What's up guys?
It's been a long time since my last post, but I'm hoping to be a little more regular with updates from now on, so stay tuned moving forward!
I've got some exciting stuff planned over the next 2 years or so and I wanted to share a little bit of that now, especially for anyone who read my books from a few years ago. We're coming up on the 9th anniversary of Electus this November, and before that, I plan to have a completed first draft of the final book in the trilogy: Revelations. I'm sorry it's taken me this long to finish it, but I got a little lost somewhere along the way, trying to focus on too many things at once, and because of that, I wasn't able to give any of them proper attention. Well, that's about to change, and here's a bit of a (not final) roadmap I'm working on. No set dates or anything just yet, but once I get a better idea of the timeline, I'll be sure to let everyone know.
1. Finish Revelations. (Simple, right?)
2. Restructure books 1 and 2.
3. Finish the tie-in short story collection.
4. Turn the.... You know what, we'll get back to 4 in a minute, since there's a few things I'll be doing around the same time here.
So, finishing book 3 is what has to come first, plain and simple. When I sold my first copy of my first book, I made a promise that there would be a conclusion to this story. I've always prided myself on keeping my promises, so even though there are some big changes down the road, this WILL happen, and it'll happen this year if it kills me.
Now, what do I mean by "Restructuring" the first 2 books? Well, there were things in the first book that I cut because I didn't think I could make it work (new writer and all that) but I've gotten (I'd like to think) a bit better at writing in the past 9 years, so it's something I feel comfortable tackling now. Book 2 is mainly going to get some cleanup and general expansion. It feels rushed to me now in the 2nd half and I know I can fix the pacing and make it work better without compromising on my vision for it.
The third one will probably be the easiest of the bunch. I already did a limited release of 2 short stories (if anyone wants to read those, just let me know and I can E-Mail you a copy) and they were, by far, the easiest for me to write. I knocked both of them out in about a day, if I remember correctly, and they basically just add to the lore a bit. I hope everyone enjoys them when I'm done.
Now for the big one. The books will finally be re-released in the medium I always imagined for them: Black & White Graphic Novel.
I wanted the story to be a comic from Day 1, but I just didn't have the resources to make it happen, but with modern leaps in crowdfunding and sites like Patreon, I think we can make this work. My pal, Andy Gray (who a lot of you already know) made this suggestion over the weekend, and I think I'm finally brave enough to give it a shot. I'll be doing some research into successful kickstarters and such over the next few months to see what kind of model I'll need to use, and if you guys have suggestions for Kickstarter or Patreon incentives you'd like to see, please share.
So, not only will I translating the books into comic scripts and trying to raise funding to hire an artist and such, this also comes with rebranding. Some folks might know already, but Broken Bloodline wasn't my first choice for the series' name. But, I overthought it, trying to stay "serious" and that's the name we ended up with. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad name by any means, and I don't hate it, but there's a certain attitude that went into these stories, and I think my original name fits better. I'll save the name as a surprise for later, probably once I get a copyright and all that jazz. In the meantime, if you see me out in public and ask nicely, maybe I'll let it slide.
Man, I've got a lot of work ahead of me, and I hope you guys will stick along for the ride. In the meantime, I'll try to be more active on the blog here, giving updates and bullshitting about one thing or another. As always, if there are any questions or comments you might wanna throw my way, feel free.
Thanks a Mil,
Cam
Monday, April 15, 2019
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Musical Musings: Day 31 (The Big One)
And here we are. A month has come and gone, and I've managed to post a song for every single day up to now. Each of these songs means something to me, and I'm sure it showed you guys which bands have touched my life the most, based on how many repeats of Jon Foreman, U2 and Tears For Fears there were. That said, I'm going to go more in-depth for this last one, and I hope you'll bear with me as I bare my soul a bit.
A lot of you are probably tired of hearing me talk about this song, and I understand that, but it's influence on my life can't be overstated. To my close friends reading this: Some of you never would have met me if it weren't for this song. Period. I'm not kidding when I say this song saved my life. In every way, figurative and literal, this song saved me. And it's continued to save me through the years when I'm at my lowest.
So, I'd like to break this song down, chunk by chunk, and give you some insight into why I love it.
(Verse 1)
She's alone tonight with a bitter cup and
She's undone tonight, she's all used up,
She's been staring down the demons
Who've been screaming
She's just another so and so,
Another so and so.
The first verse is very straightforward. She's alone "with a bitter cup." Has she been drinking? Possibly. Is she trying to poison herself? Also possible.
Her personal demons are screaming at her, telling her she's nothing, she's worthless. Are they really demons, or is this just the perception of herself? Either could be true.
(Chorus)
You are golden,
You are golden, Child
You are golden,
(Don't let go)
(Don't let go tonight)
And our first run at the Chorus. It's a perfect response to the first verse. I picture the girl looking in a mirror here, and either she or a voice in her head says this to her, telling her that no matter what anyone or anything has screamed at her, it can't change who she really is.
(Verse 2)
There's a fear that burns like trash inside
And your shame of the curse that burns your eyes
You've been hiding in your bedroom,
Hoping this isn't how the story has to go
It's not the way it goes,
It's your book now,
Sometimes it's easier to hide than to face our demons, whatever they might be. Here, she's alone, afraid, crying. And unlike the first verse, the narrator addresses her directly, telling her this is her story, and she gets to write it however she wants. This is where the song turns into an anthem of hope.
(Chorus)
You are golden,
You are golden, Child
You are golden,
(Don't let go)
(Don't let go tonight)
The chorus, once again, fits perfectly with the verse. This time, instead of reassurance, it's affirmation that everything will be okay. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
(Bridge)
You're a lonely soul in a land of broken hearts
You're far from home, it's a perfect place to start
This is very simple. We are the land of broken hearts. We've come a long way from where we began, but that's the perfect place to start over.
(Verse 3)
So this final verse is a contradiction
And the more we learn the less we know
We've been talkin' about a feeling,
We both know inside but couldn't find the words
I couldn't write this verse,
I've seldom been so sure,
About anything before
I can't put into words how much I love this verse, just like Jon can't put his feeling into words. So, the beginning with "the more we learn, the less we know" is an old mantra we've heard a million times throughout our lives. And we've heard it that much because it's true and always relevant. I love the honesty here, too. There's something that needs to be said, and it's really important ... maybe TOO important to be put into words, so the feeling has to come through.
(Chorus)
Golden,
You are Golden, Child
You are Golden,
(Don't let go)
(Don't let go tonight)
And one last time, we repeat the chorus straight, just as a reminder.
(Outro)
This world is a dead man down (Golden, you are)
Every breath is a fading crown we wear (Golden, Child, you are)
Like some debilitated king (Golden, don't let go)
Don't let go tonight
The Earth spins and the moon goes round (Golden, you are)
The green comes from the frozen ground (Golden, Child, you are)
And everything will be made new again (Golden)
(Like freedom in spring) (Golden, Golden)
Hey, like freedom in spring, (Golden, you are, hey)
Like freedom in spring (Golden, Child, you are)
(Gold...)
The gist here, without dragging this out, is that the world is fleeting. Over time everything is broken down and rebuilt, even us. Even when the winter cold buries the grass with snow, eventually the green breaks through, like new. We're free to live our lives, and even when things get dark and we're buried by doubts and fears, we'll come out on the other side, as green as ever.
And that's it for the month. Thanks to everyone who stuck with me to the end and took the time to read and listen. I hope I've given you all something positive out of this that you can continue to take with you for the rest of your life. Music is powerful and sacred, piercing into the depths of the soul like nothing else can, so sharing these song from my heart with you is the most awesome gift I can think to give. I love it when people share those moments with me, and I hope you feel the same.
Now, I've gotta go turn 27 in a couple of days, so I'll see you on the other side!
A lot of you are probably tired of hearing me talk about this song, and I understand that, but it's influence on my life can't be overstated. To my close friends reading this: Some of you never would have met me if it weren't for this song. Period. I'm not kidding when I say this song saved my life. In every way, figurative and literal, this song saved me. And it's continued to save me through the years when I'm at my lowest.
So, I'd like to break this song down, chunk by chunk, and give you some insight into why I love it.
(Verse 1)
She's alone tonight with a bitter cup and
She's undone tonight, she's all used up,
She's been staring down the demons
Who've been screaming
She's just another so and so,
Another so and so.
The first verse is very straightforward. She's alone "with a bitter cup." Has she been drinking? Possibly. Is she trying to poison herself? Also possible.
Her personal demons are screaming at her, telling her she's nothing, she's worthless. Are they really demons, or is this just the perception of herself? Either could be true.
(Chorus)
You are golden,
You are golden, Child
You are golden,
(Don't let go)
(Don't let go tonight)
And our first run at the Chorus. It's a perfect response to the first verse. I picture the girl looking in a mirror here, and either she or a voice in her head says this to her, telling her that no matter what anyone or anything has screamed at her, it can't change who she really is.
(Verse 2)
There's a fear that burns like trash inside
And your shame of the curse that burns your eyes
You've been hiding in your bedroom,
Hoping this isn't how the story has to go
It's not the way it goes,
It's your book now,
Sometimes it's easier to hide than to face our demons, whatever they might be. Here, she's alone, afraid, crying. And unlike the first verse, the narrator addresses her directly, telling her this is her story, and she gets to write it however she wants. This is where the song turns into an anthem of hope.
(Chorus)
You are golden,
You are golden, Child
You are golden,
(Don't let go)
(Don't let go tonight)
The chorus, once again, fits perfectly with the verse. This time, instead of reassurance, it's affirmation that everything will be okay. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
(Bridge)
You're a lonely soul in a land of broken hearts
You're far from home, it's a perfect place to start
This is very simple. We are the land of broken hearts. We've come a long way from where we began, but that's the perfect place to start over.
(Verse 3)
So this final verse is a contradiction
And the more we learn the less we know
We've been talkin' about a feeling,
We both know inside but couldn't find the words
I couldn't write this verse,
I've seldom been so sure,
About anything before
I can't put into words how much I love this verse, just like Jon can't put his feeling into words. So, the beginning with "the more we learn, the less we know" is an old mantra we've heard a million times throughout our lives. And we've heard it that much because it's true and always relevant. I love the honesty here, too. There's something that needs to be said, and it's really important ... maybe TOO important to be put into words, so the feeling has to come through.
(Chorus)
Golden,
You are Golden, Child
You are Golden,
(Don't let go)
(Don't let go tonight)
And one last time, we repeat the chorus straight, just as a reminder.
(Outro)
This world is a dead man down (Golden, you are)
Every breath is a fading crown we wear (Golden, Child, you are)
Like some debilitated king (Golden, don't let go)
Don't let go tonight
The Earth spins and the moon goes round (Golden, you are)
The green comes from the frozen ground (Golden, Child, you are)
And everything will be made new again (Golden)
(Like freedom in spring) (Golden, Golden)
Hey, like freedom in spring, (Golden, you are, hey)
Like freedom in spring (Golden, Child, you are)
(Gold...)
The gist here, without dragging this out, is that the world is fleeting. Over time everything is broken down and rebuilt, even us. Even when the winter cold buries the grass with snow, eventually the green breaks through, like new. We're free to live our lives, and even when things get dark and we're buried by doubts and fears, we'll come out on the other side, as green as ever.
And that's it for the month. Thanks to everyone who stuck with me to the end and took the time to read and listen. I hope I've given you all something positive out of this that you can continue to take with you for the rest of your life. Music is powerful and sacred, piercing into the depths of the soul like nothing else can, so sharing these song from my heart with you is the most awesome gift I can think to give. I love it when people share those moments with me, and I hope you feel the same.
Now, I've gotta go turn 27 in a couple of days, so I'll see you on the other side!
Musical Musings: Days 28-30
Since I've got two posts to make today, let's just dive right in!
Day 28: Fighting To Survive by Building 429
Let me be clear that I can't stand this band. I listened to them for awhile because I was being forced to listen to Christian music and almost nothing else, and they kind of suck. And by "kind of" I mean "HolyMotherOfGodHowTheHellDidTheseGuysGetSignedEvenOnAChristianLabel?!"
Anyway, this song always stuck with me, despite the band singing it. (Hm, someone else needs to cover this and make it better....) It's message is very simple: We're all in this together, and downing a person when you have no idea what they're going through isn't right. You might be more like them than you think.
So, I recommend listening to this song purely for the message, because the lead singer sucks. If you can struggle past him, I think you'll find a song worth remembering, like I have.
Day 29: Terminal by Jon Foreman
This song was the first track feature on the Wonderlands EP set. It's very haunting and beautiful, and deserves to be the first track you hear.
"The doctor says I’m dying,
I die a little every day.
He’s got no prescription,
That could take my death away.
The doctor says, It don’t look so good
It’s terminal."
With an opening like that, how can you not listen to the rest of the song? This planet is a ship we all share, and we're all terminal, so why do we fight our brothers and sisters? This song is food for thought.
Day 30: Goodnight Song by Tears For Fears
This song is special to me because it perfectly captures the feeling of playing a show for a good audience. When the lights go on, and the guitars are screaming. When the crowd knows the song and starts singing along, maybe with the wrong lyrics, but they're giving it all their heart. That's a very special and precious feeling that let's a musician know that what they're doing is worth it. This was also Tears' last song to have Chart success, way back in 1993. Enjoy.
Day 28: Fighting To Survive by Building 429
Let me be clear that I can't stand this band. I listened to them for awhile because I was being forced to listen to Christian music and almost nothing else, and they kind of suck. And by "kind of" I mean "HolyMotherOfGodHowTheHellDidTheseGuysGetSignedEvenOnAChristianLabel?!"
Anyway, this song always stuck with me, despite the band singing it. (Hm, someone else needs to cover this and make it better....) It's message is very simple: We're all in this together, and downing a person when you have no idea what they're going through isn't right. You might be more like them than you think.
So, I recommend listening to this song purely for the message, because the lead singer sucks. If you can struggle past him, I think you'll find a song worth remembering, like I have.
Day 29: Terminal by Jon Foreman
This song was the first track feature on the Wonderlands EP set. It's very haunting and beautiful, and deserves to be the first track you hear.
"The doctor says I’m dying,
I die a little every day.
He’s got no prescription,
That could take my death away.
The doctor says, It don’t look so good
It’s terminal."
With an opening like that, how can you not listen to the rest of the song? This planet is a ship we all share, and we're all terminal, so why do we fight our brothers and sisters? This song is food for thought.
Day 30: Goodnight Song by Tears For Fears
This song is special to me because it perfectly captures the feeling of playing a show for a good audience. When the lights go on, and the guitars are screaming. When the crowd knows the song and starts singing along, maybe with the wrong lyrics, but they're giving it all their heart. That's a very special and precious feeling that let's a musician know that what they're doing is worth it. This was also Tears' last song to have Chart success, way back in 1993. Enjoy.
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Musical Musings: Days 18-27
And we're back! Sorry this one's so much later than the others, but don't worry, I've got you covered with TEN songs to make up for it! So let's dive right in.
Day 18: Castle On the Hill by Ed Sheeran
I like this song a lot because it reminds me of when I was growing up. Listening to this always gives me flashbacks to hanging out with my friends, having drinks and laughing our asses off to stupid jokes. Good times.
Day 19: Raised By Wolves by U2
From what is, in my opinion, one of U2's greatest albums. Most people are still riding the U2 Hate Train for no reason and missed out on the entire Songs of Innocence album, which contained some of their best songs to date, and that's saying a lot. Raised By Wolves stood out to me because of how visceral it is. We open with an act of terror:
"Metal crash
I can’t tell what it is
But I take a look
And now I’m sorry I did
5:30 on a Friday night
Thirty-Three good people cut down."
Later on we get this chilling verse:
"Boy sees his father
Crushed under the weight
Of a cross in a passion
Where the passion is hate
Blue mink Ford
I’m gonna detonate and you're dead.
"Blood in the house
Blood on the street
The worst things in the world
Are justified by belief
Registration 1385-WZ"
Bono said this song was based on the brutal honesty he read in the Psalms, and I can believe that. This one pulls no punches and forces us to stare at the ugly side of humanity and deal with our doubts.
Day 20: Break It Down Again by Tears For Fears
I love this song. I remember the first time I heard it, then kept hitting repeat, ignoring the rest of the album. That's a rarity for me, and only happens when a song resonates strongly at the time, so I knew this song was special.
I've heard multiple interpretations of this song over the years, but for me, the most basic ones seem to be the most accurate. Roland mentions "waste seeping underground" and "they make no mention of the beauty of decay." This seems to be pointing the finger at corporations destroying the earth with their greed, keeping themselves alive as long as possible. Another line "When it's all misxed up, better break it down" could be saying that, when things get too out of hand, sometimes breaking things down to their core and going back to basics is the only way to move forward.
But, with that, I'll let you guys listen and decide for yourselves.
Day 21: Bullet Proof by The Goo Goo Dolls
First off, don't ask me why it's "Bullet Proof" and not "Bulletproof," because I've been asking the same question since I heard the song. But, questionable name aside, this is a great song. Both parties in this song are self-destructive, not wanting what's best for them. I've known way too many of these people in my lifetime, and I always tend to get too involved, trying to help. I think that's why this one resonates so well with me.
Day 22: Breaking the Habit by Linkin Park
I'll admit, I didn't like anything the band put out after this album, but it still felt like a gut-punch when I heard about Chester Bennington's death. And now, going back and listening to the first two albums with that in mind, you start to realize just how close he was to death all these years.
And yes, I've read all the rumors about Chester and Chris Cornell. About how they were actually murdered because they were getting ready to expose a massive pedophile ring, but let's be real ... there's a 99.99% chance that's all made up bullshit because people just can't seem to deal with their idols killing themselves. They're human, just like the rest of us, and the average songwriter deals with a lot of depression. Why do you think it's so easy for some of us to describe pain an anguish? Because we feel it all the time! And I feel like running with these wild stories spits on the memory of who they were. I imagine they'd like to be remembered as a cautionary tale of how fame and fortune don't solve all your problems.
Anyway, this has always been my favorite Linkin Park song, and I hope you guys enjoy revisiting.
Day 23: Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden
And speaking of Chris Cornell, here we are with his Magnum Opus. It's a very trippy dreamscape of a song and I think that's why it worked so well. The chords were a canvas and Cornell painted them with whatever lyrics sounded best at the time. Because of this, while the song doesn't have a definitive meaning, you can pull so many different messages out of it. It's really interesting to go read lyric-theory threads on this song and see just how different people see this song.
Personally, the message that always came to me was that, because humans will be humans, the only way the world will ever be fixed is for it to be sucked away. I know that's dark, but that felt like the mood of the song to me. What do you guys think?
Day 24: Twenty-Four by Switchfoot
Yes, I put this one at this spot on purpose, because it seemed funny. Anyway, this was the second song I ever learned to play on guitar. My fingers were to the point of bleeding that weekend from learning this and On Fire over a weekend, but that didn't stop me from pressing on until I could play these two blindfolded.
Nowadays, when I play this song at a show, it always seems to make the room go quiet. I don't consider myself religious by any means, but the spiritual aspect of this song still rings true to me. You don't have to be religious to find truth in this song. We all want to be more than we are, and we all struggle to get there. I sincerely hope you give this one a shot. You might be surprised at what you find.
Day 25: If You're Gone by Matchbox 20
Yeah, you knew I had to put a sappy love song up here at some point, so here it is, one we all know and either love or hate with a passion. I fall into the former, but I completely understand if you're not a fan of this one. It's very much a product of it's time, and it's very simple. I think that's one of the reasons I like it. Sometimes love songs can get overly-complicated when they need simplicity. That's not to say EVERY love song needs to be simple, but a lot of them try to be more than what they are. If You're Gone doesn't have this issue, and that makes it special to me.
Day 26: Some Fantastic by Barenaked Ladies
Yes! Another cheesy love song! This one's completely insane and out there, rejecting every archetype for a standard love song. I'm not even going to go further into this one. Just have a listen for yourself!
Day 27: Betrayal by Fiction Family
Now we'll take a detour and go from a love song to a song about a love betrayed. Don't let the catchy tune fool you, this one ends poorly for our protagonist. Enjoy!
And that's it for now. See ya next time!
Day 18: Castle On the Hill by Ed Sheeran
I like this song a lot because it reminds me of when I was growing up. Listening to this always gives me flashbacks to hanging out with my friends, having drinks and laughing our asses off to stupid jokes. Good times.
Day 19: Raised By Wolves by U2
From what is, in my opinion, one of U2's greatest albums. Most people are still riding the U2 Hate Train for no reason and missed out on the entire Songs of Innocence album, which contained some of their best songs to date, and that's saying a lot. Raised By Wolves stood out to me because of how visceral it is. We open with an act of terror:
"Metal crash
I can’t tell what it is
But I take a look
And now I’m sorry I did
5:30 on a Friday night
Thirty-Three good people cut down."
Later on we get this chilling verse:
"Boy sees his father
Crushed under the weight
Of a cross in a passion
Where the passion is hate
Blue mink Ford
I’m gonna detonate and you're dead.
"Blood in the house
Blood on the street
The worst things in the world
Are justified by belief
Registration 1385-WZ"
Bono said this song was based on the brutal honesty he read in the Psalms, and I can believe that. This one pulls no punches and forces us to stare at the ugly side of humanity and deal with our doubts.
Day 20: Break It Down Again by Tears For Fears
I love this song. I remember the first time I heard it, then kept hitting repeat, ignoring the rest of the album. That's a rarity for me, and only happens when a song resonates strongly at the time, so I knew this song was special.
I've heard multiple interpretations of this song over the years, but for me, the most basic ones seem to be the most accurate. Roland mentions "waste seeping underground" and "they make no mention of the beauty of decay." This seems to be pointing the finger at corporations destroying the earth with their greed, keeping themselves alive as long as possible. Another line "When it's all misxed up, better break it down" could be saying that, when things get too out of hand, sometimes breaking things down to their core and going back to basics is the only way to move forward.
But, with that, I'll let you guys listen and decide for yourselves.
Day 21: Bullet Proof by The Goo Goo Dolls
First off, don't ask me why it's "Bullet Proof" and not "Bulletproof," because I've been asking the same question since I heard the song. But, questionable name aside, this is a great song. Both parties in this song are self-destructive, not wanting what's best for them. I've known way too many of these people in my lifetime, and I always tend to get too involved, trying to help. I think that's why this one resonates so well with me.
Day 22: Breaking the Habit by Linkin Park
I'll admit, I didn't like anything the band put out after this album, but it still felt like a gut-punch when I heard about Chester Bennington's death. And now, going back and listening to the first two albums with that in mind, you start to realize just how close he was to death all these years.
And yes, I've read all the rumors about Chester and Chris Cornell. About how they were actually murdered because they were getting ready to expose a massive pedophile ring, but let's be real ... there's a 99.99% chance that's all made up bullshit because people just can't seem to deal with their idols killing themselves. They're human, just like the rest of us, and the average songwriter deals with a lot of depression. Why do you think it's so easy for some of us to describe pain an anguish? Because we feel it all the time! And I feel like running with these wild stories spits on the memory of who they were. I imagine they'd like to be remembered as a cautionary tale of how fame and fortune don't solve all your problems.
Anyway, this has always been my favorite Linkin Park song, and I hope you guys enjoy revisiting.
Day 23: Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden
And speaking of Chris Cornell, here we are with his Magnum Opus. It's a very trippy dreamscape of a song and I think that's why it worked so well. The chords were a canvas and Cornell painted them with whatever lyrics sounded best at the time. Because of this, while the song doesn't have a definitive meaning, you can pull so many different messages out of it. It's really interesting to go read lyric-theory threads on this song and see just how different people see this song.
Personally, the message that always came to me was that, because humans will be humans, the only way the world will ever be fixed is for it to be sucked away. I know that's dark, but that felt like the mood of the song to me. What do you guys think?
Day 24: Twenty-Four by Switchfoot
Yes, I put this one at this spot on purpose, because it seemed funny. Anyway, this was the second song I ever learned to play on guitar. My fingers were to the point of bleeding that weekend from learning this and On Fire over a weekend, but that didn't stop me from pressing on until I could play these two blindfolded.
Nowadays, when I play this song at a show, it always seems to make the room go quiet. I don't consider myself religious by any means, but the spiritual aspect of this song still rings true to me. You don't have to be religious to find truth in this song. We all want to be more than we are, and we all struggle to get there. I sincerely hope you give this one a shot. You might be surprised at what you find.
Day 25: If You're Gone by Matchbox 20
Yeah, you knew I had to put a sappy love song up here at some point, so here it is, one we all know and either love or hate with a passion. I fall into the former, but I completely understand if you're not a fan of this one. It's very much a product of it's time, and it's very simple. I think that's one of the reasons I like it. Sometimes love songs can get overly-complicated when they need simplicity. That's not to say EVERY love song needs to be simple, but a lot of them try to be more than what they are. If You're Gone doesn't have this issue, and that makes it special to me.
Day 26: Some Fantastic by Barenaked Ladies
Yes! Another cheesy love song! This one's completely insane and out there, rejecting every archetype for a standard love song. I'm not even going to go further into this one. Just have a listen for yourself!
Day 27: Betrayal by Fiction Family
Now we'll take a detour and go from a love song to a song about a love betrayed. Don't let the catchy tune fool you, this one ends poorly for our protagonist. Enjoy!
And that's it for now. See ya next time!
Thursday, August 17, 2017
Musical Musings: Days 12-17
I know this post is more spaced out than the last few have been, but I wanted to let "Songs of Hope" sit for a few days before I put up anything else. That said, here's six songs that I hope you guys enjoy!
Day 12: Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World by U2
There are several songs in the past week that have taken up residence in my head and won't leave. This one is one of the more prominent, but I'll be getting to the other in a second.
Ever stumbled out of a bar, drunk out of your mind? You know, bumping into people, giving them a hug and telling these complete strangers how much you love them? That's what this song is about. But I've also heard people say they see it as being about a man and woman in a difficult relationship, which also makes sense. Still, Bono referred to it as U2's "Irish Drinking Song" about walking home drunk, so that's the intent behind it, but the wonderful thing about music is that it's open to interpretation. So, what do you pull from this one?
Day 13: Every Breaking Wave by U2
Yup, another U2 song in the same post! This is one of the other songs that's been living in my head for a week, only slightly less than the one above. I loved this song from the moment I heard it several years ago. Chasing every breaking wave is something humans have a tendency to do. We run after every glamorous impossibility, certain we can catch it, but in the back of our minds we know the truth. As a race, it seems like we really are in love with defeat, judging by the way we act, and this song really breaks all of that down for me.
Day 14: Barton Hollow by The Civil Wars
Poison and Wine was the big hit for these guys when this album dropped, and while I love that song, this title track beats it by a mile. We've got the story of a man who's committed a murder, and even though he's not afraid to die, he's afraid of being sent to hell, so he keeps running. It's a great song with a catchy tune, and if you like Folk, I think you'll dig this one.
Day 15: Forward Motion by Relient K
I think this song explains itself really well, so I won't go into detail. It's a fun tune that I've been listening to since I was a teenager, and I don't see any reason to stop now.
Day 16: Maggie's Farm by Bob Dylan
Hands down, this is my favorite song Dylan ever wrote, and I maintain his version is way better than the one Rage did a long time ago. Anyway, what we've got here is your standard Dylan-ish lyrics, full of cryptic messages that I love to dissect. At it's core, though, this is a song about someone taking control of their life. They're tired of people taking advantage of them in every aspect of their life, so they break ties with everything. That's an important life lesson if I've ever heard one.
Maggie's Farm
Day 17: Caroline by Jon Foreman
This isn't the first time Jon Foreman's popped up here, and it won't be the last. This song hit me at a time when I needed it the most last year. I remember liking it when I first heard it, but the full weight of it didn't hit me until about a week later, when I was listening to it in the car, alone. In that moment I realized that I was Caroline. I felt lost and alone, trying to find my way back home, stranded in that same phone booth in the middle of a storm, calling home with no one answering.
I broke down when this finally hit me. There I was, driving down the interstate, bawling my eyes out like a baby. The song broke me, but in those pieces I found a way to rebuild myself into who I am today. And that's something I'll never forget.
That's all for today, ladies and gentlemen. See ya next time!
Day 12: Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World by U2
There are several songs in the past week that have taken up residence in my head and won't leave. This one is one of the more prominent, but I'll be getting to the other in a second.
Ever stumbled out of a bar, drunk out of your mind? You know, bumping into people, giving them a hug and telling these complete strangers how much you love them? That's what this song is about. But I've also heard people say they see it as being about a man and woman in a difficult relationship, which also makes sense. Still, Bono referred to it as U2's "Irish Drinking Song" about walking home drunk, so that's the intent behind it, but the wonderful thing about music is that it's open to interpretation. So, what do you pull from this one?
Day 13: Every Breaking Wave by U2
Yup, another U2 song in the same post! This is one of the other songs that's been living in my head for a week, only slightly less than the one above. I loved this song from the moment I heard it several years ago. Chasing every breaking wave is something humans have a tendency to do. We run after every glamorous impossibility, certain we can catch it, but in the back of our minds we know the truth. As a race, it seems like we really are in love with defeat, judging by the way we act, and this song really breaks all of that down for me.
Day 14: Barton Hollow by The Civil Wars
Poison and Wine was the big hit for these guys when this album dropped, and while I love that song, this title track beats it by a mile. We've got the story of a man who's committed a murder, and even though he's not afraid to die, he's afraid of being sent to hell, so he keeps running. It's a great song with a catchy tune, and if you like Folk, I think you'll dig this one.
Day 15: Forward Motion by Relient K
I think this song explains itself really well, so I won't go into detail. It's a fun tune that I've been listening to since I was a teenager, and I don't see any reason to stop now.
Day 16: Maggie's Farm by Bob Dylan
Hands down, this is my favorite song Dylan ever wrote, and I maintain his version is way better than the one Rage did a long time ago. Anyway, what we've got here is your standard Dylan-ish lyrics, full of cryptic messages that I love to dissect. At it's core, though, this is a song about someone taking control of their life. They're tired of people taking advantage of them in every aspect of their life, so they break ties with everything. That's an important life lesson if I've ever heard one.
Maggie's Farm
Day 17: Caroline by Jon Foreman
This isn't the first time Jon Foreman's popped up here, and it won't be the last. This song hit me at a time when I needed it the most last year. I remember liking it when I first heard it, but the full weight of it didn't hit me until about a week later, when I was listening to it in the car, alone. In that moment I realized that I was Caroline. I felt lost and alone, trying to find my way back home, stranded in that same phone booth in the middle of a storm, calling home with no one answering.
I broke down when this finally hit me. There I was, driving down the interstate, bawling my eyes out like a baby. The song broke me, but in those pieces I found a way to rebuild myself into who I am today. And that's something I'll never forget.
That's all for today, ladies and gentlemen. See ya next time!
Monday, August 14, 2017
Songs of Hope
We'll be back to our regularly scheduled Musical Musings posts tomorrow, but for today, I'm trying something I've never tried before. In standard conversation, when I drone on about songs inspiring hope and how they can be a powerful tool to help us through our darkest moments, I just get blank stares, or insincere nods of agreement to get me to shut up.
Around musicians, however, this is entirely different, and tends to lead to deep conversations that can go on for hours. But musicians aren't the only ones touched by music as we all know, so this post is for everyone. Someone without a musical background might not know the details of the progression or what scale the song is written in to help convey the intended feeling, but everyone knows when they just FEEL something.
This is a list of songs (and you'll see certain artists repeated multiple times) that have instilled hope in me over the years. Some of these are new, some are old, but all of them are very special to me, and I hope you'll give them a chance to see if they're special to you. And since this is such a long list, I'll only be including links to the videos, rather than posting the videos themselves. Oh, and since this is an exhaustive list, I'm going to put a star by a few tracks by each artist that are my personal favorites (or in the case of Golden, saved my life) so you don't have to sit through all of these (even though you totally should.)
Here we go....
Switchfoot
Where the Light Shines Through *
Hope is the Anthem
Afterlife
Dark Horses
Vice Verses *
We Are One Tonight
Love Alone is Worth the Fight *
C'mon C'mon
Golden *
Let Your Love Be Strong
Hello Hurricane *
The World You Want *
Thrive
U2
Walk On
The Hands That Built America *
Pride (In The Name of Love)
The Unforgettable Fire
Sometimes You Can't Make it on Your Own *
Sleep Like a Baby Tonight
Every Breaking Wave *
Like a Song.... ****
Goo Goo Dolls
Rebel Beat
Better Days *
I'm Still Here (This is Jon Rzeznik without the band.)
Ed Sheeran
What Do I Know?
Matisyahu
One Day
Jon Foreman
The Moon is a Magnet
Love Isn't Made
God Badge *
Tears For Fears
Famous Last Words *
Sowing the Seeds of Love
Power *
The Working Hour *
Secret World
Ladybird
Louis Armstrong
What a Wonderful World
Bob Marley
No Woman, No Cry *
Three Little Birds
Around musicians, however, this is entirely different, and tends to lead to deep conversations that can go on for hours. But musicians aren't the only ones touched by music as we all know, so this post is for everyone. Someone without a musical background might not know the details of the progression or what scale the song is written in to help convey the intended feeling, but everyone knows when they just FEEL something.
This is a list of songs (and you'll see certain artists repeated multiple times) that have instilled hope in me over the years. Some of these are new, some are old, but all of them are very special to me, and I hope you'll give them a chance to see if they're special to you. And since this is such a long list, I'll only be including links to the videos, rather than posting the videos themselves. Oh, and since this is an exhaustive list, I'm going to put a star by a few tracks by each artist that are my personal favorites (or in the case of Golden, saved my life) so you don't have to sit through all of these (even though you totally should.)
Here we go....
Switchfoot
Where the Light Shines Through *
Hope is the Anthem
Afterlife
Dark Horses
Vice Verses *
We Are One Tonight
Love Alone is Worth the Fight *
C'mon C'mon
Golden *
Let Your Love Be Strong
Hello Hurricane *
The World You Want *
Thrive
U2
Walk On
The Hands That Built America *
Pride (In The Name of Love)
The Unforgettable Fire
Sometimes You Can't Make it on Your Own *
Sleep Like a Baby Tonight
Every Breaking Wave *
Like a Song.... ****
Goo Goo Dolls
Rebel Beat
Better Days *
I'm Still Here (This is Jon Rzeznik without the band.)
Ed Sheeran
What Do I Know?
Matisyahu
One Day
Jon Foreman
The Moon is a Magnet
Love Isn't Made
God Badge *
Tears For Fears
Famous Last Words *
Sowing the Seeds of Love
Power *
The Working Hour *
Secret World
Ladybird
Louis Armstrong
What a Wonderful World
Bob Marley
No Woman, No Cry *
Three Little Birds
Saturday, August 12, 2017
The Little Things
Taking a quick break from the Musical Musings series to do something a little different. I had this idea last night while I was siting around, thinking about my various friendships over the years, and it stuck me that who I am now is due in part to what I've learned from my friends at different stages of my life. So I figured: Why not get a little mushy and give some shoutouts to my friends for all those little (or not so little) things they've taught me throughout the years. So, here goes....
Rickman: What can I say, man? We've had more crazy nights jumping bar-to-bar in Fultondale than I can count. You helped teach me how to cut loose and just have fun, even when other people in the room are looking at you funny. Can't thank you enough for that.
Nagato: You helped me learn an important lesson. That no matter how much I improve, there's always more room to improve past that. I remember the first time I took a Monthly over you and thought I'd finally pushed past you. Then, the next month, I took 2nd to you. Then, a month or two later, I beat you again, and it continued like that for months. We could never take each other for granted, and some of my favorite matches I've ever played were against you in those tournaments. (Even thought Isaac said we were both pressing too many buttons.)
At the end of the day, man, I know that even beyond Fighting Games, I've always got you in my corner, and I hope you know I'm always in yours.
John: At first it seemed like the rest of us were helping you come out of your shell, but then you helped the rest of us realize we still had a bit of a shell to lose ourselves. Between me, you and Rickman we had a solid years (or more) of killer weeks. I wouldn't trade those for anything.
Jarad: I still miss our weekly WoD/D&D sessions. In that times I learned an important lesson from you and didn't even realize it until yesterday. It's what sparked the whole idea for this post, so thanks. What was it, you ask? Well, I've always prided myself on being a guy who thinks on my feet, but in our WoD campaign you showed me ways of tackling things I'd never even considered before. You made me, not just a better DM, but a better person in general just from playing our silly little pretend games, haha!
Outside of that, seeing you take annoying situations in stride made me take a look at myself and learn to let some small things go. My temper still clouds my view a lot, but less so now, thanks in part to you. So, when are we all gonna hang out again, ya mook?
Jen: You helped teach me about determination. You're not a person to shy away from a challenge, (like I used to be) you just go kick the challenge's ass, and I respect (and envy) that.
Also, I feel like I should apologize for the times we were having a discussion about something geeky and I got loud with a different opinion. I really like hearing your views on those things, then I get excited and try to quickly (and loudly) inject my entire view into the conversation in one go and it just makes look like an ass. I'll work on that in the future. Here's to more drunken tabletop nights sometime soon!
Tori: I feel like just being around you makes me more adventurous. You're always up to try something new and exciting, and I need to be more like that myself. I know that if I ever need someone to travel across country to see a concert with me, I can count on you. XD
Luke: Ah, my beautiful Lennon-esque friend. You're wicked smart but it's never gone to your head, and that means something. You're kindhearted, funny (especially when you're drunk) and you like my cooking. Also, I know you treat Tori really well, so with all that going, looks like we'll be friends for life.
Tajh: My man! If I'm ever in a pinch I know I can count on you. When we first started hanging out last year, I was giving you pointers on playing Street Fighter, but you taught me something, too. How to actually HAVE FUN playing on occasion. Not sure what else I can say, but don't ever change, bro!
Chris Currie: I've never name-dropped anybody in one of my songs before, not until I met you. That's just how much of an impact you've had on me in the past year. I've said it a million times, and I'll say it a million more: I wouldn't have kept playing/writing music this year if it weren't for you. You pushed me forward, and gave me a nice shove every time I stalled out. I can't thank you enough, brother.
Mike Laws: Hope you didn't think I forgot about you, brother. We haven't gotten to hang out for awhile, but I figure that's gonna change pretty soon. Between you and Chris pushing me in my music, I know I can't lose. Thanks for talking to me that one night at the End Zone (you know what I'm talking about) and giving me the kind words. They really did help.
Andy: Brother. That's the first word that comes to mind whenever you pop into my head. Not only did you encourage my writing all those years ago when no one else did, but I've taken life advice from you more times than I can count. Beyond that, you taught me that sometimes when things look scary, the only thing you can do is dive in and take a chance. Moving from my teenage years into adulthood was a much easier transition than it could've been, thanks to you. And thanks for not getting mad all those times I called you at bad times, in desperate need of advice.
Isaac: Man, where to start? I've already said that getting into the Birmingham FGC was one of the best decisions I ever made, that it taught me things that carried over into real life and made me a better person, etc. You believed in me when I didn't believe in myself and pushed me to get better. And whenever I needed advice outside of Fighting Games, you were never too busy to listen and offer advice. Between you and Andy, I've had some really solid coaches for the past decade or so, and I look forward to paying you back someday for all you've done. Thanks, big guy.
And that's it! Hope no one feels bad for not seeing their name. There were other things I wanted to say, other names I wanted to drop, but I'd be here all day if I did. So with that, my gushing is over and ... yeah, that's it. This post was mainly for me. Just wanted to say thanks to these folks that I love. Have a good one!
Rickman: What can I say, man? We've had more crazy nights jumping bar-to-bar in Fultondale than I can count. You helped teach me how to cut loose and just have fun, even when other people in the room are looking at you funny. Can't thank you enough for that.
Nagato: You helped me learn an important lesson. That no matter how much I improve, there's always more room to improve past that. I remember the first time I took a Monthly over you and thought I'd finally pushed past you. Then, the next month, I took 2nd to you. Then, a month or two later, I beat you again, and it continued like that for months. We could never take each other for granted, and some of my favorite matches I've ever played were against you in those tournaments. (Even thought Isaac said we were both pressing too many buttons.)
At the end of the day, man, I know that even beyond Fighting Games, I've always got you in my corner, and I hope you know I'm always in yours.
John: At first it seemed like the rest of us were helping you come out of your shell, but then you helped the rest of us realize we still had a bit of a shell to lose ourselves. Between me, you and Rickman we had a solid years (or more) of killer weeks. I wouldn't trade those for anything.
Jarad: I still miss our weekly WoD/D&D sessions. In that times I learned an important lesson from you and didn't even realize it until yesterday. It's what sparked the whole idea for this post, so thanks. What was it, you ask? Well, I've always prided myself on being a guy who thinks on my feet, but in our WoD campaign you showed me ways of tackling things I'd never even considered before. You made me, not just a better DM, but a better person in general just from playing our silly little pretend games, haha!
Outside of that, seeing you take annoying situations in stride made me take a look at myself and learn to let some small things go. My temper still clouds my view a lot, but less so now, thanks in part to you. So, when are we all gonna hang out again, ya mook?
Jen: You helped teach me about determination. You're not a person to shy away from a challenge, (like I used to be) you just go kick the challenge's ass, and I respect (and envy) that.
Also, I feel like I should apologize for the times we were having a discussion about something geeky and I got loud with a different opinion. I really like hearing your views on those things, then I get excited and try to quickly (and loudly) inject my entire view into the conversation in one go and it just makes look like an ass. I'll work on that in the future. Here's to more drunken tabletop nights sometime soon!
Tori: I feel like just being around you makes me more adventurous. You're always up to try something new and exciting, and I need to be more like that myself. I know that if I ever need someone to travel across country to see a concert with me, I can count on you. XD
Luke: Ah, my beautiful Lennon-esque friend. You're wicked smart but it's never gone to your head, and that means something. You're kindhearted, funny (especially when you're drunk) and you like my cooking. Also, I know you treat Tori really well, so with all that going, looks like we'll be friends for life.
Tajh: My man! If I'm ever in a pinch I know I can count on you. When we first started hanging out last year, I was giving you pointers on playing Street Fighter, but you taught me something, too. How to actually HAVE FUN playing on occasion. Not sure what else I can say, but don't ever change, bro!
Chris Currie: I've never name-dropped anybody in one of my songs before, not until I met you. That's just how much of an impact you've had on me in the past year. I've said it a million times, and I'll say it a million more: I wouldn't have kept playing/writing music this year if it weren't for you. You pushed me forward, and gave me a nice shove every time I stalled out. I can't thank you enough, brother.
Mike Laws: Hope you didn't think I forgot about you, brother. We haven't gotten to hang out for awhile, but I figure that's gonna change pretty soon. Between you and Chris pushing me in my music, I know I can't lose. Thanks for talking to me that one night at the End Zone (you know what I'm talking about) and giving me the kind words. They really did help.
Andy: Brother. That's the first word that comes to mind whenever you pop into my head. Not only did you encourage my writing all those years ago when no one else did, but I've taken life advice from you more times than I can count. Beyond that, you taught me that sometimes when things look scary, the only thing you can do is dive in and take a chance. Moving from my teenage years into adulthood was a much easier transition than it could've been, thanks to you. And thanks for not getting mad all those times I called you at bad times, in desperate need of advice.
Isaac: Man, where to start? I've already said that getting into the Birmingham FGC was one of the best decisions I ever made, that it taught me things that carried over into real life and made me a better person, etc. You believed in me when I didn't believe in myself and pushed me to get better. And whenever I needed advice outside of Fighting Games, you were never too busy to listen and offer advice. Between you and Andy, I've had some really solid coaches for the past decade or so, and I look forward to paying you back someday for all you've done. Thanks, big guy.
And that's it! Hope no one feels bad for not seeing their name. There were other things I wanted to say, other names I wanted to drop, but I'd be here all day if I did. So with that, my gushing is over and ... yeah, that's it. This post was mainly for me. Just wanted to say thanks to these folks that I love. Have a good one!
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