" Is it Only a dream?"

I am wrapping up this month's postings in regards to the songwriting of Stevie Nicks.  She is able to take you on a journey through her songs and most of them sound like poetry.  It is a beautiful gift to try to take people on a journey and create a place of escape if only for three to four minutes. " Rhiannon" is a song that she wrote after reading about a Welsh Witch.  The way that song is crafted and the catchyness of it makes it a classic. " Leather and Lace" is a great song that incorporates imagery, emotion and a sense of vulnerability.   I hope her influence has rubbed off on my songwriting.  I don't think there is any proven method of songwriting that leads to success but most songs coincidentally have a rhyme scheme.  I do think that success depends on how the lyrics fit to the music.  I  recently began posting some of my lyrics on a few boards again in the hope that I will get some constructive feedback.  Ultimately,  I think when I record a vocal demo of these songs I will see how they fit together with the melody and work out the kinks.  I try to write my feelings and leave a little mystery so people can relate them to whatever they are going through.  I don't believe that you have to spell out the topic all the time but I do believe that from time to time it can be a good thing.  I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and are enjoying the holiday season!!

Sarah

" A Thanksgiving Message"

This week we celebrate Thanksgiving.  It is a wonderful time for family to gather around the table and appreciate all that they have in life.  I would like to thank family and all the wonderful friends that I have.  When I was younger, my mom reminded me that as you grow older it is not about the material things that you own that are important, but the wonderful friends and family and the memories that you will cling to.  So on this Thanksgiving, I wish you all a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving and thank you for your friendship and love.

Sarah

" Taking Stock in What Matters"

" I've been afraid of changing,
cause I built my life around you,
but time makes you bolder,
children get older and I'm getting older too"- Stevie Nicks " Landslide"

Life is a precious gift and every once in a while you are reminded of how precious it is.  I was recently reminded of this and have been taking stock in what is necessary to have in life and what is not. 

In my opinion, Stevie Nicks is an incredible singer- songwriter.  She writes from the heart and uses her voice to convey the emotion she is trying to deliver.  Stevie is a poet whose message has transended the test of time.  She wrote " Landslide" when she was around the age of 28.  "  Silver Springs" is a powerful song about living through a breakup and Stevie delivers a haunting vocal.  Her solo career took off with " Edge of Seventeen" which has a catchy quality to it.  I have been lucky enough to see her twice live, once with Don Henley and with Fleetwood Mac.  Stevie has influenced many of the other artists that I listen to like Sheryl Crow. She says exactly what she feels and it is refreshing.  It is nice to know that when I sent in my songs to a website that they compared my songs to Stevie. 

I am doing a lot of writing lately and it is helping to release some of the feelings I have been experiencing.  I think it will be a lot of writing during this stage and if there is time I may be able to record one song at a time whenever I get the chance.  I hope that you are all well. 

" Was It Just A Dream?"

" Songwriting is about getting the demon out of me." - John Lennon

John Lennon wrote about his emotions and poured them out in songs that would become some of the most important, influential and powerful ones in history.  For all the success he achieved in life, the pain he endured is described in detail.  His songwriting was his therapy and he looked for ways to achieve his dreams.  His drive to succeed was influenced by his father abandoning him, his mother's death, his aunt raising him and meeting Paul McCartney.  I can understand why John said that quote about songwriting.  Sometimes you let so much emotion build up inside that you feel that you need to release it.  There is nothing more gratifying than to write and record a song and have people relate and express feeling the same way.  That is what gives people hope.  It is important that we continue to support each other and be kind to each other. 

I have uploaded two more songs "Imperfections" and " Underneath".  I would appreciate if you took some time to listen and leave feedback on them as well as the three that I uploaded last week.  There is a lot going on lately and it should come through in my lyrics.  I do think that I am developing as a singer songwriter and have made some progress compared to a year ago.  I hope you enjoy the music and the entry.  Hope you are all well!

An update on my songwriting progress

Hello Everyone-

Just a brief note to let you know that I have three new songs uploaded on my pages.  Hope you enjoy them and feel free to leave feedback.  Looking forward to recording a few more songs in the coming weeks.  Hope everyone is well!

Sarah

" And We All Shine On, Like the Moon, the Stars and The Sun"

John Lennon's music revolved around important moments in his life.  " Julia" is a song that describes how he felt about his mother and dealing with the loss of her at such a young age.  John wrote so many great songs: "Instant Karma", " War is Over", " Power to the People", " Imagine", " Just Like Starting Over" and " 9 Dream" are some of my favorites.  The message that comes through John's songs is love, peace and that anything is possible.  He was just a lad from Liverpool with a dream... to become a successful musician.  His journey gives hope to everyone who has ever dreamt of making it big and coming from nowhere.  His message still lives on thirty years after his death. 

As for my progression, I had a recent bout of laryngitis and I am slowly getting my voice back.  Writing is going well and hope to still maintain my deadline of having some new songs recorded and uploaded by the end of the month.  I have also been looking into sending some songs to underground radio stations for some feedback and exposure.  I do hope to play a couple of open mic nights in the near future.  Hope all is well with everyone.

" Love is the Answer"- Remembering John Lennon

Today would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday.  He was a wonderful human being whose message of peace lives on in his songs.  He is the artist I will be focusing on this month as I write about singer-songwriters who influence me.  The depth of John's songs is amazing.  In his Beatle days, he wrote light hearted songs about love but as his writing developed he would write moving songs like " In My Life" and " Strawberry Fields Forever".  His solo work is where he really blossomed and was writing from the heart- " Imagine", " Working Class Hero" and " Mother" describe the hope that one day we would have peace and be able to live in harmony with one another.  It makes you wonder in the thirty years since he passed on, what would he think of the world if he was still with us?  John had a difficult childhood and overcame the odds to become a successful musician.  I can not help but be inspired by him.  To see where he came from, to actually visit the house he grew up in and be in the room where some of the classic Beatle songs where written leaves you feeling like you can accomplish anything you what no matter where you came from.  Happy 70th Birthday John! 

I am writing a lot lately... regarding the challenges in my life- trying to find a job, relationships, letting go of the past and facing the future.  I recently turned 29.... and it has occurred to me that there are many things I have not done that I would like to do before I am 30.  One of these things would be to play at least one gig.... some of the other things are very simple- for example- go horseback riding.  I have 363 days to accomplish these things.  That is all for now.  Hope to have the songs recorded and put up on the sites within the next month.  Hope you are all well!!

My Favorite Christine McVie Songs

Since the month of September is coming to a close, I have decided to list my top ten Christine McVie songs.

10. " Heroes are Hard to Find"- This song is great... it has a funky musical accompanyment and the lyrics sound like you are getting advice from an old friend. 

9. " Don't Stop"- This song was on constant replay for most of last year while I was getting ready to graduate, take the exit exam and the NCLEX.  It is a positive tune that always makes me smile.  Off of the massive " Rumours" album, it provides a nice message to someone who is going through a painful time. 

8. " Isn't it Midnight"- This is a great song and it is even better live.  Off of the " Tango in the Night" album, it describes a chance encounter between a man and a woman. There seems to be a theme of unrequited love in the lyrics.  This was co-written by Christine and Eddy Quintela.   Every time I hear this song, I end up dancing. 

7. " Love Shines"- Very light hearted song about finding love and how all the troubles in life fade away when you are with the one you love. 

6. " The Way I Feel" - This song is very simple and the lyrics talk about expressing and realizing feelings.  It showed what was to come from Christine in terms of vulnerablity and heartfelt lyrics.

5. " Little Lies"- This song is one of my favorites off the " Tango in the Night" album.  It came out in the 80's and has that catchy chorus. 

4. " Say You Love Me"- This song has a cool bluesy feel and the lyrics are relateable. 

3. " You Make Lovin' Fun"- Upbeat song with a beat that makes you want to dance and find love. 

2. " Songbird" - This is a beautiful piece of music.  To me, it falls into the same category as " Yesterday".  It is really just a nice simple piano arrangement and the earthiness of Christine's voice.  

1. " As Long As You Follow"-  This song is my favorite song of Christine's. She co-wrote it with Eddy Quintela, her then husband.  The song describes the journey to finding love and the many obstacles that are met along the way. It is a nice slow dancing song.  I hope that it will be my wedding song someday.

" A Change In Direction"

There are many things I could say about Christine McVie.  She is a hero in my eyes who never intended on being an international superstar.  Her heart belonged to the blues and found success in singing the blues.  She joined Fleetwood Mac and her songwriting developed- you can see the growth from her songs on "Mystery to Me" and compare it to her songs on the " White Album".  She always wrote honestly and openly with such ease.  The melodies of her songs make them some of the most memorable in music history. 

Melodies.... they are what makes the song in my mind.  I recently sent a website four of my songs for a general review.  I knew that my songs were not great- they were recorded on a downloaded computer system that leaves a little to be desired. Writing is supposed to get better over time... I hope so.  I received my report today that said I have a great way with melody.  They suggest that I could benefit from having a few open mic nights.  I would love to do this but am unsure if I would have support with me.  It is something I am seriously considering in order to further develop my musical career. 

I have recorded three new songs on a little recorder. I am trying to figure out a way to upload my songs with the best quality onto my sites.  My computerized music studio does not seem to capture the best vocal tracks and I am exploring my options.  Music has evolved since Christine first started making music but I hope that one day I can have a career that is as successful and wonderful as hers. 

" A Change of Seasons"

Since it is now over a year since I first started this blog, I am going to try to do something different.  As well as documenting my journey to becoming a singer- songwriter, I would like to incorporate posts on those singer- songwriters who have inspired me.  I will pick one each month to discuss and hope that I can incorporate some of their influence into my writing.  I am doing a lot of writing lately and have a lot of ideas floating around in my head.  It is helping me through a difficult time and hope that it will help see me though to better days to come.  If you which to share or interact with me, I would welcome any suggestions....

Christine McVie is a singer songwriter from England.  She was in Fleetwood Mac and also had a successful solo career.  If you listen to songs like " Say You Love Me" from the " Fleetwood Mac White Album" or " You Make Loving Fun" and " Songbird" from the " Rumours" album , you'll hear the beauty and simplicity of her songwriting.  She has a beautiful way of expressing her feelings and making the lyrics relate to anyone.  Her last album, " In The Meantime" seems like a seamless work of art.  She takes you through a complete journey of the ups and downs of a relationship.  It seems like the words just flow out when she writes which is a wonderful gift.  For some it takes years for this to happen and for others it just magically appears.  She is one of my musical heroes and even though she does not tour with Fleetwood Mac anymore ( she has retired) I am grateful for the wonderful music she has shared. 

A Year of Growth

It has been a year since I started my blog.  A lot has happened... and looking back I see how far I have come- personally, professionally and emotionally.  I am happy with the progress my music has made.  I have over a thousand views on my myspace profile and I am currently in the top 700 in the reverbnation charts.  My main goal is to continue to expand  my fan base.  I currently have about 100 fans and would like to see my music go global.  I have become a very passionate songwriter and hope that people see some sort of potential in me.  It has been a very productive year full of high points and low points. I hope that this coming year is better than this year and provides me with more opportunites to grow and develop into a successful artist.  Hope you are all well and enjoying the summer!!

" A Dream Is Just a Dream Until It Becomes Reality"

It has been about two months since my last entry.  I have had some time to think about my musical career and how I want to develop it.  It has led me to seek out advice from different places and help me to further develop my craft.  It is never easy to take a chance and try to make a dream come true.  I have always been a person who is very conscientious of what people think of her.  I want to be liked but I also believe that if people genuinely like you and love you that they would tell you the truth.  Don't get me wrong, the truth may hurt but it is better than people misleading you for the sake of hurting your feelings.  I have been singing all my life, it is something I love. Every once in a while, I would pluck up the courage to sing in front of an audience.   I began to write as a way of expressing my feelings in the form of lyrics or a song.  Now the time has come to be brave and see what happens.  Within the last week, I have signed up to two sites overseas to help expand my audience, gain feedback and develop as an artist.

http://www.myspace.com/sadieanne2009

Creativity is Flowing Again!!

Hello everyone!

It has been two months since my last entry.  I have been busy and took a break from writing in order to gain some perspective.  It has helped me a lot.  I felt like I had to produce at least one song a day and I know feel  that if I can get a couple of lines on paper and develop a few good songs I would be very happy.  I hope to have some of these songs uploaded for you to hear shortly. 

My First Review!!

Hope everyone is doing well. I just had my songs reviewed for the first time on indiecharts.com( www.indiecharts.com/sadieanne).  It is nice to get a positive review that said I "have a way with melody".  While I am having some of my lyrics critiqued by fellow songwriters, I am also starting to write again.  I have a lot to write about lately but need to find the words to express it.  I guess I have been suffering from writers block lately and hope to not think about writing so intensely and just let it flow out.  I hope to receive some more feedback and find my audience.  I have also created a new website ( http://www.sarahanneburke.webs.com/) that allows listeners and fans to leave feedback in regards to my songs.  It is another outlet to help me get in touch and develop. 

Looking for an Audience...

I would like to thank everyone who has visited my sites and provided me with feedback.  I have over 600 visits and 500 plays on my myspace page!! I also have been exposing my music to new audiences with limited success.  For now, I am focusing on the lyrics that I have written, rewriting them and singing them.  I have been taking the time to listen to artists that I have not taken the time to listen to and to learn about how they developed into a success story.  I believe that for me to grow as an artist, I have to develop strong songwriting skills. I hope that my websites showcase my voice and my writing potential.  I am always looking for the opportunity to expand my music and am still looking for a website that will increase my exposure especially in Europe and Asia.  I have joined bebo.com but it does not seem to be generating any play.  My facebook page is slowly growing and I think that it would be fair to say that most of my visitors are fellow singer-songwriters from the forums I participate in.  I have changed my approach to how I am pursuing my career and handle each obstacle with care.  I feel that I had thrown myself into this too quickly and expected growth instantly.  I would rather be able to develop into a successful singer songwriter with great songs and have the opportunity to become successful my own way than to be a singer who writes occasionally and feels that she has not fully developed into what she can be.  So, I hope that everyone will give me the time to develop into that artist and provide me with feedback along the way.  Thank you!

' At A Crossroads'

Hello everyone! Hope all is well! It feels like Spring is here~ I am enjoying the nice change of weather and in pace.  I recently have been thinking about my approach to developing my music career and how to grow.  It has led me to join different networks in order to help me gain some feedback and help me nuture my songs.  I have to say that it is not easy to put yourself out there and take some "blows" but it will help me in the long run.  However, I have joined social networks, forums and chart websites hoping to get some feedback.  I have received a very limited amount of feedback and feel very limited in regards to my growth.  So I am at a crossroads.... do I keep writing, singing and uploading songs onto websites for no one to offer advice or do I say that I gave it a good effort but it is not going to work??  I know that a lot of people will say that I have not given it enough time but I thought that I would have constructive criticism to work with by now....  So, I have a serious decision to make.  It has been a wonderful passion of mine and has helped me to relax and take my mind off of the frustration of the job hunt. I would appreciate any feedback anyone can give me. Thank you!!

A New Step In the Process

I uploaded three videos of me singing some new songs- " A Better Life", " Just an Ordinary Girl" and " My First Love".  Earlier in the week, I uploaded  a new track called " Temporary Situation".  I am working on learning guitar and can play at least one song now on the guitar! Let me know what you think!

A Time to Record and Sing Songs!!

I have recorded and added two new songs- " Outside In" and " Mystery Man".  I hope that you will take the time to listen and hopefully enjoy them. I am thinking about a free download song- so if you think that this is a good idea, please let me know and suggest a song to offer.  I hope that this will help me to promote my voice and my writing!! Thank you for reading, become a fan on one of my sites, and hope to hear from you soon!

I uploaded some new pictures and have sites on bebo, facebook, reverbnation and myspace.  If you are interested look me up and check out the sites and become a fan/friend!! Thanks for the support! I hope to record new songs soon!!

Websites:

http://www.myspace.com/sadieanne2009
http://www.reverbnation.com/sadie81

Inspiration and Writing

In the last couple of days I have written a couple of songs that I hope to record soon! I am finding myself listening to a lot of music ( Holly Williams, Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles, Sheryl Crow) lately to get some inspiration.  There is no shortage of writing topics, just looking for inspiration in terms of sounds and what sounds good to me.  Writing is providing me with a distraction from other things. Hoping to get them recorded soon with acoustic guitar on at least one track! Hope everyone else is well!

Trying to be Patient

It has been a week since my last post and things have been a little busy lately.  I have been applying and interviewing for nursing positions hoping to start my nursing career soon! My days are spent on the computer looking for jobs and hoping that someone will call and say "Congratulations! You have a job!" 

In my spare time, I am writing and recording songs, learning how to play guitar, and updating my music sites in the hope of promoting my music and seeing if there is a potential for me.  It helps me cope with the loneliness that I am becoming accoustomed to.  A typical day for me is to wake up, eat breakfast, a 45 minute jog, check emails, look for jobs ( which normally takes anywhere from 5-7 hours), take care of Odie ( The Family Beagle) and Digit ( The Family Cat), and then hope to lift my spirits with focusing on music. 

I am used of putting everyone first...making the phone calls, emailing and find myself at times wondering when the phone will ring or when I will spend time with my friends. Lately, I feel like I am getting cabin fever.  It is hard to realize when you have to let go of certain things and I have decided to let things happen like they should.  I am using this as a basis for my songs lately and hope that it will help me find some peace.   I am finding a reason to smile everyday... but I just want to be able to have a well rounded life.  Hope that everyone is well!

Celebrating Milestones!!

I am getting some wonderful feedback in regards to my myspace page.  I know that in time my confidence in my voice will increase.  I now have over 200 views and close to 350 plays! Now comes the hard part... I have to decide if I have the courage to sing in front of an audience. I know that I will be able to invite friends and family but wonder if I will be able to overcome my nerves and perform in front of a live audience.  I have done talent  shows before so it should be ok... I just have to do it.  There is a Cafe in my hometown that does open mic nights on Fridays and I am considering it.  I will also have to consider my set list.... If there is anyone reading this, I would appreciate your opinion as a friend.. thank you!

Small Steps

Hello-

I have learned to play a song on the guitar and learning the cords.  I have also branched out on different forums to get some advice in regards to my songwriting.  Everything is going well in terms of progressing.  I have learned to look at it as taking small steps in order to make some essential progress towards making something happen. I will  say that my writing and recording has been on the back  burner at the moment- I am still looking for a job....but I will say in the mist of all this uncertainty, I am learning to reprioritize things in my life.  I hope everyone is well!

Trying to make a Decision

I come from a very musical family that encouraged me to sing and play instruments.  I was in the choir in high school and played piano, violin and flute.  When I was in high school, I started to write some songs after a teacher thought I could write.  So I decided to take a chance and have one of my songs critiqued.  The feedback was good since it was one of my better songs but I wonder how my other songs would hold up.  I know it is a long shot and it seems to be one of those things that happen to other people... but I promised myself this year that I would give this a real try and put in a REAL effort.  I have people that believe in me but it is also frustrating when any momentum you had going forward is cut down.  I have tried to contact pr firms, different music labels and artists for some advice in trying to strengthen and develop my career.  Some of you may laugh at me... and that is fine, I understand.  However, I don't want to look back at this and say that I never gave it a REAL shot and regret it. I will try to take a break from it and come back with a fresh perspective. 

Making Some Progress!!

Hello Everyone-

I am getting some feedback in regards to my music on myspace.  For the most part, it is good feedback.  I would like to make it clear that I am only testing out how my voice sounds and how the lyrics hold up in those segments.  I do plan on adding the full tracks up there with music sometime in the future.  I just wanted to see if there would be an audience out there and know if I had a good voice.  I appreciate the feedback and look forward to hearing more.  Overall, it is giving me some ideas on how to improve and work on. 

Making Some Process

I have made many New Year's Resolutions this year and one of them is to make some progress in regards to my music career.  I joined songwriting forums and am getting some feedback in regards to my voice and writing.  It is nice to see the amount of plays go up and get some exposure so that I can grow.  I hope that the music is good and I know that I will continue to improve.  I know that I am taking the first steps in making the most of this opportunity.  Hope everyone is well!!

A New Year 2010!!

I hope that everyone enjoyed the holidays!! They always seem to go by soo fast!! Anyway, I have put up some new songs onto the myspace page for you to listen to.  Hope that everyone will have a great New Year!! As for me, I am going to try to be a healther and happier person! I don't want to have any more regrets about things and I hope that by this time next year I can look back on where I was and be able to say I have come a long way! Thank you for taking the time to read or visit this blog or my page I appreciate it.  I just hope that my music is progressing and that someone can let me know how I am doing....It would be great to get some feedback!