Here you go-- recorded and put on a CD a year ago; written by my musical partner, Karin, who also sings and plays the piano. The harp is totally acoustic. The song is about our rainy town on the coast of British Columbia. There's harp at the beginning and mid-song. As always, I feel like I have to apologize for not being fancy. It's pop, not blues, though everything we do has a blues feel. Enjoy, and if it inspires anyone to play simply, I will feel amply rewarded.
There is no need to apologize for anything like this. I like the old reply from James Last when asked what sort of music he enjoyed - "Anything that's done well" was the the answer.
It's nice to hear blues harp that is more melody driven--the tone reminds me of Mike Turk--back before he went to the dark side (jazz). . . ;) ----------
I'd call that retro-pop blues. Lady Gaga and low grade emo is what's called pop these days. Buddha, I'd argue that Sting is on the edge of pop. He incorporates a lot of other styles into his stuff. It's not what the kids are listening to today. Defining pop is always a moving target.
edit: I like both clips though. Buddha, weren't you supposed to record something with that guy? Is it out yet?
yes I recorded two track but haven't heard anything since.
Like it or not Sting is a pop star, your definition doesn't matter because the perception of the media and general population refer to him as a pop star. Even his own website refers to him as a Pop icon. He's a pop star and plays pop music regardless of what we think.
Pop isn't about kids, its about what sell and what is POPULAR... Sting is POP
---------- "I am a great believer in understanding, not copying."
Well clearly definitions are different to everyone. We must agree to disagree.
Metallica has sold 100 million albums. Is James Hetfield a pop singer?
I knew it was a Sting song, it is popular after all, but then so are Slipknot. I could happily argue that Slipknot are just a boyband, cynically marketed at alienated, white, 15-18 year old boys. Slipknot however are (were?) hardly Backstreet Boys.
Popular and pop are not the same - at least not in my book and not according to commercial TV and radio, Youtube etc...
Pop right now (to me) is X-factor, commercial daytime radio, High School Musical and teen pin-up posters.
Pop harmonica to me conjures up the intro to "love me do", Stevie Wonder or Jimmy Z on the Eurythmics tracks. Uptempo, major key, happy music. Throw away stuff that lifts your spirits.
Like I said I think the the tune is great, your playing is perfect for the mood; I just would not call it pop music (no matter what Sting chooses to call himself. In my imaginary record shop he'd be filed under 'singer songwriter' - the catch-all box for anyone who is difficult to categorise!).
Last Edited by on Nov 13, 2010 1:05 PM
Buddha, as to whether it's blues or not, I will admit I don't know. I play entirely by ear. Don't know what chords are in the song, whether they are standard blues changes or not. Don't know whether the song is 8 bars or 12 bars. If you and others say it's blues, I'll take everyone's word for it.
Heart2Harp, I clicked on your user name, found your YouTube channel, and listened to your latest upload-- you singing and playing "Good Morning Little School Girl", with your friend on acoustic guitar. I like it. Lots of feel in your harp and good rhythm.
I like your singing too. Lots of feel there too, and no distracting mannerisms. Some who try to sing like "a blues singer" end up sounding artificial-- with the forced gruff vocals, etc. Your singing sounded like it was you, not someone imitating a black blues singer.
As to the "pop" designation I gave my song and harp part, I do think that some blues songs can be very close to pop, in the sense that they are not especially deep, they are easily understood, and they have a singable melody. In other words, the masses can relate. They are not "art" songs. My song fits that description; thus I call it "pop".
When was the last time Sting was in the top 40? I think pop is a floating target. He's kind of strayed into adult contemporary. :) We are all getting old.
pop this! ...it's past my bedtime. Where's my Geritol?! nice tune..has a hint of Charlie Parker... Country Pop, anyone?
Last Edited by on Nov 14, 2010 2:09 AM
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists. Often, a recording act will be remembered by its "number ones", those of their albums that outsold all others during at least one week.
in the 2010 top 200 his highest ranking was 6
---------- "I am a great believer in understanding, not copying."
