Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Covers – 79 “Act
Naturally” by Buck Owens
Here is my take on the Buck Owens’s, Beatles-covered
classic, “Act Naturally.” Thanks to Mike Bumba and GoPro for their enhancement
of this video. While I’m shouting out, I’ll add some love for my beloved
vehicle, The Tealmobile, appearing here for the first time in this 365, I
believe, at least the outside of him. Shaquille O’Teal is another moniker
bandied about by my sexy van. Otto the Auto is his German name. This is
lesser-known. Woo hoo. See you in Hollywood. “All I go to do is act naturally”
Cheers to Ringo too.
Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Originals – 79 “Bravo” by
Jefferson Jay
I was starting to feel pretty pleased with myself for
writing 9 tunes in a little over an hour at this point and wrote this
tongue-in-cheek tune applauding me for my greatness in practically surviving
another day. Hadn’t made it to bed yet. Wouldn’t want be getting ahead of
ourselves, taking things for granted, like survival and all. For those of you
scoring at home, “Bravo” is tune 9 of 12 in my “Welcome EP, essentially
produced exclusively for this here Operation 365 2. It helped me develop a
newly profound love for the letter B. “B” was my yellow brick road for this
adventure and we are about to approach the Wizard’s abode. Thanks for playing
the Operation 365.
Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Words – 79 “Love and Care”
Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Covers – 78 “Dancing in
the Moonlight” by King Harvest
Some months ago, my dear pal Blowski suggested The Jefferson
Jay Band play “Dancing in the Moonlight.” I listened to it a bunch on weekend
morning and was moved by how beautiful a song it is. It really conjures a
positive moment in King Harvest, who whoever wrote it’s, life. I was feeling it
big time. Ultimately, the band did play it and I’d bet we will again at some
point too.
Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Originals – 78 “Wrapped in
the Moonlight” by Jefferson Jay
“Wrapped in the Moonlight” is the 8th of my
12-song EP “Welcome” that I wrote in a couple hours a couple weeks ago. I gave
myself a 12-song at once challenge and I learned a lot about myself. I learned
I could do it, but beyond that, I allowed some hiding feelings to escape and
was surprised by what they revealed. I’m not going to spoil it, but the answer
is in the lyrics if youwanna and we’re just getting closer to the reveal part…
or something. I had been walking Nigel the pooch on an enchanting evening when
I received the inspiration and I was still warmly regarding the moonlight, when
the time to write lyrics to tune 8 rolled around.
Peace.
Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Words – 78 “Disappointment
City”
I’ve decided to go in the direction of musical words for Day
78’s “Words” segment. I had this idea for a song to do on The Might 1090’s “The
Scott and BR Show” about the Padres hopes for the upcoming 2016 season. Long
story, short, there are none. They’re going to suck, barring a major miracle, and
everybody knows it. They haven’t even tried to be good actually and it’s an embarrassment.
This is why they are likely to spend the entire season battling to stay out of
last place and that’s one of the better-case scenarios I can imagine.
It is possible that a more polished version of this ditty
will appear on the “Originals” side of this ledger, but in the event that it
never does, Here’s what I think about the 2016 San Diego Padres, “Disappointment
City."
Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Originals – 77 “Bears” by
Jefferson Jay
“Bears” is a hiking and camping song and it is tune 7 in my
12-song little EP called “Welcome” that I’ve been sharing over the last two
week. So. many moons ago, I was hiking with my bandmates at the time and Derek
and Spencer and we kept thinking bears were going to get us so we preemptively
tried to scare the bears away from us with fearful jabs. It’s hard to imagine
it worked because we weren’t very scary but we also didn’t get gored by bears,
so it must have worked at least a little.
I remember another night camping. It may have been with the
some folks, but I don’t remember. Well, we went to sleep and bears came by and
rummaged through stuff.. Fortunately, one again, no one was harmed. I don’t remember
that story that well. Who knows how close the bears really were. I wasn’t getting
out to look. Once, we actually laid eyes on a non-zoo bear on one of our outdoor
adventure. I believe Derek actually chased the cub and we snapped a picture or
two and lived. Mama Bear stayed unseen.
So this one goes out to all you outdoor enthusiasts. I miss
being one of you. I have no good reason that I haven’t been recently really.
Maybe these are the songs that bring me back. I hope. The moral of this number
is “beware of bears out there.”
Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Covers – 77 “A Hard Day’s
Night” by The Beatles
Here's a Beatles jam. I was still dressed in my bear-suit from the first jam. Enjoy!
Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Words – 77 “Almost”
Sometimes folks, it's not what you say as much as what you don't say. Sometimes, it's all about how you say it. Many times the world has changed on a statement no one made, or one that was made that was misconstrued. It gets complicated, folks, when you start opening up your mouth and letting words fly out. I dabbled in a dark arts a tad on this one, and by that I mean the better part of valor, if you know what I'm saying.
Alas, I could only hold my tongue so long. When the Calypso needs to creep on out of ya, you can clench those butt cheeks tight, but do so at your own peril. Calypso no take "no" for an answer.
Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Originals – 76 “Hide Away”
by Jefferson Jay
So I’ve got some big plans ahead and I am going to try to
get ahead on my 365 to facilitate with such. So today is tomorrow in a way and
if I can make it two weeks from now by the end to the week, even better, We’ll
see. I made a little plan and here is the beginning of said plan. “
Hide Away is tune 6 of the 12 song set “Welcome” I’ve been
sharing. “Hide Away” is very simple and I like it very much. It is sweet. I
wanted to try to do a harmonica solo on this one. It was kind of the whole idea
of the solo actually, but then I realized I play this song in D# and I’m pretty
certain I have no D# harp. So, I guitared. With myself. Should this count as two
videos? Judges? No.
Congrats to Bernie Sanders on winning the Michigan primary
and restoring hope there sanity and reason aren’t dead for millions of
Americans and Earthlings in general
Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Covers – 76 “Song Sung
Blue” by Neil Diamond
I am fairly stunned I didn’t do “Song Sung Blue” for the
first 365. I am a very nostalgic fellow. It’s why I have a Master’s degree in
History. That I a refused to burn out on music by studying it cause I had to.
It worked out. What I mean is I played many of the soft rock anthems of the
early 80s that my Mom cranked in her Cressida on the first go around and
somehow left this gem for today. Hooray.
Neil Diamond is classic, as is “Song Sung Blue.” A thrill to
play this song and travel back to 1981 it is. Love you Mom. Thanks, Neil.
Thanks God. For you atheists out there, thanks to the universe, the atmosphere
or whatever you want to call it that allows to all stay here alive and full of
joy. What it’s called is not really the point. Thanks for life.
Hey GoPro, I think my nose looks even bigger in fish-eye. Is
there something we can do about this? It’s like my nose id the star and rest of
me is just Best Supporting Actor. Throw me a nose bone, will ya? I could jam
the whole thing up there in this shot. I’m just joking. I like joking. More or
less… OK, I cropped it so my nose is less massive-seeming. “Thank you very
much.” – Latka Graves
Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Words – 76 “Don't Try This at Home”
Frankly, folks, and you may have noticed this, I do things a little differently. A little Mr. Rogers. A little Howard Stern. A little Randy Savage. A little of a lot. Much of that found its way into this little spiel that I called “Don't Try This at Home.” I considered other names, like "Reverse Rogers," "Backiotomy," "It's Enough Already" but ultimately I decided, like the 365. There are some things that are best only done by me. This video is one of them. Watch it and you'll see several reason why probably.
I used to write songs while I drove. Many. Now I film videos. So at least I'm getting slightly safer. Safer. Softer. Calmer. Getting older ain't all bad really. Now catch me in 40 years.
Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Originals – 75 “The Birds
and the Bees” by Jefferson Jay
“The Birds and the Bees” is the 5th of 12 jams I
wrote at once two weeks ago tonight. I have been sharing them daily more or
less, with the only exceptions being big things that push themselves ahead,
like the “March Forth” song on March 4th and the “Juniper Jean” song
yesterday because Juniper Jean was born yesterday. So back again to our story,
“The Birds and the Bees.”
I started to see shortly after I finished this song that my
12 songs were unwittingly leading me to a revelation I was unaware waited
inside me. Bless art for allowing us to see and share who we really are. “The
birds and the bees are bouncing in my brain” the song starts. I should have
known right then where this was going.
Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Covers – 75 “That’s Life”
by Frank Sinatra
I recorded a decent version of “That’s Life” a little bit
ago, but my iPad ran out of juice on the last night. I figured it saved it, but
it didn’t so I gotta hop back outside here in a few and try again. One on hand,
that’s less than ideal. On the other hand, that’s life.
Well, I went outside and did better. Ain’t that the way it
usually goes? These days, it is. Not so much on the first 365. I banged my head
against the wall quite a bit on that one. Trying things over and over, getting
frustrated, eventually giving up and moving on to something easier to be done.
Trying, it was indeed. Life is a little smoother and I’m less agro now, plus I’m
five years a better guitarist and musician, so everything helps. Gotta pitch in
a be part of the process I say, That’s the only way we grow. So I raise a
theoretical glass to you and offer cheers and salutations to life and it’s slow
daily reveal. Thanks life, you winner, for keeping more and more titillated each
day. I am deeply grateful for you.
Wikipedia says, “"That's Life" is a popular
song written by Dean Kay and Kelly Gordon and first recorded by Marion
Montgomery. The most famous version is by Frank Sinatra,..” Thank ‘Peed.
Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Words – 75 “Making Life a
FunFest”
I think people’s perspective going into things has a great
deal to do with that they get out of them. I guess another way of saying this
is that I believe in the power of positive thinking. To this end, I say that
“day” is a boring word and hear I propose replacing it in our vocabulary with
“funfest” and watch good times roll. Life is a lump of clay. You can call it
that or you can call it a “magic wizard’s ball of dreams coming true.” Hey it’s
your life. It’s up to you.
Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Originals – 74 “Juniper
Jean” by Jefferson Jay
Woke up bright and early to some wonderful news, the arrival
of my newest friend Juniper Jean Deans. She’d be a Son of a Bunny if she was a
boy but she’s not, she’s a baby queen, Queen of Rabbit Castle. I could not be
happier for James and Kara and baby Juniper. A few nights ago, I was feeling
her pending arrival and I penned a future classic about this blessed
event. She waited to two more
days, but still arrived in the middle of the night to rainfall, as my song
forecast so big thanks to the universe for all their co-operation in this
downpour of happiness.
I had to do a mini-partial rewrite on this jam today as I
thought my new baby friend’s name was Juniper June. It is actually Juniper
Jean, a pretty big difference considering Jean was James’ mom’s name and
Juniper June is slightly redundant. The good news is… nicknames exist and the
chances on Baby Girl being called June in her life, several thousand times by
friends and loved ones is high. So I changed a couple words, a rhyme or two and
I left a handful of “Juniper Junes.” What can I tell ya? June rhymes with tune,
moon, soon swoon and a lot of other good songwriting syllables. Do you think
there’s ever been a rapper named Sylla-Billy? I think would be a good rap name.
He’d be the punniest playa in the game. Alas, I’ve lost focus. Oy.
So, HUGE CONGRATS from everybody here at the 365 (That’s me
and Nigel for those keeping score at home. We’ll throw Leanne in there too. Why
not?) to “Destructo Bunny” James and Kara Deans and most of all to Juniper Jean
Rose. Welcome to the funfest that is life, little lady.
If one writes something and no one ever reads it, did he
really write anything at all? That’s another mystery for another day, folks.
Enjoy the rain and Happy Wonderful New Baby Day to all!
Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Covers – 74 “Mango Walk”
by The In Crowd
I found “Mango Walk” in a school book. In fact, I detailed
my finding of it in a “Words” video from last week called “This Book Can’t Be
That Old.” While doing some research just now as to who wrote this, I found no
answers, but I DID find that “Mango Walk” was most famously recorded by The In
Crowd. I’ve never heard their version, or so I thought… Their version was used
in the very first “Pilot” episode of “Breaking Bad.” Apparently it plays while
Walter White is stealing all the chemistry equipment out of the school. I found
and played “Mango Walk” in a school so I guess there’s a parallel there.
Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Words – 74 “Everything
Happens for A Reason”
Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Words – 73 “Binj”
Food morning. That was an accident. Maybe, I’m hungry?
Good morning and welcome the glorious and glamorous event
that is this moment right here, a spectacular Sunday morning in God’s year
2016, whatever that means. How blessed can we be? Songs, pants, lemons, House
of Cards. God is great! It has been a prolific funfest, this life so far, and
I’m rolling. Loving it all. Fired up to have this moment to share with you. Our
bond is unique and like no other, personal, or as personal as you can get in
this medium. I’m in your house, in your brainstem, every day for a year. Well,
where I am is up to you, but that’s a quite a statement because many if not
most say home, and if they’re posting videos every day, it’s probably of them
playing video games. And in this day and age, there might be a million people
watching, cause it’s not bad enough we’re so mortified that we kill fake
computer men for endless hours as adults, but we are even willing to watch
others do it, just for yucks. I don’t get it and it doesn’t matter if I get it.
If it brings you joy, that’s great. I guess it’s like God in that way. I just
have too much to do personally, like this for instance, to take the time to
battle in the land of fake video men. Perhaps the nature of binging is that it
know no boundaries, so video game on my friends, just love life while you do
so. Guilt gets you nothing but gas. Stinky ones. And that’s nothing to binge
on, my friends.
Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Originals – 73 “Boxing” by
Jefferson Jay
That said, I did carve out a little fake sliver of time to
watch real men, and a couple ladies, grapple and brawl last night as I took in
the last two bouts of UFC 196. That is some gladiator shit there folks. Brutal
and barbaric, yet captivating and adrenaline pumping just to watch. I was
pulled in by the top notch, WWE-style smack talk offered by one featherweight
Conor McGregor. Instead, my wife I watched him and ladies’ champ Holly Holm get
choked out, Ouch. Some sport. Not sure how much more of it I’ll make the time
to see. If you watch that, you’d probably watch man fight a lion if they still
did that and showed it pay-per-view. I’d like to think I wouldn’t but I just
watched this so, who’s to say?
In a matter
more pertinent to me, this is my 4th of the 12 tunes I wrote all at
once a couple weeks back and it’s called “Boxing.” It’s about the blows life
can throw and how they can leave ya spinning for a few, like they did to Ole’
Conor last night. Another “B” word song and I was beginning, as I wrote, to
notice a direction was emerging in my creative adventure. Stick and move. Stay
alert, stay up, keep your guard up. Always live to fight another day. Some
boxing related clichés that truly play in different contexts of the day.
Context is my favorite reversible outfit.
Operation 365 2 - Jefferson Jay - Covers – 73 “Those Were
the Days” by Lee Adams and Charles Strouse
You can always count on me for some nostalgia. I am wired
that way. It’s the history in me. The deep levels of appreciation for those who
came before me and made it possible for me to do anything. In this case,
specifically, I am speaking of my grandparents. I vividly recall “Those Were
the Days” playing many times in their house as “All in the Family” began. And
there something unmistakably Jean Stapleton-esque about my grandma. It wasn’t
just the singing voice but that was part of it. And like Archie Bunker, while
entirely intolerant of racism of any kind, he WAS the man of his house and that
also entirely unmistakable. He was a man of great integrity, my grandpa. I
shudder to think of who I’d be without having known them.
So this song, and the “MASH” one too and some others, really
bring me back to those innocent days that seem so far away. The late 70’s. I
feel so fortunate and am so grateful to have lived the life I have so far and
to have known folks as great as my grandparents. I am humble and grateful. So
far, it has been a truly fantastic ride. Thanks.
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