A Little Fresh Air 'n Exercise!

This is a track from the Many Shades of Blue Album and is a tongue-in-cheek stab at the "get fit" campaigns which bombards us daily.

I have a real issue with a society that tells its young women [and men!] that they can only be happy, accepted, loved, if they fit the standard mold -that is, beautiful, thin [or muscular if you're male]. Is it any wonder that we've raised generations of young people who are obsessed with image, crippled by neuroses because they're "different"?! Surely there's something bizarre about a culture that celebrates an industry solely focused on surgical and medical procedures which change a persons appearance? Supported by spin-off industries which market their products to convince people that how they look is unacceptable.

The reality is that every single one of us on this earth is absolute unique. Each one of us is our own unique size, shape, colouring. And until we as humans can celebrate that uniqueness, find joy in the 'different', get past the external facade to recognise the divine inspiration of our individuality, we will never find the inner peace that comes with acceptance.

So this song was my way of standing up and saying that I am loved....I have been loved...and I will be loved...by wonderful men who care little about my external paintwork and everything about my internal landscape.

I took a comedic approach and the story in a nutshell is this......
"the tv tells us that Aussies are too fat, the doctor says trim down with a little fresh air and exercise, my gym gear turns my hubby on! and his idea of exercise is of the bedroom type! He's even got an answer for the fresh air and a solution for a smaller dress size"

It's a fun song to sing along with and if you'd like a FREE COPY just email me and ask - I'll happily send you a free MP3 via email.

The Patchwork of Life

One of my favourite songs on the "Borderless" CD is "PATCHES".

It weaves a pattern of the skills and knowledge that women pass on to their children, down through the generations. As with many of my songs, the lyrics that you see aren't always as simple as you read on the surface.

For example, these lines:

the patching of hearts the mending of minds
the soothing of bruising and words so unkind
the darning on spirits the stitching on souls
it's the patchwork of life as a family evolves

...speak of more than just the craft of patchwork. It seemed to me that different families have different ways of dealing with problems, different ways of communicating, different ways of expressing love. And these behaviour patterns seem to be repeated from generation to generation. Sometimes they work. Often they don't.

But if we want to change our world, it's a whole lot easier to do it one step, one individual at a time. And the best place to start is with our own family. After all, if we can't get it right in our own family, what hope do we have in the family of mankind? So maybe it means changing the way we communicate with our children, being open and honest with them, expressing respect and expecting it in return, forgiving and loving unconditionally. They're pretty good qualities to be passing on to future generations.

............................

Patches is best described as 'celtic jazz' with haunting celtic melody. The "Borderless" CD is part of the Borderless Project - a performance/workshop which explores the early settlement of Australia from a woman's perspective. It is delivered in narrative, song, bush poetry, anecdotes et al. The CD has an accompanying booklet with excerpts from the workshop.

BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION

Hi There,
this is my first blog ...the first of many I anticipate....and I hope you'll like what you hear and swing by again, soon.

I'm passionate about Life in general and about Music in particular. I'm passionate to write music...passionate to play/perform music...and passionate to support live music because I have a passionate fear that live music may just die out and be replaced by the canned variety.

now wouldn't that be just tragic?!

because music is such an integral part of our life. It's there when we're being christened - or welcomed into the world. It's there when we get married. It's there when we're getting buried - or farewell ed out of this world! And along the way, it's there when we have a party to celebrate anything in our life, when we go to praise our god, when we go out to party or simply socialise. It's there to make any event, any celebration, any function ...be....better.

and it DOES. Why? because music touches us emotionally, it stirs memories, it uplifts our spirit, it inspires and motivates us, and simply creates joy within us.

for those of us who have been blessed with the gift of being able to make and share music with others, there is a responsibility attached. For those with different gifts, your responsibility is to appreciate and value the gift of music.

because without music in our lives, the world would be very grey. And without musicians to make that music, our world would be impoverished. And without the writers and composers to make new music, our world would become very stale.

May I encourage YOU to become newly aware of the role music plays, and has played, in your life ....and find a new appreciation of this blessed gift.

Let me invite you to listen to my music on http:/www.maureen.com.au or www.myspace.com/mymaureenobrien ... if there's a particular song you like, please let me know. In coming blogs I'll be sharing some lyrics and the inspiration behind my songs

In the meantime, live Luminously.....with passion!