Hold On (Solo Piano)

Musicians all over the world are posting live perfromances in their living rooms. I've joined the intimate concert party. However, these are still videos, which still kill the video star. As I always say, music sounds better with your eyes closed. This is a prime example of that. (Read: "Don't look at my butt!")

This is "Hold On", a song from the album of the same name. A version of the orginal recording is on YouTube also.

The Hold On album was recorded mostly in North Carolina in 2003, and a little bit in NYC.  My friend Eric told me it was his favorite track on the album. Could be cuzza the stripped-down arrangement, or the bare emotions. I don't remember, but it may be how I named the album.

Hold On
Words and music by Billy Dechand
© 2003 Bucktooth Music (ASCAP)

Hold on
Find another day to cry
Hold on
We need this time

No, don’t deny your feelings
More so, hold them close

Hold my hand
I need you here to keep me bold and strong
So I can keep what I hold dear

Chords: C GM7 (3x), Am D C D Am D G

The studio album is available at:

• CD Baby (recommended)
• Spotify
• Amazon Music
• Google Music
• Others

Since so much of the world is on lockdown now, musicians with no gigs are also hoping to get paid for their work somehow. Buying the album is the best way to show support. Also, I have set up a Tip Jar, should you feel inclined.

If you still want more, here's a live version from the 2003 CD Release Party:

PayPal

Hi, I just created a nice simple way for you to pay me, yet another independent musician out on his ass cuzza the plague. I now have an easy link, paypal.me/billydechand.
Ready when you are! Thanks.

The Best of Times

So there's this pandemic you may have heard of, COVID-19, a.k.a. Coronavirus. Well, it has people locking themselves inside their houses. Sure, it's a good thing that we're doing it, but we're all a little sad and lonely. This song just kept bouncing around in my head until I had to get it out.

Is it a melancholy song of hope, or a make-out song for the apocalypse? You decide.

Written by keyboardist Dennis DeYoung for Styx's elaborately produced Paradise Theatre album, "The Best of Times" was a huge power ballad of 1981, up there with Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Open Arms". (The latter is mostly forgotten now, but was equally unavoidable then. "Open Arms" was more of a ballad than DSB, which is more of a rock song. Either way, ugh!) Another huge power ballad that year was REO Speedwagon's "Keep On Lovin' You". (A total make-out song: "I don't wanna sleep, I just wanna keep...") Lots of apostrophes that year. Droppin' G's is cool.

Somewhat cooler mega-hits of 1981 were the Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up" and Joan Jett's "I Love Rock & Roll".

I've posted two versions of my stripped-down acoustic version of this song. Take 6 is straight, but take 8 (above) has my dog goofing me up at the end. I chose this one, cuz the world is a better place with her infinite cuteness.

Billy's Books 34: Star Wars: Aftermath: Life Debt

Billy reviews Star Wars: Aftermath: Life Debt by Chuck Wendig. It's the second of three in the Aftermath trilogy. The main story is Han and Chewie have gone missing, and our heroes are sent out by Leia to find them. Plus many subplots!




* For those of you watching this much later, this was recorded on St. Patrick's Day 2020, in the midst of the Coronovirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Hence the cervesa reference. The enrire world was shut down for fear of spreading the plague. It was scary, and made quite a bummer of a St. Patty's Day.

Billy's Books 33: Star Wars: Aftermath

Billy reviews Star Wars: Aftermath by Chuck Wendig, published in September of 2015.

This is set soon after Episode 6, or after the Battle of Endor, where the second Death Star was destroyed. That kind of broke the Empire's back, what with the apprent deaths of Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader, and some serious military smarkdown. But they haven't given up! The remnants of the Empire have a secret metting that Wedge Antilles stumbles upon during a routine scouting mission. And trouble ensues!

There are SPOILERS, in the sense that some -- but not all -- of the plot is shared. I don't give away any endings, just scenarios.

Billy's Books 32: Abbey Road (Super Deluxe)

Billy reviews the remix of The Beatles' Abbey Road (Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition). It was released in 2019, on the 50th anniversary of its 1969 release.



I don't claim to be a drummer, and don't look at my grubby shirt. Darn HD video!

P.S. Ya know how I said the books for the regular CD and the deluxe CD are the same? Then how I go right on to talk about "Old Brown Shoe" and "Ballad of John and Yoko"? Guess which two songs are not mentioned in the regular CD booklet! Classic Billy.