Jody Whitesides

Tag: independent artist storytelling

  • Recording Secrets: I Want To Break Free By Queen

    Recording Secrets: I Want To Break Free By Queen

    i-want-to-break-free

    A few years ago I was invited to dinner by one of my best friends Jeff Scott Soto. He prefaced it by saying, we’re going to dinner with Roger Taylor from Queen, don’t bring any music, don’t say you’re a musician, don’t ask about Queen. To which I asked Jeff when had I ever done something like that to anyone I’ve ever met through him [never was the answer]. I got to Koi near the Beverly Center in Los Angeles a few minutes late. They had already had some drinks and the moment I arrived we got seated.

    First thing that comes out of Roger’s mouth as we sit is: “So what do you do?” I turn and look at Jeff thinking – what the hell do I say since he’s put it out there that I can’t say I’m a musician. I pause for a second and point at Jeff saying “I do what he does.” Roger responds with “Oh fantastic. Anything I’ve heard.” From there on out it was much easier conversing. The song “I Want To Break Free” comes on over the loud system. Mind you, I’m really curious about the solo in the song and I’m holding my tongue knowing I’m not supposed to ask. That is until Roger blurts out, what the hell is this doing on the loud system? It was never a hit for us. Boom, open game. Both Jeff and I express how cool of a song it is and I got in the question “Is that Brian on guitar or is that someone mimicking Brian on a synth for the solo?” Roger chuckles and proceeds to tell Jeff and I the inner workings of how and what Queen did when recording. I’ve written a book about my musical life and the story about this dinner, the song and what Roger told us is in it. You’ll have to wait to find out what he told us.

    I Want To Break Free

    YouTube player

    I want to break free
    I want to break free
    I want to break free from your lies
    You’re so self satisfied I don’t need you
    I’ve got to break free
    God knows, God knows I want to break free.

    I’ve fallen in love
    I’ve fallen in love for the first time

    And this time I know it’s for real
    I’ve fallen in love, yeah
    God knows, God knows I’ve fallen in love.

    It’s strange but it’s true
    I can’t get over the way you love me like you do
    But I have to be sure
    When I walk out that door
    Oh how I want to be free, baby
    Oh how I want to be free,
    Oh how I want to break free.

    But life still goes on
    I can’t get used to, living without, living without,
    Living without you by my side
    I don’t want to live alone, hey
    God knows, got to make it on my own
    So baby can’t you see
    I’ve got to break free.

    I’ve got to break free
    I want to break free, yeah
    I want, I want, I want, I want to break free.

  • Why Anna Nalick’s “Breathe (2AM)” Remains a Songwriting Masterclass

    Why Anna Nalick’s “Breathe (2AM)” Remains a Songwriting Masterclass

    breath-(2am)

    A few years ago a song came across my speakers that I had somehow made an instant connection with. It could have had something to do with lots of late nights while working on new songs. Now as I’m getting things finished on a new single I’m running into that same feeling of attachment and late nights. The song I got that connection to years ago was Breath (2 AM) by Anna Nalick off her album Wreck of the Day. Such an interesting title for an album. It’s still resonating years later with a very appropriate suggestion – to just breath. Definitely something we all need to do from time to time in this world.

    Breath (2AM)

    http://youtu.be/xdRHSuPxgXo

    2 AM and she calls me ’cause I’m still awake,
    “Can you help me unravel my latest mistake?,
    I don’t love him. Winter just wasn’t my season”
    Yeah we walk through the doors, so accusing their eyes
    Like they have any right at all to criticize,
    Hypocrites. You’re all here for the very same reason

    ‘Cause you can’t jump the track, we’re like cars on a cable
    And life’s like an hourglass, glued to the table
    No one can find the rewind button, girl.
    So cradle your head in your hands
    And breathe… just breathe,
    Oh breathe, just breathe

    May he turned 21 on the base at Fort Bliss
    “Just a day” he said down to the flask in his fist,
    “Ain’t been sober, since maybe October of last year.”
    Here in town you can tell he’s been down for a while,
    But, my God, it’s so beautiful when the boy smiles,
    Wanna hold him. Maybe I’ll just sing about it.

    Cause you can’t jump the track, we’re like cars on a cable,
    And life’s like an hourglass, glued to the table.
    No one can find the rewind button, boys,
    So cradle your head in your hands,
    And breathe… just breathe,
    Oh breathe, just breathe

    There’s a light at each end of this tunnel,
    You shout ’cause you’re just as far in as you’ll ever be out
    And these mistakes you’ve made, you’ll just make them again
    If you’d only try turning around.

    2 AM and I’m still awake, writing a song
    If I get it all down on paper, it’s no longer inside of me,
    Threatening the life it belongs to
    And I feel like I’m naked in front of the crowd
    Cause these words are my diary, screaming out loud
    And I know that you’ll use them, however you want to

    But you can’t jump the track, we’re like cars on a cable,
    And life’s like an hourglass, glued to the table
    No one can find the rewind button now
    Sing it if you understand.
    and breathe, just breathe
    woah breathe, just breathe,
    Oh breathe, just breathe,
    Oh breathe, just breathe.

    by: Anna Christine Nalick

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