Awake by Josh Groban

Captain’s Log, Supplemental

ChristianFictionQueen generously gave me her extra copy of this CD to listen to. I’ve listened to it a few times now, so that I can give an honest opinion of it.

The songs in Italian or Spanish or whatever language he’s singing in are absolutely beautiful. The first song, “Mai,” is gorgeous. Of course, I have no idea what the songs are about, but they’re pretty.

The songs in English are nice musically but I have even less idea what the songs are about. That’s why I had to listen to this CD a few times. I still have no idea what some of the songs mean. I think I’ve given up trying to figure it out.

Am I just a music Neanderthal or something? I’ve listened to “February Song” a dozen times and I have no idea what it’s about. The music is beautiful, but the words stump me. The other songs are sweet, but I listen to the lyrics and go, “Whaaaaaaaat?” I get only a fuzzy idea what he’s singing about.

I didn’t like the last song at all. It’s this retro funk 80’s sound that doesn’t appeal to me.

Overall, I’d give this CD a 3.5 out of 5. Not that I’m a music connoisseur, but since I’m a writer, the English lyrics kind of killed those songs for me since they’re just vague and make very little sense to me. I imported the CD into my iTunes, and I only play the non-English songs when I play the album.

Comments

Unknown said…

Hey Camy,
I agree with you...I think about a 3.5 is a goood rating for this CD. It is SO not his best work. I like "February Song" -- I think that's the best English cut (I heard a rumor online that it was about his breakup with former girlfriend, actress January Jones). And the last song is HORRIBLE. His own writing is a real hit or miss deal. The foreign language cuts are the strongest...probably the most enjoyable 'cause I don't know what he's saying, LOL!!!
Ruth
http://www.xanga.com/christianfictionqueen

Wed May 09, 04:50:00 AM 2007

Winter Peck said…

His older stuff is much better, and the English lyrics make more sense. But the best thing about the songs for me, I don't pay attention to them and sing along when I'm writing. Guess that's why I have a lot of instrumental stuff to use when I need music as I write, and the songs with lyrics are used during revisions or when I'm really into my writing and oblivious.

Am I weird or what?! LOL!

Wed May 09, 10:35:00 AM 2007

Anonymous said…

Okay, I'm an admitted Joshaholic. My dad, sis and I even went to see him in concert this past February. I love his voice and his look. He has a poet's soul that comes out in his lyrics.

But "Awake" was not my fave album. I do have some fave songs on it, but I would rank it 3rd of his 3 releases.

"February Song", however, speaks to me because it makes me think of what depression feels like. February is that month that's not the end of winter yet and there's no hope of Spring. Josh sings about colors fading into shades of gray and he wonders how did he slip into this life. Oh yeah. Been there. Depression isn't something that happens in one day. It's not a disappearing act, here one day gone the next. It's a gradual slipping away until you look around at your life and wonder how you got there. This song describes that so well. But he does offer hope: he'll be back one day.

So yeah, I like this song. Like I said, it speaks to me.

Thu May 10, 12:25:00 PM 2007

Tina M. Russo said…

I agree. I love Josh, but his earlier CDs are better and his in concert DVD is excellent. I'm also a Michael Buble fan and if you go to my myspace site there is a youtube video of Josh Groban surprising Michael at one of his concerts.

Tina
http://www.myspace.com/tinamrusso

Sat May 12, 04:27:00 PM 2007

Unknown said…

Hi Camy,
I've discovered a new artist you might like -- Daniel Kirkley. His debut LET LOVE WIN releases 5/22 but you can hear samples on his website (www.danielkirkley.com) or his MySpace page (www.myspace.com/danielkirkley). He is VERY Josh Groban-esque a little more on the "pop" side...but fantastic range. The whole CD's terrific...it was produced by Mark Hammond who worked with Josh on his CLOSER CD (the track "When You Say You Love Me" -- one of my favorites!). I just wanted to share!

Ruth
www.xanga.com/christianfictionqueen

Fri May 18, 01:23:00 PM 2007

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures...

Tabi socks, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.25.2008 (If you're on Ravelry, friend me! I'm camytang.) I made tabi socks again! (At the bottom of the pattern is the calculation for the toe split if you're not using the same weight yarn that I did for this pattern (fingering). I also give an example from when I used worsted weight yarn with this pattern.) I used Opal yarn, Petticoat colorway. It’s a finer yarn than my last pair of tabi socks, so I altered the pattern a bit. Okay, so here’s my first foray into giving a knitting pattern. Camy’s top-down Tabi Socks I’m assuming you already know the basics of knitting socks. If you’re a beginner, here are some great tutorials: Socks 101 How to Knit Socks The Sock Knitter’s Companion A video of turning the heel Sock Knitting Tips Yarn: I have used both fingering weight and worsted weight yarn with this pattern. You just change the number of cast on stitches according to your gauge and the circumference of your ankle. Th...

Toilet seat cover

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Update August 2008: I wrote up the pattern for this with "improvements"! Here's the link to my No Cold Bums toilet seat cover ! Okay, remember a few days ago I was complaining about the cold toilet seat in my bathroom? Well, I decided to knit a seat cover. Not a lid cover, but a seat cover. I went online and couldn’t find anything for the seat, just one pattern for the lid by Feminitz.com . However, I took her pattern for the inside edge of the lid cover and modified it to make a seat cover. Here it is! It’s really ugly stitch-wise because originally I made it too small and had to extend it a couple inches on each side. I figured I’d be the one staring at it, so who cared if the extension wasn’t perfectly invisible? I used acrylic yarn since, well, that’s what I had, and also because it’s easy to wash. I’ll probably have to wash this cover every week or so, but it’s easy to take off—I made ties which you can see near the back of the seat. And...

Chinese Take-Out and Sushi for One

Captain’s Log, Supplemental My agent sent me an article from Publisher’s Weekly that discussed this incident: Chinese Take-Out Spawns Christian Controversy And here’s also a blog post that talks about it in more detail: The Fighting 44s This is Soong-Chan Rah’s blog: The PCS blog In sum: Apparently Zondervan (yes, my publisher), who has partnered with Youth Specialties, had put out a youth leaders skit that had stereotypical Asian dialogue, which offended many Christian Asian Americans. In response to the outcry, Zondervan/Youth Specialities put out a sincere apology and is not only freezing the remaining stock of the book, but also reprinting it and replacing the copies people have already bought. I am very proud of my publisher for how they have handled this situation. The skit writers have also issued a public apology . (I feel sorry for them, because they were only trying to write a funny skit, not stir up this maelstrom of internet controversy. I’ve been in youth work long enou...

Brainstorm - character occupation

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.23.2009 Hey guys, I could use some help. In my current manuscript, The Year of the Dog , which is a humorous contemporary romance, I have a minor character, Eddie. He’s my heroine’s ex-boyfriend, and they’re on good terms with each other. He’s a bit irresponsible, but not so much so that he’s a complete loser. He’s got a very easy going attitude, he forgets to pay his bills sometimes, he’s friendly and charming. He’s adventurous and fun to be around, but he’s a little forgetful sometimes, and he tends to spend a little outside his income. I need an occupation for him. What would a charming, easy going, slightly irresponsible guy do for a living? He’s not too irresponsible, because otherwise readers will wonder what in the world my heroine saw in him to date him in the first place. She was attracted to his charm, his easy going attitude (her family’s uptight, and he was a nice contrast), and his adventurousness. But his forgetfulness and irresponsibility ...

Free Christian Romantic Suspense Novels by Camy Tang / Camille Elliot

Curious about what my writing is like? Here’s a list of all my free books and the free short stories, novellas, and novels that you can read here on my blog. I’ll update this post as I add more free reads. Christian Romantic Suspense: Necessary Proof (Sonoma series #4.1, novella) Click here to buy the FREE ebook on all retailers Alex Villa became a Christian in prison, and because of his efforts to help stop a gang producing meth in Sonoma, he has been set up for the death of a cop. Can computer expert Jane Lawton find the evidence that will prove his innocence before the gang eliminates them both? Fantasy short stories: Pixies in a Garden in Kyoto There were pixies in the garden. Since she was in Kyoto, she was certain they were not called pixies, but she didn't know what they would be called in Japanese, and they certainly looked like what she imagined pixies would look like. The King’s Daughter The trees in the King's garden were full of colored pixie lights. The...

Grace Livingston Hill romances free to read online

I wanted to update my old post on Grace Livingston Hill romances because now there are tons more options for you to be able to read her books for free online! I’m a huge Grace Livingston Hill fan. Granted, not all her books resonate with me, but there are a few that I absolutely love, like The Enchanted Barn and Crimson Roses . And the best part is that she wrote over 100 books and I haven’t yet read them all! When I have time, I like to dive into a new GLH novel. I like the fact that most of them are romances, and I especially appreciate that they all have strong Christian themes. Occasionally the Christian content is a little heavy-handed for my taste, but it’s so interesting to see what the Christian faith was like in the early part of the 20th century. These books are often Cinderella-type stories or A Little Princess (Frances Hodgson Burnett) type stories, which I love. And the best part is that they’re all set in the early 1900s, so the time period is absolutely fasci...

I sold to Steeple Hill!

Captain's Log, Supplemental Remember that romantic suspense proposal I blogged about earlier? Well, it just sold to Steeple Hill’s Love Inspired Suspense line! I am so jazzed! I am beyond jazzed! The story’s working title is Sinister Spa The story's title is Deadly Intent and here’s a blurb (but it’s probably not what will appear on the back of the book): Massage therapist Naomi Grant could use a massage herself. With her father at home recovering from a stroke, Naomi is put in charge of the family’s elite day spa in Sonoma county. The new responsibilities sit awkwardly on her shoulders, and things only get worse when handsome Dr. Devon Knightley breezes into the spa, demanding to see one of the female clients. And the woman is found dead in Naomi’s massage room. Suddenly, Naomi is a suspect and her family’s spa is shut down. How could God let this awful thing happen? Devon only needed to see his ex-wife about a family necklace she still hadn’t returned, but when she dies and...

Lady Wynwood #7 early release Kickstarter

I worked on my first Kickstarter and it got approved! It’s for the Special Edition Hardcover of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer and the release of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 7: Spinster. I contacted my graphic designer about the Special Edition Hardcover of vol. 1: Archer—it’s going to be SO beautiful! The Kickstarter focuses on the Special Edition Hardcover, but it’ll also include vol. 7: Spinster so that it’ll sort of be like a launch day for vol. 7, too. A third special thing that’ll be in the Kickstarter is Special Edition Paperbacks of all the books in the series. They won’t be available in stores, just in the Kickstarter (and later, from my website, and also in my Patreon book box tiers if I decide to do them). The Kickstarter is not live yet, but you can follow it to be alerted when it has launched. (You may need to create a free Kickstarter account.) Follow Camy’s Kickstarter

New book idea a la Captain Caffeine

Captain's Log, Stardate 04.14.2009 So my husband, Captain Caffeine, had lunch with a few friends a few days ago. And they asked about my writing, and if I’d been on Oprah yet. (Yeah, right) They then discussed NYT bestselling books, and why can’t Camy write a NYT bestseller. (Sure, let me just open a vein over a blank page and it’ll come right out.) So Captain Caffeine came home with ideas for my new NYT bestselling novel. First it starts with vampires, because Twilight is so hot. But not just any vampires. This one’s an Amish vampire. And he’s not just an Amish vampire, he’s a cop in disguise, infiltrating the Amish community to protect a witness. (Hmm, that storyline sounds familiar ...) But wait! There’s more! To add more conflict and stick with my brand of Asian fiction, we introduce the Tibetan monk! Who joins the Amish community to get away from the pressures of monkhood. But in reality, he’s protecting the Chinese princess on the run, trying to escape from her father’s Hong...

Search This Blog