Author: Jody Whitesides

  • High Above Me: The Audition I’ll Never Forget

    High Above Me: The Audition I’ll Never Forget

    A few years ago, I was getting a lot of auditions for bands that were signed and going on the road. Or who were freshly signed and also going on the road. Some of the bands I auditioned for got some traction, some did not. I’ve got a plethora of stories about various auditions. But today I’m pulling out a little ditty about an artist by the name of Tal Bachman. Tal is the son of Randy Bachman, yes that musician you’re familiar with. Tal is one uber talented musician in his own right. Probably due to growing up in a musical situation.

    She's So High

    I was called into his management’s office after they heard about me from an A&R guy named Barry Squire. The way they talked to me, it was as if I already had the gig and the jam I was to get to was merely a formality. But let’s back up a little. Before I got to that point, the label sent me a copy of his CD. From the moment I heard it I was like “Fuck Yeah!” It was awesome songwriting and great songs, so I was stoked on getting this audition. Especially when most of the music I hear and was getting was less than exciting.

    At the audition, I walked in knowing the songs front and back. However, Tal had such a presence about him that I got a little unnerved. It also didn’t help that I was the odd guy out, the rest of them were friends. What I didn’t know about Tal was that he was Mormon at the time. Thus had I had know I wouldn’t have brought the guitar I did. A guitar that had an image of Jesus on the front and back, but the back side Jesus wasn’t in good shape. I’m not religious (Atheist actually). Tal grilled me a bit about it as it is really arty, my dad did the art on the guitar. Of course Tal asked about my parents, where they were from, and such. It all came down to me spilling the beans about how they were Mormon, but got divorced and left the church…

    To shorten this up, they liked my playing, but I was 2nd pick and didn’t get the spot. His manager called me a month later and told me, it’s not bad that you didn’t get the gig, Tal just fired them all. Regardless, I still dig listening to his CD. This was the big hit of the CD, though I feel there are better songs on it. Much like peanut butter on pancakes, it’s alright, but I prefer organic syrup.

    She’s So High

    She’s blood, flesh and bone
    No tucks or silicone
    She’s touch, smell, sight, taste, and sound
    But somehow I can’t believe
    That anything should happen
    I know where I belong
    And nothing’s going to happen, yeah

    ‘Cause she’s so high
    High above me
    She’s so lovely
    She’s so high
    Like Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, or Aphrodite
    Da-da-da-da-da
    She’s so high
    High above me

    First class and fancy free
    She’s high society
    She’s got the best of everything
    What could a guy like me
    Ever really offer
    She’s perfect as she can be
    Why should I even bother

    ‘Cause she’s so high
    High above me
    She’s so lovely
    She’s so high
    Like Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, or Aphrodite
    Da-da-da-da-da
    She’s so high
    High above me

    She calls to speak to me
    I freeze immediately
    ‘Cause what she says sounds so unreal
    ‘Cause somehow I can’t believe
    That anything should happen
    I know where I belong
    And nothing’s going to happen, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

    ‘Cause she’s so high
    High above me
    She’s so lovely
    She’s so high
    Like Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, or Aphrodite
    Oh, yeah
    She’s so high
    High above me

    Songwriter(s):Tal Bachman
    Copyright:Bachman & Sons Music, Emi Blackwood Music Inc.

    Thanks for stopping by and reading about my brush with Tal and his song She’s So High. Enjoy!

    – Jody

  • The Musical Genius of Jellyfish’s “He’s My Best Friend”

    The Musical Genius of Jellyfish’s “He’s My Best Friend”

    jellyfish - he's my best friend

    There are times in a musician’s life when his or her mind gets blown. It usually happens when a trusted musician friend turns them on to a band and really gets them to listen. For me, I got the two prong approach from two separate groups of friends when it came to Jellyfish. I’ve chosen to introduce you to He’s My Best Friend by Jellyfish today as part of Throwback Thursday all because it came on in the car last night as I was driving.

    The Backstory

    Initially I was introduced to Jellyfish by a group of musician friends in Las Vegas. I didn’t give Jellyfish an adamant listen until I got schooled on their entire catalog by Jeff Scott Soto. At that point I became a huge fan of a band who had already parted ways by the time I had heard about them. What a drag. Their songwriting prowess is astounding. Pure amazing musical goodness that is easily on par with the likes of the Beatles.

    He’s My Best Friend

    Songwriters: Manning, Roger / Sturmer, Andy

    I’ve known him all my life
    It seems so inconceviable
    At thirteen we shooks hands but we’ve
    Been always inseparable
    He’s cinnamon on my toast we’re so
    Close

    That’s not to say we haven’t had our
    Share of arguments
    He’s so unpredictable he winks
    Acknowledgments
    When i would rather he closed his eye
    Than push me asideMy hand’s a five leaf clover
    It’s palm sunday over and over
    I never had the luck of swingers
    Till i was wrapped around your finger

    He’s my best friend
    He’s my best friend
    He’s my best friend
    I’m his best friend
    He’s my best friend

    You don’t need a brain to have a
    Stroke of genius
    Or a beautiful girl to let down
    Your curls
    Cause growing up is hard enough
    When your a powderkeg for
    Powderpuffs
    (whether we’re stayin’ in or hanging out)
    I’d never ask another on a date to
    The ball
    He doesn’t need a rubber sweater or
    Alcohol
    Cause he gets tipsy from exchanging looks
    And a little misty reading sticky
    Blue dirty books

    But he’s my best friend
    He’s my best friend
    I’m his best friend
    He’s my best friend

    My hand’s a five leaf clover
    It’s palm sunday over and over
    I never had the luck of swingers
    Till i was wrapped around your finger

    He’s my best friend
    (we could hold hands for hours)
    He’s my best friend
    (in the bedroom or shower)
    He’s my best friend
    (i pick him up when he’s feelin down)
    He’s my best friend
    (i guess he’s always been hangin around)
    He’s my best friend
    (he gets lonely now and then)
    He’s my best friend
    (and he gets shy around another men)
    I’m his best friend
    (it seems i’ve reached the end of my best friend)

    Notice that they all line up in a line for the stage and that the lead singer is the drummer (Andy Sturmer) who is standing up at the set. That’s a fairly unique way to arrange a band on stage. I’m not familiar with anyone else that has done it. Added extra bonus points if you can actually figure out what this song is about. Definitely something most people and animals do on this planet.

    Enjoy!

    — Jody

  • Clearing the Air: 9 Myths People Believe About Me

    Clearing the Air: 9 Myths People Believe About Me

    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:

      1. 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.
      2. 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.
      3. 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.
      4. 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.
      5. 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.
      6. 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.
      7. 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?
      8. 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).
      9. (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.
    Performing @ NAMM Without Autotune - 9 BS Facts

    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.