Jimmy Bielkiewicz

“Today’s Songs”We know the songs that are released are aimed at the very young; the ones who will steal if from the internet and then bug mom and dad for a concert ticket plus $100.00 for a tee shirt “So I can be popular at school”.My 14 year old is unable to do simple math, and will not problem solve anything in life, all of that is someone else’s job. Even simple things like what do you want for dinner or what would you like to order? I am not kidding she will order whatever her mother orders at a restaurant!I have noticed the perfect rhyme has returned, everything is explained, and there is absolutely nothing to figure out, ever. It has been years since I had a discussion about lyrics asking another “What is that song about, what are they attempting to say?”So my Question is “Does the lyric matter any longer?” I know the lyric has to be there, but is it the melody that is making songs popular today? “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16” How many younglings actually know what any of those are?(if you sang it vs read it you made my point!)Or is all of this just a twist on what has always been?Awaiting you thoughtsJimmy

Mister OD,I really hope to see all of you out and about in July, please keep me updated on when and where ya'll will be. jbielkiewicz@hotmail.com. Jimmy

The Wall Did not Break, now what?What does a wan-a-be songwriter do after the musical Emergency Room Visit?“Shake off the where you came from dust!” For me it was support and learn, apply what I learned each night, into a song the next day, this gave me all new questions for that night out. Learn, Apply, and Repeat almost every night for a couple of years taught me that there is no magical answer. There is no book you can buy or coarse you can take to learn songwriting it’s a moving target. Someone like Marc can give you the tools and even the toolbox, however the way you choose to use, practice, and handle those tools is completely and totally what makes the quality of the art that comes out of you. Frankie Ballard’s first album received no traction at all, he changed the way he used his tools and the next 3 songs he released went to number 1.If you think you just can’t do it and should go back to your life before, it will never stop haunting you, trust me! “You Don’t Choose Music, Music Chooses You”Jimmy

Nashville, 6 major interstates into a brick wall of reality! I was just like MAB described, full of myself, knowledge that my songs were great, One song was all I needed, and Nashville had been waiting for me to get there.I had one difference though, I kept an open mind for learning and when I heard the very first song at Roosters B.B.Q. July 17, 2012 by Jason Gregory I wanted to go home and tear up everything I had written. Then as Alan and Alice played MAB ran in the door 10 minutes late, shook my hand took the stage, plugged in, tuned, announced me in the audience, and showed me, first hand, I was but a student. I saw 4 people on stage that night out perform every band I had ever seen live. I looked at my Melissa and asked “Why don’t these people have record deals?”That night Marc introduced us to the “New Crew”, these people we had just met felt like they had been friends for 10 years and the night ended with our new friends hugging us like we were family.So for anyone just reading, most all of the people in Nashville are your friend if you simply have the right attitude. For my own reasons I have not taken all the offers, however I have been invited to write with some very good writers here in town, simply because for the longest time no matter how empty the venues were, they could count on looking over the mic and seeing Mellissa and I supporting them.Jimmy

Someone told me Nashville is being invaded, and I need to get out of the house!Ya'll know anything about this?Jimmy

MAB and Phil,I wanted to answer both of you, however I just learned from a Facebook post my 16 year old son (who I just filed for custody of) may have 3 felonies and be incarcerated. Nice way to find out huh? I will write to you guys soonJimmy 

Marc,You asked for questions, sometimes I think I learned too much of the (business side) wrong stuff.When you’re the race dog and you’ve caught the rabbit, or the donkey and you’ve found there is no carrot on the stick, where do you find your motivation to work as hard as needed to be decent at writing and playing? My guess would be in the faces of your audience; however I have not been there. So if you don’t mind talking about yourself one more time, tell us what it is like when someone in front of you lights up to your creation.ThanksJimmy

Marc is absolutely right! Saying the same thing over and over every time there’s another show has gotten very old. I have a new idea here it goes.The lovely Melissa walked into Douglas Corner dragging her beast, we were late and Scott , Jon, and others were on the stage. Everyone seemed to sit up and notice with waves or head nods, we really need to get out more. We made it to the bar to receive hugs from Tina De Babe, we discussed the pen I am supposed to have made for her already. All of us then made our way to a table and watched the show.Amazing as always, however the twist was that after MAB and Jimbeau, another set took place. It was the new crew minus Alice. For Melissa and I it was an anniversary show as well (our three year) as MAB, Alice, Allen, and Jason were the very first group we every saw perform, at our first writers night ever, our first time out in Nashville.As Marc said it was a long show, very long. Since I have aged like fine milk, being able to sit in those Quality chairs for that long is a challenge in its own right.The Lung Assoc. addressed some facts that none of us knew, how nasty lung cancer is and how it is not discriminatory toward smokers alone. Many coming down with the disease have never smoked.It was an amazing show, all top writers, except for a quick contest between two young up and comers. I still think the girl should have won and the guy’s song should be in a children’s book!This concludes my report for now folks, tune in tonight at 6 for a story on how two squirrels made it from Arizona to Tennessee in a U–haul.Jimmy

Sorry MAB,I would have loved to have been there, I'm usualy in bed by 8pm as I get up for work at 3:30. Butter Babe and I are planing to come to Douglas tonight, weekends off! Phil, I have Court on the 4th that can take all day. Now as long as I'm not in Jail (still paying child support for 5 children when only 1 is eligible)  I work Mon - Friday 5 to 2  and like I said above I try to get to bed around 8pm. Saturday's I check in at the flea market where I sell my pens.My days of running all night, sleeping a few hours, and going again are long gone. I just can't think at work the next day if I lack sleep. With all that said lets see if you can stop by or I can come meet you around 3 one of the weekdays you are here.Jimmy

May the Phil be with us, LOL