ra mcguire dot com » Video http://ramcguire.com Random dispatches from the fish and chips capitol of the world, and elsewhere Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:59:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 A Real Singer Really Singing - Amy Winehouse kills it http://ramcguire.com/2010/09/13/a-real-singer-really-singing/ http://ramcguire.com/2010/09/13/a-real-singer-really-singing/#comments Tue, 14 Sep 2010 04:24:58 +0000 admin http://ramcguire.com/?p=1156 In the van the other day, somewhere between Sydney Nova Scotia and Rita’s Tea House in Big Pond, I was trying to describe a vocal performance by Amy Winehouse that I’d seen on YouTube. Today I downloaded it so I could show it to my band brothers next time we’re out. I figured I should show it to you as well. It’s one of my very favourites and not on any CD that I know of. It’s just Amy and someone playing a Rhodes Electric piano. I’m in awe every time I see it.

UPDATE: Video link is horked. Click here for a link that should work

]]> http://ramcguire.com/2010/09/13/a-real-singer-really-singing/feed/ 0 Connor McGuire’s ‘Song a Week’ Project – Week 12 - McGuire Triumphant Against Great Odds http://ramcguire.com/2010/06/26/the-12th-and-final-week-of-connor-mcguires-song-a-week-project/ http://ramcguire.com/2010/06/26/the-12th-and-final-week-of-connor-mcguires-song-a-week-project/#comments Sat, 26 Jun 2010 19:28:42 +0000 Ra http://ramcguire.com/?p=1105 Twelve long weeks ago my son Connor McGuire began an online experiment to see if he could write and record a new song every week. As an additional challenge, as if the song writing wasn’t enough, he also documented the process on video and posted the combined results on YouTube.

There were some hairy weeks along the way. One week in particular (number five, one of my favourites), he totally scrapped the song he’d worked on for six days and wrote an entirely new one on the deadline day. In other weekly episodes, it’s obvious from his appearance that he hasn’t slept – or that the stress of coming up with something good is taking it’s toll. Often though, there’s the unmistakeable hint of pride of accomplishment, and maybe a bit of wonder at how such a good song managed to materialize so quickly under less than ideal circumstances.

Connor knocked the Song-a-Week Project on the head this past week with episode twelve – a complex and emotional song called “Symphony”. You can hear the relief in his voice as he brings the series to a close, but if you’ve been watching from the beginning, you can also see an accomplished songwriter at the top of his game – who has now documented his ability to confidently pull the magic out of his hat week after challenging week, for three months.

Check out “Symphony” here and, if you haven’t already, subscribe to Connor’s YouTube channel to see other episodes of the series.

Also, check out Connor’s North By East West: Acid House Interview which is now posted here.

]]> http://ramcguire.com/2010/06/26/the-12th-and-final-week-of-connor-mcguires-song-a-week-project/feed/ 0 Connor McGuire’s ‘Song a Week’ Project – Week 11 - And Now for Something Completely Different http://ramcguire.com/2010/06/10/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-11/ http://ramcguire.com/2010/06/10/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-11/#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:23:06 +0000 Ra http://ramcguire.com/?p=1099 For his second from last week of the the 12-week Song a Week Project, Connor puts on his Pack Mentality hat and reveals his musical alter-ego. Week 11 is a full-out dance track featuring the kind of beats he will be performing next Saturday at the Waterstone Lounge in White Rock with The Forn and The Joy of Cooking (and at a show in Vancouver *this* weekend that I can’t find a link to!). No lyrics, just a pounding dance groove with great hooks. Connor told his Grandma that she probably wouldn’t like it.

Check it here, and, as always, please spread the word and subscribe to the Connor McGuire YouTube channel.

]]> http://ramcguire.com/2010/06/10/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-11/feed/ 0 Connor McGuire’s ‘Song a Week’ Project – Week 10 - Ten Weeks! Two More to Go ... http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/31/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-10/ http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/31/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-10/#comments Mon, 31 May 2010 19:30:34 +0000 admin http://ramcguire.com/?p=1093 Full band arrangement. Beautiful. And some pretty candid thoughts on the process.

Check it here, and, as always, please spread the word and subscribe to the Connor McGuire YouTube channel.

Ten weeks!! Ten!

]]> http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/31/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-10/feed/ 0 Janelle Monaé Again. Live on Letterman This Time … - This is Getting Serious ... http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/27/janelle-monae-again-live-on-letterman-this-time/ http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/27/janelle-monae-again-live-on-letterman-this-time/#comments Fri, 28 May 2010 04:39:42 +0000 admin http://ramcguire.com/?p=1091 Wow. This reminds me of MJ’s Motown performance. I think she’s going to be real famous …

]]> http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/27/janelle-monae-again-live-on-letterman-this-time/feed/ 0 Janelle Monaé http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/23/janelle-monae/ http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/23/janelle-monae/#comments Sun, 23 May 2010 15:09:33 +0000 admin http://ramcguire.com/?p=1089
]]> http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/23/janelle-monae/feed/ 0 Connor McGuire’s ‘Song a Week’ Project – Week 9 - And the Hits Just Keep on Comin' http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/21/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-9/ http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/21/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-9/#comments Fri, 21 May 2010 21:38:24 +0000 admin http://ramcguire.com/?p=1087 This week was a close call. What he eventually created came from a deep and honest place. I doubt if he’d have written this song if he wasn’t so backed against the wall. It’s beautiful and true.

Check it here, and, as always, please spread the word and subscribe to the Connor McGuire YouTube channel.

]]> http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/21/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-9/feed/ 0 Connor McGuire’s ‘Song a Week’ Project – Week 8 - Amazing http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/14/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-8/ http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/14/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-8/#comments Fri, 14 May 2010 20:35:36 +0000 admin http://ramcguire.com/?p=1085 I don’t think Connor expected his ‘Song a Week Project’ to develop into the creative journey it’s become. The process is taking him places he otherwise never would have ventured. Once again the new song has brain-bombed me and I can’t stop singing it …

Check it here, and please subscribe to the Connor McGuire YouTube channel.

]]> http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/14/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-8/feed/ 0 Connor McGuire’s ‘Song a Week’ Project – Week 7 - Seven is a Lucky Number http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/06/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-7/ http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/06/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-7/#comments Fri, 07 May 2010 05:23:58 +0000 admin http://ramcguire.com/?p=1080 Connor’s seventh song is a radical departure. It blends his usual writing style with his Pack Mentality mash-up sensibilities. The song, propelled by a beat he played on a floor tom with a tambourine laid on the skin, soars like classic Peter Gabriel, but more likely references Bat for Lashes or Animal Collective. Once again Connor succeeds and surprises. Check it here, and please subscribe to the Connor McGuire YouTube channel.

]]> http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/06/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-7/feed/ 0 The Fab Faux – Abbey Road Side 2 (mostly) - For Beatle Fans Only http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/04/the-fab-faux-abbey-road-side-2-mostly/ http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/04/the-fab-faux-abbey-road-side-2-mostly/#comments Wed, 05 May 2010 02:32:03 +0000 admin http://ramcguire.com/?p=1073 More and more I see that growing up with the Beatles was a privilege that other generations may never experience. Their unparalleled creative growth – which paralleled my growth as a singer and songwriter – was an endless inspiration to me, and countless other music makers, in the sixties. A friend sent this link, as friends do, thinking I might enjoy it. Turns out, watching it brought the occasional tear to my eye. Like me, these guys know every single nuance of this performance. If they got one wrong, I didn’t notice – but I may have been blinded by the sheer joy of seeing this music played live.

So, for my fellow Beatle fans:

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