I'm so excited! We were brainstorming team events at work and the suggestion of Lillith Fair came up. We checked out a the site and stumbled upon a contest for female artists to get their music heard during the concert. All you have to do is create a profile and upload a song. People then vote!
So, I figured..."what the heck!" and did it! Gypsy Soul is officially entered. Voting starts on May 1 and I'll post some more information on how to vote. In the meantime, check out my "Our Stage" profile at:
More details about the contest can be found at Lillith Fair Contest
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Shania Twain Night on Idol!
One of our household’s passions is American Idol and Tuesday night was Shania Twain night. She looked amazing and I have to say, I was very impressed with her as a mentor. She was down to earth, likeable and really focused on connecting with the song and bringing out emotion. I have to say, I’m enjoying the season this year.
Thoughts on Last Night's Show:
Overall, the contestants are pretty good and I do have my favorites. Lee DeWyze is one of them. I really like his raspy, rough tone to his voice. It’s probably pretty consistent with my tastes. I really like Lifehouse, Daughtry, David Cooke and Third Day and they all have the cool tone.
Casey James is another fav. I think he has the whole package – the look, the voice and man, can that guy play an axe! He actually said last night was the first night he actually “sang” which I thought was an interesting comment. What has he been doing up until now? I thought he hit it out of the park and I hope he sticks around for another week.
Crystal Bowersox rounds out my top three and she’s probably on the top of my list. I did not like last night’s performance of “No One Needs to Know Right Now”, which is a first for me. She country-fied Shania way too much and felt a little too bluegrass for my tastes. And I love this song. However, you have to give her kudos for making it her own though. I sure hope she sticks around because I think the show would lose its appeal without her.
On my bottom three are Mike Lynche, Aaron Kelly and Siobhan Magnus. R&B is really not my genre of music and they compared Mike to Luther Vandross., which is probably why he isn’t my favorite. Aaron Kelly is too young for my tastes and I probably wouldn’t buy an album. The kid can sing though.
Shiobhan. I really don’t understand the appeal of this girl. If someone could explain it to me, that would be fantastic. I have to agree with Simon that her shrieking at the end of her songs is getting boring and I find her really robotic in her moments and singing. I didn’t like her arrangement of “Any Man of Mine” and I didn’t think she had the attitude that Shania was asking for in her advice to Shiobhan.
All in all, I thought it was good night. Crossing my fingers that Crystal is still on the show. As good as Aaron sang last night, I think his time might be up.
Kudos again to Shania. I think she makes a great ambassador for Canadian music!
Thoughts on Last Night's Show:
Overall, the contestants are pretty good and I do have my favorites. Lee DeWyze is one of them. I really like his raspy, rough tone to his voice. It’s probably pretty consistent with my tastes. I really like Lifehouse, Daughtry, David Cooke and Third Day and they all have the cool tone.
Casey James is another fav. I think he has the whole package – the look, the voice and man, can that guy play an axe! He actually said last night was the first night he actually “sang” which I thought was an interesting comment. What has he been doing up until now? I thought he hit it out of the park and I hope he sticks around for another week.
Crystal Bowersox rounds out my top three and she’s probably on the top of my list. I did not like last night’s performance of “No One Needs to Know Right Now”, which is a first for me. She country-fied Shania way too much and felt a little too bluegrass for my tastes. And I love this song. However, you have to give her kudos for making it her own though. I sure hope she sticks around because I think the show would lose its appeal without her.
On my bottom three are Mike Lynche, Aaron Kelly and Siobhan Magnus. R&B is really not my genre of music and they compared Mike to Luther Vandross., which is probably why he isn’t my favorite. Aaron Kelly is too young for my tastes and I probably wouldn’t buy an album. The kid can sing though.
Shiobhan. I really don’t understand the appeal of this girl. If someone could explain it to me, that would be fantastic. I have to agree with Simon that her shrieking at the end of her songs is getting boring and I find her really robotic in her moments and singing. I didn’t like her arrangement of “Any Man of Mine” and I didn’t think she had the attitude that Shania was asking for in her advice to Shiobhan.
All in all, I thought it was good night. Crossing my fingers that Crystal is still on the show. As good as Aaron sang last night, I think his time might be up.
Kudos again to Shania. I think she makes a great ambassador for Canadian music!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Song behind Gypsy Soul
So here is the song I wrote. I'm a mixture of excitement and nerves today. It's my first rehearsal for our Very Vocal Showcase at Festival Place. My set this year is about things that inspire me and I've chosen to include Gypsy Soul.
I've never heard this played with a full band before. My good friend Ian helped write the music behind the words and he arranged to help me record this with a friend of his who basically did all the instrumental. This will be the first time a whole band has played it. I'm a little nervous as to how it will turn out and what the musicians think about it!
Come out to to Festival Place on June 25th to hear it live for the first time! Tickets through Ticketmaster or better yet, contact me and I'll get them to you (and avoid those ugly service fees!)
For a small taste, here are the words and the recording of Gypsy Soul!
Words By Paula Kreba, Music By Ian Magnasson
You lived your life with eyes wide open
Seeing the good in everything
Living just to love others, Never asking for anything.
You always gave everything you had
Never wanting anything back
See it in the lives you touched, ¬Making dreams come true
Chorus:
[And] Now your gypsy soul is free
Up where the angels roam
And in the wind I hear you whisper (call) to me
Saying follow your heart, follow your dreams
Follow your gypsy soul
Life isn’t always good and it’s hardly ever fair
But it never kept you down
You made the most, Of everything, everything you got
[Repeat Chorus]
And maybe someday I’ll understand why, You couldn’t stay and had to go
I know it won’t take the pain away, But we’ll meet again someday, someday
[Last Chorus]
I've never heard this played with a full band before. My good friend Ian helped write the music behind the words and he arranged to help me record this with a friend of his who basically did all the instrumental. This will be the first time a whole band has played it. I'm a little nervous as to how it will turn out and what the musicians think about it!
Come out to to Festival Place on June 25th to hear it live for the first time! Tickets through Ticketmaster or better yet, contact me and I'll get them to you (and avoid those ugly service fees!)
For a small taste, here are the words and the recording of Gypsy Soul!
Words By Paula Kreba, Music By Ian Magnasson
You lived your life with eyes wide open
Seeing the good in everything
Living just to love others, Never asking for anything.
You always gave everything you had
Never wanting anything back
See it in the lives you touched, ¬Making dreams come true
Chorus:
[And] Now your gypsy soul is free
Up where the angels roam
And in the wind I hear you whisper (call) to me
Saying follow your heart, follow your dreams
Follow your gypsy soul
Life isn’t always good and it’s hardly ever fair
But it never kept you down
You made the most, Of everything, everything you got
[Repeat Chorus]
And maybe someday I’ll understand why, You couldn’t stay and had to go
I know it won’t take the pain away, But we’ll meet again someday, someday
[Last Chorus]
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Welcome to Gypsy Soul
So why "Following Your Gypsy Soul"?
In March, 2004, my gorgeous sister Penny Edwards was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. During her long battle with the disease, I watched her live her life to the fullest. She was more concerned with leaving behind a legacy of memories and love than what was happening to her.
In the middle of her illness, she was all about supporting others in living out their dreams. I think it was partly because she wasn't going to be able to live out hers. But mostly, I think it was just the type of person she was.
Her step-son was playing in a band with a guy who had been on Canadian Idol. They were playing at a private concert in London, Ontario opening for "some guy" name Colin James. Had any of us ever heard of him?
Now I am completely fanatical about Colin James. He is such a musical hero of mine. "Limelight" had just come out and on the album was an incredible cover of "Into the Mystic." As soon as she had heard how much of a fan I was, she arranged for the four of us girls to go, hang out backstage and maybe meet Colin. It was a weekend of "dreams." My sister Patti had wrote a poem about Penny and Penny had secretly had Aaron put it to music and record it.
And I did get to meet Colin and he did sign my guitar.But more importantly, it was incredible to see how all these people around Penny were loved and adored her. It was amazing to see how she touched people's lives.
So why Gypsy Soul...well, my sister was asked if she could do things over again, what would she do? She said she always wished she could sing and she wished she could have traveled more. She'd come back as a traveling gypsy so she could do both.
Her inspiration, meeting Colin James and his amazing Limelight album (seriously, check it out)...all inspired "Gypsy Soul", a song dedicated to my sister.
So now, in the words of a good friend of mine, I'm trying to live life saying "what the heck" (okay, he didn't say "heck" but the sentiment is sound" and living out my dreams. Life is too short.
Are you living yours?
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