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MUSIC BLOG - 2013
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Copyright 2013 Christina M. Guerrero
02/07/13
Which came first: Miley Cyrus's song "We Can't Stop" or the Apple ringtone "Waves"? They sound similar.
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So the Grammys were on. That's homework for me. Everything about it. I usually feel wiped out when it's over.
11/17/13
Aren't there any retired elderly people who used to be musicians? I have yet to meet someone who would be able to talk nonstop about the music business.
09/19/13
Okayyyyyyy. So placing ads, and answering ads have the same result: crickets chirping. Or feeling like the teacher in that famous scene in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." This is why you see talented solo artists playing "Michael Row The Boat Ashore" at farmer's markets: they probably got sick of trying to hook up with other musicians.
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Don't you hate when your strings buzz, but you'd rather not get them changed, or have the fret board examined, until you can afford it? Happens to me all the time.
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Don't you hate when you relocate, and the closest music stores are not within walking distance?
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Don't you hate when you go to play your electric guitar, and find out only one string has mysteriously dropped one octave? What the actual .... I just can't .... How is this possible?
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And don't you hate when you can't re-create another musician's sound? It's like a secret recipe: there is always something they're not sharing, so it's never going to be exactly the same.
07/06/13
Eventually, after what seems like centuries of practicing, comes a time when you make mistakes and and then have the ability to incorporate them into the song, smoothly and deliberately, without missing a beat. I've been able to do this for a while.
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I will never play like Stevie Ray Vaughan, but I'm enjoying the challenge.
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It is definitely time to finish some of my original music: something fast-paced that occurred to me while I was watching a major rock star during an interview, and that "Reflections Of You" thing from a few years ago.
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It's also definitely time to stop procrastinating and start my own music business. Sometimes, while interacting with most people, all I can think about is: "When do we start talking about the history of blues music?" And more importantly, "When do we start playing?"
06/01/13
While researching the song "Can't Fight This Feeling" by REO Speedwagon for a writing project, I found several live performances of it on YouTube. What was special about this song, and the band, was that the lead singer appeared to be singing the song with great feeling, no matter what year, what stage, how old he was, the condition of the venue, etc. Kevin Cronin is a conscientious singer, and he seemed to be delighted to be onstage, performing for his fans, even thanking them after each performance. Great role model.
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Not sure why I'm singing as well as I can while doing laps around huge malls. But it's great exercise for the lungs, and for those unrealistic visions of some day having to sing as well as play an instrument in a band. I do not have a natural talent for singing, but I've learned the basics from a few books and online tutorials. This has also taught me how to breathe; I discovered I was breathing wrong until a few years ago.
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I had the TV tuned to a blues music channel, while I was reading. I heard a familiar voice, and wondered what song Stevie Ray was singing. Turns out it was his brother, Jimmie Vaughan, singing, "Six Strings down." Jimmie usually doesn't sound like Stevie to me, so it was an unusual experience.
05/21/13
I was looking for a live performance of Clint Holmes's song "Playground In My Mind" on YouTube, but got tempted by, and then distracted completely by Justin Timberlake's "Lovestoned / I Think She Knows" live in Paris performance. I listened to the Timberlake song about 10 or 15 times in a row. I've always liked it, but have never taken the time to listen to it from beginning to end.
05/02/13
Worked a little bit more on "Tell Me." Also gave "Texas Flood" a shot. Can't play either one of them with any proficiency, but I get the basic ideas.
04/25/13
I've had frustrating conversations all my life about what exactly is cute, attractive, and sexy.
People will say something like, "Isn't he cute?" Or, "Wow, he's attractive."
And I'll look and be unable to relate. And I'll just smile and nod. Any time.
Here's what I think is cute: Stevie Ray Vaughan onstage, singing "Pride And Joy." A slightly slower version than usual. The swingy, strutting kind. When he's really putting an effort into describing his joy.
Attractive? Stevie Ray Vaughan onstage, any time, any where. Especially when he's singing "Ain't Gonna Give Up On Love."
Sexy. Now that's something completely different. Sexy is the young Albert King, onstage in a smoke-filled blues or jazz club, smoking a cigarette and playing his guitar.
So, naturally, when I listen to or view "Albert King With Stevie Ray Vaughan: In Session," I'm in heaven.
03/14/13
I deal with ear-worms a lot. It's also easy to think of a song, and then "listen" to it without having to access anything electronic. I read somewhere that these are common issues among musicians.
02/21/13
Trying to learn "Tell Me" by Stevie Ray Vaughan. So far, I think I'd have better luck at winning the lottery.
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Also started learning some Eagles songs. Somehow they created many outstanding, classic songs from a small group of chords, keys and rhythms.
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Back to "Tell Me." It's a sassy song, and it sassing me with its impossible chord progressions. I'd like to ask Mr. Chester Burnett how exactly he came up with the idea for the music.