Finding my voice

The past few months, I've probably been listening to more music than ever before. I almost always have something playing in the background while I'm working, while I'm cleaning, and even sometimes while I'm falling asleep.

Every now and again I'll be listening to a random assortment of music when a song comes on that really speaks to my soul. It starts out being something that I just want to listen to over and over again. Then I want to sing it in the shower at the top of my lungs. Then I want to recreate it. I want to put my touch on it, no matter how amateur that touch may be. I want to make it my own; I want to express, through the same medium, the feelings it evokes in me. So then I sit down at my computer and pull up the recording program and try a few times to get it to sound right. But without fail, anytime I try and sing a song written by someone else, I'm at least a little bit disappointed.

I'm finally realizing that disappointment comes because I haven't been trying to sound like myself. I am always, at some level, trying to mimic the original artist, and let's face it--that's just not gonna happen. And frankly, I am figuring out that I don't actually want it to.

This realization has led me to set a kind of lofty goal for myself this year: I am going to write a song so I can find my voice.

I don't expect the lyrics to be particularly deep or moving. I don't expect the music to be anything complex or spectacular. I definitely don't expect to have any incredible instrumentation, because all I really have access to right now is my guitar, and I can't do anything fancy with that. All I know is that it's going to be for my voice (whatever that is), in my style (whatever that is), and from my heart, and think I know what that is, so that's a good start, right?

So yeah. Look forward to hearing my real voice sometime this year!

Valentines

There's something you should know about me: I really love Valentine's Day. A lot. I've never really been able to be bitter about it, because I love love so much. And let's face it, I'm just as aware of my single-ness on February 14th as I am any other day of the year, so it's not a big deal.

This year turned out better than most because I decided I'd make and give out Valentines. I haven't really done that since elementary school, so I thought'd be fun. I was completely right, too! See for yourself--here are just a few of the Valentines I made.

Because Kaitlin loves Madea and fake cussing.

One of my favorites.

Gotta love Eunice!

My push-up bra will help me get my Valentine.

You see me tryin' to get a Valentine? Don't inarupt. Rude.

Marcel the Shell gets a Valentine

I was also pretty proud of this one. (Episode 4)

Episode 1

Episode 6

You didn't think I'd make Valentines and leave out Nacho, did you?

I may or may not be most proud of this one.

Wasn't that fun? This may be something I need to do every year for the rest of my life.

Justin Banger Biebs

     Justin Bieber provides really great material for us to rewrite for our friends.

                          Example 1: Skittles bowling

                          Example 2: Brady's birthday song

     This song came into existence because we wanted to buy Brady some Cheerwine for his birthday, but were unable to find any in the store that normally carries it. (It's a dime a dozen back in NC, but a rare commodity out here.) We decided we'd give him an I.O.U. for the delectable brew, but thought that a musical version would be better than a lousy piece of paper or a verbal promise. Below you will find lyrics so you can follow along with the video.

Disclaimer: There is one stanza that we didn't really change the words to. Please don't let that deter you from enjoying the entire song. 

Brady Baby

KJ and KG:      You know we love ya, You know we care.
                          Just shout whenever, and we'll be there.
                          You want Cheerwine? We'll get you some.
                          But the store didn't have any; they're so dumb.

                          We tried to fight 'em--we ain't playin'.
                          They claimed to be out. We said, "What the heck you sayin'?"
                          Said, "There's no pop here that represents Carolina,"
                          So we wrote you a song, and that's finer.

                          And now we sing: Brady, Brady, Brady, oh!
                          Like, Brady, Brady, Brady, no!
                          Like, Brady, Brady, Brady, oh!
                          Don't you love us more than Cheerwine?

                          Oh, oh, for you we both went in together
                          We wanted to buy a supply to last forever.
                          But them stupid fools didn't have the brew,
                          So now we're here to sing this little birthday thing

                          And now we're playin' on your heartstrings,
                          Makin' things come true that you've wished in your best dreams.
                          So don't you frown, frown, frown, frown,
                          Because you make us smile every time that you're around,

                          'Cause you're our Brady, Brady, Brady, oh!
                          Our Brady, Brady, Brady, no!
                          Our Brady, Brady, Brady, oh!
                          You're sweeter than Cheerwine.

KJ:                    When I was twenty-two, I met Brady-boo.
                          There was nobody I could ever take clothespinning*
                          That ever could have been as much fun as you.

KG:                   You like my biscuits. They so boberry fresh!
                          And lucky for you and me,
                          You don't ever look a hot mess.

KJ and KG:       You make our hearts pound
                          And skip a beat when we see you in the street and
                          At school on the playground.
                          But we really want to see you on the weekends.

                          To our hearts you've got the keys.
                          You don't even have to say please!
                          We'll waive the entry fees
                          If you rock your Justin Banger Biebs!**

                          Brady, Brady, Brady, oh!
                          Like, Brady, Brady, Brady, no!
                          Like, Brady, Brady, Brady, oh!
                          You're sweeter than Cheerwine.
(And then the ugly face I make at the end is when I'm in the middle of saying, "Now I'm gone.")

     *A few months ago, we went on a group date in which we went to the mall and pinned clothespins on people without their knowing (So much fun--you should all try it) and Brady came as Kaitlin's date.

     **Almost a year ago, Brady came over to visit our friend Kara who was visiting from Canada. Kara was playing with her ponytail in a way that made it look like she had Justin Bieber pre-haircut hair. In an effort to compliment her "Justin Bieber bangs," Brady accidentally said that he liked her "Justin Banger Biebs." This has become one of our all-time favorite Brady moments, and as soon as we decided to write the song, we knew we'd have to work it in.

     Now feel free to listen to the song a couple more times so that anytime "Baby" comes on the radio and you're cranking up the volume to sing along (don't lie--you know you do it), you'll mix these words up with the real ones.