Friday, May 19, 2017

#1856, Friday, May 19: Me as singing guitarist


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Post 1856, Day 139 of 2017
- 2,331 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment
I'm reflecting on my music today.

Someone posted a video of me playing guitar and singing. It was a minute out of my rendition of Dirty Work (a Steely Dan song that's been covered by others). I started my musical career singing. I learned guitar as an accompaniment to singing, but never played it well, and when I started joining bands, it was initially as a singer/front man.

I discovered bass, and, for the most part, stopped singing, except as a kind of joke - singing a song or two that always had a spoken part - like a version of 'Crazy Mama' (JJ Cale), which I had never learned the words to, and interrupted to tell the story of a drunk and a pig - which led to the song becoming known to the other musicians as the pig joke song.

Initially, I didn't know what a bass guitar did in the music. Shortly thereafter, I saw the Motown review, and became dedicated to the power of the bass. But it was many, many years before I could step up and demonstrate even a little of that power. But playing bass was still a form of self-deprecation: I never wanted the spotlight, I hid in the rhythm section. That became my comfort and my joy - doing my thing while the focus of attention was somewhere else.

All the rest came by persistence.

For years, decades(!), I didn't sing. For one thing, singing and playing bass is hard to do. I finally found one song I could sing while playing bass, and it took me a very long time to get it down, make it comfortable. That opened the door and reminded me how much I enjoy singing.

Now, in my dotage, I'm a fair bass player, with good feel. I'm comfortable with my role. Nothing about playing bass puts me off. Now that I can sing and play bass, I've accepted all my other limitations. And I'm cycling back to my pre-teen days of singing and accompanying myself on guitar (mainly, tunes that I can't get other guitar players to learn).

My guitar playing is as it was when I was a twelve-year-old. My voice has lost range, but gained depth and is more expressive. Singing is still something I enjoy, a lot, even though (or maybe because) it is the only time I get stage-fright.

I'm grateful for this second act.


Food and Diet



Today's Weight:                      202.1 lbs.
Previous Weight (5/18/17):           203.4 lbs.
Net Loss/Gain:                       - 1.3 lbs.


Diet Comment
I have had cheat days work like this before, but I do always find it surprising. Nice that I'm almost two-and-a-half pounds lighter than last Friday.

Food Log
Breakfast
6:15pm: Green and blue protein smoothie with coconut-almond milk, kefir, large organic egg, chia gel, kale, spinach, blueberries, celery, whey powder (36g protein), hemp seeds, hemp protein (7g protein), raw organic cacao powder, moringa leaf powder, cinnamon, coconut oil and stevia-inulin blend.

Lunch
11:35pm: Roasted turkey breast on Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread with guacamole. Cole slaw.

Dinner
12:55am: A Quest bar.

Liquid Intake
   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 28 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz. 

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you! 

1 comment:

  1. Hi my beloved brother. I am delighted, not bored that you are greatful. I love that you are happy in life.

    ReplyDelete