My Favourite Things

And now for something completely different....

So i've decided to post some covers. For those of you who are a tad bafoozled by what a 'cover' is, it's typically a song that the performer didn't write. I used to lift my nose up to the idea of playing these so called 'covers'. When you're a dude who plays the guitar and sings, people tend to make requests for songs that they are familiar with. When i only knew how to play Silverchair and Nirvana my sister's best friend incessantly requested 'Stairway to Heaven', which was something I'd never heard of nor had any interest in at the age of 13.

Years later in Brazil I'd hear an endless list of requests for songs by Pinky Floydge (=Pink Floyd), Hedgie Hotchie Shily Peppers (=Red Hot Chili Peppers) and You Choo (U2) etc etc. I think most songwriters, like myself, grow a wee bit resentful of these incessant requests. we'd definitely prefer to play the songs that we'd written. Every once in a while, though, someone truly wins over our hearts asking if we can play one of your own songs.

I guess I'm not as resentful anymore and have taken a new approach to playing covers. There are some songs that I've developed so far that I sometimes forget that I haven't written them.

My first cover is of the song "my favourite things" from the Sound of Music. I came upon this little ditty last winter when Music BC or Heavy D's pop corn was sending out requests for christmas songs. I believe the idea was to do a compilation of christmas songs done by BC artists and the Painted Birds were looking to submit a song. I was kind of stumped for what we should do until one day I noticed all the winter imagery in 'my favourite things'. I also really liked the possibility of swinging the tune a bit, perhaps subconciously inspired by the late great Mr. John Coltrane. I quickly rewrote some of the lyrics to make the song officially christmasy and found a nifty little guitar part to go under it, but alas, the Birds didn't have the motivation or funding to get into the studio quickly enough.

I hung on to it as i'd always liked it and have posted a video of it hear for you. Enjoy



Lyrics (slightly altered)

My favourite things

raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
wrap all my presents with ribbon and or string
these are a few of my favourite things

girls in red dresses with mistletoe sashes
snowflakes that stay in my nose and eye lashes
silver white winters that melt into spring
these are a few of my favourite things

When the dog bites when the bee stings
When you're feeling sad
When tomorrow
Seems to borrow
All of yesterday's fads

I simply remember my favourite things
And then i don't feel so bad
So bad