I know what I want to do when I grow up. =)
I want to work with children.
I've been trying to work out a way to do both - now - but until they create the 35 hour day I feel like I'm going to need to wait a few more years.
But I got to briefly last night. And I had so much fun. And I feel like the kids that joined me in the studio did too.
I'm going to tell the story of a song I'm finally completing after a 2 year hiatus from it, called 'Be Inspired'.
...if anyone reads my blog they should know I have a tendency to write & write & write which I'm sure I'll do here.
One hand: beauty of blogging
Other hand: I should probably learn to get to the point a little faster
*but that isn't a lesson I'm going to learn today* =)
About 2 years ago I was approached by a ground-level-new-business who approached me, asking for me to sing a would-be theme song for their would-be commercial.
They first asked that I cover a very-famous song (it's not 'Natural Woman' but let's pretend it's 'Natural Woman' for the sake of my story...)
They liked my voice - and so they offered to pay me to record a cover of 'Natural Woman' (in addition to paying studio/musician fees) so that they could then use that as their Coming-Soon Commercial Theme Song.
Despite being new to the music business myself - and despite not having my then-manager with me at the initial meeting - I still was able to bring up a few items that needed addressed with this, mainly: song rights.
After some research and conversations it was decided that the amount of money needed to use 'Natural Woman' in their commercial would cost around 50 times the amount of money needed to simply pay me to write them their own original theme song.
So....that's what I did =) I wrote them a theme song.
Since they wanted 'Natural Woman' -- no deal was to be made until they heard my song, of course.
So I went home, and within about 24 hours had a song for them. I called it 'Be Inspired'.
I first played the song for my mom. She loved it (thanks mom =)
I then played the song for my then-manager....expecting to be told 'Good first draft' and then sent back to work out a few suggestions I figured he'd no doubt have for me.
He didn't have any suggestions. He loved the song.
Sweeeet.
So....I then had the women come into the studio so that I could "present" the song.
Production on it hadn't started - since production was to have been paid by them if they liked/wanted the tune.
So I just printed & passed out my lyrics and I played the song on my $80 keyboard with a simple drum beat so they could at least hear the basic structure in a pop-song type form, and luckily....I believe heavily based up on the lyrics more than my novice keyboard performance skillz.......they really loved it too =)
It was a very cool experience, just in that itself. At the time - I thought they were a legit group with legit backing that would be producing an Oprah-like commercial. I could hear this song being part of that. So it was exciting the song received the response it did.
After I played/sang it - - I went back into the sound booth where the business owners were listening along side my then-manager and the studio owner and was awesomely(sp?) greeted with hugs and tears and excitement.
They wanted production to start immediately.
Now...here is where it gets sticky.
Production was to start immediately...to allow me time to do it right & for edits, etc....yet no money had been received from the owners yet.
The financial dealings were to be handled by my then-manager - so I was a little out of the loop....so I waited for word on it.
As the days after that presentation went by, no official word or money was received - - yet I would receive personalized texts or emails from the owners talking as if I HAD received payment and I was working on the song.
It was very odd....to get text messages on my personal cell phone, saying they loved the song and would pay for not only production but to 'own' the song - - which would be an even higher amount of money. Yet - my then-manager was getting the run-a-round from them.
So...as I often do...I took a gamble. I fronted the money myself to begin production on the song.
I figured I'd get paid back anyways and it was worth it to ensure I didn't lose out on the opportunity - - as I know how things work...especially when dealing with people who don't understand how the music world works - they may not understand my needed timeline....and if one day they were to say "We need it tomorrow - here's the check - as long as we can have it by tomorrow" I wanted to be able to have it tomorrow!
So I started production.
And about two weeks into production....like the way of the world...balls were dropped everywhere there was a ball in play.
It's either that or the balls never really existed.
If they ever did - they don't now...that business never launched.
BUT. I learned a big lesson...AND this story does have a nice ending....
I was left with a song on my hands that really didn't have a home. It's a good song I think....but it is not really one I'd put on any of my albums.
It was around 75% done - production wise - when I stopped working on it. I didn't finish it because I had already put more money into the song than I ever planned to. So. It's just sat in studio limbo for 2 years.
Then, a few months ago, I was in a coffee shop in downtown Des Moines when I overheard the owner talking about a kids project she was working for a local youth shelter.
I knew the owner, slightly, as she sells my albums at her coffee shop (Village Bean - E 5th and Walnut) and I know the youth shelter well - as I had recently spoke with them about volunteering.
So I felt the need to introduce myself, and ask if I could hear more...and see if I could help.
They want to create a DVD series on 'alternative careers'. They want kids to know at an early age - - it's okay to dream. And more importantly - pursue those dreams.
This is directly up my alley. It's something I believe needs preached more to children.....that it's okay to dream and pursue what you want out of life. Even if it goes against the grain. I've even worked with teens in high schools on the subject of this....letting kids know that wanting a life in music doesn't mean you can drop out of high school. A career in music isn't all poolsides & nail salons like the media presents. It's not AT ALL...haha. But it can be rewarding the same way anything you're passionate about is rewarding. But it takes work and it takes an education.
So I asked if I could help.
We talked about the DVD they're starting production on - interviewing people of "alternative careers" such as make-up artists, firemen, a geographer, etc.
I agreed to speak on the DVD and I showed them the partially-complete song 'Be Inspired' to see if they wanted it. They do - so I'm donating 'Be Inspired' as the theme song for their DVD series. I don't mind at all my money or time or music being donated to a great cause such as this. SO it has worked out beautifully =)
And a big THANK YOU to Jon Locker of The Sonic Factory Studios to his donating his time & use of the studio to complete the song as well =) I work with good people.
And for fun sake - and since it'll be shown to children - I completed recording the song last night with a very special group of children.
They came in and we recorded some giggles and chatter and claps and a few hums & 'ooohs' & 'ahhs'. It was so much fun! And they did GREAT =)
I recently learned the DVD will be used not only for the youth shelter - - but now the public schools here in Urbandale and Des Moines, IA. So you see...it's a very cool feeling to see a song that had such a bad start in the world now end up in the very spot it's probably meant to be in.
Here are the song lyrics:
You know somebody, probably more if you think about it
The kind who likes to move mountains - but never talks about it
Yet we seem to search for more when we think to ourselves 'I wanna be inspired'..
Well I think...you're gonna be inspired
Take a look all around you
Beauty surrounds you
Take a break & breathe the day
Real life's amazing
A little bit crazy
But don't take for granted today
I feel the need to show you, take your hand & pull you
Put a mirror up to your face
Living with devotion - and a touch of pure emotion - and you...
you're gonna inspire someone today
Stayin' strong for a child who can't fight a fight now
Rubbin' shoulders for your parents as their bodies break down
All the while finding time for a smile
Don't you know..you're gonna be inspired
Don't you know...you're gonna be inspired
Take a look all around you
Beauty surrounds you
Take a break & breathe the day
Real life's amazing
A little bit crazy
But don't take for granted today
I feel the need to show you, take your hand & pull you
Put a mirror up to your face
Living with devotion - and a touch of pure emotion - and you...
you're gonna inspire someone today
There is someone out there whose life's not fine without you
A day with you and a day without are not the same
Can you feel their presence?
Let it help your method to one day say 'My life is full, and I know love was made'
Fragile people or the kind who never seem to break
Both need your love and laughter
Both are not just given traits in any one of us
We grow into who we are
I know you're gonna be inspired
Yes I know, you're gonna be inspired
© Bonne Finken
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