Revolution 1

Here we are at song #25. Only 5 more to go. The thought makes me a little sad. I can’t believe that I’ve been doing this for more than 7 months. If this project has done nothing else than motivate me to play, then it’s done enough. But it’s been more to me than that.  I’ve lost some of the self-consciousness I felt as a singer who isn’t really a singer and a musician with limited skills. I like the idea of throwing a song out there, every nine days, warts and all. I work with what I’ve got and sometimes I connect with someone listening. Great!

Speaking of warts, tonight I will be performing at Public Pool in Hamtramck with my Siren cohort, Melody, singing the cheesy songs of Aerosmith that I have no right or reason to attempt other than I was asked to do it. Aerosmith wrote some kick-ass jams in the seventies. What ever happened to THAT band?

Revolution 1 is a pokey, shuffley number. Not my favorite rhythm to play on the drums, as you can tell…I love the horns in the original, much better than the weird noise emanating from my Casio SA-21. My favorite parts to play were the dirty, gritty electric guitar bits. Go figure. The lyrics are great. The Chairman Mao line makes me think of this:

This cat looks like my garden buddy Sampson. Since it’s spring, he insists on going out every day on his leash to smell the neighbors bushes and watch the scurrying chipmunks and birds flitting around the backyard. My friend Elsie asked me today why I gave up eating chicken. I told her a story about how I rescued a little sparrow at work that kept slamming itself into the big storefront windows. When I finally got hold of it and cupped it in my hands, I couldn’t believe how light it was. It’s little heart was beating furiously and it was surely dazed. I set the bird outside under a bush and eventually it flew away. I thought, why would I bother saving this little sparrow and then eat a chicken?

Long, Long, Long

Jim and I went to Homosassa Florida over the weekend to help Uncle Ed empty his house. Thanks to my dear Aunt Norma, there was a lot of stuff to pack and load and drive back to Michigan. Not much in Homosassa but a giant retirement community on a golf course in the middle of a very needy part of the state. Jim commented that he always sees missing person signs with pictures of teenage girls on them in the crappy diners that Uncle Ed likes to eat at. Sad but true. There is a great wildlife park in Homosassa Springs with rescue manatees that we didn’t get to visit this time…too much heavy furniture to lift. I can’t figure out if the native Floridians like having retirees come to their town and spend money or if they are annoyed with them. Florida is kind of sad like Michigan right now – a lot of foreclosures, a lot of people leaving and dying. The drive was beautiful – through Georgia and through the hills in Tennessee and Kentucky. Red buds were blooming and growing through the rocks. I like driving with Jim. He’s good company.

I didn’t have much time to spend on Long, Long, Long although I think it turned out alright thanks to Jim’s engineering expertise. Some people have personal trainers, I have a personal engineer. That’s probably why I can’t seem to lose the weight I gained when I quit smoking…

Had I not lost 4 days I would have spent more time playing the proper parts and practicing the guitar. I had it all figured out last week and then Jim listened to the song and said, “I think he’s playing with a capo.” Ultimately, it sounds better with the open strings but I’ve never used one before so it took me a while to figure out the chords. Capos always seemed like sissy girl things to use, but what do I know? I don’t even play the guitar. Besides, if George Harrison can use one then I suppose I can too. Once again, the casio rocks! Enjoy.

Helter Skelter

When I was a child, there were two songs that frightened me. One was Whole Lotta Love by Led Zepplin and the other was Helter Skelter by The Beatles. I never would have thought Paul McCartney could write a song that scared me so, but he did. Now that I am an adult and a musician, I think this song is great fun to play! Holy cow! I could’ve layered noisy guitars for days. This song must have been the inspiration for the Jesus and Mary Chain.

Now, imagine Ann Margaret or Nancy Sinatra recording a rock record in 1969, if you will. Imagine the producer saying, “You’re going to sing Helter Skelter on this one. It’s crazy! The kids’ll love it!”

Wouldn’t that be great?!?!

This is the version of Helter Skelter that I have recorded. As any reader of this blog knows, I am not a rock singer nor a belter of any kind. Contrary to my usual blather, I’m not going to apologize for that either. Because today, I am a genius. I think I came up with the perfect way for me to perform it. If you don’t like it, I feel sorry for you.

Have a nice day.