GM hooked me on this song with their TV commercial, and after watching it on YouTube, I’m even more hooked.  (Whereas, watching the the full-length MacBook Air song bored me to tears; I almost didn’t watch the whole thing.  Love it as a jingle, but not as a full-length song.)

And yes, it was used on “Grey’s Anatomy,” too, a show I used to love…  I used to care about these characters a couple of seasons ago…

Anybody have the guitar tabs for this???  :D

Acoustic

GM Commercial

Grey’s Anatomy

…the TRUE first iteration from sketches, doodles, and precedent pieces…  These came BEFORE the Sketchup model from the previous post, so I’m posting these anachronistically…  Some of the pictures are bad because my printer’s yellow is a bit finicky.

Basically, I want a “permanent” place for my guitar and violin.  I play my instruments more when I don’t have to unzip or unlatch them out of their cases (yes, 15 seconds make a huge difference!), but instruments should ideally be kept in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment.  My doodles for this day started with my categorizing of all of my “stuff,” and I have a lot of “music stuff”!

I want a central place to display my instruments behind glass in a sealed environment, but of course my instruments still have to be easily accessible for spontaneous jam sessions!  Yes, I might be going a tad overboard…  Hidden compartments in the back would store cases, music stands, and other random music-related items that don’t fit on the front shelves.

Or at least that’s the general idea!  Who knows if I’ll ever get around to doing this!

The sketches:

I want a table saw or a band saw!!!

Huh.  So yesterday, I couldn’t help thinking, “Wow, is ‘Idol’ trying to leverage the ‘giving power’ of the church in picking this song to sing and putting it up on iTunes?”

I wonder what kind of a response they got from the Christian community after last night’s telecast…  The Idol contestants resang the song just now with the correct lyrics.  Notably, not everyone was singing all of the lyrics.

Funny, I’m not quite sure how I feel about this song choice…  Part of me still remembers how angry I would have felt if I were “forced” to sing this while a non-Christian.  In my sociology of religion class in college, I participated in a few “religious gatherings” (Presbyterian church service, Baha’i fireside, and college Christian worship night), but I VOLUNTARILY sang those songs as a “participant observer” (a la Erving Goffman, noted sociologist).  And even though I voluntarily participated, I still felt very awkward taking part in something I did not support.

As a Christian now, however, (7 years, almost to the day) this IS one of my favorite songs.  And…  To have this song sung on such a wide-reaching stage…

One of my favorite songs…  

I was surprised when they announced this would be the last song, though I’m a bit disappointed that they changed the second word.  Instead of “My Jesus” all of the current Idol contestants sang “My Shepherd.”  But still, the fact that they sang it at all is…  I’m still dumbfounded! 

This last song, complete with a choir in robes singing background vocals after having just performed with Mariah Carey.  Now she’s a mixed message.  This song versus her latest trashy videos!  I am a fan of her old work though…  A disappointed fan.

But now I have to find that original version of “Shout to the Lord.”  Not hearing Jesus’ name in this Idol version of the song was just…  Unsettling.

I was watching “American Idol” last night…  My guilty pleasure…  When they announced it was “Dolly Parton Week,” I was thinking to myself, “I hope nobody’s foolish enough to attempt “I Will Always Love You.”  You’d better be REALLY good – I mean REALLY REALLY good if you’re going to sing that song in competition.  Whitney Houston just does these incredible runs that people have come to anticipate, and when you don’t hear those runs, you can’t help but be disappointed, no matter how great the performance.

Now you shouldn’t compare yourself to others, and you shouldn’t compare one person to another person in judging them…  But it’s almost natural to do so…  And well, this is a competition!  Hence, there are judges!  Okay, yes, I realize all of this rambling is a non sequitur…  But my mind is already running ahead to other thoughts now…

Wikipedia - Gotta love Wikipedia!  Interesting quotes:

• “I Will Always Love You” is a song written and originally performed by American country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton (first released as a single in 1974) and then most famously recorded by American singer Whitney Houston.
• Elvis Presley – Refused.  Elvis Presley wanted to record a cover of the song, but as he requested full copyrights, she refused to give it to him: “I know he would’ve kill it, but I just couldn’t. Later Whitney Houston appeared and after she recorded it I earned enough money to buy Graceland.” [A couple of other takes on this: ElvisPresleyMusic, ElvisAustralia]
• Whitney Houston version.  In 1993 singer Whitney Houston covered the song for the soundtrack to The Bodyguard her film debut. The song was also referenced in the plot of the film itself. Houston was originally to record Jimmy Ruffin’s “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” as the lead single from The Bodyguard. However, when the producer discovered the song was to be used for Fried Green Tomatoes, he asked her co-star Kevin Costner to find a new song, and he brought her Linda Ronstadt’s 1975 cover version of the tune from her album Prisoner in Disguise without telling her it was a Dolly Parton composition. Houston reinterpreted the song as a soul ballad, showcasing her voice. It is generally considered Houston’s signature song. (A country version sung by Costner may be heard playing on a jukebox during a bar scene in the movie.)

Dolly Parton – song author

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YU7aLPoPVM - one version…  out of many
• Eh….  I actually don’t really like Dolly’s versions…  But she did write the song…  Gotta give her credit.

Whitney Houston

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUoEil40qZA - music video version; first version I (and many others, I’m sure) heard.  My favorite version!  Until I found the live Arista version…
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IejunkZGh58 - live Arista version, with more of a gospel/R&B soulful passion to it! The YouTubers’ comments are duly noted…  But an enjoyable performance nonetheless!  Better than the music video!
• Love the singer!
• Love the movie, too!

Leona Lewis

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72AZVKynsno - “X-Factor” performance (Britain’s “American Idol” equivalent, complete with Simon Cowell’s last comments!)  Yes, she did win X-Factor.  My favorite part of the clip @ 1:40: “I was just a little girl with a little dream…”  Love that accent!
• Now, here’s a time when you should sing this song in competition!  When you can actually do it!  So very close to Whitney’s version in quality! (And yes, interpretation.)
• Perhaps this blog entry is a secret way to again plug Leona!  Her debut CD “Spirit” comes out in America on April 8!  It might be the first CD – yes CD, not mp3s – that I buy in…  Oh 5 years?  Maybe not that long… But in a long time!  Listen to the whole album on MTV’s “The Leak” and if you like it, please consider legally puchasing the album on iTunes or on old-fashioned CD’s.  Support the artist!
• Official YouTube Channel - with many songs from her new album!
• [Later-in-the-day edit:  Whoa!  After listening to Leona's and Whitney's versions again several times, I think I actually like Leona's version more (than the music video version)!  Except for that one note that Leona overshot at the end...  But so it goes in a live performance.  She hit that note in her earlier X-Factor performance of the song.  Yes, she sang it more than once.  This is the better of the two.  I can see why Simon always looks ga-ga when watching Leona perform; it's actually kinda funny!]

Syesha Mercado

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE_-d9OwsFQ - last night’s “American Idol” performance
• Sorry…  You can sing a million times better than I, and I’m a fan of yours, but I couldn’t help comparing you to Whitney…  And even Leona.  You’re a great singer, but much of the competition really is about song choice.  You just picked the wrong song there.

I’m slow to jump on this bandwagon, but I’m on.  And yes, I’m a fan of Leona Lewis and David Archuleta, too.

Over the Rainbow 

Eva Cassidy, Source: stressbed

Leona Lewis, Source: Dingledoodie

Judy Garland, the original – and still my favorite – version, Source: TonyFloride

—

Imagine, by John Lennon

Eva Cassidy, Source: berghill85

David Archuleta, Idol version (not his 13-year-old rendition!), Source: Irlocal

I love, love, love these performances, but I agree with Simon Cowell’s comments.  David’s last song, “You’re the Voicie,” did sound like a song that one would sing with “animated creatures” behind you (Simon @ 4:40 on YouTube) …  And actually, during the performance, even before Simon’s comments, I was thinking that it reminded me of what I used to think of all Christian songs…  Before I became a Christian…  Maybe I shouldn’t reveal that… But well?  It’s honest.  Sorry, David, I love your voice, but I was cringing watching you on TV that night…  But I’m still a fan (even though you sometimes have pitch problems…)!

John Lennon, Source: Sethtann

Okay, I’m probably going to regret posting this…  But I’m bored.  Maybe I’ll post another video after I’ve practiced some more.  I meant to chop off more of my head, but oh well…  Next time.

Talking about Sesame Street… Okay, I admit I bought a Sesame Street CD when I was in college.  Kind of a “greatest hits” CD and I bought it mainly for this song that Ernie sings.  Hm.  I’m not sure if this is proper internet etiquette posting other people’s You Tube videos like this…  But that must be why they have that “embed” function, right?  Anyways, I’ve cited them to give them credit for posting and/or performing.  Three versions below: original, fan-guitarist/singer, fan-pianist.  Don’t bother looking at the Aaron Neville/Ernie or Shawn Colvin/Ernie versions.  The original is the best with this guy Tinna being a close second!