Recently, I was going through some of my song files. I was in the process of choosing 3 songs to send out for an upcoming pitch-to-publisher meeting that will be hosted on-line in a couple of weeks from now. As I pushed “play” for the 1st one, then the 2nd, and the next, it hit me all of a sudden. As I listened thru to my UNCHARTED WATERS comin’ out of the desk speakers I’m thinkin’, “Man, this is a great song!” Now before you jump on me for bein’ a self-righteous, fat-headed, pride-filled tunesmith, bear with me here for a few seconds. While I’m as capable, and probably more so than the next guy of exhibiting the afore mentioned character flaws, you’ll just have to trust me when I say that wasn’t what was goin’ on at all.
You have to understand that as the beautiful, yet deceptively simple sounding guitar work hit my ears, I knew that it was coming off of the hands of Nashville studio musician Mike Waldron. Mike has played for among others, Martina McBride and Tanya Tucker, and was Lee Ann Womack’s band leader for several years. I also knew that the voice and production on my song had been done by Dave Demay at his Song City Studio in Nashville. If you’re old enough (Just messin’ with Dave a little 😉 He’s younger than me), you could have seen him on TV, on stage accepting the grand prize from Ed McMahon on the vocal competition show they called Star Search. That’s right! Dave took the whole enchilada one season! So, back to this song I’m listenin’ to comin’ out of my speakers-
I kinda lose track of things momentarily and say to myself, “Self, this is a really solid soundin’ song! Where have I heard this thing before? Some big film? Maybe runnin’ as the story line was introduced? Or maybe underneath at the end as the credits were rollin’? Was it maybe on stage somewhere years ago, bein’ sung by some iconic folk artist?” Right about then it hits me, “Dude, this is your song! You (I) wrote this thing not even 3 years ago yet!” (Well, the original idea for the title was my sweet Susan’s, and she correctly gets an equal writer’s share. 😉 We’ll save that part of the story for another post sometime…)
As I write this, I have already sent UNCHARTED WATERS off to pro writer Brent Baxter and his Songwriting Pro group in the hope of getting the song into the pitch meeting. Among others, Brent co-wrote Alan Jackson’s MONDAY MORNING CHURCH. Brent’s just another example of a hard-workin’ family guy sluggin’ it out in the music business. In addition to this shot with Brent, I’m honored to already have UNCHARTED in the catalog of Nancy Peacock and her Washington Street Publishing/Nashville. I was privileged to get to sit down with Miss Nancy in person 5 1/2 years ago and talk music. She’s a peach! With this additional pitch attempt on the song this little “nobody” writer is simply tryin’ to do his (my) part and cast that “wide net” that I’m always hearin’ about!
All this to say, yes, I am proud of the songs I’m puttin’ out there! And yes, I would like to find some big project to get UNCHARTED WATERS homesteaded into, but that result far exceeds my pay grade. And that leaves me with the best part of this whole crazy songwriting thing I’m tryin’ to do, it’s the people. The people I’m gettin’ to know and call friends because of the songs I write. People like Nancy, Brent, Dave, and Mike.
Click and listen to-http://www.reverbnation.com/open_graph/song/31764818
UNCHARTED WATERS Written by Susan & Brad Yunek
