Why I hated Sheryl Crow (blog)

Competition. The word used to literally make me throw up. I swam competitively in high school. Well, not that competitively. I could never stomach the pressure of having to win. I hated the way it made me feel and the way people seemed to think it normal and good and healthy that my self worth should hinge on wether or not I was "better" than the person next to me (I never was). But, I wanted to belong so, I suffered through the "competition" and not being "better than" made me feel worthless. Eventually, that worthlessness turned to frustration and anger and I began to see competitors as enemies. That's where I still kind of was when I became a musician. Anyone who wasn't with me was against me and anyone who was doing what I wish I could do but couldn't deserved my complete contempt. It's why I hated Sheryl Crow. She covered Led Zeppelin's D'yer Mak'er and ruined it for me. That's what I WANTED TO DO!!!!!! :) Nevermind that she was famous and I was nobody. It sickened me. There were other perceived "competitors" over the years but, I also started searching for truth, happiness and release from fears that had followed me all my life. Somewhere along the way I realized that music was a gift, songwriting was my refuge. My love for it was pure and the love that came through it was sacred. I didn't want ego to touch it. I began to avoid competition and anyone who sparked even the smallest competitive spirit within me. Anytime I was put into a competitive situation I tried to transform it, release the ego from it, let go of any need to feel "better than" or simply walk away. What songwriting means to me is too important to reduce it to sport...a crapshoot for your soul? No way. Eventually, I began to seek out and surround myself with musicians who felt like I did, who did it for the pure joy or the absolute need to express something beautiful, wonderful, good and true, who channeled love. I found people I could learn from who would teach me how to do what I wanted to do better. Not better than anyone else. Better than I'd ever done it before. The best that I could according to my own sense of beauty and truth. No one else's. Don't get me wrong. I love to feel accepted. I have great respect for audiences and love praise and acknowledgment. But, praise and acknowledgement are not sufficient reasons to do what I do in the way that I do it. They don't fuel the passion. And, I simply don't have it in me to try to win favor. Its exhausting. I don't see the point in trying to convince people I'm something that I'm not. I can't and won't manipulate an audience however big or small. What I am is what you get. I'm not any younger, smarter, better or more beautiful than the next person but, hopefully, I'm as authentic and real as I can be. I don't know how other people think but, when someone is real and authentic I find them to be more beautiful than beautiful, more sexy than sexy, more everything than anything. If I'm ever that then, cool. Let me just make it clear to any other musician I've offended in my honest attempt to be not only a musician but, an artist trying to communicate as much truth and beauty as possible into this lovely but chaotic world: you are never the barometer by which I judge my own ability or worth. You are you. I am me. If you were ever down I'd lift you up but I can't do anything for someone who needs to see me beneath them. P.S. I love you Sheryl Crow

Posted via email from Laura Marie Blogs

A song a week (the low down)

I made a public resolution on a Thursday night @GoGirlsMusic Twitter chat during the holidays. The intention is to write a song each and every week this year. 

I know full well that by publicly making the resolution I run the risk of disappointing someone. I might disappoint myself. I might disappoint others. I might disappoint both myself and others because, let's face it, not all of them are going to be "hits". But, here I go resolving myself to follow in the footsteps of songwriters I love and not let life distract me from the only "job" I've ever been passionate about.  

It's the second week of the year and I have just completed song number two. Yay! Ok, so, song number two was really finishing a song I started last year and had forgotten about. Still, it counts! I mean, I'll continue tweeking it and the other as time goes on. But, yeah, done! Now, all I have to do is decide how I'm going to share my progress...

I'm open to ideas. I was thinking of blogging a video of my favorite of the month and then having an online review of all the monthly songs via Stageit.com or Google+ Hangout. Hmmmm...

I'll decide by the end of the month for sure.

Happy new year!!! 

Posted via email from Laura Marie Blogs

Walk don't run (musing)

 

 

Walk don't run

You're always trying

It must be tiring

 

Slow down some

and let the world go by 

while you and I 

Walk don't run, don't run, don't run

 

Funny that you go where you don't want to go 

Funny you believe what you don't want to know

Funny what you do when no one's watching you

 

Walk don't run

You're always trying

It must be tiring

 

Slow down some

and let the world go by 

while you and I 

Walk don't run, don't run, don't run

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Posted via email from Laura Marie Blogs

Time to breathe...

I've been very touched by some of the messages I've received regarding my health issues mentioned in the last blog post. So much has happened in such a short amount of time that I really must apologize for not getting to this post sooner. The first thing I want to say is that things are much, much better. The acoustic neuroma that showed up on my MRI disappeared on the second MRI. WHAT ?!??! Sounds crazy, right? I can't even begin to explain how amazing this news was. I didn't even realize how depressed I'd been until that weight was lifted off my shoulders. 

I'm not sure how this happened and, right now, I don't care. I'm just so incredibly grateful that that nightmare is over. My doc says my hearing loss could have been due to a virus that ran it's course and the acoustic neuroma could have been a mistake on the MRI. I also use alternative methods of healing and, since I've had some amazing experiences before, I'm not ruling out the effect this might have had on a small tumor. Or, even a big one for that matter. I'm a believer in what energy medicine can do. I know, not everyone gets it and a good portion of the medical community discounts it but, whatever. A good portion of the medical community also supported the prescription drugs that did me more harm than good so, whatever....we have to go with what works for our bodies. I also had the benefit of another kind of energy medicine: prayer and meditation. At this time I want to thank all of you who sent well wishes, said prayers and appealed to that great force of love on my behalf. To me, it all comes back to that. Love is what changes everything and, no doubt in my mind, love changed this. 

So, thank you so very, very much. <3

 

 

 

Posted via email from Laura Marie Blogs

No sleep 'til Sunday

Um...and that's when we'll be driving. 

Despite that, I would not trade sleep for the experience of Folk Alliance. It's incredibly inspiring to be around so many creative people making music, building relationships, learning, soaking it all in...

I've had the pleasure of driving up here and sharing the stage with the wonderful Vanessa Lively and we are kidnapping Gina Chavez and taking her back to Austin with us! I'm the only one of us three that doesn't have a bit of Spanish in my set. It's never something I thought I'd be doing but they'll have me singing backing vocals in Spanish for one of Vanessa's showcases. Sweet. 

Ok, so, I think typing is making me sleepy again so, I'm going back to bed for a bit. Here are some pics from last night in the GoGirls room. We went from the wonderful GoGirls Showcase to the extraordinary "GoGirls presents: Live from Laura's Bed" with artists cozying up on my bed to share their final song. We even had some special visitors pop in. I didn't get pics of everyone because I got kind of spacey as the night wore on but here are some. 

See the full gallery on posterous

(Supergroup with Aly Tadros, Chloe Charles, Douglas Jay Boyd and Sam McLellan is pictured but not labeled. Hearing them together will blow your mind.)

Thanks to all the people who "tuned in" online. GoGirls will be broadcasting each showcase from the room from 2-4pm and 10:30pm-2:30am. You can check out the lineup here: http://www.gogirlsmusic.com/fa11/

The direct link to watch it live on UStream is here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/gogirlsmusic . Showcases are archived so you can watch each artist from last night and even us being ridiculous at 3am. 

Next time I'll be on will be Saturday night. I'm opening up the showcase at 10:30 with a set and closing it at 2:30am with the final showcase of the conference. You never know who will stop by so, check in with us. 

 

Posted via email from Laura Marie Blogs

Standing on a soapbox

will only make me a few inches taller. So, I'm not going to do it.

It wouldn't take you long to find out where I stand on the political front but I have no interest in trying to change your mind if you've already made it up. Nope. I have the ultimate respect for you having your own opinions, ideas, beliefs and agendas. They are yours. You are free to have them as I am free to have mine. I have friends and family on both sides of each issue and, when they care to share their opinions in a reasonable manner, I am open to hearing them. But then, I'm likely to share my own.

What disheartens me is when people come to me spouting "facts" that were passed to them via email. "Facts" with no credible sources (I'm sorry, I don't believe Google is a credible source nor your cousin's next-door-neighbor's sister-in-law who sent the email in the first place)

Just to be clear, let's look at the definitions:

Fact: a concept whose truth can be proved

Opinion: a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

For example:

Stating someone is 72 years old is a fact. A look at public records will prove it with a high level of certainty.

Stating someone is unqualified for presidential office on the basis of age, ethnicity, sex or religious affiliation is an opinion. There are many factors that may determine fitness for presidency but they would also be a matter of opinion.

See, call me arrogant but, I do believe I know the difference. I mean, I have to live with it everyday. I depend on a favorable opinion to keep my career going.

For example:

Fact: Laura released a CD.

Opinion: Laura's CD is amazingly wonderful. You must buy it!!!

Or this recent opinion about my music that came with some handy advice:

"Just try to write actual music and forget lyrics, because they are a prop for folks who are only have partial musical ability"

Um...opinion. :)



So, back to soap box I'm not supposed to be standing on. I just want to say this - If you are not already registered, you have less than a week to register to vote . And, you have about a month to make an informed decision based on facts.

How?

Why, I'm glad you asked.


First off, if you aren't sure if you are registered, visit the website of your Secretary of State's office. This is where Google comes in handy. Just search for "Secretary of State in (whatever your state is)" or type in "Am I registered to vote in (whatever your state is)" All types of links will pop up. Your best bet is to choose one that ends in ".gov". The Secretary of State office websites will have contact information and registration links.


Or, Click here:


and you can do it via myspace!

Or



It's easy

Remember, you only have until this Saturday, Oct. 4th to register!


So, what about the facts?

Take everything you read or watch with a grain of salt and consider the source if you can find it. If you can't find the source, ignore it. To be sure, the issues are complicated and very few news organizations are helpful in sorting out fact from opinion. So, look for sources that weigh both sides of the issue. But, either way you are going to have to...dare I say it...think for yourself. Here is one source I find helpful:

FactCheck.org


They name their sources and point out where both sides have stretched the truth or flat out lied. In the end, I hope you feel good about your decision. Your vote counts! But that's just my opinion.


************************************************


Please join me on Thursday, Oct. 2nd at Luna on San Pedro, San Antonio, Texas




I will be joining Chris on stage for a songwriter extravaganza
featuring music from both of us crazy musician types!!!





Much love, LM