Singing In the Shower

I admit it. I'm a shower singer. Thank God. Although I sing with all the joy of a songbird, it's probably best for all the world that they don't hear my blissful utterances. Although I have been blessed with great health, loving relationships and gifts - vocals expressed in music just isn't one of them.

That's not to say, I don't LOVE music. I do video production for a living (http://www.laughingplanetvideo.com) and when I'm creating a video for a singer/songwriter, it's sheer unadulterated joy.

Steve Warner is a singer/songwriter that I admire. His songs are unique like that of John Prine. They have humor, heart and passion. I think of Steve and some of his songs.

He recently wrote a tune about his dear mom who suffers dementia and is in a nursing home. Here she has found a new love in her life . . . and she's in her 90's - bless her heart. Steve has woven this beautiful song around that. Can you imagine? He noticed this bit of sunshine in an elder's world and payed tribute to it. But listen for yourself. It's called, "Old Lover's Heart".

With just as much care, he can also dive right into the satyrical side of life. Who hasn't experienced some mystifying trouble in one's love life? "In the Doghouse Now" pay's tribute to that. It helps me see the world from a male's perspective and realize that men and women can see the same thing in two different ways . . . and still manage to sing about it.

I travel with him lyrically to the West in a song called, "Land Rover". Remember how it feels to be traveling and realize how one misses the "home" that can only be found with the one you love?

And then, since we are in the traveling theme, he sings "A Gypsy Love Song" and immediately I'm in another place of time. This song should come with a warning label because it's one that gets in the head and stays.

How does Steve come up with those songs? What comes first - the words or the music? He answered that one day in an interview I had with him.

"For me the song typically starts with a lyric concept; an idea. My ideas are primarily lyric based. Typically, when I've got a good lyric idea going in my head, the melody kind of writes itself. From that respect, melodies come from God," he says.

It's a gift. And like with all of us, that's the bliss of it all. Taking what we are given and giving it to others with joy.

As a videographer I get to have the satisfaction of visually producing music without having to disturb one beautiful note for anyone else.

I celebrate singers/songwriters with beautiful voices. Thanks to Steve and all the others out there who make the world a lyrical place. Their CD's are a gift we can give to ourselves.