Holiday Inn

Snails on the guard rail
Thundering skies
Airplanes in disguise
Stealthy hidden
Beneath the veil
Of a thick smfrog

Are we snails on the guardrails?
Slow in our position
To defend from opposition
Guarding our rights
Without putting up a fight
Easily crushed by the machine
Left unnoticed

It is a struggle
To climb to the top of the post
Where we are left bare and visible
Yet barely visible

Still, if you look closely,
You will notice how many we are
We are not alone
On top of each post
We gather
A community
Strengthened
On guard

En garde!

The Soundtrack of My Life

Remember when facebook was just for people?  And those people CREATED instead of consumed the companies' ads and entertainment news feeds?  I was a big fan of the "note" part of facebook, which I thought was gone until I found it here.  Another thing about the old facebook that I liked was getting to know people through facebook memes.  I often participated in them, but never did actually create one.  Until now.

Lately Entertainment Weekly has been asking musicians a series of questions called "Soundtrack of My Life".  I like the idea of it, being a big music fan all my life and the intricate memories that music can convey, from a sense of place to a powerful emotional response to a moment in time.  SO, borrowing from their set of questions, I offer you this meme, and encourage you to read my answers, copy and paste into your own note, and share YOUR soundtrack for us to read.  Enjoy!

The First Song I Was Obsessed With

Hey Jude by the Beatles

I really don't remember this, but my mom tells me that I used to play the record over and over in my room.  I figure that the song is so long and repetative, that maybe I played it once and it felt like over and over again.  Still, I'm a Beatles fan and my daughter listens to Revolver and Rubber Soul at least once a week.  Na, na, na, na, na, na, na.

The Song That Always Reminds Me of Home

Home - Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

I have a hard time answering this one, as many songs remind me of growing up in my hometown, but no one song really has a definitive "home" to me.  When I read that question, it just makes me think of this song:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L64c5vT3NBw

I have to admit, that ANY band from home, makes me think of home.  Like Noah Fence (5 Knuckle Chuckle) and Rob Richardson (or Joy and Sorrow) make me think of home.  Lot of talented musicians growing up.

The Song That Makes Me Think of My First Crush

Hangin' Tough - New Kids on the Block

My first crush eventually became my first girlfriend and in one of those things that boyfriends do, I attended a New Kids on the Block concert with her.  As embarassing as it was at the time, it turned out to be a good show.  It's also the only time I can say I was in the midst of full on pre-teen screaming mobs, that give me an appreciation for the fandom that the Beibers and One Direction of today have to endure.

The First Album I Bought With My Own Money

Sports - Huey Lewis & the News

I distinctly remember striking up a deal with my dad.  He and my brother were going to see Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom at the theatre and I wanted Huey Lewis' new album.  My dad gave me the choice of going to see the movie with them, or getting to buy the album.  I think he thought that the feeling of being left out of their trip to the movies would be too much and he wouldn't have to get the album for me.  I surprised him with my 7 year old logical thinking; the movie would last two hours, whereas the album could be played over and over again.  Believe me, it was.  I memorized that album and sang it like nobody's business.  It is also tied to what makes me think of my second crush, Kendra.

The Song That Changed My Life

Let's Stay Together - Al Green

When I first came to Six Nations, I hosted a radio show on CKRZ that was a reboot of the award winning radio show I did in Windsor with Joel Beatson, Keepn' it Reel.  I had just met my wife to be and on the last show before Christmas break, I played this song and dedicated it to her.  The students in the class were all atwitter the next day at school because the student teacher in their class played a song for Miss General that had "love" in it.  The associate teacher couldn't believe it either.  Only problem was, my wife to be DIDN'T HEAR IT played for her!!!  She listened to most of the show but turned it off before my dedication to her.  It didn't matter.  Six months later we danced to the song at our wedding.

The First Song I Ever Sang in Public

I Feel Good - James Brown

I'm sure I sang other songs in public, or in church (Eat His body, Drink His blood, and we'll sing a song of love) but the first song I remember singing in public, to an audience of people, would be a karaoke rendering of this song.  I did it for my great friend Jono, because he shares the same birthday with the Godfather of Soul.  I think I did more dancing than singing. He may not know this, but it took a lot for me to do that.  It was totally in honour of him and was the sole reason I got up on stage.  That, and the two praire fire shots I had before going up on stage.

The Song I Like to Sing to My Kid

Purple Rain - Prince

I sing to my daughter all the time, but it is usually made up songs about what we are doing.  In fact, I sing to her so much that she is starting to get sick of me turning everything into a song.  Between the Beatles and Prince, there are a bunch of songs we sing together, but Purple Rain might be the chorus we do the most.  Whoo, hoo, hoo, hoo.

The Song That Makes Me Cry

The Beautiful Ones - Prince

Okay.  This is going to turn into Prince fest sooner, rather than later, but if you know me, you were probably already expecting that.  There is something so pure, so primal, about the middle section of this song, that when you sing along, you can't help but feel the torment and pain of a lover lost.  Do you want him?  Or do you want me?  'Cause I want you!  Pair this song with All I Want is You by U2 and you'll have me singing with tears of emotion.

The Song I Wish I Had Written

Three Days - Jane's Addiction

I know very little about songwriting or the craft of music, but I do consider myself somewhat a connoisseur of music.  To me, this song is one of the most perfect songs ever written.  It is epic.  I'm also very fond of the lyrics of Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd.  That song can make me cry when I think of our ancestors and what injustice has been done to Native people.  So there.  One song I'd wish I'd written the music, and another song I'd wish I'd written the words.

The Song I Love to Hear Live

Save Me - The Tea Party

The EW article actually asks the musician what song they love to PLAY live, but since I'm no musician, I changed it up a little.  There are a lot of great live songs I've heard in what I would deem the top 5 concerts I've seen, by U2, Prince, Coldplay, Bloodhound Gang, and Ween.  Yet, seeing the Tea Party perform in several different venues, and several different points in their career, this song was always an enjoyable highlight.  The fact that they changed it up almost each and every time, with an interesting cover tune thrown in the middle that seemed to fit seamlessly (Hurt by Nine Inch Nails, The Maker by Daniel Lanois to name two) make it a song worth hearing no matter how many times I've heard it before.

The Song I'll Always Use My Quarters on at the Bar Jukebox

Kashmir - Led Zeppelin

I can't say I've actually used a quarter on this tune in a jukebox.  For some reason, songs by Queen come to mind, and even Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond makes for a great loud bar sing-a-long.  But I settle on Kashmir because I'm such a cheap bastard that I'm going to get my quarter's worth!

The Album People Might Not Expect Me to Love

 Loud - Rihanna

It's strange to choose something for this category, because I do have eclectic taste when it comes to music, and love all genres of music except two:  Country and Western.  So this album may or may not surprise you but I think it surprises me how much I return to this ALBUM on my iPod.  Not just one or two songs, but a good chunk of the entire ALBUM.  It has such a cool mix of sounds and despite it being a huge seller and typical top 40, I thought it might surprise some of you that I love this album.

The Song I Most Want to be Remembered By

 Forever in My Life - Prince

This is another one of the questions/categories I had to change, as the original EW article asks the musician what song they want to be remembered FOR.  Obviously, that doesn't work in this context, so I altered it to "remembered BY".  You can take this a variety of ways.  A song people associate me with.  A song that maybe speaks to what I am or what I'm about.  Or a song that may have a connection to me.  Maybe YOU can tell ME a song that reminds you of me.  Please post a comment telling me what song you think of when you think of me.  I chose this song because if I want to be remembered as anything, it's a good husband and a good father.  This song was another one of my wedding songs and it speaks to the foreverness of being a husband and a father.  This is no part time job.  It is forever.

The Song I Want Played at My Funeral

 Sometimes It Snows in April - Prince

Some of you may have guessed this one.  I'm sure I've told people that I want this song played.  Please remember for when the time comes.  I just love the simplicity, the soulfulness, the storytelling.  The lyrics are beautiful and if I can leave a message with all y'all when I pass, it's in those words.  "Always cry 4 love, never cry 4 pain.  All good things they say, never last.  And love, just isn't love, until it's passed."

I hope you've enjoyed my list.  I look forward to reading yours.