t act like it’s a bad thing to fall in love with me, me
It’s not a bad thing to fall in love with me, me
Not such a bad thing to fall in love with me
Enjoy and please share it around!