WARNING: This next part has nothing to with music.....but how many times do I get to be in a major motion picture?
Last Friday I was on the set of what will probably be one of the biggest movies of 2009.
Now let me stress that I was only cast as a background actor. So the chances of me showing up on screen are minimal. But even still I was excited to be a part of this film.
You see this movie is based on a very popular TV show. A show that I am a big fan of. So I was real excited to be even a small part of this big screen adaptation.
Now the bad part is that the production of this movie is shrouded in secrecy. So much so that I had to sign a confidentiality agreement stating that I would not talk about the name of this film or describe what I saw on the set of this movie.
But here is what I can talk about........
The security was very tight on this production. Upon leaving the makeup and costume tent, All the actors (myself included) where required to wear overcoats so that no one could see our costumes, then we where shuttled from makeup and costume to the actual set in a bus. This bus was like a TRASNPORTER taking us to STRANGE NEW WORLDS, NEW LIFE, & NEW CIVILIZATIONS.
Once I got on the set of this movie, I realized that I was about TO BODLY GO WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE
As critical as I am about the Grammy Awards, being a member of the Recording Academy does have its advantages sometimes.
The Grammys invited Kathy and me to a "Evening with 3 time Grammy award winner Mel Brooks".
Most people know that he is a comic legend, but few people take into account what a good songwriter he is.
Kathy and I sat in the Grammy offices in Santa Monica CA with other Grammy members and listened to the Mel Brooks discuss creativity, music, songwriting.....and oh yeah, comedy.
Joining in the discussion where other comic celebrities like Carl Reiner, Jason Biggs, Tim Meadows, Maya Rudolph, & Norm Macdonald, just to name a few.
I remember when I recorded on Neil Young's album, I had this surreal feeling that all this was happening to someone else, because these things don't happen to regular guys like me. This is kinda how I felt about this experience too.
The article talks about my recent Piano album of all Beatles songs, and my last CD "Another Roll of The Dice".
After you read the article, do me a favor, and click the "Reccomend" button below the authors name. You will see the number go up one and a little check will appear. You don't have to log on or anything. That will let everyone know there is interest in reading about original music.
TJR Grammy Wrap Up 2008
Current mood: optimistic
Category: Music
I am an indie artist. I have self released 3 rock albums and one Piano instrumental album. All my life I have always felt that the Grammys are just a popularity contest for whoever sold the most CDs and little to do with artistic excellence. Not that artistic excellence and CD sales don't always go together, but the Grammy's are nothing like the Oscars which gives props to great films that don't always get the box office.
But I became a voting member of the Grammys because sometimes you can only affect change from the inside. But I am only one person, which is why I encourage my fellow indie artists to join and vote.
But I am here to talk about the live performances and not who wins or loses.
Some of you may be shocked to realize that I am not familiar with some of the songs on tonight's show. I may have almost 5 thousand songs on my ipod (And I love them all), but I don't pay much attention to mainstream radio anymore (It's hard to when most of it sucks).
Alicia Keys and Frank Sinatra duet through the miracle of modern technology. In spite of all the criticism she gets from some hipsters, I think she's very talented and out of all the fake diva's currently getting airplay she has the stuff to become a real diva someday (Ya' gotta work for that title).
Carrie Underwood: Before he Cheats: I liked the song (This is the first time I've heard it), I don't think it's a country song. The only thing country about this song is the fiddle, I think it was more of a blues song. I guess we would call this urban country(at least the way it was performed here). This time the dancers actually added something to the song. But I do like the song.
COOL AND NOT COOL Reunion of Morris Day The Time performing Jungle Love. This was very unexpected and cool, then Rihanna came along and started singing "Umbrella" really badly. It doesn't help that Jungle Love is hundred times more fun a song than Umbrella (A mediocre song that took 4 people to write). She started to improve a bit during the songs breakdown but I think she may have been lipsynching or they where doubling her voice at this point. I noticed that "The Time" seemed to stop playing during her performance which makes it obvious that a lot of Rihanna's performance was canned. This is in stark contrast to "The Time", who were obviously live.
Tribute to the Beatles:
Part 1 Opens with Cirque du Soleil's performance of "A Day in the Life". This is one of those stage shows I can't afford myself, so it's great to see a bit of it.
Part 2 Then From the movie "Across the Universe" A live straight up gospel rendition of (what was always a Gospel song in the first place) "Let it Be".
The first half was performance art, the second half a straight up live performance, and both where awesome. Of course It's real hard to screw up Beatles songs (although American Idol managed it last season).
Kanye West: I am not a big fan of this guy, but I have to admit his song "Jesus Walks" is powerful and can bring me to tears. I have never heard the song he performed tonight before, but I think I might like it, if I heard it more. What surprised me is that he actually started to sing at one point. I've never heard him sing before.
Fergie and John Legend: Once again, I've never heard this song before tonight. It's great to hear Fergie really sing (instead of singing crap like "London Bridge"). This songs sounds like something out of a musical. It sounds like a chick song, but I think I might like it if I heard a few more times and John Legend plays piano really well.
Tina Turner: I enjoyed the duet with her and Beyonce. Pairing up artists who don't normally get to perform together is really one of the great things about the Grammys. Nice reaction shot of John Forgerty at the end.
My Grammy Moment: Last years "MGM" was nothing more than a pathetic attempt at American Idol (Grammy Idol if you will) This year though was a lot cooler. The Foo Fighters + one Classical instrumentalist (plus an orchestra) being conducted by John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin. This was the coolest part of the night and the Foo Fighters rock. It was nice to see them honor musicianship.
But come one Grammy, do "My Grammy Moment" right. Use it to introduce the world to a new, unsigned great Songwriter/Musician/Singer/Performer and reveal them to world. Use my Grammy Moment as a force for positive change in the Music Business.
Brad Paisley: I'm not into this guy. He plays guitar pretty good though. This feels like real country music to me.
UNCOOL
Don't get me wrong, it's great that Cab Calloway gets a Grammy lifetime achievement award (he deserves it), but he should have gotten it in his lifetime.
BACK TO COOL Tribute to Cab Calloway
Aretha Franklin: Man can she still sing or what? Her voice doesn't sound like it's changed much. Memo to today's "pop" divas: Please take note of the real thing.
The Clark sisters and the Trinity 5: Well Done, Well done.
Israel and the new Breed: Never heard of them before but this was a great live band performance.
Feist: I am shocked that this girl got on the Grammys. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed this, but I'm shocked that a new female artist who isn't a barbie doll with 7 dancers behind her got on the Grammys. Lets hope this is a portent of things to come.
Keely Smith and Kid Rock: This was awesome from the 1st second and Kid Rock proves that he is fearless and more musically diverse than many give him credit for. Once again, this is what the Grammy's need more of.
Alicia Keys and John Mayer: I've already talked about Alicia Keys. I am not into John Mayer, but he is a good guitar player. Love these duets.
Herbie Hancock and Lang Lang perform Rhapsody in Blue. Love those unlikely pairings. Loved the whole dueling piano motif. How can you go wrong with such great music? You can't. After this performance was over my songwriting partner looked to me and said, "I think they may have just stolen the show".
Amy Winehouse: The trainwreck, was not a trainwreck. She was great. Her band was great. I don't if it's the same band that was on the Back to Black album (The Dap Kings as in Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings) but if they weren't, they did a great job of replicating it. Good job Amy. Prove all the nay sayers wrong on national TV. She seemed rather humbled at the end.
Josh Groban and Adnrea Bocelli: There is more to Josh Groban than I thought, because he was holding his own. I wasn't into this song though.
John Fogerty / Jerry Lee Lewis / Little Richard
Nobody was bad, but this pairing was uneven. Fogarty was solid and played a cool guitar solo in the middle, Jerry Lee shows his age in his playing and voice. He seemed a bit tired but trying his best in spite of it. Age affects us all differently. Lewis is 72, Little Richard is still playing and singing with vitality and he's 75. This is not a put down on Lewis, I feel badly for him. It's sad when a once vital aritst is held back by the ravages of age. But like I said, He did his best in spite of it.
My DVR stopped recording after the best album win so if there was any performance after that I missed it.
A FEW THINGS I NOTICED
Is it just me, or does Dave Grohl and his drummer look like they are having a "Jesus-off"?
Also it looked like Ringo Starr and Dave Stewart where having a "Ringo-off".
Vince Gill wins the award for best comment "I just got handed an award by a Beatle.....Have you had that happen yet Kanye".....Kanye is going to pout and have a temper tantrum now.
All in all good night for live performances. Once again I want to encourage my fellow indie artists to become voting members and help champion the indie movement..
UPDATE: I said I wouldn't talk about the winners or losers, but I think it is significant that best album went to an album that was not a 1 seller and the flavor of the month.
TJR Vs Star 98 FM
Current mood: optimistic
Category: Music
What is it with contests?
Star 98 is having one and I thought I might enter it. So I read their contract/entry rules and this paragraph is in the middle of it.
I understand that by entering and submitting my Entry, I have granted to the Released Parties, a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sub-licensable (through multiple tiers) right and license to use, publish, reproduce, display, perform, adapt, modify, distribute, have distributed and promote such content in any form, in all media now known or hereinafter created, anywhere in the world, for any purpose.
If I read this correctly, It sounds like I am giving away my song to them use in any way they want.
I have written a letter to them. It will be interesting to see if they respond.
UPDATE:
They didn't respond to my emails and everytime I called, they just said please hold, and never came back.
HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN BRITTANY SPEARS
Current mood: optimistic
Category: Music
While searching for work as a musician and songwriter, I came across this ad.
This ad is real. I did not make it up. Below is the entire ad verbatim
Check it out and then read my follow up commentary:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> We need a songwriter to write some songs for one of our singers. They need to be either hip hop, pop, or r&b songs. Your name will be credited and shown to other singers. You'll also get $150 per song. You'll just need to write the song, send the lyrics to me, and if we decide to use your song we'll send you the money however you chose. These songs are going to be for a teenage girl. Here are the songs we need: 1). rich & awesome (kind of about being conceited) 2). can't stop loving you (about wanting someone who doesn't want you back but you don't want to give up hope) 3). im just me (about not wanting to change for someone else) 4). rumors (about being tired of all the rumors going around) 5). the perfect lie (about you being a mistake) 6). forever a true friend (about having one friend who's always been there) 7). party girl (about just wanting to have fun) 8). drama queen (about being a drama queen) 9). this is life (about all the troubles life brings but also about the good times). If you can help with any of these songs please email me! We do not have any samples of the singer to send but if it helps she sounds like Christina Aguilera. >>>>>>>>>>>
Now what struck me about this ad, besides the unbelievable and outrageous fact that they are buying you out for $150 dollars a song, is the formula they have presented.
Basically they want to produce a 9 track album and they already know what each song needs to be about.
We always knew these acts where formulaic, but this ad spells out the album formula for every Brittany/Hillary/Ashley pop princess in the making.
Every record label owes the author of this ad a debt of gratitude for their efforts to further the formula that is the product that we call pop princess.
All you have to do is find a teenage girl that will do what you tell her (Who cares if she can really sing or not, it hasn't hurt Ashley any). Add some slinky clothes and follow this album recipe and Walla!.... Instant pop princess.
Seriously though, I went to see Spiderman 3 last weekend and there was this scene that really bugged me.
What does this have to do with music?
Well, the scene has Peter Parker in a jazz club. He walks up to the piano and just starts to play it.......And not only does he play it, but he plays it at the level of virtuosity that takes the better part of a lifetime to attain.
I sat there in the theater thinking......Uh, when did he learn to play piano?
Now you could always say, well maybe his character took some piano lessons when he was younger.
Fair enough. But if you can play the piano at the level that he showed in this film, your life goes in a very different direction. You don't need to take pictures for the Daily Bugle anymore. Because you are now one of the best Jazz pianist in the country.
Growing up, I always hated it when movies did this. Make it seem as if playing a musical instrument is magic. That you can do it well with little or no training or effort.
Hollywood has certainly gotten savvier about music though and I really don't see this kind of stuff in current movies or TV anymore, so it was a (disappointing) surprise to see it in this film.......Oh well, at least the effects where good.
optimistic