Picture from Muzu Blog
Although I am known predominantly as a broadcaster/podcaster, author, journalist, critic, audio book reader-outer, and consumer champion (crisp/breakfast division), there is another smaller feather in my cap - songwriter. Actually, to have the occupation 'songwriter' on my CV is stretching things a little as I have only written a handful of songs in my whole life. When I was twelve I was at the forefront of the Acid House boom by writing something (probably using the many beats and sounds from my children's keyboard) that sadly no longer exists in my archive, mainly because I didn't have an archive back then. Around that same time I also wrote a Christmas rap song (you can say many things about me but you can't say I am not diverse) which opened with the legendary refrain:
Christmas comes but once a year
We'll all be full of festive cheer
Let's all get drunk on wine and beer
And have a hangover until the New Year.
You are now wondering why I didn't take my place among the greats of hip hop standing shoulder to shoulder with Ice-T and Notorious B.I.G. aren't you? You will now realise that before such heavyweights as Eminem, Vanilla Ice and PJ & Duncan I was ahead of my time enough to pave for way for white rappers to be taken seriously. I am not sure if I have been thanked in any of Eminem's acceptance speeches when he has won awards. There is no record of this but for some reason I remember those words, not the rest of the song but those words. I can't remember vital information these days such as appointments but a stupid verse I wrote twenty seven years ago springs immediately to mind. As a child I wrote several pieces like this that I have no record of so the album of juvenilia will remain unreleased, I'm sure if I had them on paper that I could have recorded them with a band and self-released it as an exercise in self-indulgence and made literally dozens of pence. Had MySpace or any of its successors been around when I was a child I might have become a world famous rapper and my life would have turned out very differently. It is funny how a slight change of direction can make all the difference, even the smallest diversion can have an impact and it isn't until you stop and think about it that you notice; not funny 'ha-ha' obviously. I didn't write another song until my daughter and I co-wrote a ballad about Rose Tyler leaving Doctor Who and after that I donned my songwriter hat for the as yet last time in 2013.
It was my well reported hatred of people talking at gigs that inspired my latest attempt at song writing, and so I put pen to paper and composed 'Shut Up and Listen'. Originally I had intended to record the song with a musician friend but we somehow never got round to it and I only re-discovered it a few days ago.
As I have no musical ability (not that this is a barrier for many successful pop stars) and I never found the time to record it, I have had an idea to let 'Shut Up and Listen' see the light of day. I am going to record a video for YouTube of me reciting the song as a poem inviting musicians to record their own version. There will be no contract or legal bollocks involved, all I will ask for is a few little courtesy gestures. If a band/musician records it as a free stream/download (Soundcloud) for example) then all I require is a co-writer credit. Musicians are free to release the song as a paid download and all I will ask for in return is that the artist does the right thing regarding the PayPal button. Of course the PayPal money will not benefit me in any way but will be used to create free entertainment for all. Although this video of me reading the poem won't cost me a penny, I intend to stick some zero-budget videos on YouTube to hopefully spur on some generosity when it comes to the button.
'Shut Up and Listen' is a song that could become an anthem for the live music scene, not just here in Nottingham but around the world and hopefully help to kill the epidemic of talking while the musician is working. I predict that it will become to musicians what The Aristocrats is to comedians. Either that or a few people will like it.
No podcast this week.
===
May housekeeping
Please consider making either a one-off or regular donation using the PayPal button above this blog. Every penny will be used to fund creative projects that will be made available for free.
The Sunday Alternative is a free weekly podcast. I am aiming to start making this podcast in a studio with live bands in session. This will cost at least £50 per episode so please give whatever you can.
52 podcasts and 365 blogs a year must be worth something to you?
The Sunday Alternative bag is on sale now. All you need to do is click on the PayPal button and donate £6 (or more if you're feeling generous), then email me at the address below with 'BAG' in the subject line and your name and address in the email.
(All money from the bags goes into the fund to create free online entertainment)
steveEoliver@gmail.com
