Operation 365 2… Blog 105

 Operation 365 2– Jefferson Jay – Covers – 105 “Harvest” by Neil Young

Hiiiiii... How are you? I guess that's just about as rhetorical as a question can get. I think it's cause I'm more in the mood for a quiet conversation on this rainy day then I am for playing some still unchosen cover tune. I considered, "Big City" as a tribute to Merle Haggard who passed away yesterday. At least I was told, he passed away yesterday. I haven't personally confirmed this, but who really ever personally confirms anything really? Mostly we just read or hear "news" and then repeat like it's fact. It's not fact. In fact, it's probably more lies than truth. Everyone has an agenda and usually it's to extract cash from us somehow. I have no agenda. Well, that's a lie. I want to help the world as best I can, however I'm meant to. Imagine that was everyone's agenda. That would be cool.

Anyway, the version of "Big City" that I want to do was redone slightly by my late, great friend, Don Truesdail. Don never did anything the easy way, especially when it came to music, so his version is more difficult than I can deal with right now. I will do the tribute when I can find the time and energy to do it right, but RIP Merle. I then considered doing "Rhythm of the Rain." It's a nice tune. It's been raining on and off in san Diego all day. That is rare. Well, I guess I better pick something and bust it out 'cause I wanna lay down and when I get up, I want this to be over. Low hanging fruit, reveal yourself to me... please...

Well, that was eventful. I landed on "Harvest" with thoughts of my man, Matt Reischling in mind, as when I heard him cover "Harvest," it made me wanna play it too. So I have been playing it, here and again, for the special needs folks I work with. Today, I went to it 'cause I thought maybe I could get through it somewhat easily. Nothing is easy when you're bushed, but once again. we prevailed. It's what we do. I like to call it "we." I'm a team player. No one likes to go it alone really all that much. We are pack animals. I believe. 

Whenever it rains, it's a special thing in SD and I want to incorporate that into the 365 in some way. That is why I was so pleased when I got to the end of the first verse and heard Neil singing about the rain. I forgot he did this in this tune. I am always looking for synchronicity in life. I feel when it reveals itself, it is the universe reminding you it's listening. 

In other news, the Yankees scored a million runs when I played this tune. Hey, I missed it, but I'll take it. Meanwhile, our local not-so-lovable losers, the Padres, haven't even scored one run yet. They won't be scoring today either, because they don't play. Not that that really makes a difference. Worst start to a season ever. Literally. Oh well. 

Operation 365 2 – Jefferson Jay – Originals – 105 “Our Best Bet” by Jefferson Jay

Best bet? Definitely not the Padres. In fact, while the Operation 365 does not officially support gambling. It does support any easy money you make betting against the Dads. I am going to read the lyrics to this tune real quick and see if I can figure out what he is talking about. OK, it seems that "Our Best Bet" is about giving one's self a tune-up by staying positive and above the mundane, mud-throwing and/or risky nature of the games we play in life. 

Bingo.

Operation 365 2 – Jefferson Jay – Words – 105 “When Inspiration Is Everywhere”

I was digging in my brain for some words for today's "Words," and I didn't have any. I was pretty certain no one wants to watch a video of me silently staring at the camera for 2 minutes. I know I don't, so, on I thought.  Then I got an idea. A few days ago, a friend, Gale Hopping, asked me to write an article for his local news sheet, OB Rocks. I've been doing this occasionally lately and it's been fun. It's like my 53rd job and like this one, it doesn't pay. Clearly, that's not how I write my priority list. Anyway, I wrote this article. I don't even think it's posted yet, but here I'm going to read all 1040 words of it (or so) because, it's nice and I can be done after. XOXO.  It looks like rainbow weather out there. 

Operation 365 2… Blog 104

Operation 365 2 – Jefferson Jay – Originals – 104 “Time To Go” by Jefferson Jay


Previously on Operation 365 2.  I wrote a million songs... Well, not a million. But 12 at once six weeks ago. Then 24 "at once," but really over a few days about a month ago and then 24 more in a day about  two weeks ago now. The first 12 spoke clearly to me. I could wrap my head around them both musically and conceptually. Perhaps my brain can handle 12 tunes. These 24-song blasts, though, are a whole 'nother story.

So, I have no idea what this most recent "case" of tunes are about. In fact, I am just finally beginning to understand the first "case." Here's is my revelation. I think I was trying to say something to myself. Perhaps, some sort of pep talk. Deep, huh. If I had to guess what I was trying to say to myself through my words, I would say I'm trying to prepare and inspire myself from some sort of action or thrust. This sing, "Time to Go," lays it out here slightly. It says I'm tired, which I tend to be when I write all these tunes. It is always at night, after my wife has gone to sleep. It also says it's "time to go," like there is something to do and it's time. I have no idea, honestly, what that thing is. I have been half-assuming it's professional (seems like there's plenty to "do" in that are) but maybe, its not. When I wrote those 12 tunes, it was very personal. This 365 has been extremely personal, like, so personal, I assume nobody's watching. To that aim, I will finish with some total nonsense and see if anybody ever says anything.

Donald Trump is the best. No question he's better than all the rest, for President. Hands down. Quote me. I dare you.

Operation 365 2– Jefferson Jay – Covers – 104 “The Exodus Song” by Pat Boone

So one of the groups I have with the special needs folks these days is Talent Development. So I get together with different groups and try to tap in to what the individuals talents are and then develop them. It is quite rewarding. So with some of these older folks, I have to journey back in time to discover the tunes they know and love, so I can have them sing them and find out what they’re capable of. This led me to this Pat Boone hit, (among other tunes)”Exodus.”

Now in reality, this is some big dramatic tune from some movie. My guess is “Exodus,” but I can neither confirm or deny these rumors at this time. I wasn’t so much feeling the whole heavy exodus-ing vibe, so I lightened it up a skutch or two as I am wont to do from time to time. So, here that is, with some fence action for ambience.

Shout outs to Cat Chengery and her delightful new beau, Dakota. Shout out to the visiting amigo/legendary poster icon, John Warner and his wife, Kim, with whom I will catch up later on today. Shout out to my newest friend, (met him for ten seconds last night) Karl Denson and a final shout out to whomever was on my mind when I initially launched this shout out section in the first place. Sorry I forgot you.

A-ha! I remembered. Huge shout-out to Construnction Frence Repair, whose hilariously spelled sign, never gets old.

Operation 365 2 – Jefferson Jay – Words – 104 “Earthly Treasures”

Here’s a few humble words about why our world has some of the problems that we do today.

Operation 365 2… Blog 103

Operation 365 2 – Jefferson Jay – Words – 103 “Enjoy the Green Days”

I found myself fatigued by all the oppressive sense-making coming out of this here portion of the 365, so I decided to do something about it. I have no idea what this guy is talking about here… or do I? Perhaps this statement is SO deep that it will take me years, maybe decades to fully understand the deep shit that’s coming out of my mouth. Who’s to say? Not I, my friends, not I. Maybe when I do ascertain the meaning of it all, it will change the world forever. Maybe.

Operation 365 2– Jefferson Jay – Covers – 103 “Entertainment Tonight” by Michael Mark

May our tributes to the TV shows of yesteryear soldier on. Today, I play “Entertainment Tonight,” which to my shock and dismay, was not written by John Tesh. I honestly figured it had to be. How could it not? Here I shred the 80’s version of the theme. I admittedly have no idea how much or little they’ve changed this tune since then. It’s exactly the kind of show I try to never see, with much success. Thank you.

It is a fun riff to play and once in awhile when I do, someone in my age range will recognize it. It’s quite a thrill. Well, woo hoo to you too. Go dig on some ET. Phone home…

Operation 365 2 – Jefferson Jay – Originals – 103 “Live Your Dreams” by Jefferson Jay

“Live Your Dreams” is an uplifting and optimistic little ditty, wrote during one of my recent songwriting binges. I believe this is one of the offspring of my first 24-song barrage, not to be confused with my second one. OK, I admit it. I'm confused. Maybe. I'm confused to whether I'm even confused at this point. Too many tunes. What ya gonna do? Could be much worse problems to wake up to.  This song pays a slight homage to another tune of mine called "For Life," form my most recent CD, "Hallelujah Expressway," available at at www.jeffersonjay.com, iTunes, Spotify, Bandcamp and wherever awesome music can hardly be given away online. It's a great time to be a musician. That's a tad facetious, perhaps. It's a great time to be alive. That is not. 

Love. 

Operation 365 2… Blog 102

Operation 365 2 – Jefferson Jay – Originals – 102 “The Hoe Down Blues” by Jefferson Jay

Here’s another one from the batch of 24 tunes I started one week ago today. I am still sorting out what they mean. Those and the 24 tunes I wrote before that. It’s like a long-term puzzle I am discovering in the aftermath of writing all these tunes.  So, yesterday and today, I posted bluesy tunes written after spending much time in recent days and weeks talking with my friend in less-than-super relationships. Ever since I started writing tunes a long time ago, I’ve always felt comfortable writing about the plights of those close to me in my songs. You can’t always be in your own head I guess. If we’re all one, which we are, we share a head, so there’s no real difference, I suppose.

So, “The Hoe Down Blues,” like “Someone New,” which I posted yesterday draw on the trials many of my friend have felt in some of their recent relationships. Hang in there, it will all work out in time. This song is meant to say, (I think.) with you in spirit, and in reality, if you live close enough to stop by.

Operation 365 2– Jefferson Jay – Covers – 102 “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin

Another classic. How I got through an entire 365 without playing “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” I have no idea. Another dilemma rectified. Here, I had some fun, playing this classic 80s hit. I saw, it’s author, Bobby McFerrin live once. It was amazing. Literally, grannies were dancing on stage and some guy was fired up enough to dance on his hands for a spell. The vibe was that electric and inspiring.

Operation 365 2 – Jefferson Jay – Words – 102 “When Entertainment Fails”

Folks, let’s face it. We don’t ask much of our entertainment these days. A fresh idea??? No way. No reason to bother today. Some old superheroes in the same movie as ten years ago? Perfect. Star Wars 8? Bring it on. There’s no real reason to come up with anything new, when thousands of things that are tired, tried and true stand by.

I’m particularly disappointed in The Padres failure to do anything resembling effort at putting a quality baseball team on the field. There’s an old baseball expression, “Hope springs eternal,” It relates to the hope every team has entering a new season, a fresh slate. Not here. We suck and the first pitch of the season is being thrown as we speak, Hold on, Let me check if we’re (excuse me, they’re) losing yet. Come one, Pads. Couldn’t ya, at least try? And don’t even get me started on Wrestlemania… (Imagine, if you will, a smiley face, here at the end of this post, one meant to convey that I may not be as angry as I seem.) XOXXOOX

Operation 365 2… Blog 101

Operation 365 2 – Jefferson Jay – Originals – 101 “Someone New” by Jefferson Jay

So I did again last week, wrote 24 tunes, bang bang. In this case, I wrote them all in a 24 hour period from Monday night to Tuesday evening. Pretty exhilarating, satisfying stuff. So even though, I haven’t yet finished posting the last batch of 24, “Someone New” is the first one I’m sharing of this most recent 24.

Fear not, Internet amigos, for it is not I who is seeking some new. Quite to the contrary, I love my special lady, Leanne. Couldn’t be happier. In news that may or may not be related, she just told me she had a dream a baby peed on her face. There is a lot to be said for never being bored, always being engaged and entertained. I love this life.

So, I wrote this tune from the perspective of another friend of mine, who’s been needing to extricate himself from an unhealthy relationship situation for some time now. Here’s wishing the best of luck to him and you, if you find yourself in one of those types of matters. It seems they’re almost an epidemic these days, unfortunately. If so, may this song be an anthem for you. You can do it. You deserve the best.

Operation 365 2– Jefferson Jay – Covers – 101 “I Saw the Light” by Hank Williams

May the promenade of TV inspired anthems march on. Yes, I know "I Saw the Light," is familiar Americans from church and spiritual spectacles of that nature. Not for me. I never heard it until the finale of Season 1, "Orange Is the New Black." And what a moving scene it was. I cried and fell in love with this song forever. I learned it a few days later and have been playing it here and there ever since. As I covered the theme song to "Orange Is the New Black" aka "You've Got Time," by Regina Spektor yesterday, it seems we are really going in a very "OINTB" direction. I think I've gone about as far as I can go in this direction actually. 

Well, it's a beautiful song by Hank Williams even if it's not as devotional for me as it is for some other folks.  I am grateful and humble to have seen any light whatsoever, just as I am for being able to continue to live this life each and every day. It's a good one.

Operation 365 2 – Jefferson Jay – Words – 101 “Folks Be Being Like Hella Resilient, Yo”

I've been doling out some pretty positive rants lately. I'm afraid I'm getting just a wee tad too serious with all this and while I mean it, I'm not sure I want to preaching the power of positivity every single day. Some days, we got to take things a little more lightly and have some fun. So as a nod to my desire to lighten up a little in my rants next week, I named this here pep talk, "Folks Be Being Like Hella Resilient, Yo." It's true. I knows me a lot of highly resilient folks. Life ain't easy. It's inspiring. 

Operation 365 2… Blog 100

Operation 365 2 – Jefferson Jay – Originals – 100 “100 Days” by Jefferson Jay

So here we are at another 365 red-letter day, Day 100. Whoa. Anyone wanna tag in? Wrestlemania is tomorrow, you know? Anyone wanna run the next 100 meters? We got to be due for an Olympics at some point soon. Well on Day 200 ( I checked. It was 201.) in Operation 365 1, I did a tune called “200 Days.” You can hear it here if you’re hella eager, (I’ll take hella eager over hella apathetic any time, frankly,)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmiSXGue28k

Anyway, seemed prudent to have a “100 Days” tune, sort of a matching set type thing. Who knows. The chords are A, D, E if you want to play along or rip solos or anything. I improvised the words once I hit record. I had a lovely day with my friends, Maddie Moon and Nate and Jade (Congratulations! yesterday, oh, and super pooch Mr. Pibb. So love and acknowledgements to them all for their fine Vista/OB hospitality yesterday.

Operation 365 2– Jefferson Jay – Covers – 100 “You’ve Got Time” by Regina Spektor

I’ve been on a binge with the TV theme songs, (unintentionally) this week. Here is Regina Spektor’s “You’ve Got Time,” which is the theme for Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black,” a show I watch. I guess we’ve all got time in a way. It depends on how you view life. If you view it as a pleasure of a gift, well, in a way you’ve still got time, because no one stays forever, but if you look at life as less pleasant, well, maybe you  feel like you’ve got time every day. There are many things that can terrorize a human these days. The news, cat burglars, trans fats, Monsanto, nicotine, planes, helicopters, road rage, reality TV, Diet Coke, pork rinds, all sorts of things. I guess it’s best to try to feel blessed and not so much incarcerated. Sometimes I see folks who look like they feel incarcerated and my heart goes out to them. I know some folks who are actually incarcerated. My heart go out to them too. I saw this week about a judge who’s going away for 28 years cause he took a million dollars to put (relatively) innocent kids in prison. Ouch. Come one, Judge. Not nice. You could do better.

Speaking of places people want to get out of, I believe Regina Spektor did some time at my old alma mater, Fair Lawn High School. It was after my time so I don’t really know how that all worked out, but congratulations to her, for emerging from the borough that is Fair Lawn. I wonder if she starred in the musical sat FLHS, like I did, so many years ago. I believe this is the 25th show, my math says it should be 24^th, for John Giresi, the fellow who directs the musicals over at Fair Lawn High. My senior show was his first show. I played Seymour. We did “Little Shop of Horrors.” It was a difficult time for me. My best friend died a month before the show took the stage. I have fond recollections of that production. It helped me through the most difficult time of my life. I am glad Mr. Giresi has made it and if we helped get him off to great start (We did.) then all the better. Way to keep to going for 24 or 25 years.

One last piece of Fair Lawn business. Last week, my old Physics teacher,  Howie Friedman passed away. There was an article in the Huffington Post about it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-fagin/who-needs-a-big-screen-su_b_9560488.html

So, I guess I should say a few words about Mr. Friedman. One, I liked his Physics class. It was the only part of science I ever understood. Guy deserves some credit for that, a lot actually. I, to this day, like physics. It remains the only science I really get at all. In my first songs I ever wrote, with dear pal and fellow Demarests member, Scott Baslaw, part of the lyrical inspiration was “we’ll fly past C (the speed of light) to save our family,” words from my deepest hopes in dreams after the passing of the best friend things I referenced earlier. That’s not all.

I was in The Boptones. Junior year, I sang back up. Mr. Freidman gave me one lead, “Rocket Man,” by Elton John. I fell on my face pretty dramatically practicing that one in front of the upperclassmen. I eventually cut it myself, to spare me further embarrassment. The song was way too hard for me then. Still ain’t easy… It’s what our eloquent lead singer that year Eric Townsend would have called an “abortion.” He was sweet…

My senior year, I sang lead for the Boptones. Had a lot of tunes and costume change for each one. The Boptones was a pretty big deal. We sold out the 800-seat auditorium. That was Howie Freidman. He’d sing too. “I Put A Spell on You,” “Aqualung.” It was triumphant and disgusting. A student/teacher rock band, my first rock band. Who knows how profoundly it’s effected me? Probably more than I’ll ever realize. So thank again to Mr. Freidman for that too. 

Perhaps my one bone to pick with Mr. Friedman, God rest his soul, was really only a bone I have to pick with myself. After Tony, the afore-mentioned best friend died in February 1992, I was about as fucked up as you could possibly be. Way more fucked up than I had ever previously conceived. I was in very bad shape. I could have used a tender shoulder or some words of wisdom from Mr. Friedman. He didn’t have it in him. Maybe that’s not his fault. He was a Physics teacher, Maybe he just wasn’t a warm and cuddly guy. I didn’t really expect that from my other teachers, but he was so visionary and open-minded in some ways, I felt I really could have used it from him. He was the opposite of warm and when years passed and I’d visit and he’d be extremely warm to the young ladies I’d graduated with and barely cordial with me. I didn’t like that much either.

I forgive you Mr. Freidman. I’m sure it wasn’t personal and you were doing the best you could. So was I. Maybe you were disappointed it wasn’t better then. I don’t know. I forgive myself for wishing you’d done more all these years too. That ledger is closed. I apologize for having expectations of you and I like to think you’d have been sorry if you’d known I was disappointed or how much I help I really needed way back then. Thank God these are simpler times. May the children enjoy their high school musical this weekend and not have to do it in a cloud of rage over the loss of their best friend. May they just have happy, simple, high school times, like I did in Physics class, ‘til February 1992.

May we all have Peace like Mr. Freidman now does. Thanks, Howie. I’m ready to give you the benefit of the doubt now. You tried. Sorry, it took me all this time.

Operation 365 2 – Jefferson Jay – Words – 100 “Do What Warms Your Heart”

There’s a lot of unhappy people out there in the world and it saddens me. People build up problems or feel guilty about things from the past. Who knows what it is that gets folks down? Depression. All sorts of things, I suppose. Today, I offer a few gentle suggestions of things to that can turn those frowns upside down. Some sunshine… Something that warms your heart. Whatever it takes. Life is meant to be enjoyed. I wish that for everyone.

I sat out in the sun and played a lot of new jamborees for awhile before recording this and it made my heart feel placid.

Operation 365 2… Blog 99

Operation 365 2 – Jefferson Jay – Originals – 99 “Olivia” by Jefferson Jay

Welcome to another red-letter today on the 365. It’s April Fool’s Day, but more importantly, it is my niece Olivia’s birthday. Here is a little song I wrote for her the day she was born. I played it a couple times yesterday. This wasn’t the best version, but it’s the one I can find and it’s fine. Regardless, it’s for Olivia and I hope it brings her some joy on her special day. She’s great and I love her. It was wonderful to spend sometime with her a few weeks back in Jersey and I look forward to seeing her again ASAP, ideally, not in Jersey, Keep up the great work, Livvy. We love you and are proud of you.

Operation 365 2– Jefferson Jay – Covers – 99 “WKRP in Cincinnati Main Theme” by Tom Wells and Hugh Wilson

I’m as much a sucker for nostalgia as almost anyone. For better or worse that leaves me with high warm spots in my heart for many TV classic of the 70’s and 80’s.  It’s amazing, in my drastic departure from TV and all the timesuck affiliated with it’s watching, I forget how addicted I was to the shining box as a boy. It stands to reason young people feel the same today. It’s not like they can go out and do stuff too much. I have no clue if they’d want to anyway. This is what it is like when you are out of touch.

Anyway, I love “WKRP in Cincinnati,” the song, the characters, the show, the feeling I get when I think about hose simpler times, Memory is amazing. It makes everything old seem awesome. I know this is not true, but when you hear a song like this, it takes you back to a quiet safe place that makes it feel like everything was awesome and it that sense, it was.

Shout out to Some Guy for covering this tune first, reminding me once again how awesome it is, and inspiring this cover I’d been looking forward to playing. No April Fool’s.

Operation 365 2 – Jefferson Jay – Words – 99 “Nice Chops: Hope Lives, Part Two”

Here’s a little 365 tidying, as I read part two of the verbiage I wrote at the Nice Chops launch party a week ago Thursday in University Heights. I was very inspired by the way the community came together, supported and embraced the hard work of leather worker/musician Shantih Beeman. Nice Chops, under the visionary leadership of Matt Navarro has a bright future and all the moral high ground one could ever dream of. “Nice Chops” should be the lead story in the news and a Sunday morning feature in the Union-Tribune, and it very well might be. That’s how irresistible and heart-warming this story is.

I was thrilled to just be a part of it, inspired enough to write in my notebook on a rocking chair in the corner on the majesty of it all and then share those words at the event and once again, for posterity, on the this here Operation 365 2.

Shout outs and warm heartfelt salutations to Shantih and his mom, who made me feel at home that night we ate dinner at their place so long ago. Shout outs to the visionary, Matt Navarro, the glamorous and business like Natalie, Johnny C, my Open Mic Daddy, his Gato Papacitos (Kevin Freeby, Johnnie, JP, Justin, and Daniel) A Final shout out for today to Thomas Jefferson and his words of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness mandate that continues to come to fruition hundreds of years later in the magic ménage of moments we call life. Thank you God.