Queen of New Orleans

I haven't been too productive on the song writing side of things for a wee bit.  A couple of songs I've done lately are just songs.  Nothing that I particularly liked, but I finished them anyway.  I've been playing around with some music though, so I've got a few things in the works.   As often happens with me, I start playing around with a piece of music, but I just can't seem to find a topic where the lyrics flow.  Then out of the blue, a phrase or two will hit me.  

A couple of weeks ago, I had this piece of music that I really liked.  Not complicated, just a nice flow.  Last Saturday I traveled out to BC to visit with some home town friends.  The night before I was playing around with this tune and a simple phrase just stuck with me.   "I left my home in Texas,  I found my heart in New Orleans".   It didn't go anywhere until Sunday.   Sunday afternoon, my friends decided to go golfing.  I purposely didn't take my clubs with me - not much into golf these days.  So while they were out, it was quiet, and I had a couple of hours.  By the time they got back, I had most of the song done.  I played it for them, and they seemed to like what I had done.  

Monday morning I left for the 7 hour drive home.  Figured I'd turn it into a 12 hour drive.  I stopped a few spots along the way to take some photos (another hobby) of Mount Robson, some water fall photos, and a few of some river rafting,  Somewhere between Mount Robson and Jasper, I stopped off at a nearly vacant campground to have a bite to eat.   I pulled out my guitar and finished the song.  

The song is called "Queen of New Orleans".   Its about a cowboy from west Texas who gives up the cowboy life to follow his dream.  He leaves his home in Texas for a boat called the "Queen of New Orleans".  

I figured that I should record it so I didn't forget how it went.  I remembered that my laptop has a built in camera and some video software.  So I got a recording of the song.   The video quality is good, but the sound is poor.  Guess they make better cameras than microphones for lap top computers.    

I redid the song at home on my zoom.  I play this on my Blueridge guitar because it has the volume unplugged that I don't get with my Takamine.  Have a listen. Hope you like my cowboy turns sailor song. 

Have a look.  Hope you like it. 

Bayou and gators

Late last night, or more correctly, early this morning, I was watching an obscure music program on PBS.  Can't remember the name of the show, but they had some musicians from Louisiana playing zydeco and Cajun music.  To really play that music, I think you have to live it.  To many of those folks, the music is in their blood.  Same way that Celtic music is in the blood of the Scots and Irish.

So, I was inspired.  I picked up my guitar and started playing around with what I thought is a Cajun type of rhythm beat.  Whether it is or not doesn't matter.  It resulted in a new song, that for now I called "Gator's in the Wadder". 

1st verse
Daddy's got a hound dog
Billy's got a bull frog
Goin fishin when they can
Momma's in the kitchen
cookin' up the fixins
catfish fryin' in the pan

I still have a lot of work to do on presentation of the song.  got to work on the vocals and musicality of the song, but the song is written. 

Another one to add to my list of songs for the year.

Road to Nowhere - Part 2

In a very early post, I included a version of the song "Road to Nowhere" that was recorded with me playing electric guitar along to an electronic drum rhythm.   This is a new version that I play with Don and Brian.  Don is on keyboards (synth) and Brian is playing the bouzouki.  Me, I just play 6-string guitar.   I think you'll like this version. 

Singing Voice

Hey, I know I don't have a great singing voice, but I have to try to get my songs heard.  When one of my songs is done by someone else that can sing, it makes me feel good. There's a few folks out there that have done my songs and who have made them their own.   That should always be the goal of the singer - take ownership of the song.  To me, it is the greatest tribute to the writer. 

Now, as for my feeble attempts at singing, I've got over the fear (sort of) of performing in front of an audience knowing that they won't be getting a vocal genius. I've learned to accept that.  Even so, I keep learning things about my voice - what my range range is (limited) - what key works best for me.   Since my vocal range is pretty limited, I have to stay within the range that I got.   The key for a song seems to depend on the song. 

In my last post, I included a song called "Barely Hangin' On" which I did in Key of G.  Trouble is, or me G is an unfriendly key and I had to go higher that where my natural voice is.   I didn't like it, but I liked playing the song in G.   

Well, today I decided I'd find a key that is better for my voice. I tried C, because sometimes that works for me.   Then I tried A, because there a few songs I do in key of A.   Neither worked for me - at least I didn't feel comfortable with either key.   So I tried the Key of D.    you can listen to the results in the video clip. 

Still not a great rendition, but I think a better place for my voice than what I was trying before.  

So what lesson did I learn?   Don't be stubborn and stay in a key that doesn't work and probably never will work for you.  Try different keys - even ones you don't think work for you - in my case, even D.  

 I don't see myself as a vocalist, nor do I have any desires to become one.    I do have to try to sing my songs to the best of my abilities so that others can hear them and maybe some day a talented singer will take the song and make it their own.  That's the real goal.  

Creating My Music

My favourite way to pass time is create music and songs. I don't do this with any false misperceptions of getting rich and famous, but it is simply a way to feel creative. Writing songs does not come easy to me. I only started to write about 4 years ago, so I've let most of my lifetime go by without challenging myself to open up and share my thoughts in songs. It is not an easy thing to do, and it is even harder to write a song and share it with you. Each time you share a song, it feels like sharing your sole.

So far I've written about 25 songs. Some I think are stinkers and some are quite good. I do find it interesting though how people who hear my songs view them differently than I do. I've learned to write songs without worrying if you like the song or not. It is a process I enjoy. I don't often know where the ideas in my songs come from and it always amazes me when the words just come from nowhere. I've also learned that my first thoughts of where a song comes from are sometimes dashed when I later realize they have a personal deeper inspiration. Supressed emotions, I think.

My goal this year is to write 20 songs. So far I've written "Two Feet in the Water", "Two Roses", and co-wrote a song that is still in the works called "Green Valley Monsters". My next inspirations is to write a song about the road that leads out of Iqaluit. It's called "the road to nowhere.