I’ve talked before about how distractions are my best weapon against Tourette’s. Kettlebells and bending nails is usually what comes up.
Today, in my fanciest pants and hat, I’m going to show you that my big monkey hands are good for more than destroying things and hitting my own face.
As you can see–no tics. I could have played for eight hours and been symptom-free. However good I am, I am that good because practicing became a relief.
Music is one of the most important things in my life. I wrote this song a few years ago during the time when I couldn’t speak because of the injections I was getting in my throat. But I never gave it a name. That’s where you come in.
The song is currently called “The Day I Couldn’t Bend A Grade 5 Bolt And I Cried Like A Baby.” It’s good, but not catchy enough.
I’m sure you can do better?
Josh
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{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
I didn’t realize you like to play, dude! I used to be a musician in my ‘former life’ … now I only play for shits and giggles
No suggestions on naming your tune … I quite like the title you’ve all ready got
I’m looking forward to hearing more of your tunes
Cheers!
How about, “My bitch left me but I still have my bolt.”
Probably can’t help with the name. Never have been good with that kind of thing.
At one time, I thought I would end up being a music teacher. Playing was my relief valve, so I can appreciate how it takes you away from all your problems.
How about “Tears don’t bend bolts”? -just a wacky thought. I don’t play, dance has always been more my passion, so my hat is off to the playing librarian!
No end to this man’s talent!
How about “Bolt back to you”?
How about “Bending Mel Bay”
“Bolt Bendin’ Blues” ?
Sorry, that’s all I got.
How about “The Kettleball Blues”? Love the way you play guitar. You’ve inspired me to keep practicing. I’ve been a guitar slacker lately.
BTW, I agree that music has that therapeutic quality that can take care of almost anything that’s ailing us….
A Bolt from the Blues?
“Don’t Bend Me, I’m Broken.”
I have trouble naming songs too. But I enjoyed listening to this.
How about “Umberto’s First Encounter with the Little Dog” or “Sit on a pan Otis”
Good suggestions so far. I’m currently leaning towards “I can’t Believe I Ate All Those Hot Dogs”
How about “But I survived”?
Very nice, by the way.
Josh:
Great tune…like Beth, I am a guitar slacker. I’ve taken plenty of lessons, but I’ve never been able to get a hang of fingerpicking. It must use a different area (or more parts) of the brain than I am accustomed to using when I play guitar.
I can’t think of a name…I picture something whimsical. But I do like “Bolt Bendin’ Blues.”
Sweet Relief That was an awesome, head-bobbin’, relaxing song.
Josh, that was jaw-dropping beautiful. I’m a musician, too, and playing music is sometimes the only thing that will lift my spirits. Bravo!
How about, “My avocado eyes won’t stop cryin’ – I miss the mothership’”…?
Lori, you’re improving in the running. “Jaw droppingly beautiful.” Never heard that applied to me before.
I remember when you couldn’t speak because of the injections. I think the title should have something to do with music being your means of communicating. How about “My 2 cents” or “6 string vocab” or “My throat got injected with muscle relaxer, so I can’t say anything to anybody for weeks, and I don’t know sign language and chances are you don’t either, so here’s a song”…
What about “another pleasant surprise” for a song title?
Cheryl
Cheryl, I’m not pleasant. It has to reek of doom and death and mayhem.
Like Ren, I was going to suggest something like “Bolt Bendin’ Blues”, but it’s a bit too upbeat to be considered blues. How about “Can’t Beat Me Down”?
That, or “That which does not kill me is at least a pain in the ass”?
Bradd, I like it. We’ll see…
Mind Skippin’
It’s how I felt when I listened, like I was just skippin’ along a path in my mind — plus, you know, it’s got layers (like, the music is just skipping past your TS misfires and going straight from your happy heart to your fingers).
As soon as I have a blog, I want you to post on it. You remind me of my long-fingered (Marfan syndrome) finger-style guitarist son. Your blog is the one I love best to see in my feed, and I’m probably the last type of person you ever thought would be reading.
Sandy, what a great image, thanks. Start that blog! I’m curious: what sort of person are you, that I would be surprised to see you reading this blog? You can email me if the answer is too scandalous:)
Death row serial kettle bell murderess? Eight year old genius tap dancer? Nope, just a middle-aged suburban mom whose friends think that getting something in your feed has something to do with a specially-treated diet for your golden retriever. (What percent of 52-year-old married women with full multi-generational familial responsibilities do you suppose are reading a feed full of young people’s thoughts every morning and evening? I wonder if I might be a one-person demographic.)
Anyway, so glad you liked the image I got from the song. You created it! –Sandy
PS Tell your wife that one family in Florida is managing to work the name Utensila into conversations on a regular basis. Love the way you said that it was as if she’d been waiting her whole life to be asked.
@Sandy, Janette will be thrilled to hear that. I’d love to hear those conversations.
@Jessica Marie: what an interesting image. This is one of the things I love most about music. You can never predict what someone else will make it.
Hmmm, for some reason it reminded me of someone walking down and street and meeting various people. How about The TS Walk?
I think you should go all Indie-rock on it and buy a pack of magnet words.. throw them all up on your refrigerator, close your eyes and start pointing. That way people will spend years trying to figure it out.. and after letting them think it through and over-analyze, you can explain that it was not a metaphor for some complex idea. It was random.
@Jenny: All indie it is. To the dollar store.
So excited that “My pickled stapler” is now in the running!
Hey Josh,
Not going to take a stab at naming your song, but I just wanted to say that my husband watched your video over my shoulder and was very jealous. He’s just learning to play the guitar.
You’re awesome.
By the way, I write songs on the piano, but I never name them. It’s difficult to name a song with no lyrics.
Josh, I would suggest Fancy Pants as a title, but Maddy Prior already has a song called Fancy Pants. In any event I realy enjoyed the tune.
Thanks Jack. I think Fancy Pants is pretty good:)
Now that was a nice little dittie.
I say name it “Lollogagin”
I’m liking this new page. Definitely not the norm. Good stuff though.
Thanks Andy. New addition tomorrow.
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