Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 56: Supercool December Holidays Music

Starting off this December Holidays article collection featuring numerous songs from varying genres and languages, is this one in honor of Chanukah, which starts this evening. 🙂 Celebrations often include dancing – especially dancing for joy, as is the case in most Jewish celebrations the world over. A song in your heart often puts a lightness in your step. 🙂 Thus I chose this supercool dance melody by a very talented band. The group performing this wonderful tune is Ot Azoj Klezmerband featuring Allan Merovitz. 😎 The song, “A Yiddishe Honga” (“A Jewish Dance”), from the 1999 album “Chanukah – Festival of Lights”, is three minutes and seventeen seconds of delightful, warm, upbeat music that satisfies both the soul and the ears. 🙂 😎 Right from the get-go I love this song! 🙂 It has such a great sound and is played so superbly by this klezmer band! 🙂 The deep notes are so inviting and the higher notes that join in springs with liveliness! The music lowers shortly after a minute into the song in preparation to Allan Merovitz’s excellent vocals. 😎 The musical instruments travel along with his melodious telling and a conversation of voices soon join in for a brief time then its back to Allan’s solo in great tempo. I love the many levels of the music; it tells a story so very well. Very cool music. Supercool. 😎

   One of my favorite Christmas songs – and from my favorite Christmas album, no less 🙂 – is “O Little Town of Bethlehem” by none other than Elvis Presley. 🙂 I like the heartfelt, genuine reverence that Elvis’s voice clearly conveys when he is singing gospel music. The Creator’s very important to Elvis; you can hear it. 😎 Gentle music begins to play then Elvis’s deep, warm voice begins to sing of Bethlehem (which means “House of Bread” – bread is a symbol of sustaining food, much as the Creator’s gift of salvation through Yeshua/Jesus is life-giving to our souls). He tells about the small town, how still and quiet it appears at night, yet in the darkness shines the Everlasting Light: Yeshua/Jesus (Yeshua is Jesus’s Hebrew name, what His mama called Him). All of mankind’s hopes for a Savior/Messiah, for peace and an end to our fears were answered that night in that small area known as Bethlehem in the form of the Creator’s only begotten Son, Yeshua/Jesus, born in the form of mankind, lowering Himself to live among us as one of us so that He could give His life in exchange for ours so that we could have peace with the Creator and live forever. 😎 That’s a miracle. 😎 Elvis continues to sing of how the angels kept watch that night Yeshua/Jesus was born and how the stars proclaimed His holy birth. Praises were sung to God the King; the angels proclaiming peace to Earth, because, through Him, we can have true peace. 😎 There is only peace when the Creator is included in the establishing of it; we humans cannot create nor maintain peace on our own. In our hearts, we know this. Trust and faith are key elements – it’s important to make sure our trust and faith is in the One Who can make true peace a real thing. 😎 Peace with the Creator is the beginning of the road to true peace on Earth.

   Whether it’s a Chanukah, Christmas or New Year’s celebration going on, the beautiful, dreamy strains of the “December Waltz” by Toot Sweet (from the 1999 “Celtic Christmas” album, song #9, 3:29) is just right for sweethearts. 🙂 ❤ ❤

   Now to the song that has always been extra special to me and in the language I love to hear – my native Cherokee/Tsalagi. 🙂 “What Child Is This?”, sung exceptionally well by Jana Mashonee, is a musical treasure filled with heart, soul and powerful meaning. 😎 This popular song points out the amazing Gift that the Creator gave to us – His Son – and brings home the reality of the situation, which never ceases to leave me in awe of the Creator’s great love and forgiveness for each one of us – every person ever born, past, present and future. Amazing. Even if you don’t know Tsalagi/Cherokee, this song is well known and the message can still be heard and its beauty appreciated. 😎 The instruments include a beautifully-played piano, the distinct beauty and poignance of the Tsalagi/Cherokee bells (often worn among the fringes of our ceremonial attire so that it plays as we dance the song from our soul to the Creator with respect and hope and deep joy), and the pleasant tones of Jana Mashonee’s beautiful voice blessed by the Creator. 🙂 😎 Each melodic lift and depth is exactly right, a beautiful thing to hear, because the heart is also there along with the perfection. 😎 This song – and especially this version – is a treasure. 🙂

   Jon Pardi singing “Blue Christmas” at one of his supercool concerts is, well, supercool! 🙂 😎 I was pretty pleased when I first heard Jon say that the Elvis Christmas Album is his favorite Christmas album; it is mine as well. 🙂 😎 He sings it very well, too. 😎 As he’s playing his 1970’s electric guitar, he’s pouring on the country as he sings to the girl in the song that no amount of beautiful decorations is going to make up for her not being there. It just won’t be the same for the fellow if the girl he holds dear isn’t near; he’s wishing they were still together. Jon’s voice and vocal style really makes the song poignant as he sings about blue memories and blue snowflakes falling. She’ll be doing alright with her Christmas of white, but he’ll have “a blue, blue-blue-blue Christmas.” Jon brings the audience into the “ooo’s” and “ahhh’s” along with his own vocals and that of the band’s. He finishes off with some supercool deep notes as he sings about that blue Christmas; his voice and delivery of a song’s story is impressively good. 😎

   For a beautiful, happy Christmastime love song, this one is a real good one. 🙂 Sung by Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton, “You Make It Feel Like Christmas” was written by him for her. 🙂 And they sang it together during the holidays season several times that same year (2017). 😎 I saw two performances of it on television – the love beamed from him to her and likewise her love for him glowed upon her face. ❤ ❤ As is sung in the song: they’re going to be a classic for all time; the song has a great sound and their love has a lasting glow. 😎 The musicians play the instruments of this lively, upbeat tune in harmony with the great vocals that Blake (who’s also playing guitar), Gwen and the backup singers provide. It’s got a solid sound that is timeless and entirely enjoyable. 🙂 They sing about the many material things that are associated with the holidays scene and clarify that those aren’t what makes it feel like Christmas. It’s love. ❤ ❤ True love is a gift from the Creator and you can see that powerful love shining in Blake’s and Gwen’s eyes each time they sang that song – or looked at one another. 🙂 Love is a precious gift. 🙂

   The melody of the song “Silver Bells” has always sounded pleasant to my ears, yet it never sounded better than when I heard Clint Walker sing it. 😎 🙂 Having heard it online, I knew right away I wanted to buy a copy of it and was so happy it was available! 🙂 From the 1960’s Warner Brothers compilation album, “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”, where various stars from that studio sing favorite Christmas songs, I got to hear Clint Walker’s amazing singing of this nostalgic song. 🙂 😎 Bells begin to ring, a chorus of voices then Clint Walker’s deep, pleasant bass voice sings the lyrics of this scene-setting song. 🙂 Pretty female voices join in on the chorus. Clint sings with strength and gentleness, painting a picture of the bustling holiday city sidewalks along the decorated streets and stores. The feeling of Christmas is in the air as children are laughing, smiles are shared among the happy shoppers – window shoppers or in-store shoppers, and an overall fun and happy feeling. He sings of the shoppers’ happy return home and notes again, “Soon it will be Christmas day!” 🙂

   Big Time Rush brought lots of energy and fun as they sang the song “Jingle Bells” in 2010 along with numerous other television stars. 🙂 James, Kendall, Logan and Carlos gave us not only a great show to enjoy, but also lots of enjoyable music. 🙂 This was a bonus song. 😎 “Jingle Bells” is a fun and easy song to sing; I like its upbeat melody. 😎 The crisp, cool winter air breezing by as you ride in an open sleigh pulled by a beautiful horse, dashing through the snowflakes swirling down from a blanketed sky of clouds, zipping over the hills and down the pretty, tree-lined lanes – paints a nice picture, doesn’t it? 🙂 This song is popular all around the world and sung in many languages, too. It’s especially nice to see and hear it sung by some of your favorite television stars. “Big Time Rush” is one of my all-time favorite shows and knowing that James, Logan, Carlos and Kendall are thoughtful people in real life besides on their show adds to the enjoyment of watching the show (I bought them and received some as gifts; now I can re-watch them without commercials! 🙂 ) and listening to their music. 🙂 😎 Their song, “Beautiful Christmas” is forever one of my favorite December songs; I even listen to it during other months of the year! 🙂

   Gene Autry’s singing and merry music is a warm and cheerful gift. 🙂 I recently got to hear the recording from a 45rpm record of the song, “Merry Texas Christmas, You All!” 🙂 It’s a bright and pleasant melody coupled with a friendly, Texas-style explanation on how things are different – and yet in some ways the same (but bigger 😉 ) – in Texas. Like the greeting. 🙂 They don’t tend to have much snow, especially not the sleigh ride kind of snow that they get in the Northern states, but they have green cactus trees and red flowers. 😎 The backing vocals are excellent and the musical instruments sound great in this song, too. 😎 The guitars, bass fiddle, steel guitar and fiddle are all prevalent; I think I heard drums and a little banjo music as well in there. 😎 Texans may not have the scenery many tend to associate with Christmas, but they sure mean it when they say, “Merry Texas Christmas, you all! May your days be sunny and bright. May your hearts be happy and light. Merry Texas Christmas, you all!” 😀 (That’s a big, Texas smile, there. 😉 )

   At only a little over one and a half minutes in length, Paul Revere & the Raiders’ “Wear a Smile at Christmas” delivers an important message of encouragement. 😎 All but one song (“Jingle Bells”) on their album 1967 Christmas album, “A Christmas Present…And Past” was produced and co-written by Terry Melcher and Mark Lindsay. 🙂 An original album with a unique variety of songs. In this opening track for the album, Mark notes how many people are in such a hurry, focused on the trappings of the holidays scene, not taking the time to share a smile with another human being. A genuine, friendly smile can go a long way in brightening up someone’s day and lightening their load. 😎 A few seconds to smile and you’ve given another person – friend, acquaintance or stranger – a powerful gift. Even if you don’t see a smile in return, you shouldn’t be discouraged – keep on smilin’ anyway! 🙂 Everyone needs some sunshine in their soul and a smile will encourage that beam of light to grow. 🙂 😎

   Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas and may 2019 be filled with joy and blessings for you all! 🙂 😎

Jean247

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Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 42: December Holidays Music Part 2

Welcome to part two of my December Holidays Music review collection! 🙂 There’s so much great music to listen to such as Paul Revere & the Raiders, Big Time Rush, Bruno Mars & the Hooligans, LUNAFALL, In Real Life and Why Don’t We. 🙂 I enjoyed listening to these songs, watching some performances and reviewing them to share with you all. 🙂 I hope you enjoy reading here and checking out any of this great music you haven’t yet had the pleasure of hearing for yourself. 🙂

   An artistic instrumental written by the hands of two geniuses of music, Terry Melcher and Mark Lindsay, “Peace” is a mesmerizing composition that says so much – without one word. 😎 This song was recorded by Paul Revere & the Raiders featuring Mark Lindsay and released on their 1967 album, “A Christmas Present…And Past”. 😎 The first seventeen seconds subtly sets the scene of a rainstorm; at eighteen seconds the strings come in a few notes at a time to add to the story being told within the music. If you listen closely, you will hear it. 😎 More strings shimmer out music by the smooth gliding of the bows with a sudden dash of three higher notes depicting the flashes of lightning in the stormy, dark sky. Midst the storm, there is peace. The Creator made a way for peace with Him through His Son, Yeshua/Jesus. And it doesn’t matter which kind of storm nears you – be it the storm of weather, thoughts, actions (or inaction) of others, or anything else that might make us feel unsure and unsettled in spirit, soul or body – the Creator is more powerful than them all. 😎 He can give us peace in our hearts; all we have to do is ask Him, believing. Belief is important. Words merely spoken have no power; belief, faith and trust must be in your heart or else they are just empty words. When He said He loves us; He meant it 100%. 🙂 And He doesn’t change. 😎 He loves us still. In the song, you can hear the raindrops falling, the ominous storm. Yet, if you listen as the song goes along, the sun is breaking through the dark clouds, sending beams of light shining down on us. 🙂 😎 The storm is ending, moving off, as sound of thunder and flashes of lightning grow farther away. The rainstorm gentles until it is a calm, soothing rain that brings the feelings of coziness – and peace. 🙂 😎

   Last Christmas season, the three members of the band LUNAFALL, (Joel Darkes, Craig Wright and Dave Bright) released a charity single entitled “Christmas Day”. All profits from sales of this cool single goes to Donkey Sanctuary, UK, where these noble creatures are cared for, many having been rescued from dire situations. It said a lot to me about the band members – it takes a lot of heart for your band’s very first single to be dedicated to a charity, instead of focusing on promoting your own band. Great guys. 🙂 😎 I saw the music video first, which led to me gladly buying the single. 🙂 The video starts with Craig opening double doors and inviting us in to a cheerily-decorated collection of rooms where the video was filmed. The rockin’ trio begin their song, guitars in hand. 😎 A pleasant tune is soon joined by lyrics sung by Dave then Joel, respectively, telling of some of the happy things often associated with the Christmas season, such as children having fun playing in the snow. They sing about it being almost Christmas and how we can sing merrily, joining together to sing this song. 😎 The chorus features some very cool guitar work by Craig. 😎 The words paint a very cozy picture. 🙂 The drums are real cool as are the other musical instruments in this great tune. 😎 Partway into the second verse, backing Dave’s vocals, quiet “ooo’s” add a very important touch to the overall sound. 🙂 😎 Singing about faces all aglow leads to the supercool chorus again. 🙂 2:16 to 2:45 features an awesome Craig guitar solo. 🙂 😎 One of the best parts of the song has arrived. As the notes carry from the guitar, Joel sings the chorus softly – some of my favorite of his vocals! 🙂 Meanwhile, those supercool “ooo’s” and adding of the other voices at just the right points makes this such a completely good collection of sound! 🙂 The chorus kicks back up into high, rockin’ gear and ends with some very cool notes. 😎 At the close of the music video, Craig closes the doors with a friendly smile after our visit and the screen changes to a familiar blessing: Merry Christmas. 🙂 Christmas, when many celebrate Yeshua/Jesus having come to Earth, bringing everlasting light, life and forgiveness for all.

   Bruno Mars & the Hooligans (Peter Gene Hernandez, Philip Lawrence, Kameron Whalum, James King, Jamareo Artis, Phred Brown, Eric Hernandez, John Fossit and Dwayne Dugger) are amazingly talented and entertaining fellows. 🙂 😎 In 2012 they did a performance of “White Christmas” on television. 🙂 Classic. Cool. Original. Fun. Superb. Entertaining. Supercool. Those are just a few of the words that describe this rendition. 🙂 😎 All of the fellows are dressed their finest for this occasion. Bruno starts the count then they all begin the vocal intro with the drums, keys and bass blending in just right. When it’s time for the first verse, Bruno steps forward as if to sing, but a Hooligan with chutzpah (okay, so that probably applies to each of them 😉 ) quickly steps in front of him, an arm stretched out to block any attempt to regain the forefront, and starts singing – very, very well. 🙂 Bruno smiles and steps back; he’s cool, he knows he will be centerstage at the right moment. Mr. Chutzpah (of the moment) sings in his exceptional, deep voice that he’s dreaming of a white Christmas, just like he used to know – “you remember the ones!” he adds in personably. 🙂 Bruno slides up after verse one, stepping alongside said Hooligan, clamping a firm hand on his shoulder then smoothly shoving him out of centerstage as Bruno himself claims it verbally (starting at the top 😉 ) as well as physically. 😎 His smooth, husky tones sing of treetops glistening and children listening for sleigh bells in the snow. 🙂 Going onward to the next part, where the blessing is given for days to be merry and bright, the harmonious vocals of Bruno Mars & the Hooligans rings out beautifully. “And may all your Christmases be-” right here everyone stop, Bruno says, “Dramatic pause” 🙂 😎 strikes a dramatic pose then he finishes the blessing for a snowy Christmas. As he holds the note, the Hooligans sing a little bit of “Jingle Bells” in the background and the instruments flourish, the cymbals shimmering to perfection. 😎 🙂 But are they done performing? No, after all, they take entertaining the audience of listeners very seriously. 😉 🙂 😎 They always give more, adding good surprises along the way. Bruno says, “Merry Christmas, America”, they do an end-of-song-pose, drumsticks count to the next part then the seven in front exit the stage with witty style as they vocalize the tune. 😎 🙂 😎

   Now to the music group featuring Michael Conor, Drew Ramos, Chance Perez, Sergio Calderon and Brady Tutton: In Real Life. Their version of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” opens with an original lead-in sung by vocals in harmony accompanied by an acoustic guitar. Melodic background “ooo’s” brings us to the start of the well-familiar lyrics of the song. Sleigh bells and finger snaps join in as the tempo picks up to a cheerful reassurance that she can count on him to be home for Christmas. A collection of percussion is soon added to the instrument backing the group. I really like the way they sing the part, “Yeah, I’ll be home for Christmas”, Drew sings out, “I’ll be home!”, they sing again “Yeah, I’ll be home for Christmas” then Drew sings “Yeah!”; it sounds so supercool! 🙂 😎 Next up is a highlight of the In Real Life music: Michael Conor’s rapping! 🙂 😎 I love Michael’s music: his singing is great, he’s a gifted expert on the violin and the supercool rapping and free-stylin’ is way cool. 😎 😎 😎 😎 In this song, he’s rapping words of promise that he’s coming home for Christmas. 😎 He repeats this promise alternately throughout the closing chorus section in this cool arrangement along with Drew’s singing out a heartfelt “I’ll be there!” 🙂 😎

   How’s this next one for a supercool gift? 🙂 On December 25, 2016, the five-member band Why Don’t We posted an acoustic Christmas Gift – a song called “You and Me at Christmas”. 😎 Daniel Seavey, Zach Herron, Corbyn Besson, Jonah Marais and Jack Avery sang with Daniel’s guitar being the only other instrument heard. 😎 Here’s how I came to know about this group, this song and their YouTube channel that began in 2016. A friend came across one of their performances back on October 14th of this year, saw their nice message on this song’s page and told me about it. And I was already liking them because of that cheerful and thoughtful message. 🙂 We watched the performance – loved it immediately! 🙂 The tune’s great 🙂 – I love upbeat stuff! 🙂 😎 The lyrics are excellent, flowing with natural musical beauty. All five of the guys have really good voices and sing superbly. Great style – honest, real and musically satisfying. They and their music are genuine, unique. If anyone should ask me, “So, who does Why Don’t We sound like?” My answer would be, “They sound exactly like Why Don’t We!” 😀 😎 That’s important in the music business; you want to be immediately recognized by your (good 😉 ) sound (it isn’t all that great for a group to be recognized because they sound musically bad). “You and Me at Christmas” is two minutes and thirty-eight seconds of great melody and singing. 😎 The song tells about how he’s been missing her since she went to California and wanting to see her again. The chorus is the song title sung in a very cool, melodic way; they’ve got great vocals and style! 🙂 😎 He sings that now, with her near, even though it’s cold outside, his heart is warm because he’s kissing her. 🙂 ❤ Bells and sleigh bells are ringing along with the heartfelt beauty of this song. 🙂 The chorus is sung gently with a cheerful, upbeat vibe. 😎 This song is supercool! 🙂

   So how about another song by Why Don’t We? 🙂 They gave us a whole Christmas EP this year! 🙂 This one, “Kiss You This Christmas”, is the first song on their EP “A Why Don’t We Christmas” – and it’s supercool, too! 🙂 😎 This music group has such great harmonies and sings each solo part with excellent, melodic vocals. 😎 “Kiss You This Christmas” opens with twenty-four seconds of beautiful bells and strings, its melody already established as unique, warm and cozy. 😎 A perfect setting. 😎 The singing begins as he tells how joyful he is when she’s near and that she shines like a star. 🙂 These fellows sure know how to write a song – and sing it with heart. 🙂 ❤ ❤ It’s refreshing, good and supercool. 😎 The beautiful lyrics just keep coming, sharing his heart with her through poetry-set-to-music. 😎 He wants to kiss her this Christmas. ❤ He’s waiting for her to let him know. 😎 She’s all he needs to bring him cheer; there’s nothing sweeter than for her to be near. ❤ ❤ This is one of the most beautifully romantic love songs ever. 🙂 ❤ And I don’t say that lightly; I mean it thoroughly. Why Don’t We has a real gem here; it’s extraordinarily beautiful in word, in melody, in heart. ❤ 😎 I heartily recommend you check out their EP; it would be a great gift to give – and to receive! 🙂 😎

   In 2016 I reviewed Big Time Rush’s “Beautiful Christmas”; this year, I’ll review the other track from their 2010 Christmas EP, “Holiday Bundle: All I Want for Christmas/Beautiful Christmas”. I’ll also be referring to their music video for it as well as my favorite acoustic performance. 🙂 The music video was the first time I saw Big Time Rush; I was immediately pleased with their great sound as well as their fun, upbeat personalities. 😎 I couldn’t even tell you how many times I’ve watched that video. 😛 A whole lotta times, to be sure! 🙂 My favorite acoustic performance of this song (although they are all great) is their performance from “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” on 11/30/11. 😎 Sitting amongst the festive decorations on a wintry New York City night, Dustin Belt played guitar, Kendall Schmidt (who learned from Dustin) also played guitar and Carlos PenaVega played tambourine. James Maslow and Logan Henderson, along with Kendall and Carlos, sang vocals. All five of them – for surely Dustin Belt is an essential part of Big Time Rush’s success both on scene and behind the scenes – brought good cheer, good music and warmth midst the cold with their excellent performance. 😎 The EP featured a full set of instruments including cool drums, music box chimes and sleigh bells; both versions sound very good. 🙂 😎 My favorite part of the EP version is found in the last half minute of the song. 🙂 They’re all singing the chorus in a round, Logan sings, “All I want for Christmas…” then James perfectly sings out, “…is you-oo-oo, Baby!” Then Logan takes over at twenty-three seconds remaining and it just sounds so cool! 🙂 😎 I love the arrangement, the change-up, the melody, the style – if you haven’t gotten to hear it yet, I believe you really should give it a listen and hear for yourself what I’m talking about! 🙂 😎 🙂 “All I Want for Christmas” tells about the desire of the heart in love, not needing or wanting lots of presents or other material things that many think are inseparable from the holiday. This song sings out that all that’s really necessary for happiness on that day is love. 🙂 Love is a precious gift from the Creator, as is His Gift to us: forgiveness, freedom and life through faith in His Son, Yeshua/Jesus. 🙂 😎 The Scriptures make it clear that He loves us, like in John, chapter three, verse sixteen: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That’s a lot of love! ❤

Jean247

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Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 41: December Holidays Music Part 1

Happy Chanukah! 🙂 Merry Christmas! 🙂 This December Holidays Music collection is part one and features supercool music artists Elvis Presley, Heffron Drive, James Maslow and more! 🙂 Part two is scheduled to post later this month and features such artists as Paul Revere & the Raiders, Big Time Rush, Bruno Mars & the Hooligans, LUNAFALL, In Real Life and Why Don’t We. 🙂 I hope you enjoy these review collections and the music that they feature. 🙂

   Paul Revere’s Raiders, in their rockin’ Christmas concerts, include a beautiful version of the song “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”. 🙂 It’s one of the very best versions I have ever heard; an excellent ballad gently sung from the heart by lead singer Darren Dowler. 😎 The footage I was blessed to see is from a few years ago and it’s a treasure of a concert. 😎 Paul Revere’s Raiders have a reputation for great concerts filled with good music and fun. 🙂 The stage set-up is festive and cheerful with decorations; I love the tinsel and multi-colored lights draped about the stage – as well as on some of the instruments. 🙂 Their Raider uniform jackets are a bright red and Paul’s tri-cornered hat, which is usually black, is bright red as well – with white trim. The opening of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” is so beautiful as Darren’s singing goes perfectly with Danny Krause’s keys. 😎 Excellent! 🙂 The instrumental break in the song is beautiful as Darren turns the focus to Danny Krause’s highlight on the keys. 🙂 Paul Revere shows his approval by word and action as he, along with the rest of the guys, join in instrumentally – Ron Foos’s right-on bass, Doug Heath’s fine guitar playing, Tommy Scheckel’s awesome cymbal-shimmering all help make the performance exceptional. 😎 (I didn’t get to see footage of a time when guitarist Jamie Revere was performing this song with the rest of the guys on stage; it would’ve been even cooler with one more Raider there. 🙂 ) I appreciate the continual honor and respect that the Raiders have for our military, which they continue here with a tribute to them with a salute of respect at the finish of the song. 😎 It’s a great blessing and comfort to know that even if you aren’t able to be in the company of your family during holiday time – Chanukah, Christmas or any other holiday – you are together in heart and thought. ❤ ❤

   In 2014 Kendall Schmidt (of Heffron Drive and Big Time Rush) wrote and recorded a new timeless Christmastime song, “Blame It On the Mistletoe”, releasing it as a solo single. It has a supercool, catchy, always-sounds-great rock’n’roll sound – complete with “shoop-shoop, shoop-de-doop”. 😎 🙂 Besides the drums, guitars and keys, excellent use was also made of ringing bells and sleigh bells. Kendall sings about his desire to break the ice, get the girl to go out skating or dancing with him, but it hasn’t worked out – yet. 😉 He keeps trying to figure out how to let her know what she means to him. 🙂 The chorus swings in at 51 seconds with some supercool drum beats. He tells about the mistletoe – symbolic for kissing – is hanging right above them, so why not pause from talking and just kiss…while they can “blame it on the mistletoe”? 🙂 Smart boy. 😉 At 1:16 is one of my favorite parts, where the note’s melodically carried at the end of “mistletoe” – excellent! 🙂 😎 Nice echoing effect of “mistletoe” from the chorus to the next verse, too. 🙂 The lyrics continue to be cool, poetic and witty as he tells her he’s been writing her carols since the fourth of July. 🙂 Kendall brings the volume down just right as he sings the chorus then jumps right back into the enthusiastic, upbeat vocals. 😎 When Heffron Drive (Dustin Belt and Kendall Schmidt’s music group 😎 ) performed it in concert the following year, they included a cool saxophonist on stage – who, after playing great throughout the song, played a supercool solo near the end. 😎 The lively tune sounded great live with Dustin and Kendall’s guitars, along with other music artists on drums, keys, bass and the sax. 😎 The drummer started it off in style with the rest soon joining in. Kendall focused on singing the song brilliantly as Dustin’s smile lit up the room. 😎 They were all having a good, fun time and that always makes it extra fun and enjoyable for the audience as well. 😎 Dustin’s energetic performance slowed down perfectly to a gentle strumming with less than a minute to the finish, conveying the tenderness in his own excellence of pure style. 😎 Awesomely cool. 😎

   James Maslow gave us all an early Chanukah & Christmas gift! 🙂 A new song especially for the holidays season, “Christmas Beautiful”, is worded and sung by James with poetic beauty. 🙂 😎 This cozy, romantic song is well-titled, making good use of the good feelings that are often associated with Christmas: love, happiness, light, cheer, joy, celebration, loved ones near. 🙂 These words also apply to Chanukah, which celebrates the miracle of the Creator making one day’s amount of oil (for the Temple light after Israel won against the invading foe, cleaned up the desecrated-by-the-enemy Temple and rededicated it to the Creator – the lamp was to burn continuously and He made it so) last for eight (the amount of time needed for more of the required oil to be made and purified). 😎 Celebrating the miracle of oil for the Temple and the miracle of the Light (Yeshua/Jesus) makes it a joyous season in heart and soul. 😎 🙂 James poetically brought that beauty into a phrase “Christmas Beautiful” that shines brightly. 😎 His vocals are really the only music needed for this song, even though there’s other music joining in. He sings of the nice California weather outside, but that he would rather be inside cuddled close to his girl. 🙂 It’s his favorite time of the year, made better with her here by his side. She’s Christmas beautiful. 🙂 That would mean that not only is she beautiful to him in appearance, but also beautiful in her heart. 🙂 The holidays are known for warmth and love; true beauty comes from the inside and shines forth from the eyes. In the next verse, James paints another tropical beach scene then points out what’s better: it being cold outside, but warm inside. Thus he invites her to come in and enjoy the coziness of the holidays together with him. And he hopes it snows all night. Yes, a cozy evening cuddled close on the sofa in front of the fireplace is a beautiful scene that neither would want to end. 🙂 Thank you for the song gift, James! 🙂 I hope you have a Happy Chanukah, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🙂 😎

   This next song, “Wintery Nights” by Allison Medina, was brought to my attention by my friend Ron Foos (Paul Revere’s Raiders), who co-wrote the song. 🙂 😎 He kindly shared it with me pre-release and I’ve been looking forward to including it in my holiday music collection review this year. 🙂 The opening sound of shimmering notes brings to mind the sparkling light reflected in the snowflakes of wintertime. 🙂 Gentle “ooo’s” in the background join together with a relaxed beat, setting the pace for the song. I love the touch of reggae beat that enters the song along with Allison Medina’s unique voice as she begins to sing – mentioning that snow we heard at the top of the song. 😉 😎 She sings the story of looking forward to husband and wife holding each other tight on this cold, wintry night. The chorus swings in at 46 seconds, where she sings that “wintery nights won’t get me down” – now that he will soon be back in town. 🙂 The next verse tells of the cozy setting; a crackling fire in the fireplace and the kisses that mistletoe traditionally represents is a great combination. 🙂 After the second chorus, an instrumental break leads into the third verse – and more romance. 2:43 is one of the prettiest parts of the song – a gentle melody sung so well in excellent tone and with tender heart by Allison. 😎 (The backing “ooo’s” are brought back in perfectly, too. 😎 ) She does a beautiful job of singing that spending your favorite time of year with the one you love most dear is precious. The song closes with her tenderly singing of how he’s riding on his sleigh through the sleet and snow to get back home to her. Love. 🙂 😎

   When I hear “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” sung by Elvis Presley, it’s a blessing and a comfort to me. I have always loved listening to his Christmas album; his voice is so warm and reassuring as he sings these melodies. This particular song begins with a piano note; ladies prettily singing a snow-falling series of “oo-oo-oo-oo-ooo’s” follows then Elvis starts the verse. 😎 He sings that he will be home for Christmas, to plan on him being there. He asks for snow and mistletoe. 🙂 He tells how Christmas Eve will find him where the love light gleams. He reiterates that he will be home for Christmas – even if it’s only in his dreams. Being with loved ones is natural for celebrations; it makes it all the merrier. 🙂 However, sometimes loved ones are in various locations and are unable to meet up in one place at the same time on a specific date. But that shouldn’t keep the joy of celebration from happening in our hearts; we can be together in heart wherever we are. 🙂 I know it’s not exactly the same, but it counts and is important to remember. 😎 If you are joined in heart, you are together. If you have no loved ones to celebrate with you can still celebrate. If you believe on the Creator, you are never truly alone. 😎 You can talk to Him; He listens and cares. Most likely, you can find happiness in helping others; it’s an awesome feeling that adds yet more joy to any celebratory occasion, be it Chanukah, Christmas, New Year’s, et cetera. 🙂 Back to the song now… The way Elvis sings so gently, deepening his notes and carrying them in his own style all at the right moments makes this an extra-special version of the song with continuous recognition as the top recording. The male and female chorus finishes out the song, along with the other instruments, with the heartfelt words, “I’ll be home for Christmas!”

   John McDermott, Anthony Kearns and Ronan Tynan – The Irish Tenors – sang “The Holy City” poignantly beautifully on their 1999 album, “Home for Christmas”. 🙂 This four minute, fifty-four second studio recording begins with a majestic orchestral opening (played expertly by a seventy-eight piece orchestra) then quiets as the singing begins. John sings the lyrics about a wonderful dream one night. 😎 “I stood in old Jerusalem beside the Temple there.” 😎 He heard the voices of children singing, then he heard what seemed to be the voices of angels. The instruments begin to build up majestically around fifty-three seconds into the song as the chorus, the words of the angels in the dream, is sung out by all three tenors. 😎 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, lift up your heads and sing! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna to the King!” Anthony brings in the second verse, which tells about a change in the dream. Now all was silent, no gladness of singing, a darkness reigned over the land, when Yeshua/Jesus, died on the cross to pay for everyone’s sins so we wouldn’t have to. Now all we need to do is accept His gift of forgiveness and trust Him to save us. 🙂 The joyful chorus begins, because now there’s singing again! 🙂 😎 The third verse, sung by Ronan, tells of another scene change in the dream. The Holy City, New Jerusalem, from Heaven above, is seen. 😎 You can read about it in the Scriptures, in Revelation (the King James Version is the clearest English translation from the original language). The streets are paved with gold. His Light is the only illumination needed – no sun or moon necessary. 😎 The gates are open wide in invitation to all who would like to enter; all you need to do is believe in Yeshua/Jesus, what He did for you, ask Him to forgive and save you – and He will. That’s why He came to Earth. To rescue you. Because He loves you.

Jean247

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Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 33: Ocean Drum Music by Demian Arriaga

One man. One drum. Much music. 😎

   The man I’m referring to is Demian Arriaga, supercool drummer who spent part of this year’s springtime playing drums in the studio for Heffron Drive’s upcoming songs for 2017. 😎 Both members of Heffron Drive, Dustin Belt and Kendall Schmidt, were kvelling about how great the drum sessions were going. I was excited about this because I love the sound of good drumming! 🙂 Kendall mentioned the drummer’s name, Demian Arriaga, and I got in contact with him, telling him how much I was looking forward to hearing the music. He responded graciously, enthusiastically and humbly. 😎 He said good things about Dustin and Kendall, not bragging on himself. I couldn’t seem to wait to hear his drumming and realized there might be some drum solos on YouTube (not of Heffron Drive’s new music yet, of course, but other footage 😉 ). There were quite a few treasures of drum work there! 🙂 So much good stuff. 🙂

   The footage I’m reviewing is one minute and two seconds in length and features Demian having fun playing an ocean drum. This clip is so fascinatingly unique and good. 🙂 The ocean drum is an instrument similar, in a very general sense, to a Cherokee hand drum or a bodhran. Its sound differs greatly from that of those two individually unique instruments. The narrow edge of the ocean drum is rested on the player’s leg and balanced with their hands as it’s held so that the people watching will see the large O of the circumference. And so you can see a good reason for its name. 😉 😎 The drum, which is just a few inches thick, has a clear cover on it with an ocean scene depicted inside. 🙂 A small collection of metal beads is contained within this enclosure and adds another dimension of music to it, as Demian excellently demonstrates. 😎 At times, this drum sounds akin to a steel drum, depending on how it’s being played.

   Demian, in this brief video, shows a whole wealth of music that this instrument can do. 😎 He’s an excellent drummer. 🙂 I appreciate good drumming and this is such cool footage that I’ve watched it many times already. 🙂

   The first twelve seconds he makes use of his fingertips in a series of cool movements from the nine o’clock side (as you would be seeing it) and down to the six-thirty portion with his right hand while his left hand plays the twelve o’clock area. The drum has a really neat sound and the rhythm he’s playing is very cool. 😎

   The next part gives a good example of how those beads can add to the overall ocean sound of the ocean drum. 🙂 By hitting the top edge of the drum’s edge with his left palm, the beads shift and bounce at the bottom, as if it were ocean sand. He does this at just the right moments, making a groovy ocean tune. 😎

   Demian makes use of various portions of the drum surface, bringing about some supercool music. 🙂 😎

   At thirty-three seconds into this music footage, Demian speeds up his right hand’s pace, adding to his ocean drum song with amazing style and artistic gracefulness. 😎

   With some instrument artists, you can “hear” the music just by watching them play the instrument – with the volume turned all of the way down on whatever you are watching it on. Demian is one such artist. 😎 As I watch this treasure clip of ocean drum music, I notice this visual. I paused the footage, backed it up and silenced the sound. Yes, you can “see-hear” the music, the energy, the tempo, the beats, the style, the vibes. Very, very cool. 🙂 😎 You might want to try that out for yourself. 🙂 I appreciate visual music like this; music that everyone can “hear”, including those who are deaf. 😎 The deaf can, in a sense, “hear” music through watching movement as well as in feeling the music through the vibration of touch – I’ve noticed this with a few music devices/players. 😎

   Volume back up! 🙂

   By forty-four into it, his right hand is doing a fast-speed tap on the nine o’clock side and his left hand is keeping those beads bouncing at the right moments. 😎

   Several seconds later, both talented hands are getting those beads to bounce and shift in greater volume. 😎 The whole layout of this instrumental piece is very good. 🙂 Excellent drummers can do that. 🙂 😎

   Demian finishes up with more cool notes and rhythmic beats. 😎 This footage is very entertaining and fun to watch from start to finish – and for each replay, too! 😉 🙂

   Thank you, Demian, for sharing your drumming talents with the world. 🙂 And thank you, Raul Arriaga, for posting this supercool footage on YouTube for all of us to get to enjoy! 🙂

Jean247

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Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 28: “Amazing”

🌊~~~~~~SPECIAL EDITION~~~~~~🌊

Multi-talented James Maslow wrote the song “Amazing” and it was featured on Big Time Rush’s 2013 album “24/Seven”. 😎 As soon as I heard it, I thought it sounded great! 🙂 After hearing it on there, I could hardly wait for them to sing it in concert! 🙂 I knew without a doubt that it would sound even more amazing with the live band! 🙂 😎 Nothing could beat DBelt’s rockin’ guitar!!!!! 🙂 😎 However, the tour that came up featured a DJ piping in the sounds of the instruments instead of the full band actually being there and playing it full-out. 😦 There were a couple of acoustic numbers – and thankfully DBelt was there for that! 🙂 – but “Amazing” only featured the piped-in music. 😦 As on the album, James, Kendall, Carlos and Logan all sounded excellent in their vocals, so that was still supercool! 🙂 In his solo performances, James is currently including a medley of Big Time Rush songs and you know which one is part of that compilation. 😉 It’s done as a solo-with-acoustic-guitarist and the words flow excellently from the lips of the song’s original author, James Maslow. 🙂 😎 And that’s what I’m going to focus on for this review. 🙂

   During his live performances, James sings the first two verses of “Amazing”. 🙂 Verse one begins with the opening strums of the acoustic guitar then James begins to sing how his girl looks good in a dress and how he especially likes seeing her wearing his sweatshirt. (I think it’s so nice – and cozy wonderful! – when a fellow shares his sweatshirt or jacket with his girl to keep her warm while out walking in the chilly weather. Extra nice: when he puts his arm around her, too, holding her close to his side. 🙂 ) He sings about how very understanding and gracious she is. 🙂

   James picks up the volume with his excellent vocals as he nears the chorus with the words, “She knows that I’m falling fast. Oh-oh! Oh-oh! I know that I’ll never let her go!” 🙂

   The chorus continues his melody of happiness as he sings out how he’s loving her character and how she makes him feel – he likes her feminine appeal. 🙂 He’s extremely attracted to her for her heart as well as her appearance. “Girl, you’re just amazing!”

   James Maslow sounds so good in concert; I’m enjoying watching some of the footage from March, 2017, as I write this review. 🙂 He has a very nice tone and carries the notes so well. The rise and fall of the notes are the musical pleasure that they are meant to be. 😎 His voice audibly shows the gentle, strong and awestruck feelings of the lyrics with ease. 🙂 😎

   The second verse sounds just as great. 🙂 (No surprise there. 😉 ) James sings in acting lingo that the girl is the “star of the show” – not that she demands accolades, but that she knows in her heart that she’s already “got the part”. He goes on to explain: she’s the star of his heart. 🙂

   Up to this point, James has been sitting on a stool as he sings, but now he gets up and sings, “So girl take a bow…” – he does an elaborate manly bow toward the audience, “…you’ve won my heart.” Here he holds up his hands to form a heart-shape. 😎

   As he leads into the chorus again, he’s moving to the music, singing with much heart. 😎 I especially like the extra emphasis he puts on the word “just” in “Girl, you’re just amazing” – that added umph gets across how he feels so clearly. 😎 He sings that part again then on the third time he carries the notes longer and softer as he brings the song to a gentle close. Very romantic. 🙂 James always sings with depth of feeling. 😎

Jean247

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Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 27: “Slow Motion”

🎸~~~~~~~SPECIAL EDITION~~~~~~~🎸

Osiyo! 🙂 (Cherokee greeting) On this exact date one year ago I started this music review blog. 🙂 (I had already begun my work before that elsewhere then decided to go independent and make my articles more readily available for readers. 🙂 ) Thank you to all of my readers worldwide; I’m glad you enjoy my articles. 🙂 Thank you to those who have posted comments here and elsewhere and to those who have communicated their appreciation to me by other means. 🙂 I greatly appreciate each of you. 🙂

   What better way to celebrate this day than to review a new song by the music duo whose recordings first inspired me to begin typing my reviews three years ago? 🙂 I’m talking about Dustin Belt and Kendall Schmidt, also known as Heffron Drive! 🙂 😎

   The rockin’ soul music and good character of Dustin Belt drew me to Heffron Drive. 😎 Dustin’s guitar work is always amazing and the song I’m featuring in this article is no exception. 😎 “Slow Motion” may be the title, but it certainly doesn’t describe the speed of Dustin’s fingers as he plays this piece! 🙂 😎 I’ll be talking more about this later. 🙂 We’ll begin with the supercool opening of the song and glide on through this masterpiece of instrumental and vocal prowess. 😎

   I love the sound and instrumentation of this song! I can hear Dustin’s voice, his exceptional guitar work, the keys, the great production and masterful inclusion of cool elements…so much good stuff to the sound of this melodic song with a blazing guitar solo that sends this song soaring into the clouds with its supercoolness! 😎 Okay, so that was a rather long sentence – but when something is this good, who cares so much? 😉

   Dustin and Kendall are not only great friends, but also great creators of good music productions. And they deliver big-time in concert! 🙂 😎 “Slow Motion” is an excellent example of what their combined talents can accomplish musically. 😎

   The first fifteen seconds of this song already has me loving it! 🙂 The brilliant inclusion of vinyl-record-playing sounds is way cool; there’s nothing like the pop-cracklin’ of supercool vinyl records. 🙂 😎 (They had their “Happy Mistakes” album mixed and mastered for vinyl release; I hope they get them pressed – it would sound so cool! 🙂 😎 )

   The strings and piano are an orchestration of great musical beauty. A great start to a great piece of music. 😎 During the twenty-three second mark, Kendall’s gifted vocals brings us to the lyrical part of the introduction. 🙂 At first his voice is as if it is at a distance – and then it’s right there. 😎 Seconds later, the song does a cool zip into the next music section, smoothly going from one style to the next in an excellent blend of musical treasure. 🙂

   By thirty-four seconds we are hearing DBelt’s acoustic guitar finesse as well as his skillful fingers playing upon the keys. 🙂 😎 Question is: did he play both instruments at the same time or were they tracked separately? 😉 No, we know the answer to that one: part of Heffron Drive’s great sound is the great precision work that is done in bringing the tracks together. 🙂 DBelt is a master at this. 😎 Dustin and Kendall play most all of the instruments we hear in the songs, with other musicians only brought in when necessary. 😎 These two are super-talented. 🙂 They put a lot of time, effort and expertise into their music. 😎

   The drums are in action as Kendall sings the first verse. You know, one of the things I noticed while listening to this song is that Dustin’s guitar work is leading the way, setting the musical pace. 😎 In most songs, the drums give the orders, but DBelt’s the man and he’s at the helm of this rockin’ ship. 🙂 😎

   The vocals for this section: “There’s a light that guides me home inside your eyes” is especially beautiful. 🙂 😎 Kendall sings this part so well; he uses an excellent combination of gentleness and feeling-it-from-the-soul. 😎 Everyone needs light and guidance in life; love is a light. The Creator’s Light guides us on the path to Home. 🙂 He shines the truth all around us; all we have to do is open our eyes – the windows to the soul – to see this. 🙂

   The keys signal the lead into the chorus, which is amazing. 🙂 😎 Dustin switches to his electric guitar, playing an awesome tune. 🙂 😎 (Note: you can hear it even more clearly in concert, as I noticed on some of the footage I have seen – and watching his fingers play with ease of expertise is a blessing all its own. You know how I love seeing how the music comes about. 🙂 ) Kendall picks up the volume of the vocals perfectly. 🙂 😎

   The chorus music sounds so cool. 😎 The melody of it is artistic, real and supercool. 😎 😎 DBelt’s supercool guitar work was already addressed in the previous paragraph. 🙂 I also love the melodic notes of the keys; it’s the perfect key section, range and volume. 🙂 Beautiful music. 🙂 😎

   I can hear Dustin’s deeper, huskier voice along with Kendall’s ringing-out-above-all-else, higher vocals. They both sound great and their vocals go together well, like brothers. 😎 Have you ever noticed how harmonious and complimentary to one another’s vocal qualities the voices of siblings are? 🙂 It blends excellently. 😎

   Verse two comes into play and I notice yet again the supercool tempo style of it. 😎 It’s unique in its flow and pauses, sounding so melodic, strong and gentle all at once. 🙂

   The rolling music waves of the chorus are an awesome, glorious ride! 🙂 I enjoy good references to the ocean and “Slow Motion” has that feature. 🙂 😎

   Kendall’s singing in verse and chorus is superbly done. 😎 I love every moment I can hear Dustin’s magnificent vocals; the Creator gave him such a nice, pleasant husky singing voice. Maybe we will get to hear more of it in upcoming Heffron Drive songs. 🙂 😎

   Get ready before you reach the three-minute mark of this song – DBelt’s path-blazing guitar work is about to burst out onto the scene! 😎 On 3:03 and for more than a half-minute after that, DBelt’s guitar is sooooo good. 😎 The voice of his guitar sings loud and clear, unhindered and undeniable. 😎 Unstoppably good. 😎

   The tempo carries on, inspired by Dustin’s beautiful guitar (one of the most beautiful guitars I have ever seen – you might want to check it out on the concert footage! 🙂 ) and its awesome sound. 🙂 The music duo’s vocals continue to shine as the energy level keeps soaring along as if on the ocean’s powerful breeze. 😎 The arrangement of the vocals and various parts to it are well-designed and performed. 🙂 Wow, this song is good! 🙂 😎

   The closing twelve seconds of the song features that awesome tone of the keys chosen for this song 😎 along with the pops and crackles of a vinyl record playing. 🙂 😎 Soon we hear a sound akin to a record player’s needle being removed abruptly from the vinyl’s surface – yet the vinyl continues its pop-crackling sounds as if it refuses to stop playing. 😎 Keep on rockin’, vinyl – there’s no sound quite like yours. 🙂 😎 And there’s no sound quite like Heffron Drive’s, either. 😉 😎 🙂

   As I have said before: Heffron Drive’s recordings are very special work that Dustin and Kendall take care of in their own studio, TOLbooth Records – and their live performances surpass even that! 🙂 😎 The energy level and getting to hear the instruments live are two of the elements that contribute to an even greater sound than a studio can give – even when the producers are of the expert level that Dustin and Kendall are. That’s somethin’. 😎 In concert, Dustin plays his gorgeous electric guitar throughout the song. 😎 During the verses he plays a groovy heartbeat tune and during the chorus he plays the intricate notes with supercool precision. 🙂 Meanwhile, Kendall is pouring his energy into his vocals, giving his focus to a heartfelt performance therewith. 🙂 Both fellows do excellently in providing a great show. 🙂 😎

   “Slow Motion” sounds great on its recording as well as in concert; I highly recommend you hear both! 🙂 😎 Great stuff! 🙂 😎 Wado equa (“Thank you very much” in Cherokee), Dustin and Kendall, for sharing your love of and gift for music! 🙂 😎 The kindness, graciousness and thoughtfulness in your characters, respectively, is honorable and is a continual blessing from the Creator, through you, to the world around you. 🙂 Everywhere you go, at home and abroad, you treat people of all nations with individual respect and genuine friendliness. 🙂 That’s so cool. 😎 It should be that way; it is pleasing to the Creator. 🙂 😎 May He bless you for the many good and honorable things you do. 🙂

   I appreciate so much that I could always count on you to provide great, listenable music that I can freely and happily listen to. 🙂 😎 I would have bought The Slow Motion EP in its entirety if you had kept to your usual standard, but you had an explicit song on there. That one track is the ONLY Heffron Drive song I don’t own. Please keep it clean; I love getting to enjoy your unique sound! I believe you are both very creative, artistic and cerebral; you don’t need to rely on “explicit” material to try to make your music strong, real or cool – in its usual standard of integrity, your music is already all of those things! 🙂 😎 Using explicit language doesn’t make it more mature, either; it only takes away from your great artistry. You guys are cool; please don’t fall into that uncool abyss of poor lyric choices. You are far better than that. 😎

Jean247

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More Heffron Drive Articles ~
Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 1: What’s This?
Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 2: Interlude x 2
Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 3: “Rain Don’t Come” Single and Music Video
Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 4: Meet Heffron Drive
Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 6: “Don’t Let Me Go”

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Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 6: “Don’t Let Me Go”

Heffron Drive’s newest song, “Don’t Let Me Go” – and the video for it! – was released on the 24th – just in time for the start of Heffron Drive’s Summer Tour! 🙂

Single artwork
    The artwork for the single features the artistic rendering of a man’s fingertips gently resting on a woman’s hand, as if wordlessly asking her, “Please, don’t let me go.” The artwork reflects the theme of the song, as you will see. 🙂

Song
    Listening to this song, I find it a fascinating treat, tuning into the vast array of unique sounds that come together under very talented hands. 🙂 It starts its declaration of being another Heffron Drive hit at the very first note, catching your attention and holding it as you await what comes next. More sounds lend their ability to build the anticipation. A deeper tone soon joins in, escalating the the depth. 😎 (Yes, I just used those two words together – “escalating” and “depth” – if you listen to the song closely enough, you will hear what I mean. 😉 )

   At ten seconds the vocals begin. He sings with heartbreak in his voice, telling of his loneliness, admitting he made regretful mistakes, asking her for forgiveness for it all. At twenty-five seconds you begin to hear the guitar, lending its soulful tune to the story as only a well-played guitar can. It brings the sound of hope into the song, building up continuously as it soars toward the chorus when the vocals ring out to tell the girl that she means the world to him. And he wants the entire world to know it. Then he cries out the title, “Don’t Let Me Go!” Repeating this a few times, in various levels of pleading tones, the producers (who are Dustin and Kendall – also known as Heffron Drive 🙂 ) apparently had fun with the voice controls. 😛 How can boys resist all of those cool sound buttons, slides and levers? 😉 (And, no, that’s not one of the Chipmunks singing that one part, as a friend of mine commented to me – it’s one of the Yard Squirrels. 🙂 Enthusiasts of the “Big Time Rush” television show can readily tell you what that means. 😉 )

   I love the way the drums are in this song! Heffron Drive music would have good drum sounds in them, but now they are using actual drums – a great decision! 🙂 When they announced that the songs they are releasing this year have live drums in them, I was very happy about that. 🙂

   The character of the song tells his girl that he can’t find anyone else like her, speaking again of his loneliness and apologizing for what he did wrong.

   Although I didn’t get to hear Dustin vocals – I would so much like to hear the God-created instrument of his vocal chords on these songs – his music was heard otherwise, through the manmade instruments and production work that he so adeptly handles. 🙂 Heffron Drive is a duo and both members have excellent singing abilities. I could almost hear Dustin’s vocals joining in on the non-distorted part of the chorus, but was it only my creative imagination?

   I do know I heard some great guitar and other music at 2:23, painting an instrumental picture of a hot tropical beach vision with a sultry breeze blowing gently along the shore. 🙂

   There are so many fascinating things in this song; I like it. 🙂 The theme is good and so is the song. 🙂

   Toward the end of the song Kendall’s beautiful vocals at 3:15-“ooo” and 3:22-“ooo, yeah” are excellent. 🙂

Official Music Video
    When the music video began to play, I quickly recognized the video’s setting from DBelt’s Twitter picture he was using these past few months – cool! It was a hallway of lightbulbs hanging like drapes on either side with just the right amount of light. I believe Kevin G. Schmidt directed this video; I recognized his slo-mo technique that he utilized in the “Rain Don’t Come” music video.

   The video begins with close-ups of the unlit bulbs then a silhouette of Kendall in that hallway with a light shining from behind then, similarly, it switches to a silhouette of Dustin standing in the hallway, armed with his guitar. 😎 As the vocals begin, a black & white close-up of Kendall takes over the screen as he pours his heart into the vocals. As the tempo speeds up, the scene reverts to Kendall in the hallway, the lightbulbs now pulsing with the music – a cool concept. 🙂 It is a very good choice of brightness as well. 😎 The chorus begins as the scene changes back and forth between Kendall close-ups, him in the hallway, silver rectangles of confetti raining down on Kendall. Now we are a minute into the song. Quick flash sequences follow, another glimpse of Dustin, Kendall, Heffron Drive center stage, another silhouette of the very talented guitarist, DBelt. 🙂 Very cool shots. 🙂

   The second verse begins as Kendall continues to implore the girl to forgive and not let go of him. He definitely puts a lot of emotion into his singing; they are not sung as just ambiguous words and notes – he is putting himself into the story. The camera shot switches to Dustin, expertly playing the acoustic guitar as he moves in tune with the music. The chorus begins and Kendall, now the camera’s focus, backs up in two smooth moves as he cries out that she not let him go, as if he is trying to avoid being let go. He solemnly asks again that she not let him go. Then the video gets supercool. 🙂

   With those cool, higher instrument notes guiding the camera, the scenes flash by at two minutes into the video. Now Dustin and his gorgeous sparkling gold electric guitar are featured, deep into the music. 🙂 😎 A quick shot without his guitar, yet still deep in the music. 😎 Some of Kendall’s best scenes are right around here as he awaits her reply; you can easily see his hope and longing and his fear of losing her as he moves restlessly about at the forefront of the hallway he has been traveling up, closer to the camera = closer to her as he now implores her nonverbally.

   The guitar solo has arrived and it is cool! 🙂

   Kendall continues to sing as Heffron Drive now stands back-to-back on a rotating platform, Dustin playing his guitar. Special effects with this really cool various-currents almost lightning-like light flashing by adds to the overall unique style of the video. 😎

   The video plays out to the end of the song in varying sequences of Kendall doing his smooth back-step in the hallway, close-ups of Kendall, close-ups of Dustin, Heffron Drive standing on the turntable, DBelt groovin’ with his supercool guitar, Kendall – with various backgrounds including the green and red from earlier in the video – continues to pour his heart into the vocals.

In concert
    One day after its release, “Don’t Let Me Go” made its concert debut on the first stop of Heffron Drive’s Summer Tour. 🙂 It was cool to hear the song without the electronic sounds; I like hearing it both ways. 🙂 Dustin’s lead guitar was excellent; his solo later in the song, that tropical part I mentioned 🙂 , was the highlight of the song for me. Kendall was still recovering from a bad cold, but he managed to sing much like he did on the single. He’s one determined fellow. 🙂 I was happy to get to see footage from this debut performance; Dustin and Kendall’s concerts are always personable and fun. 🙂

   Thank you for reading my article; I hope you enjoyed it and will return to read more. 🙂 If you have any good thoughts you would like to share in relation to this article, please post it in the box provided below. Thank you! 🙂

Jean247

If you are reading this article on the homepage and you would like to read others’ comments on it or perhaps leave some comments of your own, just tap on the word “comments” above this article’s title. 🙂

Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 1: What’s This?
Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 2: Interlude x 2
Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 3: “Rain Don’t Come” Single and Music Video
Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 4: Meet Heffron Drive
Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 5: “You Can’t Sit Down”

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Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 4: Meet Heffron Drive

I’ll begin by individually introducing the founding members of Heffron Drive, Dustin Belt and Kendall Schmidt.

   Dustin Belt. He can calmly coax beautiful melodies from his guitar. He can rock his glasses right off his own face. He can move in rhythmic motion to the music he plays or dance across the stage, guitar in hand – never missing a beat, with the unbounded, barely-contained energy and liveliness of a wild stallion running free in his own territory. A witty tongue. An easy smile. A man whose vocals are mesmerizingly good and a great pleasure to hear. D. Belt writes. 🙂 And rocks. 🙂 Another really cool thing about Dustin that I love is that he wears his glasses – which always look great on him (he has good taste) – instead of irritating his eyes by using contacts. He’s smart and cool. 🙂

   Kendall Schmidt. Man of music. He can sing a tender melody. He can sing soulful, deep and gutty. He can hit high notes that soar up to the heavens with pure clarity. An easy-going familiarity that can make each person in the audience feel like they are his personal friend whom he is glad to see. 🙂 His humor is rich. He can play very cool guitar. He feels the music in his soul and it shows. 🙂

   As a team, these two gentlemen are Heffron Drive. Proficient. Articulate. Their music is original, unique. The sound that is Heffron Drive.

   Dustin and Kendall, who met and became friends in a California neighborhood whose street name you might recognize 😉 – Heffron Drive – are both proud of being from Kansas. I think it is really cool that strong friendship is such an integral part of their music that it is signified in the very name of their group. Already into the music scene, when Kendall signed up for the “Big Time Rush” TV show and recording group of the same name, Dustin was there, too, as the lead guitarist on tour as well as being a key part of Big Time Rush. He is readily recognized as the honorary fifth member of the group and has as strong a fan following as the rest of the guys (the other three members being Logan Henderson, James Maslow, and Carlos Pena, Jr./PenaVega). 🙂 Dustin and Kendall continued to write and perform as Heffron Drive even during the busy schedule of Big Time Rush. There are many fun, entertaining and witty Vines that they have recorded and posted for everyone to enjoy, too. 🙂

   Yet another cool thing about these two talented friends is that the love of music inspires them to achieve other challenges using their skillful ingenuity. They have their own recording label – TOLbooth Records – and spend hours upon hours on the work of recording, producing, editing, et cetera. Dustin even works on editing while they are inflight during a tour; Kendall turned his hotel room into a mini-studio before. These guys are very serious about their music – but not so serious that they lose sight of the purpose and the fun. Speaking of fun 😉 – they put their skillful ingenuity to much good use by building their own isolation booth for their California recording studio. From the ground up. By themselves. And these two manly men did an excellent job! 🙂 I love it that they made the decision to build it themselves and followed through with strong determination. It isn’t as easy as one might think; it must be done just right. I’m proud of them for this. 🙂

   My words are my own, but I hereby recognize the respected ownership of their own names, the titles to their songs, etc., as belonging to Dustin Belt and Kendall Schmidt, respectively.

   The Creator gives us many blessings; music is one of them. Whether a day goes well or not, good music can make it that much better or help make it feel so.

   To all who read this: please feel free to post any good comments of your own at the bottom of each part of the Living Article©, while keeping in mind consideration for others and their intellectual property. Thanks for reading! 🙂

Jean247

If you are reading this article on the homepage and you would like to read others’ comments on it or perhaps leave some comments of your own, just tap on the word “comments” above this article’s title. 🙂

Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 1: What’s This?
Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 2: Interlude x 2
Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 3: “Rain Don’t Come” Single and Music Video

 

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Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 3: “Rain Don’t Come” Single and Music Video

I first heard this upbeat, inspiring tune from concert footage when Heffron Drive was in Italy in March. I truly appreciate the hopeful theme of Heffron Drive’s music; Dustin and Kendall’s never-give-up attitude is encouraging to everyone who hears their music. I like the reference to the rain dance and well-placed hope that goes with that. When the tribes of the northwestern hemisphere need rain, we know Who to ask: the Creator. Sometimes the draught goes longer than we like, but we know the refreshing rain will come. That’s what true hope is: waiting with the knowledge that it will come, because He cares for us. In the chorus of “Rain Don’t Come”, Kendall sings that “we keep dancing but the rain don’t come”, repeating this to drive home the right attitude toward this dilemma: “so we keep dancin’!” Don’t give up hope. Don’t take the seemingly “no” answer to your prayer as a defeat. You keep praying (the rain dance is a prayer set to motion, asking the Creator to send rain), trusting it will come. And it does. Sometimes we (all peoples of the world) assume the Creator is saying no when we don’t get an immediate yes to our request, whatever that may be (by the way, if it’s okay to want it, it’s okay to ask for it 😉 ). The defeatist attitude is wrong thinking, though, because the answer might be “not yet” or “that’s not exactly how this problem is going to be best solved.” The keep dancing with true hope can be applied to every part of our life: don’t give up on something good. “Be strong and of a good courage” as it says in the Scriptures.

   I purchased this song within seconds of its release on 4-8-16. One of the aspects I appreciate about this song is the never-give-up hope theme. 🙂 Dustin’s guitar solo = supercool. 🙂

   On each verse, Kendall uses his voice to convey the feelings of deep loneliness and miserable dearth found in the situation set forth in the song. The tone of each note speaks of his plight and builds in desperation as well as hope as it reaches the chorus. The song tells of wandering, seeking, hoping – and not giving up. It tells of being brought down low, then of hope, a call to rise above, remembering that there have been other times of near-desperation and seemingly-hopeless situations. And that those times were survived. It is important to remember the good times that we have had and also the bad times; we need to remember that we have survived it all. That will help give us strength and encourage our faith through everything else that comes our way. The Creator made us, loves us and provides safety; we just need to accept the truth: we need Him, His forgiveness, and the gift of salvation through faith in Yeshua’s (Jesus’) dying in our stead so we can live eternally. In the Scriptures, John chapter three verses 16-18a explain it best: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned…” The Scriptures are written in old English and their manner of speaking varies somewhat from ours, so I’ll clarify what is meant by “should” and “might” as meant in these verses. “Should not perish” means you won’t perish if you believe in God’s Son, Yeshua/Jesus. “Might be saved” means if you put your faith in Yeshua/Jesus you are saved. 🙂

   The chorus of “Rain Don’t Come” carries on the theme of not giving up hope and of being steadfast in heart, continuing to dance in prayer and supplication for rain. I love the keys as they pick up at two minutes, twenty seconds into the song! 🙂 At shortly before three minutes, the band brings it down (this is often my favorite part in any song that breaks it down between the later choruses, especially since this is where the drums are usually the strongest focal point). Kendall’s nonword melodic vocals (I like what he did with this section in concert in Italy for their first performances of the song) were cool, fitting in well with the other instruments musically arranged there. This led into Dustin’s guitar solo. 🙂 It was cool; I would have been happy for its duration to have continued longer. 🙂

   Dustin’s and Kendall’s guitar playing is very good. The heart, talent and clean playing (as in: the lack of screeches that make my ears cringe) is something I greatly appreciate from guitarists who can manage that – and these two guys do well in all of those categories. 🙂 A flute adds to the feeling of airy dryness, setting the music scene well. I can hear a little bit of electronic in the break and well-placed bongos. The subtle bass and the drums lend their important musical presence as well. As I mentioned earlier, the keys are excellent! 🙂

   The finish of the song is very strong; I like that. It is a good song with a very good theme, although I would have liked to have heard more of Dustin’s super vocals. Both members of Heffron Drive are blessed by the Creator with vocal quality and talent.

   While this single was expertly recorded in the studio by Dustin and Kendall (TOLbooth Records), I always love to see and hear songs in concert footage best (when the performers are as solidly good as Dustin and Kendall). There is an extra energy and strength added to each part of the song. Heffron Drive sounds great in the studio and even better in concert. 🙂 That is so cool.

   The Official Music Video, directed by Kevin G. Schmidt, was a much-awaited-for event around the world. A friend and I had fun keeping watch of the time as 12:01 A.M. 4-15-16 approached; we were two of many – as shown by the thousands of hits it immediately had. 🙂 Accessing the video through the link Kendall had provided through Twitter (reposted on their website), we watched the video stream on 2G (which means it paused a lot as it downloaded – in about a half-hour’s time, but who could wait for the full video to completely download before starting to watch it?! 🙂

   A lot of planning and work goes into a music video from the first thoughts to the finishing touches. My thanks to each person who had a part in making so much of this video an enjoyable experience. 🙂

   The location of the video was as excellently selected as the theme of the song. 🙂 The desert is a very fitting place for the song to be filmed: they both speak of thirst yet include hope for quenching that thirst. The location isn’t a destitute place with only sand for miles around. It is a desert with hope; there is sparse green plant life among the desert rock, dirt and sand.

   The video is akin to a movie – packed within less than five minutes. Kendall has the majority of the screen time, representing the character of the song as he wanders through the desert, stumbling along in great need of water. Dustin has the coolest part in the video: he appears as a mirage, playing his electric guitar, no less! 😀 I love that part. 🙂 A distance away, a pretty girl on horseback sees Kendall bravely continuing onward. Just moments after he collapses from thirst she reaches him and tenderly cares for him. Cool fact about the horse: borrowed from Challen Cates, one of Kendall’s co-stars from the TV show “Big Time Rush” and also a great supporter of Heffron Drive. 🙂 I wish the female character in the music video had been attired in authentic-looking Tribal clothes, it would have been that much more powerful. She is attired in the typical misconception of what a woman of Tribal heritage would wear: not enough. Although more clothing was present than sometimes is in fictional films, it was still way less than a woman of any of the tribes on this continent would wear in real life. She would have on moccasins, leggings, a long-sleeved dress from neck to below the knees (varying lengths among the tribes yet all with the same result: the only exposed skin would be her face, part of her neck, and her hands).

   Kendall and the woman ride and join two men of First Nations (also referred to as American Indian, Native American, Tribal) heritage and soon have a bonfire going. Dustin makes a few more appearances – the mirage plays a very good guitar solo! 🙂 (I had expected to see Dustin involved in the rain dance; I have noticed that his energized, fleet-of-foot movements about the concert stage are akin to tribal dances. [For example you can see Heffron Drive’s performance of “One Track Mind” from CityWalk 2014 on YouTube.] I love watching that.) Back to the video for “Rain Don’t Come”: Kendall and the woman dance around the fire, the rain doesn’t come, so they keep dancing – in accordance with the lyrics. 🙂 Then the rain comes, just as they had hoped it would. I like it that this video ended with the realization of their hopes: the rain came. 🙂

Jean247

Thanks to @dbeltwrites for the single cover art and banner! 🙂

If you are reading this article on the homepage and you would like to read others’ comments on it or perhaps leave some comments of your own, just tap on the word “comments” above this article’s title. 🙂

Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 1: What’s This?
Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 2: Interlude x 2

 

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Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 2: Interlude x 2

There is so much good music to review! When you think about how much there has been since the beginning of time, it is truly amazing. 🙂 To start my series, though, I had to make a choice and decided on two unique songs with “Interlude” in their respective titles. One is titled in simple grandeur, “Interlude”, an instrumental work of art by Heffron Drive. The other is the short, a cappella song “The Best Part (Interlude)” by Meghan Trainor; a poetic start to her record. 🙂

   So, ladies first? Sure, why not? 🙂 The gentlemen (Heffron Drive consists of/features friends-since-childhood Dustin Belt and Kendall Schmidt – both also of Big Time Rush) won’t mind waiting, deferring to the honor given to ladies and other dignitaries. 🙂 I appreciate that sign of respect.

   Twenty-five seconds of sweet singing that does not require any manmade instruments to make it beautiful. Lots of heart. From the soul. Happiness. A cheerful heart. A bright sunny day of melody that overcomes a rainy day with ease. That’s what I hear when I listen to “The Best Part (Interlude)” by Meghan Trainor from her Title (Deluxe) album. It is a pleasure to hear such a good example of how amazing the Creator made the human voice and how beautiful it can sound in song. The clarity and quality of her voice shines in this opening piece, making it clear from the very start that this record holds a promise of good music to enjoy. Thank you, Meghan. 🙂

   Thank you for waiting so patiently, Dustin and Kendall! 😉 Track #6 of the Happy Mistakes album is one minute and twenty-six seconds of instrumental art. Each note, each sound, each instrument is precise and joins together in perfect timing to form this musical masterpiece. It starts out low then it starts to grow in wonder and intensity. I like the natural musician, the cricket playing his serenade, being included; it brings an added touch of beauty and depth to the rest of the piece. The keyboard takes it from ground to sky as the song takes wing. The drum beats are perfectly placed, a deep, steadying beat that echoes the heart. And the volume continues to grow. The high, tinkling chime notes that play almost imperceptibly in the background from early on in the song comes closer to the forefront later on, bringing the song to yet another level of wonder and beauty. It keeps a presence of gentleness even as the intensity of the music continually builds in strength and power until, during the last seconds of the song, it levels out into the introduction of the following song in an intriguing welcome. Beautifully done. I would like to especially mention the artistry involved in not only the writing and performance of the song, but also the attention to minute details in the volume of each and every music note throughout the song during its production. Good job. 🙂 I recommend that you go somewhere quiet (or use headphones if no quiet is to be found where you are 😉 ), turn up the volume to a comfortable level of loud, set your player to “Interlude” then close your eyes and just listen. It is amazing how much more you can noticeably hear when you are tuned in to the music. Dustin and Kendall are very serious about their music. It shows. And it is appreciated. 🙂 Thanks, guys. 🙂

   I had the pleasure of seeing a few performances of this instrumental piece during Heffron Drive’s Happy Mistakes tour. I believe it is pure genius that they chose to begin their concerts with “Interlude” followed, naturally, by the song it leads into, “Art of Moving On”. It sets the stage superbly for the concert that the audience is about to enjoy. 🙂 Their shows are never cookie-cutter style; there are familiar similarities, of course, but it never has a “if you’ve seen one show you’ve seen them all” feel to it. Each concert is unique from start to finish, because Dustin and Kendall performs from their souls anew each time they take the stage. It is never “just a performance”; it is always music from the heart and soul. Integrity. Honesty. Please allow me to give you a glimpse into their intro… The houselights go down. The keyboardist and drummer begin to play “Interlude”. The atmosphere is electric. Well-timed strobes of light shine on the awaiting scene. The music builds and so do the cheers of the happy audience. The stage lights up when Dustin and Kendall take to the stage. Sometimes they already have their guitars in hand, but some nights, like tonight, one of their cool crew hands each gentleman his guitar of choice. Without breaking the beat, the guys get their guitars set, swinging into the music with natural music grace. During the more quiet last seconds of “Interlude”, Kendall greets the crowd, announces that they are Heffron Drive and gives the title of their first song of the night, “Art of Moving On”. And from there on it gets even better. 🙂 If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing these guys in concert, you might want to treat yourself to one. 🙂

   As I was preparing this review for publishing, I listened to the song yet again and there is something else I would like to say about it. “Interlude” by Heffron Drive has the beauty and power of a great work in movie theme music. Now, if only someone could write a movie worthy of this excellent instrumental… Can it be done? I believe Kevin G. Schmidt could. 🙂

   Meghan Trainor and Heffron Drive – both acts sing it and play it like they mean it. I have always appreciated that quality in music and look forward to hearing more from these artists. 🙂

   Part 3 in my Living Article© for supercool music will be published before long. Please come back and check it out; the song I choose to review could be from almost any genre or date! I look forward to more fun here with you. Please feel free to tell your friends about my series; I appreciate getting to share my love of good music with everyone. Thank you for your time in reading my works and for any good words you might post about them on here. 🙂

Jean247

 

If you are reading this article on the homepage and you would like to read others’ comments on it or perhaps leave some comments of your own, just tap on the word “comments” above this article’s title. 🙂

Supercool Music: A Living Article© Part 1: What’s This?

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