Monday, April 30, 2007

Traveling Wilbury's

This next week is going to be crazy busy. I literally have something every night this week. I do have the days off so I may be able to spend some time blogging, but I am not sure. Usually, blogging is my end of the day ritual. Usually I don't post it till the next morning, but I love to come back at the end of the day and relax myself to sleep by blogging a little bit. A lot of people give me a hard time about it, but you know my whole life I've always spent time writing as much as possible - I think it's important.

My wife says that I like to be in trouble. Maybe that's the case. I don't think I actively do stuff that I think will get me in trouble, but I do a lot of things that get me in trouble, so maybe it's a subconscious thing. I took psychology in college, but I'm no psychoanalyst. I'll leave that up to the professionals.

I sang at a close friend of mine's wedding on Saturday night down in Aiken, SC. We drove down on Friday night and we went to the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner. I got to play guitar for someone else, so that was kind of cool. A lot of people at the wedding gave me and the soloist a hard time - Chris Sligh from American Idol is playing guitar for someone else singing?!! I just thought it was hilarious. I really love playing guitar, so it was a ton of fun. I also sang an original song of mine called "Vessel" from my very first album 7 years ago, and I sang "The Prayer" (Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion) with my friend's brother's wife. It's always fun to go back and sing a little classically, so "The Prayer" was a nice reminder of what I used to do.

After the wedding, we went to the reception, of course, and it was super nice...they had a full buffet with prime rib! I love me some prime rib, yo. I ate too much, then the program started. They had me sing a couple of songs for everyone, so I sang "Trouble" by Ray LaMontagne (it was their favorite performance of mine from the show) and a song I wrote and sang for my own wedding called "Beautiful". It was really cool to sing for one of my best friend from college and it was a touching wedding.

I should say, however, that I am not a big fan of weddings. But this wedding was pretty nice.

After the reception we drove from Aiken up to Spartanburg where I went to a show at Wild Wings. The band played really really well, though the lead singer of the band was a little under the weather. But the band was really, really tight. The band didn't get done playing till like 1:30am, so it was 3 before Sarah and I got home. I was a bad boy and slept through church...but I've got a lot of stuff this week and I am still trying to get my voice completely back. So, sleeping was the only option. I felt bad for Sarah though. She had to be at church at 8:30am. That kinda sucked. But we did get a pretty good nap yesterday afternoon.

Anyway, I'll try to keep up with stuff as best as possible.

Oh, yeah - you can still buy the album online at Amazon. We've sold a lot of copies so far, so we're very happy! A lot of people really, really love the record - we'd love you to love the record, too.

Peace and love

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Friends are friends forever...

Well, sometimes. But I do think that the great thing about my involvement in the show has been the fact that I made a lot of really, really great friends. Someone asked me about my friendships, so I thought I'd delve into them a little more. Now, I should say that of the top 10, really the top 12, I was and am friends with all of them. But, as with every other situation, you are naturally drawn to certain individuals. Those certain ones became some of my best friends:

Phil - Phil is probably my closest friend on the show. He and I met in my audition in Memphis - we both made it through the cattle call round about the same time of night and he made it through with a guy from his band back home...it turns out it was a Christian band and I heard him talking about it so I asked him where he was from and he told me Jacksonville. Then I showed up in Hollywood and he was my roommate. Really wierd, right? The first night in Hollywood, he came up and said, "I'm probably going home tomorrow and I need you to do well so I can say my roommate was the American Idol." Little did either one of us know, we'd both make the top 10. We worked through some tough stuff at the beginning of the top 24, but after a few days, we were back to being tight. We just come from the same kind of background, and we have a lot in common, including who we have worked with and been around in the music industry - it's really wierd how many parellels our lives have. I, of course, bet him $50 I was going home, and I won. He is so humble in that he never thought he would make it further than me. The whole time I've thought he had one of the best voices I've ever heard, so I wasn't surprised at all that he made it further than me. Anyway, upcoming, I hope to write songs for him and with him as he moves into what I think will be a very successful career - especially if makes a country record...man, he's sounded so good the last coupla weeks, hasn't he? And, if/when he gets voted off, we're going to take a nice vacation with him and his family.

Gina - I was actually a fan of Gina last year on the show, and was disappointed to see her cut in Hollywood last year. Then this year I saw her in Hollywood again and was actually a little starstruck. She sang "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" and so I went up to her at lunch and asked her, "So, have you every really loved a woman?" She was kind of dumbstruck and was like, "No, not like that...I mean, I don't have a problem with that, but no, I haven't. I have a boyfriend." I was like, "Well you sing it like you have." It wasn't that I was trying to be risque - she just sang the song well and intepreted the lyric like she had really loved a woman. She sang an incredible version of that song, and I went up and congratulated her, and for some reason from that point on, we were really great friends. Sure, like every friend, we had our moments, but it was like big brother-sister rivalry - and that really describes our relationship the best: we're like siblings - we both are in committed relationships that we both plan on being in forever, so it frees us up to be platonic friends. And Joe, her boyfriend, is amazingly cool - he's a guitar player, too, so that makes him awesome. I love to just hang out with Gina and Joe, and I'd love to write songs with her and for her...I think of all the contestants, she's one of the most marketable right now....she just needs to figure out what she wants to do and it's going to be great.

Blake - Blake and I met through Rudy, who I was very close to. Blake and I met the first night of Hollywood, and Rudy, Blake and I were virtually inseperable the rest of the week. When we got to the top 24, Jared Cotter and I were originally roommates, but he couldn't take my snoring, so he moved out and switched with Blake. It was great being roommates with Blake - he really was the coolest roommate in the world. The thing about Blake is that the way you see him on tv is exactly how he is in real life...he is just smooth. He rarely gets mad, rarely raises his voice...he's just smooth. What people don't realize with him is that he was raised with a great work ethic and has had to work hard for everything that has ever happened to him. American Idol isn't just an overnight success for him - he's worked his tail off to get where he's at. I'd love to write with him in the future, but let's be honest, his style is a little different than mine - it'll be cool to see what we could come up with for him. Btw, he is a good songwriter, and a good guitar player...he really is a great musician. I can't wait to hear what his record sounds like.

Chris Rich - Chris is honestly one of the nicest people I have ever met in my life. There is not a pretentious bone in his body. He is comfortable with who he is and doesn't have an ego to throw around to get his way. He and I met in Hollywood but it was during the top 24 that we got really close. He and Blake are really tight, so the 3 of us would hang out in Blake and my room, just goofing off, acting stupid, writing songs. Chris Rich is seriously one of the best songwriters I have heard. There were a couple of times when we would have a bunch of people in our room and the songwriters would pass a guitar around and sing our songs. Chris sang like 3 that will be HUGE hits when they come out...they're that good. I would love to write with Chris - our minds seem to think alike songwriting wise. I think the top 10 tour is going to be great to see what kinds of music comes out of writing with all these guys. Chris is going to make a fantastic record, I think. And it won't sound anything like J.T.

Now, there were several in the top 24 that I loved and have friendships with: Rudy Cardenes - he and I met in my 2nd audition and became close friends; and Sundance Head - we got real tight...it was really tough to see him go.

Anyway, those are my closest friends from the top 12 and 24. I said several times in interviews that the best part of the show was forming relationships. Fame and fortune, if I'm ever afforded those things, will pass away. But a great friendship can last forever.

New Song lyric

Hey guys, this is a new song I wrote. I'd love to see what you guys think and see if you can get what I'm trying to talk about.

Check it out:



SO EASY
words and music by Chris Sligh
(c) 2007 kindacrazy music

She's got a way about her
There's no way to ever doubt her
And nothing breaks my heart
Nothing breaks me heart like her, oh...
She's got a way about her
There's no way to live without her
Like a drug your system needs
She'll never give release
Until you've given in
To all the lies she's living in
Oh...

chorus:
And it's oh...oh...so easy
To let her in and never let her go
Oh...so easy
Still giving in is harder than you know

She's got a way that kills me
But something about it thrills me
Like forbidden love exchanged
It’s enchanting and it’s strange,
But it feels so good
Just like I thought it would
Oh...

Chorus

bridge:
You know I’ve fallen back and forth:
She’s pretty and obscene
She’s everything I’m running from

Then she’s everything I think I need
She’s the all I’ve turned my back on

But she’s most of what I’ve done
She’s the pleasure I run back to

But she leaves me lifeless and alone

Chorus

Friday, April 13, 2007

Today (Thursday edition)

Well, today I woke up very, very early to get on a plane in L.A. to come back home. My friend Don and I had worked out him picking me up in Charlotte. Why, you might ask. Well, a couple of reasons, my children. 1) The flight from Charlotte to Greenville is in a propellor plane. 2) Chris Sligh doesn't like flying. 3) Chris Sligh certainly doesn't like flying in prop planes. 4) Unless he is dusting crops. 5) I had a 2 hour layover in Charlotte, and didn't want to wait around for 2 hours. 6) I wanted to eat Pizzeria Uno and the only one around is in Charlotte. 7) Chris Sligh doesn't like flying in prop planes.

So, Don picked me up at Charlotte airport.

We decided to go look at recording and keyboard stuff at Sam Ash in Charlotte. While there, I purchased Pro Tools and Reason, as well as a cheap microphone. This will be my demo making stuff while I am on the road with the American Idol tour.

Speaking of the American Idol tour...I don't know much yet, and what I do know I can't tell you yet. But I can't wait for you guys to find out...seriously, I think it'll be the coolest tour yet. And here's one clue to pique your interest: I will be playing guitar almost every time or every time I'm on stage during the show.

Anyway, while at Sam Ash, a bunch of people wanted their picture with me. One of the guys that worked there asked us if we were going to see Daughtry, since he was playing in Charlotte tonight. I didn't even know the band was there tonight, but I was interested. Then the dude said the show had sold out in 16 minutes, and there weren't any tickets. Now, this is where I am going to show that I am a bad person: but I decided I wanted to see how big a celebrity I was by going and seeing if I could get me and Don in for free to a sold out show.

Short answer: Yes. I am. Free tickets, baby!!

And I got to talk with Chris for about 10 minutes before the show.

Chris was pretty sick (he had to cancel a show in Tallahassee, FL recently) so I didn't bother him too long...I know how it is to meet new people when you feel like crap. Anyway, we came back for the show. And here is my short review....

Chris was definitely sick. He didn't have any of his trademark high notes. He also had pitch problems throughout, obviously because he was sick. But the band rocked the hiz-house! Wow. That band is really great. And the bass player is incredible, as is the drummer. I mean the guitar players were great, too, don't get me wrong, but the rhythm section was tight, yo.

Anyway, I can't really give the show a grade, per se, because Chris was sick, but the band really did play incredibly well.

Then Don and I headed home.

And today (Friday - I mean it is morning time 2:30 as I write) is my birthday.

So happy 29th to me.

Love you all for everything. Thanks for helping make the CD a success. Thanks for voting me to number 10. Thanks for the best year of my life. Thanks in advance for coming to see me on tour.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Today

Well, I had a great day.

I woke up early, but decided to rest and stay in bed...that was nice for a change.

I went over to Universal City Walk and ate at the Sausage Kingdom. It was worth the nice walk.

I taped Ellen. It was a great inteview that shows on Wednesday so watch out for it. It was a lot of fun.

Then I ran over to see AI. I got to see a lot of the behind the scenes people on the show, so that was great. Then I got to meet Neal Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser). That was cool. I also got to see Tom Lowe for the first time since top 40, so that was great. And with him was BJ, one of the Hippies from Amazing Race like 2 years ago. It was really cool meeting him...he actually chased me down to make sure I saw Tom, so that was really freaking cool.

After the show, I hung out with Phil and Kendra and Phil's brother and sister-in-law Keith and Amanda.

Then I came back to answer Q&A questions.

Now I'm going to bed.

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Q & A

All righty. Let's give this a try.

Someone suggested doing a Q & A, so let's give it a try.

You give a question, I'll give you an answer.

Ground rules: do not try to get me to say something negative about fellow contestants or the show. Don't ask me about vftw. Don't ask me about conspiracy theories with the show, or any conspiracy theories at all. If you are not a fan of me (or any other contestant for that matter), please still be respectful in your question.

Here is an example of a disrespectful question: "So why are you so fat?" Though you might think it's funny, chances are I won't. Yes, I have a weight problem, but I'm working hard to lose the weight, and have lost 35 pounds and counting. Anyway, disrepectful stupid questions won't get published.

So, ask away. Give me time with each question. I'll try to get to them all.

Friday, April 06, 2007

Originality and respect

I feel I have to comment on this because I have seen quite a few comments about this subject.

I think it's important to realize that one person's idea of original is not everyone's idea of original. And while I am thankful that you would think of me as original - I'm flattered actually - I should point out that several contestants still left on the show are extremely original, by conventional definitions.

Sure, there are artists like Blake, but chances are they've never been mainstream, and even if they have, Blake brings his own twist to what he does. Also, there are singers like Melinda, but Melinda is incredible at putting her own spin on the songs she chooses to sing, and I have a feeling that, though I don't think that her CD will be the most marketable CD musically, it will do very well because she can sell (figuratively) any song she sings....same thing with Jordin...there are singers like her, but she is special. Chris may sing somewhat nasally and have a shaved head, but his originality comes in his songwriting (which is fantastic, btw) and his performance style, which to me are far different than JT. Phil literally does things with his voice that I have never heard anyone else do, and I've been around a lot of singers.

I mean, I could go on to why I think each of the singers left are original, but I think the point has been made.

But let's be honest, there is nothing truly original any more. What originality is now is being able to take collective influences and combine them into something that feels fresh.

One instance in my personal life was when I first heard MuteMath, which is and has been for a while my favorite band. I thought, holy cow, this sounds so original. And yes, compared to a lot of pop/rock stuff today, it sounds very original, but when I let Blake listen to it, he then allowed me to listen to some of his influences that are obviously influences for MuteMath...I had just never heard it before, so MuteMath "felt" original to me.

Some people have told me that I was an original, and that my songwriting is very original. As I said before, I am extremely flattered...but when I listen to my songs, I know how much I owe to my influences. But perhaps what people see as originality is just me combining so many influences into one place that it "feels fresh". Or maybe they aren't as familiar with my influences as others may be.

Gina is extremely original, but I'm sure when she makes a record that people will be able to pull it apart and find her influences. Same with anyone else on the show...no one is completely original, and I don't think any artist I know would claim to be.

However, I do believe that some artists do a better job than others to feel fresh.

I guess what I'm getting at with all this: I just don't want my friends still left on the show to read comments here and feel as though they are being attacked or called unoriginal by my fans or people finding my blog...and maybe they are or aren't, I don't think I'm the official judge of originality. I just don't want a lot of comments saying who is original and who isn't...I'm sorry if it seems like I'm being too dimplomatic, but these are my friends and though some comments slip through the cracks, I'd ask you to be respectful on here to them as I ask you to be to me.

You can say something negative, sure, but make sure it is respectful. And please don't post the same comment in different places...state your opinion once, respectfully, then let it go...not everyone has to agree with you on American Idol. That's the beauty of it is that there is a show that encourages people to learn more about music and with that knowledge form better opinions of the singers. You are allowed to have a negative opinoin, as I am, but please make sure that if you post that you post with respect to whomever it is you speak of.

Thanks so much for continuing to read the blog. I really hope you enjoy it. Peace and love....