HOPE

HOPE Hope is the Thing with Feathers by Emily Dickinson "Hope" is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul And sings the tune without the words And never stops at all, And sweetest in the gale is heard; And sore must be the storm That could abash the little bird That kept so many warm. I've heard it in the chillest land And on the strangest sea, Yet never, in extremity, It asked a crumb of me. INDIA ARIE ~ THERE'S HOPE JACK JOHNSON ~ HOPE DO YOU STILL HAVE HOPE?

LETTING GO

Letting Go Author Unknown To let go doesn't mean to stop caring; It means I can't do it for someone else. To let go is not to cut myself off... It's the realization that I can't control another... To let go is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences. To let go is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands. To let go is not to try and change or blame another, I can only change myself. To let go is not to care for, but to care about. To let go is not to fix, but to be supportive. To let go is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being. To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own outcomes. To let go is not to be protective, It is to permit another to face reality. To let go is not to deny, but to accept. To let go is not to nag, scold, or argue, but to search out my own shortcomings and correct them. To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes and cherish the moment. To let go is not to criticize and regulate anyone, but to try to become what I dream I can be. To let go is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future. To let go is to fear less and love more.

WITHIN TEMPTATION

"Within Temptation is a symphonic metal band from The Netherlands, consisting of Sharon den Adel (vocals), Robert Westerholt (guitar), Jeroen van Veen (bass), Stephen van Haestregt (drums), Martijn Spierenburg (keyboard) and Ruud Jolie (guitar). Within Temptation started back in 1996 and released their first demo called Enter. The demo was followed by an album that was also named Enter, this album was quickly followed by The Dance in 1998. Angels Their final breakthrough was Mother Earth in 2000. After the somewhat failed Our Farewell single, they broke the Dutch charts at number 2 with Ice Queen. Mother Earth In 2004 they released the album The Silent Force, with which they continued their shift from the darker feel of Mother Earth to a more general accesible form. Their first single from this album Stand My Ground was an instant success, which was followed by Memories and Angels. Stand My Ground In December 2005 Sharon and Robert's first child Eva Luna was born. Within Temptation planned to release a new album in August 2006. They didn't get that, so it'll last a little longer. At the Huntenpop 2006 festival and M'era Luna 2006 they played a new song: The Howlin. Running Up That Hill Within Temptation and especially Sharon Den Adel are also famous because of various duets, counting ensembles with After Forever, Nightwish, Evanescence and many others not only in the Netherland's zone but worldwide." Memories Source: http://www.last.fm/music/Within+Temptation/+wiki

KEEP WALKING

Keep Walking... Barbara Aldrich Here we stand together, Dressed in our pain, Covered with scars From wounds we did not ask for or deserve. So what now? We can't go back and relive our lives. We can't take back the innocence we lost Or make the sadness we felt into happiness. But we can go on from here, So let us start. Stretch out your hand to mine, Close your eyes And slowly let the pain slip away. Let go of the sadness; It belongs to yesterday, And let's walk. The earth is firm beneath our feet. The sun is warm on our face. The Creator sees our struggle, Smiles at our effort, And sends us strength. My friends, we can't stay, looking back, Lest we falter. We must face forward, Eyes wide open, And keep on walking. Hold tight and don't let go; You aren't walking alone, And neither am I.

SHANE YELLOWBIRD

CBC Interview Shane Yellowbird’s debut album, “Life is Calling My Name”, may have just arrived in stores in November 2006, but the handsome young country singer is already creating a stir. On a recent trip to Vancouver a flight attendant recognized Yellowbird from his music video and announced to her fellow passengers a celebrity was onboard. Though unaccustomed to the attention, the shy Yellowbird obliged his fans with autographs. In just a few short years, Yellowbird has gone from quietly pursuing a fine arts degree at Red Deer College to a budding country music star, with a hot selling record, major awards and nominations, and two Top 10 radio hits and videos to his credit. Growing up in Hobbema, AB, Yellowbird, who is Cree, was a typical cowboy. His parents participated in the rodeo circuit and their son learned early on to rope and ride, fully embracing the cowboy lifestyle and accepting that it would one day be his future. A strange twist of circumstances, however, put Yellowbird on the country music path. Born with a severe stuttering problem, he began seeing a speech therapist who suggested that he sing his sentences to help him speak clearly. The technique proved successful and also instilled a budding love of music in Yellowbird. After entering several singing contests and winning, it seemed life was calling the young cowboy to fulfill another dream, that of a country music artist. Pickup Truck Spotted by O’Reilly International, Yellowbird signed on with the management company who had directed the successful careers of Brad Johner and Patricia Conroy. “We knew Shane could sing and song write. But when we talked to him about his speech impediment and realized what he had overcome to get this far, we knew he had the drive and determination you need in this industry,” says Louis O’Reilly president of the company. “Life is Calling My Name” features radio-friendly tracks in the traditions of George Strait or Garth Brooks and showcases Yellowbird’s amazing voice. Yellowbird chose each track on his album much as he does everything in life – with thoughtful care. “There’s no break up songs or unhappy songs,” Yellowbird says. “The whole album is positive. It’s about having fun, being in love. I wanted the first album to be positive.” Close to his heart, the album’s title track “Life is Calling My Name” talks about the freedom to just be oneself. “This song really hits home for me,” explains Yellowbird. “Life is before you, leave your problems behind.” He adds, artists like Mel Tillis – known for his noticeable stutter – serve as a role model. “(Tillis’ stutter) was part of who he was,” says Yellowbird. “And people liked that about him. It made him unique and didn’t stop him from having a successful music career.” Yellowbird hopes to inspire others to pursue their dreams. Wherever you come from, whatever obstacles you face, your dreams can come true – something Yellowbird knows firsthand. Yellowbird is proud of his country roots and still breaks horses and competes in calf-roping whenever he can. But given the exceptional early fan response to his songs, Yellowbird’s future seems destined to deliver more outstanding country music. Source: http://www.shaneyellowbird.com/bio.cfm Aboriginal Choice Awards 2007

I'M STILL HERE

I'M STILL HERE John Rzeznik I am a question to the world Not an answer to be heard Or a moment That's held in your arms And what do you think you'd ever say? I won't listen anyway You don't know me And I'll never be what you want me to be And what do you think you'd understand? I'm a boy, no, I'm a man You can't take me And throw me away And how can you learn what's never shown? Yeah, you stand here on your own They don't know me Cause I'm not here And I want a moment to be real Wanna touch things I don't feel Wanna hold on and feel I belong And how can the world want me to change? They're the ones that stay the same They don't know me Cause I'm not here And you see the things they never see All you wanted I could be Now you know me And I'm not afraid And I want to tell you who I am Can you help me be a man? They can't break me As long as I know who I am 'Cause I want a moment to be real Wanna touch things I don't feel Wanna hold on and feel I belong And how can the world want me to change? They're the ones that stay the same They can't see me But I'm still here They can't tell me who to be Cause I'm not what they see Yeah, the world is still sleepin while I keep on dreaming for me And their words are just whispers and lies that I'll never believe And I want a moment to be real Wanna touch things I don't feel Wanna hold on and feel I belong And how can they say I never change? They're the ones that stay the same I'm the one now Cause I'm still here I'm the one Cause I'm still here I'm still here I'm still here I'm still here

TO BELIEVE

To Believe... Author Unknown To believe is to know that every day is a new beginning. It is to trust that miracles happen, and dreams really do come true. To believe is to see angels dancing among the clouds, To know the wonder of a stardust sky and the wisdom of the man in the moon. To believe is to know the value of a nurturing heart, The innocence of a child's eyes And the beauty of an aging hand, for it is through their teachings we learn to love. To believe is to find the strength and courage that lies within us. When it is time to pick up the pieces and begin again. To believe is to know we are not alone, That life is a gift and this is our time to cherish it. To believe is to know that wonderful surprises are just waiting to happen, And all our hopes and dreams are within reach. If only we believe.

JOHNNY REID

LOVE SWEET LOVE "If Johnny Reid’s music defies easy definition it’s because the stories he tells have more than their fair share of miles on them. From Scotland, to Canada, to Nashville, the ground he’s covered lends a depth of soul to his songs that sets them apart. Driven by his love of music and family, Kicking Stones showcases Reid’s no nonsense country sensibilities, mining the same deep well of personality and charm that made his award winning debut, Born to Roll, a breakout success. It’s a far more personal record, says the Scottish born, Canadian bred, singer/songwriter. “I just want people to know I do this because I love to write and sing, and above everything, to take care of the people I love.” Recorded in Blue Room Studios with acclaimed Nashville producer and 5 time Grammy winner, Brent Maher (The Judds, Shelby Lynne, Kenny Rogers, Carl Perkins, Bobby Darin, Dottie West, Ike & Tina among others), Kicking Stones showcases Reid’s ample talent for putting his feelings of love, gratitude and hope down in words the rest of us can sing along with as if they were our very own. KICKING STONES Kicking Stones steps away from Born to Roll some, balancing a live ‘off the floor’ immediacy against a backdrop of rich horn arrangements and lush orchestration. “Part of the job is that you’re constantly searching, right?" Going with an R n B/Country soul feel brought him closer to who he really is, he says. “It’s not about the beginning or the end; it’s the moments in between.” Those moments are celebrated widely on Kicking Stones. They’re the ones we all share, but few give voice to with as much compelling honesty as Johnny Reid. On ‘Thank You’ that honesty is riveting. One of most personal tracks on the record, it began as a few words penned as a Valentine’s wish to his wife. Without ever losing the quiet intimacy of a love letter, in the studio it grew into a sparsely orchestrated, but powerful ballad - a universal thank you to the places and people that allowed him to grow as a person and an artist along the way. THANK YOU Where Born to Roll dwelled heavily on the road, Kicking Stones home is Reid’s heart. From the unabashed optimism of the lead single, ‘Love Sweet Love’, to the more introspective sentiments of ‘Feelin’ All Right Today’ and ‘That Kind Of Lonely’, Reid lays bare his soul, answering the question posed by the first song written for the record, Which Way Is Home. During the whirlwind of touring with some of Country’s biggest stars (Dwight Yoakam, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Brad Paisley and Terri Clark) the way may have been hidden at times, but the destination was always clear. “The thing you want to do with your second record is show people you’re growing.” The energy brought to the sessions by recording live with Mark Knopfler’s touring band helps Reid do just that. Co-writing with Maher, and others, also strengthened Johnny’s ability to write songs the rest of us can easily slip into and see our own lives in. But above all, the band, the sessions, and the sound made Johnny feel like he was getting back to himself. It may help listener’s do the same. The songs and stories on Kicking Stones cover a lot of ground: from Glasgow, to Canada, to Nashville, but they’re rooted in very familiar places. Some hopeful, some painful, but all well loved and lived in enough to take us back to similar hidden places in our own memories. MISSING AN ANGEL Nowhere is that more true than on the album’s title track, the final and perhaps most personal cut on the record. Reid’s voice soars above mournful pipes and classic soul B3’s, revisiting Glasgow and summing up the everyday tradeoff between good times and bad. “It’s a song about growing up in Scotland, about memories and hope.” Drawing on the musical traditions of two continents, it’s rooted in the experiences of everyday working people, regardless of where they call home, or how far they get from it. A reminder of how hope and glory, faith, love, and loss tie our lives together with the lives of the people we love. Interest grew in Johnny’s unique voice over the life of his debut record as songs from Born To Roll hit the top twenty repeatedly. ‘Missing an Angel’ took the #1 spot on CMT’s Chevy top twenty. Johnny also garnered nominations for 5 2006 CCMA awards and took three, including Single Of The Year and Rising Star Of The Year. When Kicking Stones drops on April 10th fans new and old will have get to hear and see why, all over again." Source: http://www.maplemusic.com/artists/jnr/bio.asp DARLIN'

DAFFODILS

Daffodils by William Wordsworth I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced, but they Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee; A poet could not be but gay, In such a jocund company! I gazed—and gazed—but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.