Category: News

One of the songs I’ve been working on lately that originally underwent a pretty big lyric rewrite. Oddly enough at it’s current stage it got voted into the top 18 from 72 songs. Lyrically, I’m still taking a look at the song to make sure it’s where it should be. The melody is strong so that helps a whole lot. Without giving away too much of the song – well, none of the music anyway. You can help produce it with me by Pledging. Here’s an early look at the lyrics in their current form.

Brighter Side Of Success

© Too Much Music – Jody Whitesides

Have you ever noticed
How the crowds seem to dance around the fame
Do you ever wonder
Why they act so over the top without shame

Rich or poor is only moments away
Can you believe one or the other is where you’ll stay

You’ve imagined your dreams
You’ve dared to believe
Would your friends all confess
You’re on the Brighter Side Of Success

Remember it used to be
You were someone who’d help out a hurting friend
And the tabloid’s new flair
They inflate your ego to set current trends

Rich or poor is only moments away
Can you believe one or the other is where you’ll stay

You’ve imagined your dreams
You’ve dared to believe
Would your friends all confess
You’re on the Brighter Side Of Success

Rich or poor is only moments away
Can you believe one or the other is where you’ll stay

You’ve imagined your dreams
You’ve dared to believe
Would your friends all confess
You’re on the Brighter Side Of Success
Would your friends all confess
You’re on the Brighter Side Of Success

Success is based on factors that seem intangible. Sometimes the craziest stuff will work, sometimes it won’t. Other times, the most amazing art will work, sometimes it won’t. No one appears to have the perfect formula for it. Either way, when you hit it, can you handle the brighter side of success?

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.

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.

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.