My eloquence is subdued, tainted, and watered down by the second law of thermodynamics and a public school education. But I take heart in knowing that so is yours. Just kidding (a bit). But it’s true that we’re generally all less hearty and amazing human specimens than our ancestors. And I bring this up because, this morning, I’ve been thinking … The rest of the story…
Category Archives: Words and Music
They might not be household names you’ve ever heard. But if you’ve lived more than a couple of decades, you’ve probably heard them. And is it just me, or do those old Motown songs still make you wanna dance, too? Yeah, just play the first few bars of “I’ll Be There” and watch out. Feet don’t fail me now. And … The rest of the story…
Just because it’s already been done doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t do it. And maybe you could even do it better. “It” isn’t the same thing for everybody. But “it”, for me, is music. So, I love to hear stories about people who took a song and made it their own. This hit song, from 1956, had already … The rest of the story…
When I was a full time road musician, I had to include country music in my repertoire so I could get more bookings. And I’ve never made it a secret that country music isn’t my favorite. But there are classics I’ve always enjoyed. I remember it often surprised audiences when I would sing a hit song from a female … The rest of the story…
For some strange reason, and I have no idea why, an old English nursery rhyme and song has been playing over and over in my head. If you’ve been on the planet longer than a couple of decades (maybe much longer), then you might remember the tune. And it’s one of those songs real men shouldn’t sing out loud. Because … The rest of the story…
I remember a line from a movie, but I don’t remember which movie, that applies to current events. And if you remember which movie this came from, let me know, and I’ll be sure to share that update and give you credit for it. But anyway…in the movie, which was set back in the pioneer days, the main characters had … The rest of the story…
Hey ladies and gents. Kids of all ages. It’s time to play Beat The Clock and make your mark for all time. And this is the game where the stakes are high, the prizes are free, and losers never get another chance. Are you ready? Let’s Play! But remember Beat The Clock doesn’t mean you’ll Beat The World. If … The rest of the story…
Let’s jump into my virtual time machine and zoom back to the third quarter of the twentieth century. As the years zoom past the concave, heat resistant time machine windows, notice the fashion and hairstyle changes. And the cars starting to look bigger, wider, and boxier. And, then we slow down and ease up to our destination. A large, secular … The rest of the story…
What’s your idea of a perfect vacation or relaxing getaway? Yeah, I’m talking about that in October. So what. It’s a way to keep the warm glow of summer glowing just a little longer. Not buying it? Well, nevertheless, maybe you’re part of the majority of Americans who prefer an island day (aka beach vacation). That’s what I found on … The rest of the story…
I hope you’re not rockin the boat today. Because the world has enough troublemakers without you chimin’ in. And if you don’t know what I’m talkin’ about, then you probably shouldn’t even be reading this. Because you just won’t understand. And it’s probably a matter of your lack of education. Or enlightenment. Or esotericism. Yeah, you just don’t get it. … The rest of the story…
It feels like I’ve written 1800 notes to my friends. And maybe that’s because this is my 1800th article here on TonyFunderburk.com And, believe it or not, TonyFunderburk.com isn’t my first website, even though it’s 12 1/2 years old. Plus, for a long time, it wasn’t the website I wrote on most of the time. Because it was supposed to … The rest of the story…
I can sing a new song any time I feel like it. And I mean a song nobody’s ever heard before. Because I can write that new song. And I know it won’t be music set in place since before the foundation of the world. It’ll be brand new at the time I write it. And when I sing … The rest of the story…
I woke up in the middle of the night, as usual. And while I was still halfway between a dream and awake I heard my own lyrics inside my head. But not just lyrics I’ve already written. No, I also heard rewrites. New words and phrases to replace certain ones in the song. So, I closed my eyes, fell asleep, … The rest of the story…
We try our best to capture life and make time stand still. And we never succeed. No one has ever succeeded. One of the few things the Rolling Stones got right: “Time waits for no one. And it won’t wait for me.” But still, we take pictures, by the billions every day, to capture life. And you hold those … The rest of the story…
I’ve got a melody in my heart Back in 1977, on one of my trips to the music store (because digital downloads weren’t invented yet) I picked up the brand new cassette from Kenny Loggins. It was his official first solo album called “Celebrate Me Home.” And if you’ve never listened to that collection, do yourself a favor. Great tunes. … The rest of the story…
Do You Look For Life’s Magic Little Moments Life can be hectic. Sometimes even frantic for hard working people. If that describes you, I know you might tend to forget, ignore, or totally miss those magic little moments all around you. But they ARE there. And I like to capture them in song whenever I can. The following lyrics represent a couple of scenes … The rest of the story…
It’s a new day So what! Big deal. A new day comes around every twenty-four hours. So, what makes this one any more special than all the others? And why do so many people try to pump you up with all this rise-and-shine nonsense? A new day means you’re alive. And you’re able to do something about your life. … The rest of the story…
What this country needs is a good Do Right Songbook What?! A Do Right Songbook? Seriously? Yeah. And if every person in the country had one, there’d be no more fighting and looting in the streets. No more political differences. No more broken relationships. And basically no more crime. Period. Too far? Yeah, a Do Right Songbook isn’t gonna help … The rest of the story…
Is dissonance art? Or just sound? Short answer? Art! Nine years ago, at around this time of June, I wrote about dissonance art. But I didn’t call it that. I just mentioned something I like to do when I’m writing songs. And that’s never changed. Here’s my take on dissonance art (from nine years ago). “I really like irregularity in … The rest of the story…
Restore my soul because I broke it If you’re a Christian (and if you’re not, you should be), you probably already know how trouble is always close at hand. You can’t swing a dead cornstalk (you thought I was gonna say something else, didn’t you) without trouble showing up. And I don’t know about you (well, I do a little … The rest of the story…