Track by Track of For Your Entertainment

This is a track by track synopsis of the album...I'll give each song a grade on a scale of 1-10 and then the reasons why...then the overall grade.

1) Music Again 6/10
This song was written by The Darkness front man Justin Hawkins. Kinda silly lyric. "You make me wanna listen to music again". Hey, pop music is filled with stupid lyrics... In this case it sounds like Adam is harping every run and vocal trick that Justin did in the demo. However, the song sounds really good. And really Adam tones down the Broadway-ness that bothered me in his Idol run. I think this is a fun song. Thus 6/10. Not groundbreaking or revolutionary but fun. Entertaining.

2) For Your Entertainment 6.5/10
Interesting track...Dr. Luke and Claude Kelly. Sounds a bit like "I Kissed a Girl"...I really like the track a lot. Adam's voice is toned down and popped out, which is a good thing for pop music. The bridge has him doing some of his trademark squeels. Not my favorite thing, but impressive. As a pop hook, the song isn't that catchy or hooky. I'll be surprised if it's a big hit, but it could be simply off of the sound of the track alone. And his voice does sound good.

3) Whataya Want From Me 8.5/10
Pink donated this track. Sounds like a Pink song. Written with hitmaker Max Martin. This sounds really good. So far this is the highlight. I like the way the track sounds and the lyrics are typical Pink-type wanna be deep. And I mean that as a compliment...I actually enjoy Pink's writing a lot. Adam does some crazy vocal stuff at the end that kinda ruins it for me, but overall very strong. Nice song.

4) Strut 5/10
Written by Adam with Greg Wells (produced Katy Perry & One Republic) and Idol judge Kara DioGuardi. Um...what to say about this song. The track is kind of cool. Trying to be riffy rock, but the production and lyric takes it to this really poppy place that reeks of not rock. The lyric is beyond assinine. And I think I'm being kind with that assessment. The bridge is musically interesting...really the coolest part of the song. Then back to the wanna be riffy rock. Not a lot of good about this song. Pretty weak.

5) Soaked 9/10
Written by the lead singer of one of my favorite bands of all time: Muse's Matthew Bellamy. Really interesting Muse-ish intro. Adam's voice doesn't sound as cool as Matthew's...but then few do. He's trying hard to cop Matthew's vocals from the demo. This is the over the top retro pop/rock ballad that people are wanting from Adam after his time on Idol. Very baroque-type chord progressions that you expect from Muse. THIS is the song I want to hear Adam sing more of. Definitely the highlight so far in the album. His vocals are in check throughout this one...really really great performance.

6) Sure Fire Winners 5.5/10
Interesting club-like intro. Interesting production by Rob Cavallo. I like the sound of this but the song is just so-so. Adam is trying really hard to sell this song with an interesting vocal, but the song just isn't a great song. Feels lyrically and sounds like a wanna be "We are the Champions" type song. I really hope I never hear this at a football game. If you're downloading highlights only, leave this one off the list. It has it's interesting seconds, but is overall a loser.

7) A Loaded Smile 6.8/10
Written by hitmaker Linda Perry (producer of Pink's big records, Gwen Stefani, many more). I really like the moody/ethereal intro to this one. Very cool synth/guitar stuff. The chorus doesn't really lift or hook for me. It's an interesting song but as an enjoyable piece of pop music, it misses just a little bit. Beautiful song, though. Not a highlight, but FOR SURE not a low light. Good song. Adam's falsetto is quite nice on this one.

8. If I Had You 7/10
Another Max Martin creation. Max's tracks are always cool. But this one is very much style over substance. The chorus is catchy as crap, though. Very hooky, catchy chorus, though...so that makes up for what I think are weak choruses. The lyrics are typically stupid pop lyrics. Oh well...it's pop music. Maybe down the road Adam can write from his heart instead of trying consistently for pop anthems... The bridge is weak. Bridge's can make or break a song for me...in this case it pushed the grade a little lower, unfortunately. but man that chorus is ridiculously catchy. Disco beat plus catchy melodic chorus makes up for a lot of ills.

9. Pick You Up 6.2/10
This song came from Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo with additional writing from Greg Wells and Adam Lambert. This song is lyrically kinda stupid. Musically, it goes between really great and just okay. The chorus is kind of cool. The verses are so-so. Adam's voice sounds really really good on this song. But the song is just...so-so. I really want to like it better...maybe with time it'll grow on me...

10. Fever 7.2/10
This was a Lady Gaga creation. The synth work on the verses is really interesting. The track sounds really good. Adam is really going Broadway on these vocals. Not my favorite vocal of his on the record. But the song is pretty cool, actually. I really like the song itself and the way it sounds. And the lyric is kind of an interesting take on pop. Very cool, actually. But the vocals just grate on me on this song.

11. Sleepwalker 8/10
Ryan Tedder wrote this with a couple of big Nashville writers. I'm a big fan of Tedder's writing and production. Wow...vocally Adam sounds A LOT like Ryan Tedder on this one. You know, as good a singer as Adam is, I'm surprised at how many songwriter's vocal tics he adopts on these songs. This is an interesting song and, as always Tedder's tracks sound great. The synth pad he is using sounds a little dated, but that may have been a deliberate choice. Side note: Tedder's songs are obvious...he has such a style of his own. I have to admit that I think he's a pop genius. Call me a sell out, I don't care. I like Tedder's songwriting. I really like this song overall...not a highlight but strong. The guitar solo on the bridge and outro was a little over the top silly 80's for me without having the pinache of, say, Brian May...so that loses some points...

12. Aftermath 8/10
Adam wrote this with Ferras and a couple of other songwriters. Actually a really strong song. This gives me pause and gives me hope that as a songwriter, Adam will be able to find his own voice and write lyrics that say or mean something. Granted the other songwriters may have driven the boat on this, but overall this is a really strong song. Howard Benson's production on this one is one of the best on the record, especially as a rock record. Good song, good performance. This one actually rocks about as hard as pop/rock is allowed to rock (i.e., Daughtry & Nickelback). Big guitars on this one, toned down synth stuff...good sounding song.

13. Broken Open 7/10
Written by Adam, Greg Wells and a songwriting acquaintance of mine Kidd Bogart. Bogart actually did a few songs with Blake Lewis on the Idol tour, so I met him a few times...good guy. Anyway...the song. Really, really cool intro to the track. Very ethereal instrumentation. At the top of the song, his voice is soaked in reverb...nice programming on the first verse. Sounds like they're really trying to cop a Madonna type feel...or maybe ethereal/world music Sting. Actually interesting. One of the more interesting tracks on the record. There's some interesting samples and glitch editing on this song. Not a super strong song, but it gets points for being one of the most interesting on the record.

The album also includes a bonus track of his 2012 song Time For Miracles. I won't review that. it would take down the average. Not a fan of that song.

Anyway, overall I thought the album was relatively strong. One of the better post-Idol debuts for sure. I am looking forward to Adam's next album, if 19E doesn't pull its usual hit and run. Hopefully next time around, Adam is able to write more of the record and develop as an actual artist, not simply a puppet singing other people's songs. I think the listener wants to hear what Adam has to say...well, maybe.

So, my overall grade is: 7/10 (averaging all the song grades together)...I'd say that's about right. Strong, decent effort, but I'm looking forward to growth on his next record.

Here's the Deal...

Well, the deal is finally done. We got everything worked out with everyone involved and are finally moved on to the long form. So, unless something crazy happens in the long form phase (which rarely if ever happens) then within a couple of weeks, this deal will be done officially, official announcements and press releases will be made and within a few weeks I'll be in a warm, cozy recording studio working on album #2...tentatively titled "All the Angles". For that I am very excited.

The album will still have 14 song plus musical interludes. Some songs have changed...here is the tentative track listing:

1. Intro/Naive
2. Losing My Faith
3. Only You Can Save
4. In the Weak
5. Taking It Back
6. Catching Up
7. Still You Love Me
8. Chasing Down a Name
9. Beginning/End
10. I'm Ready
11. Love is the Answer
12. One
13. Always You
14. Broken/Beautiful

Of the songs on there, the ones I don't think you've heard yet are Taking It Back, Still You Love Me, Love is the Answer and One. Taking It Back was written with Jason Walker and talks about being away from home as much as I am and how it affects relationship. Still You Love Me is song I wrote with Rebecca St. James that ended up not working for her record so I snatched it. It's one of my favorites on the record. I'm really excited about that song. We haven't talked about it yet, but my wish list includes getting Rebecca to come and do vocals on the songs with me (fingers crossed!). Love is the Answer was written with Jon Skaggs. We were just trying to write a cool but different rocker. And finally is One. One is a song I wrote with a guy from Atlanta named Travon Potts. It's really pop and really kinda cool...I'm excited about this one. Similar to the feel of Only You Can Save music wise. Lyrically it's a call for unity, forgiveness and love within the church.

Anyway, more news as it comes!

ETA: Hey I threw One up on myspace.com/chrisslighproductions 2nd song.

Much Needed

Well, we got home at noon on Monday after driving through the night from Enid, OK. We unloaded all of our crap and I proceeded to fall into bed and take a nap to make up for the hour and a half sleep driving all night in the van. I ended up sleeping for 6 hours. Guess I needed it.

On Tuesday I jumped right back into things...maybe a little too fast. Mitch and I caught up over lunch then I went straight to a writing session with a worship leader named Jon Abel. We wrote for a couple of hours and then he headed off and Sarah and I caught up on some tv shows we'd DVR'd during my absence. Glee is incredible. Mad Men is marvelous. And Survivor this year is really good. That's the basics.

Wednesday I went over and sang a couple of demos for a couple of writers named Wade Kirby and Bryan Simpson. One of the songs I co-wrote with them...called "Till Somebody Loves You". Really cool kinda Bryan Adams-esque lyric with a cool country tune. Then I sang a really cool song the two guys wrote together called "Everytime". It was really fun to sing on demos...but by the end of that 2 hour session I was tired. Just still lagging from the tour.

On Thursday morning, we headed to Mt. Vernon, IL to play a one-off show for a church there. The show went great. The crowd was surprisingly really into it. Sometimes smaller towns seem to have a harder time when we rock out, but for the most part the people were really into it! We combined new and old songs, playing the 3 new songs we debuted on the Back to School Tour II plus songs from our regular set list. It was a fun time...my voice barely held up...I think the 2 months on the tour and not enough sleep over the 2 days off didn't give my voice the chance to get back into 90 minute show shape.

So anyway, we got back yesterday afternoon and Jon Skaggs and I went and saw a movie together. Good fun.

Hopefully rest happens asap. Shows not until next weekend, so I've got some time!

Back to School

Well, Back to School Tour Volume II is coming to an end. By the end we'll have played for over 15k people, played 25 shows put over 10k miles on the vuses and spent 2 months not getting enough sleep, trying to sleep in our sunks (by the way, we imagine that our vans are buses and our seats are bunks...so we call them vuses and sunks).

This tour has been awesome in a lot of respects. The Orlando show was unbelievable. It was incredible to be able to step away from the microphone and hear 1200 people singing "Empty Me" at the top of their lungs. I think Orlando was my favorite show, simply because with 1200 people stuffed into a room designed to hold 700 chairs...sooo much energy. They sang "Only You Can Save" louder than I could have ever imagined.

This tour has been fun. Aaron and I have gotten to know each other much better and have become friends. Everyone on tour has become so close. Having Meredith out was a lot of fun...she's out with Smitty now, so Lanae is back, it'll be good to see her again.

Anyway, overall this tour has been everything I hoped the 2nd year of it would be. Ultimately, we grew. More people this year. Bigger artists on the tour. More artists on the tour. We're just building this thing year by year.

Next year will be even bigger!

Blake Lewis "Heartbreak On Vinyl"

Hey guys, you can listen to all of Blake Lewis's new album "Heartbreak on Vinyl" HERE

Take a listen. I'm about half way through the album and it sounds really, really good. He's singing better than ever, the beatboxing is at a minimum and the tracks sounds great! THIS is the album he needed to make the first time around. Yes! My boy is rocking it!

Where I Am At

So, I've received some questions pertaining to my deal...

So, I thought I'd let everyone know where I'm at. My explanation will contain some technical stuff, but it shouldn't be too hard to understand.

In May, after I left Brash (I asked out of my deal and they granted my request), I immediately started dealing with a major label (Christian major label tied in with a mainstream major label). Negotiations take more time than even I was prepared for. The reason why Idol contestant's signings are negotiated so quickly is that we negotiate for everyone before the season even starts...so once it's time to sign, there are no more negotiations. Brash was a small label, so our negotiations went extremely quickly (less than 2 weeks). So, I wasn't prepared that, when signing with a major, you are dealing with a behemoth that takes forever to do anything. It is seemingly impossible for a large label to do anything quickly because everything has to go through multiple and various channels.

So...

We have the deal negotiated. The thing that we finally hung up on was publishing. My publishing is with Brentwood-benson/Universal (BB/U). The way my deal works, on outside writes I split 50/50 with BB/U (a basic publishing deal). On songs I record, I get 75/25 (called a co-pub). The way the 75/25 works is that I own my writer's share (I can't give that up) and then own half of the publishing share on those songs I record. What the new label is asking for is the share of the publishing that I own, so basically, songs I record instead of being 50/50 would become 50 me/25 BB/U / 25 to the new label.

This is a lot to give up, especially for someone who writes all the songs on their own albums. But after discussing and thinking things through, it's an okay compromise to make: if the major label does what it should, I'll sell WAY more records than if I simply put out a record on my own. It's give and take...so we agreed to that compromise. We actually agreed to that compromise about 7 weeks ago.

The hang up right now is we are figuring out who will account for said monies. The new label doesn't feel like they should have to do it. BB/U doesn't feel like they should have to do it. So, we're stuck between 2 behemoths not budging and have been for way too long. Eventually, someone will budge and the deal will FINALLY be done. We're hoping it's within the next couple of weeks...but we've been hoping for that for a while.

So, the deal is completely done...with the exception of who is accounting for the 25% of songs I record on my album. It's funny the silly things that deals get stuck on. We worked through hundreds of detailed points in a few short weeks and get stuck on something this simple. It is funny, but frustrating. So...hopefully this will be done as soon as possible.

I just wrote the song that I feel like completes the album yesterday. So the songs are ready and rearing to go. So....we'll see when we can finally get in the studio. As far as I know, it'll be as soon as the tour is over...finally.

That's where I am at.

Phil Wickham

All right, so I've talked about Phil Wickham before. He is one of my favorite artists and is simply incredible. Great songwriter. Great singer. Great everything. Right now, he has a deal on his website where you can download his new record 2 months before it's out in stores, plus you get an acoustic version of his record now, too. Plus you get the CD in the mail on release date and a t-shirt. All for $25. I just spent money on it. You should, too. Great, great record.

www.philwickham.com

In retrospect

So, now that the fervor for this last blog has kinda died, I'd like to say this:

In mentioning what was going on with the Idols from my season, I was honest with what was going on, or my knowledge of what was going on with them. But, in living with the blog for the last days, I could see how it came across as condescending to their accomplishments after the show. I never want to push myself up by putting others down. It wasn't my intention with this blog but a few people pointed it out to me, and looking through that lens I can definitely see how it could come across that way.

My season of Idol will never get the props it deserves because it was completely thrown under the bus by Idol and 19E and because none of our season had the runaway success of a Kelly, Carrie or Chris. I know each of these people are innately talented...some just as miraculously good singers and others as more well-rounded musicians (i.e., ability to write, play an instrument, etc.). Others were blessed with other skills outside of just music, but never got the chance to showcase those.

I wish that some of my class of Idols had followed some of the advice I laid out. I truly believe there are 2 or 3 artists who never got the chance they should have. Not because they didn't work or didn't want to work. But I think they simply didn't know how to navigate some of these waters. Neither did I. I knew more than most, but I was lucky enough to have A-level management from the time in the midst of the tour that I got released from my Idol contract. And I have learned soooo much from them...

In my original post, I was trying to set up to this season's Idols, "Look, you probably know my name simply because of Idol, but you don't know that success isn't measured just by record sales anymore...let me lay out how I've been successful to let you know how you can be successful, too." It was never about patting myself on the back. It was never to brag to outside people about what I've done.

This isn't an apology, just an admission that I can see that I didn't give my season the props they deserved.

To the Idols: A Realistic look at your career prospects

ETA: A lot of people have asked me why I wrote this blog. Honestly, I didn't realize that it was going to get as much interest as it already has by outsiders. I figured my blog readers would read it and I'd try to pass it on to the other top 10 Idols from this year through some of the guys I'd met from this season. The reason I wrote it is because I genuinely want for the Idols to read it, heed it and do well. Not everyone is trying for a career in the fashion I'm pointing out here...if the Idols want to do Broadway or acting or anything other than being a pop (inclusive of rock, r&b, etc) performer, this article/blog entry isn't for them....but if they are, this article has information I know to be invaluable. Some of it is info that I personally have not had to follow: when I moved to Nashville 8 days after tour ended, I had major management (for my genre) and a record deal basically in place (in the final negotiation stages). I also had a publishing deal in place (the company that got my Flatts' cut) and a booking agent picked out (and each of these cogs in the machine brought money to the table). I used my tour time to put all of these pieces in place. So, I haven't lived every single piece of it...and each situation is going to be different. But the basic premise involved with this article is true: if you work hard, you can and should be successful.

Secondly, this post aims at the top 10 members who have not been signed to 19E. We all know that those who have won or come in 2nd have failed, but they did have all the opportunities in the world coming off of Idol. My post is to the unsigned, lower ranking Idols.

On to the article...

So, American Idol Season 8 is officially finished. Last tour date done. People are moving home and for the next several years will try to move on. I believe that this season of Idol was one of the most talented, but if History repeats itself the majority of these Idols will do nothing in music and will be washes within 3 or 4 years. Not trying to be mean, just being real.

From my season of Idol, Jordin Sparks has an actual career. Blake probably should've but doesn't - though he does have a chance to connect in the dance world with his new music. ETA: I've been told that Melinda's first album was quite critically acclaimed and she is currently writing for her next record - sounds good. Lakisha just had a baby, but not much going on on the music front. Chris Richardson is writing a lot, but hasn't released more than a single so far. Phil has a chance to connect in the Christian market, but nothing is guaranteed. Sanjaya is...well, Sanjaya. Haley is in Texas doing something - not exactly sure if it involves music. Gina is putting together some new music, finally, 2 years later. And then there's me.

ETA: Someone brought up Jared Cotter (went home top 16 night my season) who had a big hit with Jay Sean called "Down". Props to him...my post was focusing on the top 10 of each season, but in reality, this success would put him to the top of our season - plus he has the hosting gig...Jared was one of those that was going to be successful no matter what - he got what Idol was and he got who he was.

If you look at Season 7, the odds are about the same. You've got Cook and Archuletta who are doing reasonably well. Then Castro who is signed to a major label. Michael Johns and Brooke have records out and have seen some chart success. Carly is now the frontwoman for Evanescence part 3.0. And the rest are trying to get something going.

So, how is it that the fat, not-so-great-looking guy who came in 10th place is the 2nd or 3rd most successful from his season and top 5 most successful over Season 6 & 7? The difference is pure drive and ambition and work ethic. I haven't had luck on my side. I haven't had a major label behind me yet (though that is about to happen). I haven't had 19E's help AT ALL. I have simply worked my tail off, been pro-active and worked on becoming better at my craft. Not that other people haven't worked...sure they've worked...but not on the right things in my estimation...and they've had an unrealistic view of what Idol can and will do for them.

Idol does not break new artists. It is a marketing machine for 19E to break their artists. They don't care about the ones who get away unless they make really really good (i.e., Jennifer Hudson and...well, that's it). It may sound cold, but the point of this is to rattle your brain and make you realize what is about to happen in your life.

So, my message to Season 8. You're not going to be successful. You're not going to be millionaires (with the exception of MAYBE Kris and Adam). You are going to struggle. No one will care about you. Those fans who've been asking for your autograph all tour long - 98% of them don't give a flying poo about you once next season of Idol starts. They're not going to buy your album when you put it out 2 years late. Chances are you'll never feel the rush of playing in front 10,000 people who care about you again. Your star is waning and remarkably quickly.

In other words, your days of being a star are over. But that's all right - so are mine. And I'm one of the most successful for my season of Idol. I'm not a star. Chances are I never again will be.

But here's what's awesome. I'm not a star. Few people know my name anymore. But I get to do music for a living. And I make a healthy living doing it. It's hard work. The late nights and early mornings sure do suck after a while. At 31 I wish I didn't have to travel in a van any more. But I did 137 shows last year. And that paid my bills and I even had some left over. And this year I'll do a few more shows than that. And that pays my bills with a little left over. And my writing career is helping me put money away. So...for those of us Idols who few care about any longer, there is hope.

Let me explain what needs to happen for you in the next few months.

First off: surround yourself with people who will be real with you. People who will tell you your music sucks, if it sucks. People who will tell you when you're being an idiot. People who will keep you grounded. But these same people also need to be the people whose shoulder you can cry on, who will encourage you when you do well and who will cheer for you. Your mom and dad are going to think everything you do is great, so they don't count. Get a manager who is someone who knows music and will challenge you when it's not quite good enough. Put together a team that loves you, cares for you...but will kick your butt when it needs to be kicked.

Secondly: Leave home and live WAY below your means. Move to a music city. L.A., New York or Nashville. Move there immediately. Don't wait for a record deal, because chances are you'll never have a record deal. Oh and when you move, get a crappy apartment that is cheap, cheap, cheap. You're not a rock star. You're a wanna be who happens to be more famous than most wanna bes are. Get a part time job with flexible hours that will help pay your bills...your tour savings will fly out of your bank account faster than you realize. $200k or whatever looks like a lot of money until you have to spend it. You need to finance your lifestyle and though a few gigs will pay big bucks most won't. So live WAY below your means. $200k now doesn't mean you will make remotely close to that next year.

Thirdly: Start booking yourself. CAA isn't going to book you. They don't care about you. Your deal with them is only because they have a deal with Idol. They care about the $100k gigs that Adam and Kris are getting right now. You're not going to get those. So, don't keep waiting for CAA to book you. They won't. Period. So, this is what you do: within the next 3 months pick 15 towns or cities within 5 hours of where you are and search the internet for their bar/music venues. Once you've found a couple in each town, pick up the phone and call them. Tell them who you are, tell them you're calling for yourself and that you want to play a show there in the next couple of months. Once you've put together a show in each of those 15 cities, you have yourself a tour. You won't make much money, so do it cheap...if you play an instrument go out solo. If you don't play, take out 1 player who can do what you want to do, and get him to work for cheap. Just so you have an idea, most of the time you should be able to get good players that will start with you for $100-150/show. You need merch to sell. You won't have music product yet - at least not new - so you need to have an array of GREAT t-shirts and gear. Cool designs that incorporate who you are as an artist. Don't get your mom to do the designs. Don't get your friends to make the t-shirts for cheap. Spend tour money on this stuff...it will pay back in spades. Cool gear = sales = people wearing your name on their chest = building a fan base. Once you've got shows booked and gear, get in a rental car and rock.

Fourthly: learn the freaking music business. Buy a book. Buy several books. Get Donald Passman's book All You Need to Know About the Music Business. Read it 3 times. Some of the info is dated, but it will genuinely help you understand why record labels are hurting and why you probably don't need a record label. Part of learning the music business is figuring out where you fit. I had mainstream major label deals offered, but studied and thought hard and figured out that the place I fit best in Christian music. For you it might be pop (though it should be understood that few artists - even major label artists - start off by jumping into the pop world...they usually start in smaller genre and work their way over to pop) or r&b...but study and figure out where your place is. If you're a white r&b dude, make sure there's a catch...there's already Robin Thicke... how is what you do different? We don't need another Robin Thicke or Justin Timberlake. If you try to be like them you'll always be considered simply a cheap American Idol rip off of said artists. And honestly that is the worst thing you can be - a cheap Idol take on something else.

Fifthly: once you've moved to a music town, find people to jam and write with. You may not be a writer now, but you have a voice and you need to be able to speak with your voice. What does that mean? find people who are better writers than you, write with them, even if it's a matter of you simply finding a melody that fits your voice...oh, and if they write the majority of the song, offer to give them more credit than just the normal 50%. People who know you'll take care of them will work hard to help you be better. At this point that is what you need more than anything else: people who will work hard to make you better.

Sixthly: Work, work, work, work, work. Period. You have to work. Nothing and I do mean nothing is going to be given to you. 19E is not going to come back around. They're done with you. The music business, for the most part, will treat you like an outsider. And they should. You are just a game show contestant who still needs to prove why you should be here. They don't know you've worked for years in clubs or worked as a songwriter or developed your piano skills amazingly - all they know is that you're a game show contestant who is more famous than them for doing nothing other than making it on a tv show. So, go out and prove to them why you belong by working harder than they do to be better.

Seventhly: Get into a studio and get music down asap. Even if it's just an EP. However, walk the wire of finding the balance between getting music out and shooting yourself in the foot. If you don't have the songs, don't record music just to have it. You will kill your career. But, on the other hand, you need to get music out asap. So...write good songs or find good songs quickly.

Eighthly: Be proactive. I've said it before, but it's important to get: nothing is going to be given to you. If you get a record deal now, you deserve it. Why? Because you will have had to work for it. You will have gotten it because you worked not because Idol worked. this is about you, now. You have the power to be successful. You are talented. You have a skill set that should be shared with the world. But you have to seize the reins of your career and do something with your skills.

ETA: I saw this somewhere else and knew my post was missing something -

Ninthly (and finally): Freaking love what you do. When you don't love this anymore, when the pain of travel and the hurt from non-success hurts more than the joy you feel when you rock people live, quit. Go get a "real job". Love what you do. Do what you love. Period.

Back to School

Back to School Tour Version 2.0 is under way. And so far (2 shows in) it's been great.

Not just saying this: you want to see this tour. Everyone is rocking it. Lanae was out for the first 2 shows and she rocked it. Meredith is on for the next few shows. She'll rock it. Andrew is literally blowing people away. Just rocking it. People are blown away that this young kid -unsigned, mind you - is as good as he is. It's pretty awesome for me to watch people react to him. It's impressive. Aaron is, of course, great, playing songs from all 3 of his albums. The songs from his new album seem to go over great. And of course "My Savior My God" still blows people away.

My set is going great. I start off with 3 new songs (well, 2 new songs and a rewritten old song): "Naive" (rewritten! and more rocking!), "In the Weak" and "Only You Can Save". The first two shows may be a fluke, but "Only You Can Save" is going over incredibly well. The whole audience is singing along with the chorus, and it's pretty incredible for me to hear a new song being sung like that! My set list ultimately looks like this:

Intro/Naive

In the Weak

Only You Can Save

Something Beautiful

Somewhere

Let You Know

Empty Me

35 minutes of rock and roll (well, we hope!).

Anyway, after Aaron's set, we have a short worship time to end the concert. I don't want to give too much away, but this time is really, really cool and really, really special. Maybe simply because it's so different, we've received more comments on this than anything else...but it really is a cool, special time.

So...come out and see my 2nd annual Back to School Tour! Go to chrissligh.com for more info on where the tour is hitting close by you.

Only You Can Save

Hey guys, I just wrote this song...and I'm really pumped about it. It feels like one of those special ones. I don't know if it's a huge single or anything, but message-wise, it's exactly what I want to say...go over to myspace.com/chrisslighproductions and listen to the first song up: "Only You Can Save"

Here are the lyrics...

Only You Can Save

words and music by Chris Sligh

I saw a man today, his whole world across his back

A living monument opposed to my success

I tried to look into his eyes as his shuffled past my car

Sweat beading on his skin, his clothes and hair a mess

As the light turned green and I pulled away, he slowly disappeared

Just a memory of another chance I failed to show your love here

I wanna love because you loved

I wanna give because you gave

I wanna reach my hand out to the lost

'Cause I know your hand will save

Yeah, only you can save...

Sometimes I have to wonder if I really want to know

The struggle and the pain that others feel

Do I want to hear the stories I see echoed in their eyes

Or is this love I say that I'm reflecting even real

As the light turns on inside my head and I slowly disappear

I steel myself cuz what you call for me is to show your love here...

I wanna love because you loved

I wanna give because you gave

I wanna reach my hands out to the lost

'Cause I know your hand will save

I wanna love just like you loved

I wanna give just like you gave

I wanna reach out with your hands

'Cause only you can save

Yeah, only you can save...

Only you can save...

Only you can save...

So let me be your hands...

So let me be your eyes...

Help me understand

That I'm your hands and feet hidden behind this frail human disguise...

chorus

Wouldn't Change a Thing

Well, you remember I let you guys hear a song called "Wouldn't Change a Thing" recently. Well, today we got the news that one of the biggest solo artists in Country music put it on hold! Hopefully, we'll follow up "Here Comes Goodbye" with another hit!

Exciting news!!!

Also, I recently did a session for some of my country songs and got 5 done. 1 of the rough demos is up on myspace.com/chrisslighsongwriting.

It should be the first one up...called "I'm Yours".

Back...Back in the Saddle Agiiii-hin

Sorry if the blog has felt neglected. Pretty much everything has been neglected, I guess. Just go nothing going on at the moment. A few shows here and there, but still waiting for this record deal to finally be done. Who knew a major label deal could possibly take this long. These are the guys that have been doing it for 50 years...you'd think they'd know how to get it done fast, huh? LOL...

Anyway...life is good. Follow on twitter..I do pop up there a little more often just b/c of the amount of words needed to put something together over there!

All right...new discussion!

Andrew Witt/Rough Draft

Well, some of you may have realized through my twitters that Rough Draft has broken up. Andrew (lead singer) recently came into town to start writing for their full length record and the more we talked and assimilated the information we had at hand - what labels were saying, what we both saw as strengths and weakness, etc. - and finally Andrew came to the decision that it was going to better to leave the band and go solo. It was a tough decision, but ultimately, I believe, the right one.

Andrew is 18 years old and is literally one of the most talented, awesomely creative kids I've ever been around. He has great song writing skills, as well as good instincts about what feels right in a co-writing session. He has a great voice that is literally progressing by the day and is a fine musician. I think he has a long and fruitful career ahead of him.

Anyway, all that to say that, this week, Andrew has been in town writing for a full length album that we will (hopefully) begin recording before the end of the year. I am PUMPED about the music we've been turning out. I don't have anything for you guys to hear yet, but know this: his record is going to be incredible.

Paula has left Idol...

I posted this over at twitter...thought I would post it over here with a little more comment...

Paula quit American Idol. I think probably more out of frustration than anything else...but she's gone and Fox has confirmed that she is gone. Ugly situation. I would imagine that Paula's move was of desperation, trying to get more money. But what I think she didn't realize is that Fox views Idol as bigger than anyone. Bigger than contestants. Bigger than judges (though the deal with Simon proves they value Simon a great deal). Bigger than Ryan.

I wrote up a jokey version of what I thought the conversation probably looked like over at twitter...here it is:

Paula: "If you don't pay me 1/10 of what you're paying Simon I'll walk...no, I'll dance away! I'll even choreograph it to be joyful!"

Fox: "Okay. Make sure to make a video of it and put it on youtube. Btw, we own youtube, too, so we'll be making money off u there, too."

Paula: {takes drink from coke cup, sighs as she stands up and claps her seal clap, single tears drip from each eye} Brilliant performance!

Fox: No, we're serious. We own youtube. And the video of you dancing away from Idol will seriously make us money."

Paula: {now frantic} Wait, you mean you're actually GOING to let ME leave?

FOX: {long dramatic pause}{in high-pitched voice} awk-weeeeeeerd.

I think that both Paula and Fox are making a huge mistake. Fox needs Paula...I think they underestimate the chemistry of the original 3 judges...and Paula needs Fox...I mean seriously did you guys see the Bravo series? She needs Idol.

I love Paula. The judges have nothing to do with the contestants with the exception of Paula. Paula actually cares for the contestants. She sees us as more than advertising dollars. And that was refreshing. To echo what Phil Stacey wrote in an earlier blog, I feel for the future contestants who don't get Paula's love.

Brad Paisley's American Saturday Night

This album is incredible. It's funny that for the writing that I do, I don't listen to a ton of country music. There's the more pop artists like Keith Urban and of course Flatts. But for the most part, I don't listen to a ton of "real" country music.

Brad Paisley's music is more traditional "twangy" country. But, man, his songs are so freaking good, it's just nearly impossible not to love his stuff...at least for me. I'm a sucker for good songwriting. I study it, learn and try to emulate as much as I can. Brad's albums are just clinics on great, emotional but not sappy songwriting. He also has a wittiness that unparalleled in most people's songwriting.

So check out this album...

Standouts: "Then", "The Pants", "You Do the Math" and "Anything Like Me"

Wouldn't Change a Thing

Hey guys, head over to myspace.com/chrisslighsongwriting and check out the new song "Wouldn't Change a Thing". I really love this song...maybe because usually when I'm writing country music, it's more writing a story about someone else. This one is straight from my heart to Sarah.

I remember the hard times and am so thankful to have a wife that stuck by me when I was nothing and no one else believe in me. This song is for her. I think someone will make this a big hit on the country side. But ultimately, this is for Sarah.

What's Goin' On...

So, the last month and a half has been....well, odd. Weird. Different. Tough.

When I left Brash, I knew where I was going to go for my next record deal. I knew that was where I wanted to be and they wanted me to be there. And I still believe both of those things to be true. I just didn't know it was going to take so freaking long.

When Brash and I broke up, I was 2 weeks away from starting this record. Now, a month after I was supposed to start, well, I feel like I'm about to go stark-raving mad. I've never had so much creative energy just bundled up ready to pop out.

We have cut the album to 14 songs, plus a few instrumental interludes. Those 14 songs are in my opinion...well, incredible. Those that know me get that I'm not saying that in a cocky sort of way. I'm saying it in this sense: I truly believe that this album is the best work I have ever done. And I truly believe it may probably be the best work I'll ever do. So much pain and struggle has gone into making this album that I can't imagine ever topping this emotionally. And music, if done right, is 95% emotion. I'm warning you...if this album turns out how I think and hope and it will - how I hear it in my head - it's all downhill from here.

I am so ready to finally get in the studio and birth these songs into what they are meant to be. I'm pumped to get in the studio with some of my best friends and hash out arrangements and making sure every single note, every single beat, every single sound is exactly what it needs to be.

I think I told you guys this before, but this album will be branded as a band album. The credits will read:

Chris Sligh is...

Chris Sligh: lead vocals, keys, guitar

Clint Milburn: guitar, bgv's

Tommy Lee: bass, bgv's

Jon Skaggs: drums, percussion, loops, bgv's

So, obviously I'm excited about that. My band is making a record with me.

I'm excited to bring in guys like Jason Walker to do some piano stuff; Don Chapman will be coming in to do some strings stuff (this album will have a lot of strings); Blair Masters will hopefully come and do some keys stuff (he played on my last record); looks like Brown will be producing 3-4 songs.

The short of it is this: I'm pumped to make this record. I'm hoping to start by the end of the month. The songs are done. The guys are ready to rock. This project needs to be in your hands as soon as possible.

This album has been and I know will be life changing.

I hope it is for you, too.

In the Weak

Check out myspace.com/chrisslighproductions - new song up called "In the Weak". I am really excited about this song. I wrote it with Meredith Andrews and it's going to be a perfect segue for me to talk about Compassion International in shows...plus I think the song ended up just really cool.

It's the first song when you navigate to the page...

I'm Ready

An older song that has been around for a long while, will be on the next album, I'm about 99.9% sure.  Especially with the arrangement I've worked on...everyone seems to be excited about this one...

Check out the demo at myspace.com/chrisslighproductions

Yesterday...

...life changed for me. Not really sure why.  Not really sure how.  But I woke up yesterday and it finally clicked.  

I was an athlete my whole life.  I played basketball at a pretty good level in high school and college.  Ran track.  Tied the DOD high school record for the 200m my junior year.  I was athletic.  Then life after college happened.  I don't make excuses.  I ate the same as I always did - a lot - but without all the exercise to go along with it, weight gain happened.

Now, here I am at 31.  I took a stab at health a year ago.  But it didn't take.  I think in processing it now, it was because I was doing it for everyone else.  I wanted everyone to go "Wow, he lost weight".  I've never been good at doing what other people want me to do.  Just my character for some reason.

But yesterday I woke and it finally clicked.  I don't care if I lose weight.  I just want to be athletic again.  Obviously weight loss will probably happen if I'm becoming athletic.  But I want to enjoy athletic things again.  I want to go play basketball and be able to play more than 15 minutes.  I just want to enjoy more than music again.  I've worked really hard to be great at what I do...still working.  But I'm ready to focus on other things now. 

Like health.

So I woke up yesterday.  And I copied my dad.  In his late 30's my dad was fat.  He just decided one day he wanted to play basketball again.  So, one day, he just went out and ran as far as he possibly could before he collapsed.  Then he walked back home.  First day, he ran less than a quarter of a mile.  Within a year, he was running 5-6 miles a day 3-4 times a week.  And he got skinny.  But more importantly, he played basketball again.  With me.  

So, I'm starting a diet.  Not rigorous.  From all I've read lately, it's about doing things in steps.  I'm limiting myself to 2k or less calories a day.  Plus exercise.

Yesterday, I ran 1/3 of a mile and walked back home.  Embarrassing?  Yeah.  But only to myself.  Today I ran almost a half mile and walked back home.  And I should note that I'm running up and down hills here.  I'm tired.  

But it's a good tired.  'Cuz this is for me now.  Not anyone else.

Genius

Chris Sligh songwriting

Hey guys,

I've created a new myspace - /chrisslighsongwriting where I'll post new song demos as I write stuff that isn't necessarily for me.

I thought it be a cool thing to do to differentiate Chris Sligh productions and Chris Sligh artist stuff...

Requiem Update

So some of you have asked for an update on Requiem....here it is...

In talking with management and publishing, we decided to hold off on Requiem as a solo project right now.  Everyone feels like it's a bigger thing than just an add on to an album.  It took me a while to come around to that, but that thinking did allow me to dream a little bit and come up with a bigger plan and a bigger idea...an idea that we are following through with some meetings.

The idea is to now expand Requiem to be a multi-artist album in the vein of City on A Hill or My Utmost For His Highest.   The album would be 12 or so songs (including the 6 from Requiem), all based on liturgical texts.  Requiem would most likely end the album.  The 6 songs that are Requiem will feature several different artists, obviously including me.

For the first 6 or so songs of the record, we would go to different artists who catch the vision for this project and have them write songs based on other texts, or write songs straight from the texts.  Each song will likely feature more than one artist, even if an artist writes the song for themselves....this will be a community record.

The vision I have for this record is to approach the idea of writing worship music that is deeper both musically and lyrically than the normal "every day" worship music.  Plus basing it off of liturgical texts in the first place kind of gives it a different angle to begin with.

I had a meeting yesterday with a major producer who is becoming a friend.  We talked about the idea and he is excited about the whole thing.  We're getting together on Saturday to actually listen to the whole Requiem a couple of times, then talk about the project in this light and in light of him hearing the music.  

I really believe in this project and could see it being like that City on a Hill kind of thing...so hopefully we can start to see some project in the near future.  I have a feeling that with the right team around it, that it won't be a hard sell to some major artists and if the artists are on board, the labels should be easier (it's never easy LOL) to get on board.

Updates!

So it is about 99.9% sure that my next label home will be a major label.   Not just any major label...one in particular, but until the deal is finalized I'd feel more comfortable waiting to tell you guys specifics.  However, I want to let you guys know what's going on...

The morning that I was granted my wish to be released from my deal with Brash, about 10 minutes after the release phone call, I was on the phone with the President of a major label talking about signing there.  The next morning we (Mitch & I) had a meeting with him, the VP of A&R and the VP of Marketing and we just talked about the direction of the record and we gave them the songs.

That was Friday a week ago.  This last week, everyone had time to live with the music and I got to talk with the President of the company on Friday afternoon this week and all cylinders are firing on getting this deal up and running and having new music recorded and into your hands as fast as possible.

Obviously, deals are negotiations and negotiations can go wrong from time to time, but I am pretty sure that everyone involved (I know it's the case on my end of things) really wants this to work out and work out quickly!  We're really hoping to have a single out by the time the Back To School Tour II happens.

Speaking of...

Back to School is going out August 27 to November 1 with Aaron Shust and I co-headlining and Rough Draft and a soon-to-be-announced guest opening.  It's only May and we already have close to 30 shows on the books for the tour!!!  We are working to have over 40 and as many as 60!  I'm so pumped about this tour it's not even funny!  

So anyway...all is good on Sligh front!  Just wanna make sure you guys are updated through the highs and lows!

If you missed it...

If you missed my twitter stream last night...here it is along with what I was talking about...

Show start

All right Slighterers, let's rock!

Show open with all the top 13 in white, singing "So What"  

Yay! Let's wear white, sing a song about divorce a make it as dumb as possible with really bad dance moves!!!

As Ryan announced the awards section

Yay! Really long really stupid awards section!!!

After Nick/Norman won the award for best male...

Norman!!!!!!!!

As Norman sang his song AGAIN....LOL

Oh my gosh ...he is so freaking genius!!!!!!!

That guy needs to be making movies yesterday....

As Queen Latifah takes the stage with Lil Round in a form-fitting body suit

Um...what is Queen wearing? Note2self..just b/c it's a slimming black Chris Sligh should never wear a form-fitting body suit. Even w/ spanxx

Don't get me wrong Queen Latifah is a true multi platform artist...but man what not to wear! For the bigger boned of us out there a warning!

As Jason Mraz takes the stage with the top 13

Jason Mraz is literally 1 of the best singers I've ever been around..we wrote out at Hanson's ranch last yr & he srsly put on a clinic

As Black Eyed Peas performed their new single "Boom Boom Pow"

What a strange performance. That is it. Some things were meant to only be on record..this might be 1 of them. Still processing.

As Ryan asked Bikini girl what was new, when all of us could clearly see what was new...

Ty Ryan for saying what we're all thinking!

Kara comes out behind Bikini girl and Bikini girl has no freaking clue what's going on...

Thiis might be the best finale evah!!!!

My initial joy over Kara's performance turns to possible horror when she strips off her dress to reveal a bikini...wow...

I'm not sure if I find Kara's performance/stripping entertaining or pathetic. Still processing. Brain might explode!

During Allison's performance with Cyndi Lauper...

Allison sounds great as always...Time hasn't been too kind to Cyndi's voice..after time

As Danny Gokey takes the stage, eventually with Lionel Ritchie...

Hello Gokey!

As always Danny rocked it

As Adam takes the stage wearing domed shoulders, eventually with KISS....

Dude is freaking rock star...I wish I had the guts to wear that outfit...domed shoulders & all

As KISS came down from the ceiling and rocked....

This just makes me want a diet dr pepper

As Carlos Santana rocked with the Cowbell on "Black Magic Woman" intro....

I need more cowbell! MORE freaking cowbell! Noooooooowwwwwwww!!!!!

As the top 13 joins Carlos on stage all wearing matching outfits...

I'm glad everyone is wearing clothes to match Carlos's guitar

I wouldn't have been able to process the performance otherwise.

As Steve Martin takes the stage with Michael and Caw-Caw Girl (LOL Meagan)....

Little known truth: Steve Martin is a world-renowned banjo player

Another little-known truth: Michael Sarver is a world-renowned scrabble player

As Rod Stewart starts "Maggie May"...

Maggie May!!!! Yes!!! One of the best mandolin based songs ever right behind "These 8 Strings Make My Fingers Bleed"

As Tatiana wins and they show a video of her telling off all the "record execs" who told her she had to sleep with them to get her album made...

Um...every guy who said I have to sleep with them?!!! What?!!! What the crap is happening right now?!!!

As Tatiana tries to rush the stage with security chasing her...

My brain just exploded! TY Tatiana!!!

As Queen takes the stage behind Kris and Adam's "Champions"...

It's freaking Queen yo! I'm freaking out right now!!! Queen!!!!

After Kris's win leaves him speechless....

I don't think there's ever been an idol more surprised at winning...wow...congrats to him!

Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed the recap...

Twitter, etc.

It's interesting how twitter has changed things...I feel like it's so much easier to keep people up to date with twitter than doing a blog post here...it's silly, but how I feel...

So I'll try to keep up here, but you probably at least want to get a twitter account to keep up with day-in, day-out stuff.

I'm excited about the future and what's coming up...label I'm meeting with loves the new music, so that's a good sign...hopefully will have a deal on the table ASAP.  We'll see!

I can't wait to unleash this album on everyone!

To the Future

So, if you've kept up with my twitter (@ ChrisSligh) you know that I am no longer with Brash Music.  I wanted to take a little time to quickly bring everyone up to date with what is going on.

Officially, Brash decided not to exercise the option to make my 2nd and final album on my deal.   This was a decision that ultimately was a mutual decision, though Brash had the final decision.  You see a lot of people who come out of record deals and claim it was mutual...I'm pretty sure they're not always mutual...in fact I have a couple of friends who were dropped that said at the time it was mutual, but if you asked them now, they'd admit that - though they weren't exactly surprised or necessarily upset with the new - they were dropped.  In this case, I assure you, that though Brash had the ultimate decision, it had come to the place that both of us were ready for a decision.

Now, some may ask me how it could come to this, when they read my glowing words about Brash in the recent Christianity Today article.   Everything I said about Brash in that article was remarkably true.  The guys at Brash are incredible men who have integrity and are genuinely trying to make the record business better.  My opinion of them has not changed through any of this.  

Ultimately, what it came down to was that we disagreed on a very basic level on how this 2nd record should be treated.  From what I can understand they liked the songs, so it wasn't that.  It was how I wanted to treat the record and how I wanted to the record the record as well as the campaign I wanted to use in promoting the record.  Also we disagreed on the co-production of the record and how much a co-producer should be used.  

It's strange that something that seems so small on paper was so large in real life.  But both of us were at a place where we weren't willing to budge on certain points - unfortunately the points we wouldn't budge on happened to be the exact same ones.  

So...the next label will soon be announced.  And the album will be recorded very soon.  Hopefully we'll have a single out by the fall tour.  

So, there are mixed emotions involved...ultimately parting ways was the best thing to happen.   But it also stinks because I'm parting ways with great guys.  But I look to the future with hope and excitement...

More to come...

Jaded? Not I...

Some people have wondered why I have struggled with Jade...no worries...it's all good.  No Jaded-ness here.  I can't go into details, nor do I want to, but I have a clear vision for the next album.  A clear artistic vision and some people involved with the process have, over the last couple of weeks, decided to peek their head into the process and start to confuse the vision.  That leads to frustration, which leads to anger which leads to being jaded...it's the story of the music business.  I tried to put myself into a situation with all the people around me from management to band to label that would shelter me from the jade, but it still has crept in.  Thankfully, I'm at a place of peace.  More later...

However, I am in the midst of putting up some new demos!  So you guys can start to digest some of the new music!  Head over to myspace.com/chrisslighproductions and check it out!  Do remember that these are ROUGH demos...they will sound better and different in the final version (this is more for the people who weren't around for the first time we did this...)

The Doves

This week was a fun - albeit very busy - week.

Sunday, we got back from the Natalie tour dates at about 8:30am.  I got a little sleep that afternoon then had to go to soundcheck for the Songwriter's showcase, which has always been my favorite part of the GMA week.  All the biggest songs of the year are performed by their songwriter (s) and each writer tells the story of how the song came about.

Tony Wood and I performed "Empty Me" both telling about how the song came to be.

Monday it was up bright and early.  Rough Draft was in town (by the way, if you haven't gotten their album yet, you need to - it really is incredible) all this week and I helped them meet with labels.  Anyway, we had a meeting bright and early Monday morning and then I hung out until I had some interviews later in the day.

I had decided a while back that I really want to enjoy GMA week.  So many artists you talk to dread this week and think the whole thing is pointless or cheesy.  I love it and want to continue to love it.  It's a great time to see people you only see once a year a lot of times.  So I cut my interviews this year down to just an afternoon.  If there's stuff we miss, there's stuff we miss.  So we did like 6 hours of interviews on Monday and that was it!

Monday night, we went to the ASCAP dinner.  How much fun was that?!!  So many big-name artists and writers were there...it was so cool.  Sarah and I sat at the table with Sanctus Real and got to hang out with Jeremy Camp, Mac Powell (Sarah and I got a picture with Mac and his wife Amy...so cool!), Matthew West and so many more.  Larnelle Harris was there!  He sang a tribute to Dave Clark, a writer who just got his 25th number 1!  And I thought it was awesome having 1 #1.

Anyway, overall this week it's been really interesting to see the marked difference between last year and this.  Last year I felt like the little kid jumping up and down going "Look at me!  Look at me!"  This year, it's fun to have had some success as an artist that other people seem to have recognized, as well as the Rascal Flatts cut!  I mean, so many people who I never would've guessed would've known about the song came up to congratulate - it has been really crazy.  I guess I didn't even know what a big deal this has been.  I guess it still hasn't really sunk in yet.

Anyway, Tuesday I met with 6 labels with Rough Draft.  Some really great meetings, some not so great meetings...but overall a lot of initial interest in the band.  The EP turned out so great and I'm so proud of the guys and what they've accomplished.  I can't imagine they won't get signed with as hard working as they are and as talented as they are.

My parent came in Tuesday night so we went and got some Red Lobster (my parents favorite restaurant - they don't have it Germany).  It was great to spend some time with them!

Wednesday I slept in a little later - I didn't have anything until 2:45pm, when I had to go for the rehearsal/sound check for the Doves.  That lasted way too long then it was off to a radio interview with Rough Draft over at Total Axxess.  Now that was fun. Wally is seriously one of my favorite people in the business and easily one of my favorite DJs.  He is just real and funny and knows what he's talking about.  

From there, I went to a Doves party and my place with friends and family and Rough Draft even made an appearance (albeit unplanned).  That was fun.

Yesterday was up bright and early to pack for this weekend plus I had to be at the Opry House at 11:00am.  And couldn't leave until after the doves...sheesh.  All day.  But I had so much fun.

Remedy Drive are awesome.  We hung out a few times during the long day.  I shared a dressing room with the Afters and Tenth Ave North.  That was fun.  The Tenth Ave North guys are great guys...congrats to them for winning New Artist.  

Anyway, that's kinda my week.

Nice Little Birthday Present

"Here Comes Goodbye" is number one on every major chart.  On Billboard and Radio and Records, it jumped 6 spots to number 1!  

My first number 1!!!

31

Today I turn 31.  Wow.  31.  

My dad had 2 kids by the time he was 31.

Paul McCartney sold 100 million records and had literally conquered the world by the age of 31.  Oh, yeah, and his band had broken up already by the time he was 31.

Bono had made his most successful record (Joshua Tree) and was working on releasing his (and U2's) greatest artistic achievement (Achtung Baby) by the age of 31.

Jimi Hendrix had changed his name, changed the world of music and overdosed before he ever came close to 31.

Stevie Wonder had been signed for almost 20 years by the time he reached 31.  The 70's brought Stevie unbelievable success and his albums changed the landscape of R&B music.  And he didn't turn 31 until 1981.  Sick.

I could continue to go on...but the point is this...I've been incredibly blessed thus far.  But I have so much to do!  And I'm excited to see what the future holds.

Here's to 31!

American Idol Generationals Reunion!

This week, I'm out in Los Angeles writing.  Wrote yesterday with Lindy Robbins and Jess Cates who have written some HUGE songs for people like Nick Lachay, Backstreet Boys, Faith Hill, and many more.  We wrote a KILLER song to pitch...I think it'll definitely get cut!

Anyway, the title of the blog...what's that about?

Well, some of you may know that Danny Gokey and I have become friends...not close or anything, but friends via phone calls and texts.  When I found out I was coming out to L.A., I let Danny know and we decided to get together if his schedule allowed.  American Idol is notorious for not letting the contestants know what's going on till the last minute, so our plans to get together Sunday night were thwarted.  But last night, he called me as I was finishing up my writing session and told me he had some time to hang out!

So I went to Rickey Minor's studio and picked him and we headed over to a nice Italian restaurant and ate.

Meanwhile, on the way to pick up Danny, I called Jason Castro to say hello and found out he's living in the L.A. area now working on writing his album.  I won't steal his thunder but congrats to Jason on his success.  Anyway, he asked if he could join Danny and I and when I asked Danny it was of course okay, so Jason met us at the restaurant.

We spent the next 3 1/2 hours just talking getting to know each other, and building a friendship between the 3 of us.  All of us are believers so it was awesome just talking about faith and what God was doing in us and about our experience with Idol.

Seriously - I don't say this lightly - I think God has some big things for Danny.  Maybe it's not selling millions and millions of records, maybe it is.  But his heart is to use his foundation - Sophia's Heart - to change people's lives is contagious.  

Jason is doing great, too.  He's writing like crazy and is excited about what's happening for his career.  Again, there's not much else I can say at this point, nor should I say...but know that Jason is doing great!

Hopefully I'll get to hang out with the guys again before I leave on Saturday.

I Am & Barely

So Lori heard the first single off the next album at my concert tonight so I thought I'd put it up for everyone to hear.  Didn't want the blogger girls to be left out.

Also, I put up a demo of one of the songs we wrote for Gina's eventually-coming project.  Clint Lagerberg, Gina and I wrote this one...I think it turned out pretty fantastic.  It's called "Barely"

myspace.com/chrisslighproductions

Here Comes Goodbye...

....broke the record last week for a debut country song on iTunes.  It sold over 125k first week out!

Sweet!

Kelly Clarkson - All I Ever Wanted

Just bought Kelly's new album.

And man is it good.  You must buy it immediately or you shall cease to be relevant.

Here Comes...well, Here Comes Goodbye

You can now buy the single on iTunes!  As well, as the video!

Go buy it!  Listen to it!  Enjoy!

The Next record

So the last few weeks have been vital and incredible for finally honing in on a vibe/direction for the next album.

A few months ago, I wrote for the first time with Don Chaffer, who is the lead singer of a band called Waterdeep. Waterdeep is highly considered within the industry as being one of the most artful bands in the business and Don is well known for his production and songwriting skills, especially within his own band's music (his wife is the other lead singer in Waterdeep).

We talked to several producers about co-producing with me, including my friend Adam Smith (who is an incredible songwriter/producer/mixer - he's mixing the Rough Draft stuff right now). We talked about Brown producing part of it as well as several other respected guys in the industry.

My goal for this record is to establish that I'm more than just that chubby guy from American Idol. My goal is to establish that Chris Sligh is an artist, not just a singer. I really want to establish that my songwriting is as or more important than my singing. That my production head space is as vital to my career as my voice is.

Running Back to You was the best album I could make at the time.  It was full of songs we felt were the best ones I had written.  Working with Brown Bannister was one of the greatest experiences someone in the music business could ever have.  And honestly, I still feel that it is and was an incredible debut record.   Not a lot of people get to make a record like mine their first time out...so I was blessed.

This time around, though, the gauntlet is thrown.  It is time to make an album that can live up to anything I've ever dreamed of making or being a part of.

So many people aspire to make good records.  I'm trying, with this album, to make the greatest album ever.  Obviously, the odds are against me meeting my goal.  However, as artists, I think we should aim for the stars.  I want for my record to be something that U2 or Coldplay or {insert an artist} would be proud to have made.  That's my goal.  

So, this week we took another step towards trying to meet my goal.  We went into the studio and jammed to write songs.   The guys in my band aren't necessarily "songwriters" in the sense that they don't do a lot of sitting down and just songwriting.  But they are some of the most creative people I know...plus Don Chaffer was there and he brings to the table both creativity from the point of pop sensibilities plus off the wall crazy creativity, too.

The thing that was cool about the writing session on Monday & Tuesday was that if I sit at home and just write from an acoustic guitar, I really am only able to bring a certain thing to the table.  I can try and come close to writing something rocking, but ultimately it needs the band to fill it out.  What we did in the studio was jam and put together songs with ideas that I never could've come up with on my own, or even with just me and Don in my studio writing.  5 heads come up with cooler and different stuff than 2 heads.

The stuff we wrote in the studio exceeded my expectations by a thousand miles.  We wrote upbeat rocking stuff.  We wrote rocking weird stuff (if you know music this will make sense - one song, we wrote the chorus in 7/4 time).  We wrote emotional piano ballad stuff along the lines of some Coldplay stuff.  We wrote some really cool down ballad-y stuff...I mean in 8 songs we wrote exactly what my album needed.

Now over the next few weeks, I'll be spending time writing lyrics and melodies over the musical pieces we wrote. And I'm pumped about it...I feel like these musical pieces give me the opportunities to write some really different stuff than I've ever written.

So...less about those songs specifically and more to the general album...

It looks like there will be 14 songs on the record.  We are breaking the album up into 2 sections.  The first 4 songs will be "THE SINGLES"; the next 10 songs will be "THE ALBUM".  And the credits will be delineated in that way.  

Someone asked if this album will be more like RBTY or TACOSB.   I guess a little of both and a little of neither. The singles are going to be mixed like singles and will sound like radio...perhaps even more than RBTY.   The album, however, is going to be very artistic.  Think a U2 or Coldplay record from a sonic standpoint.  

From a song standpoint, the singles will be straight down the middle CCM.  They are already written and ready to go.  In fact, I'll go ahead and give you the titles:

1.  I Am

2.  To the World

3.  I'm Ready

4.  You Are

The last 10 songs will be chosen from about 25 so far...maybe more depending on what I write between now and then.  There are a few that I'm pretty sure will be there, but you never know.  

My point of this post is that I'm pumped about the new album.  I'm pumped for you guys to hear, though it'll probably be next March or April or something like that.  But I'm pumped about this record!

Writing Today

So, today, I spent 10 hours writing for the new album.

Don Chaffer, who is co-producing the album with Derek Webb and me, came into town from Kansas City for a couple of days to plan the album and to write with me for the record. We got the idea to get my live band in a studio with Don and I to jam and hopefully write the music to a few songs over a couple of days. If nothing else, we might get some snippets that could be morphed later into songs.

So, Jon Skaggs, Tommy Lee, Clint Milburn, Don and I went into a little studio off of Music Row called House of David and spent the day jamming and writing.

We ended up writing the music for 4 songs! 3 of them I'm pretty sure will be on the next record...it all depends on how the turn out once lyrics and melodies are on the music bed we wrote (which I'll be working on over the next couple of weeks).

Tomorrow, Derek will be joining us to write - so hopefully some cool stuff will come out of that!

VOTE VOTE VOTE

Not for American Idol.

For me!!!!

I'm nominated for New Artist of the Year at the Dove Awards and this year, everyone in the world can have a hand in voting! You, my friends (and cyber acquaintances) can vote for me, and I am asking you to.

Go to gospelmusichannel.com and look for the Dove Award voting and then vote for me for New Artist of the Year!

Do it and do it often!

Thanks! Let's get a victory together.

Busy Busy Busy

So, life has been busy. Understatement. For sure.

I need to do better of staying in touch.

I've been writing. A lot. In March I've already got 12 writing sessions on top of about 10 shows. Plus I'm writing for my record....which is going really well, by the way.

I had about 20 songs written for the next record plus Requiem. Over the last few weeks, we were deciding who would co-produce album #2 with me. We talked with several different guys but finally came to 2 guys who will co-produce with me: Derek Webb and Don Chaffer. Derek is a solo artist who used to be part of the band Caedmon's Call. Don is the lead singer of the band Waterdeep. Don is also the guy who wrote the song "You are So Good to Me" that was a big worship hit for Third Day a while back.

Both of these guys have a huge rep for being true artists, so I think my goal of making a more artistic record has become much closer to a reality. I'm really excited about them working on my record!

Um..what else?

I guess not much else...just lots of writing!

Requiem

So - a while back I told you guys about the Requiem I had written. A little explanation...

When I studied classical music in college, I really became entranced by composers. I wanted to be a composer. In a way, I guess am, though my compositions are different than classical composers. But when I studied those composers, I found that nearly all of them wrote Requiem masses. The reason why they did this was they were normally hired by rich people who, when a friend or family member died, would honor the dead by paying famous composers to write a great musical piece using the text from the Requiem Mass.

Over those years, I studied and sang many performances of Requiem masses and have always thought it would be cool to write one of my own. Now, that I'm in the pop/rock category, I thought it would be even cooler to write a pop/rock Requiem.

So, I took the Latin text, found several different translations and proceeded to either write songs based on the text or wrote songs using the text directly. The text is simply Scripture or adaptations of Scripture, so it was cool to dig in and try to write songs that both fit my theological place in life now and stayed true to the text.

Catholic doctrine is different in some places than what I believe, so the one text that pretty specifically spoke of Purgatory, I wrote a song based on the ideas of the text, instead of quoting the text directly.

The real recordings will have chamber orchestra and boy's choir, and they will of course sound better than the demos...but the demos I did a while back ended up very nice, I think.

Anyway, I've put the entire Requiem up over at myspace.com/chrisslighproductions.

Go, listen and let me know what you think...

Here Comes the Charts!

Hot Shot Debut, most increased plays and most added!



62 adds!



Gained over 46k plays!

Crazy!!!

This is not even a full week of plays people! I think radio likes this song!

The Story behind the music: "Here Comes Goodbye"

Clint Lagerberg is literally the smartest, most incredible writer I've ever had the chance to write with - and over the last year, I've gotten to write with a lot of really, really great writers. And, no, I'm not just saying that because Clint cowrote the song that just got cut by Rascal Flatts. I was saying that long before Flatts ever put our song on hold and even longer before Flatts released the song as their first single for their upcoming album Unstoppable (due April 7).  

Clint was my cowriter on Empty Me the first single from my record Running Back to You that came out almost a year ago now.  When we wrote together the first time, I was blown away by his discipline and his attention, not to every detail but every detail that mattered.  

In April of last year, Clint and I had a writing session on the books.  When I got to his house in Spring Hill, he told me about this new program he had devised to try and get a cut on the Rascal Flatts album, which he knew was looking for songs at the time.  He had gone through every Flatts song and come up with an entire album's worth of titles.  With each title, he had a basic idea for the song, a line or two for each one, and a feel (up-tempo, ballad, etc.) for each one.  Genius.

The one that I gravitated toward was a title "Here Comes Goodbye".  Clint had the idea that a guy hears his lover coming up the driveway and slowly figures out that she's saying goodbye.  The line he had written down was "here comes goodbye."

With those elements as a GREAT starting point, we sat down and spent the next couple of hours trying to figure out how to word it.  Clint had the first line: "I can hear the truck tires coming up the gravel road".  For the next line we wanted to give the feeling that something was wrong.  It took us nearly an hour of throwing things around (and getting on rabbit trails talking about music) before we settled on "and it's not like her to drive that slow with nothing on the radio".  We thought maybe it should be about a sad song on the radio.  We threw out female artist's names with lines like "...with Loretta on the radio" and "...and Martina's on the radio".  Finally we settled on nothing being on the radio.

We then wanted to create the sense that with each footstep, with each sound, the dread is building up in the protagonist's mind.  We tossed around and tossed out several ideas before landing on "footsteps on the front porch, now I hear my doorbell; she usually comes right in, now I can tell".  How better to paint a picture of something being wrong than the fact that your girlfriend/significant other usually comes in but she's now ringing the door bell.  And suddenly our guy knows that he and her are through.

The line "Here comes goodbye" is a great line, but we struggled with where to go.  We spent close to an hour going back and forth with different approaches.  Once we know goodbye is here, how do we paint a picture of heartbreak?  After a while, I remember suggesting we treat goodbye like an animate object, and then treat other things that come with break up like animate objects.  It became "...here comes the last time, here comes the start of every sleepless night, the first of every tear I'm gonna cry...here comes the pain."  Those 4 lines took us forever, but once we had them we knew we had something special.

We ended the chorus with taking it almost into the future: "Here comes me wishing things hadn't ever changed and she was right here in my arms tonight...here comes goodbye."  As we wrote it, I remember singing through what we had and getting chills, thinking that this song was approaching love lost in a way that I hadn't seen before.  Like I said, Clint is a genius.

Clint has a great project/demo studio in his house, with lots of toys (guitars, keys, etc.).  I was playing piano and he was playing acoustic.  And we had written an entire treatment of the verse music that was really good, but somehow wasn't kicking our butts like the chorus music was.  I mean, we would sing through the chorus and get chills...the verse didn't really do the same thing.

I had to leave because my parents were in town, and Clint was going to have me lay down the piano part to have so we didn't forget it.  His daughter, Abby, was downstairs and was being really quiet...with 5 year olds, when they're quiet it usually means trouble, so Clint went to go check on her.  As he went downstairs, I began messing around with a piano part that I had had in my bank for a while, just messing around.  Clint came back up (Abby is an angel, and was just playing quietly) and I remember telling him that next time we got together we should write a song to this piano riff.  He listened for a little bit, then told me to try it with the verse lyric.  And boom!  It fit like a glove.  We threw out the old verse music and I laid down what is now the opening haunting piano riff at the beginning of the song.

After I laid down the part, I left and hung out with my parents.  The next morning, Clint called me and said, "Man, I think I just wrote the 2nd verse last night without you."  I was a little disappointed at first, 'cause I LOVE the chase of finding the right thing to say in the second verse.  But my disappointment soon turned to elation, when he read me this lyric:

"I can hear her say I love you like it was yesterday

And I could see it written on her face that she had never felt this way

One day I thought I'd see her with her daddy by her side

And violins would play 'Here Comes the Bride'

But...here comes goodbye..."

We were both silent for a second and then I cleared the lump from my throat and said, "Dude, we just wrote our first big hit, didn't we?"

The next day, we got together and wrote the bridge.  The day after that Sean McConnell (a good friend of Clint's and another amazing singer/songwriter - google him NOW) came into Clint's studio and sang the demo.  The morning after that, Clint and I turned it into our publishers.  And later that day I got a call from my publisher saying that Joe Don Rooney (Flatts' guitar player) had heard the song, loved it and put it on hold!  I flipped out...once I figured out what it meant to have a song on hold.

Then, came the long, long wait.  Finally at the beginning of November, my publisher called me and told me that Dann Huff (the producer) had called saying, "We just cut the crap out of your song!"  I knew what that meant!  And I was elated!

Now, lots of songs get cut for huge projects like this.  But not all of them make the record.  So, we weren't in the clear yet.  Last week, my publisher called me and said, "I just talked to Dann Huff and asked him if our song had made the record."  At this point, my heart started to pound, because my publisher sounded very sad.  She sighed.  "He said that he wasn't sure if it was gonna make the record."  She paused and my heart sank.  Then she continued, "But he said we'll know by Thursday if it's the first or second single!!!"  And I was in shock.

Then on Wednesday, I was driving to Atlanta for a show and got the phone call from my publisher again..."It's the first single!"  And I almost drove off the road.

Hear the song here

Click Here

You can hear Rascal Flatts' song "Here Comes Goodbye" that I wrote with my good friend Clint Lagerberg.

Life Moves On...

Well, as exciting as last week was, it's time for life to move on. The Flatts' single comes out this week and officially goes for adds next week, so it will be cool to hear the song on the radio. I've got a few shows coming up this month, but for the most part am free.

I finish up with Rough Draft tomorrow (hopefully - the guys have been sitting around for a while waiting to be done). We're done with vocals and all tracking, now it's just adding weird sound effects and guitar stuff. This project is gonna be cool.

Still writing for the next album, too. I think I've found the person who is going to coproduce the album with me...more on that once all the deals are in place. But I'm excited about the follow up to RBTY.

Anyway, the show with Risa went awesome. Thanks to her for thinking of me. I think we're gonna make this an annual thing...kinda like the picnic...which we WILL be having again this year. So plan on coming!

NOW, it's official

Well, I made a little boo boo by announcing this 2 days too early...apparently everyone is superstitious and until the label announces the single, so my announcing preceding the label announcement is poo pood. But anyway here it is...

Rascal Flatts has recorded "Here Comes Goodbye", a song I wrote with my good friend Clint Lagerberg (who cowrote "Empty Me" with Tony Wood and me).

We finished the song in April last year on a Monday. The demo was recorded on Tuesday and Rascal Flatt's label heard it and put it on hold on Wednesday. Since then we've been waiting around to find out what was happening.

It was the last song they decided to record and from what we've heard, the producer and label (and the band themselves) feels strongly that this song is going to be a good thing for Rascal Flatts. So good, in fact, that the song is officially the band's first single. It goes to radio outlets on Monday. The official add date is Jan 26, I believe. So, listen for my/their song on radios around the world very, very soon!

This is a huge deal! I can't believe this is happening!

Please buy the song when it hits iTunes and buy the record when it comes out April 7!

Rough Draft

So, I've been working for the last couple of weeks with a band out of Colorado called Rough Draft. I'm really excited about this band. I met them out at the GMA Seminar in the Rockies and was impressed with their performance there. I talked with them a little bit back then, and asked to hear more music. Then, in September, we played a couple of shows with them out in Colorado and I was very impressed with their live show. So, I offered to produce them basically for free.

So, since the 5th, the band and their road manager Greg have been staying with Sarah and me, working on a 7-song EP that I think is going to be pretty incredible. The songs range from the rocking single "Calling Me Back to You" to the song the band wrote for their work with Compassion (simply called "Compassion Song") to one of the coolest songs I've ever had the chance to work on "Here I Am" (uses full band plus tympani, cymbal swells, tambourine, a HUGE bass drum, shakers, and various percussion plus massive gang vocals to end the song).

I think that you guys are going to LOVE this band and this EP. I feel strongly that this band is going to be signed and is going to be a major player in Christian music in the next few years. I also think they have the chops to cross over to the mainstream, if the right record label is involved.

Anyway, just wanted to let you guys know about this band. You'll probably get to see them on the Back to School Tour part deux this fall.

Teaser

Well, a while back, I told you guys that a successful country group had put my song "Here Comes Goodbye" on hold. That was in April of last year. 9 moths have come and gone. In October I found out that the song had in fact been recorded by said group (who will be left unnamed at this juncture). They recorded the song, but there were no guarantees that the song would make the album. Nashville is weird about overcutting and literally artists will not decide what songs go on their albums until the day that it is due at the manufacturers. So, I've tried to keep my hopes down just in case everything didn't go through.

However, I received word yesterday that not only will it be on the album of said artist, it will be a single, with a good probability of being the 1st single!

So, look to hear my song on country radio very very soon!

Empty Me: Video

I asked. You submitted. Time passed. You asked. Now I sumbit.

Arise: The Video

This is probably my most serious moment as an artist.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

I wrote a twitter about this movie, but I wanted to expand a little more.

Sarah and I went and saw this film yesterday, and I don't think I've ever been affected like I was by this film.  I'm the type of person who is rarely moved by a movie or tv show.  My wife jokes that I have a stone heart.  I just am not an emotional person - competitive, yes; emotional - not so much, especially with film.  I've seen a lot of movies, both good and bad and the stories have been told - for the most part - many times before.  Some tell it better than others, but for the most part, it's rare a story takes you by surprise.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is one of those surprises.

Sure, we all know it's based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald story about the life of a man who is born old and dies young.  Interesting...not too many stories like that.  My interest was piqued when I heard about the story.  Then I read an interview where Brad Pitt talked about Eric Roth's treatment of the story being summed up in "youth is wasted on the young".  Okay, my interest is even more piqued.

When I put together that David Fincher (director of 3 of my favorite films - Se7en, Fight Club and The Game) directed the film and Eric Roth (screenwriter of Forrest Gump) had written the screenplay, my excitement grew for the film.  It was looking like it could have the makings of a great film.  Plus Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett (as well as Julia Ormond) are not too shabby as actors.

But, we've all seen the films that looked like they had EVERYTHING going for them that fell flat on their face (Gigli anyone?)  Well, earlier in this post and with my twitter, I've probably given away how I thought it worked out.

First off,  David Fincher has created a beautiful film.  Every scene is perfectly lit and perfectly shot.  Each filter of light, each scene is perfectly staged and every piece of this film fits.  But plenty of films are beautiful to look at but fail in other ways.  

The actors are incredible.  I don't know that I've ever seen Brad Pitt act this well since maybe the mid-90s.  He is subtle, funny, overt when he needs to be and always seems to catch the motivation for each scene.  Cate Blanchett is, well, always great...I don't know that I've ever seen a film of hers that I didn't think she was fantastic in.  The film used a new brand of special effects with this film instead of makeup to make the actors look both young and old.  So when you see Cate Blanchett as an old lady, it is actually her, not an old lady playing Cate Blanchett.   When Brad Pitt is an old man stuck in the body of a child, it is actually Brad Pitt not a child playing Brad Pitt.  And it is convincing.

Ultimately, though all those other things are great, it's the script that wins here.  Eric Roth created a script that is reminiscent of Forrest Gump (the story is told from the present time, narrated by the main character and is split up into vignettes where sections of the story are told)  The script is filled with great characters, each one with a convincing backstory and enough time on screen to make a splash - from the tug boat captain that hires a young (stuck in an old body) Benjamin to his first job to the father that gives up Benjamin as a baby only to return to his life later on to the first real love of Benjamin's life (a woman he meets during his time in Russia).  

The story is well-told, the script is tight (even though the film is close to 3 hours) and it is entirely effective.  I had tears several times through the film and when I left the theater, it took a good 20 min for me to gain complete control of my emotions.  The movie is that good.   I've mulled over scenes again and again.  

I can tell you whole-heartedly to see this movie.  

4.9 out of 5 stars

Heart Broken

I've been a Colts fan since my sophomore year of college.  The moment Peyton Manning was drafted by the Colts, I finally had a reason to believe that one of my closest college friends - who was also a fan of Ball State University - wasn't completely crazy.  Peyton was a Tennessee boy, so when he went to Indianapolis, I had to believe that it was okay to move my allegiance from the 49ers of my childhood (Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Roger Craig, Tom Rathman, etc) to the Indy of my adulthood.

Sure they went 3-13 Peyton's first year and it was tough watching Peyton get his rear end handed to him Sunday after Sunday.  But it was something to build on.  He and Marvin Harrison seemed like a good team and Aaron Whisler and I were happy to cheer on the then hapless Colts.

Over the years, Peyton has proved that he is the best quarterback in the game.  Tom Brady is good, don't get me wrong - I hate him and the Pats, but he's a good QB.  Favre holds all the records, but the dude has played a bazillion years and to go along with all the good records, he also holds the record for most incompletions and most interceptions.  I'll take Peyton's 95 career passer rating over Favre's 4 interceptions week 17.  Some people says it's arguable; I say it's laughable to think anything else - Peyton is the best QB ever in the history of the NFL.

And he has a Super Bowl ring to go with the stats.

But dangit!  Why can't they ever just win a freaking easy playoff game?!!  It's the Chargers and they are freaking 8 and freaking 8.  They lost 8 games this year.  Granted all 8 losses were by a total of like 34 points, but still!  They LOST 8 GAMES!!!   I want to cheer my Colts...my once hapless, now consistently playoff hapless...to the Super Bowl.  I wanted a Manning-Manning Super Bowl and I wanted to watch those stinking Giants go down in a ball of fire as my boy passed for a Super Bowl record 17 touchdowns.  I know...that's more than 4 per quarter, but I could see it happen.  Peyton is the man.

So, I'm heart broken.  I'll still watch the playoffs.  I'll have to cheer for someone else.  Probably some crappy team like the Steelers or maybe the other, less talented Manning.  Maybe Tennessee, since I am a Nashville boy now.  Now that I think about it, yeah, I'll cheer the Titans on. 

But Peyton, I want you to know, I'm not angry with you.  I'm just disappointed with you.  I know, I know...it was the defense that gave up stupid stupid long runs to Darren Sproles, a pygmy who somehow runs over guys 4 times his size...I get it.  But you shoulda thrown 17 touchdowns so that the pygmy didn't matter.

Merry Christmas

Sorry I've been disconnected...been busy and have family in town.

But I wanted to take a moment to say thanks and merry Christmas.  You guys have made my year awesome!

Peace and love!

Chris

On the Road...again

I'm sitting in the green room of our first Christmas show here in Louisville, KY.  We were picked up at 5:30 this morning in Nashville.  Early mornings are not fun, people.  Especially when...well, let me tell the story.

We had a great time over Thanksgiving...we went to Greenville and saw family, hung out with friends that we haven't seen in a while, etc.  It was great.  We were going to go to Seacoast on Sunday, but then figured out that with leaving at 5:30, we were going to have to pay for another day with dogs' kennel stay, so we decided to leave in time to pick them up last night.

We gave ourselves six and a half hours to get to Nashville, what is normally a five and a half hour drive.  Then, we lost an hour and a half on I-40.  It narrowed down to 1 lane for literally a quarter of a mile.  A quarter of a mile cost us an hour and a half.

Then traffic was pretty incredibly high volume.  That slowed us down.  All in all, it took us almost 8 hours to get home.  That kinda sucked.  We didn't go to Seacoast and we didn't get the dogs...lose-lose.

We stayed up washing all my clothes and getting the merch ready for the tour, etc. and finally got to bed about 11:30pm.  4:30 of sleep later it was up and to the buses downtown and off to Louisville, where I'm sitting now.

So...

The Christmas EP is out this week.  It'll only be at shows.  So, contact those members who are going to shows and have them pick one up for you!  It's the 4 songs that I let you hear the demos for earlier...all mixed and mastered!  They sound really good!  In fact, it's encouraged my label and management to be okay with me producing the next album.

Speaking of that...this year has been pretty remarkable for a new artist: January and the beginning of February were spent finishing the album.  Mid-February, I finished mixing the album 1 day and drove out with Jon Skaggs to start the promo/radio tour the next.  That lasted till April.  Then GMA week.  Then, more promo.  Then the first leg of the tour.  Then vacation.  Then touring, touring, touring!

This year will end with me playing 117 real shows.  On top of that I've made about 150 appearances on tv, radio, websites, interviews, etc.  That's the ones I can count.  I feel like there've been more that I just didn't keep track of.  I'm tired, to be honest.   But I think the NewSong Christmas tour is going to be pretty restful, even though we're playing almost every night!  At least I get to sleep on a bus every night instead of trying to lay down in a van!

Next year...well, next year is looking to be pretty crazy.

In January, I'll record the majority of the 2nd album.  What?!!!  I know I haven't even let you guys know about this yet!  I have 13 songs that we're going to record, plus the Requiem and there may be more later!  But we feel like we need to be ready to release in September of 2009 if we HAVE to, even though we probably won't release it till some time in early to mid 2010.  So, I'll be hitting the studio the first 2 weeks of January to track the songs.

Then the next 2 weeks, in between weekend shows, I'll be producing a band out of Colorado called Rough Draft.  We're gonna be doing an EP of 6 songs or so to try and help them get signed.  I'm excited...I really like their stuff and I think they have a great possibility to be great.

Then in February to the beginning of March I'll be hitting the road on a headlining tour with Meredith Andrews and possibly Phil Stacey (depending on his schedule with recording his new album and such).

Then in March I hit the road with Natalie Grant.  We're doing 35 or so shows through April and into May a little bit.  That'll be fun.  We're doing 1500-2500 seat places and I'll be going on right before Natalie every night, doing a 35 min set!  So, that'll be really fun!

Then in May, I'm working on a couple of bands with major labels...I'll be producing them hopefully around that time.  

In June throughout the summer, I'll be headlining the faith nights at about 35 minor and major league baseball parks before games.  I'll probably have an opener, though I'm not sure who that will be.  And that will be booked around festivals all summer long.

Then in Sept - Oct, I'll be hitting the Back to School tour again!  I'm excited about that.  This time, we have a lot more time to organize and we'll make it an actual tour with an opener or two and it should be really cool.

Somewhere in there, I'll be finishing recording the Christmas album, doing auditions for tv/film (we just signed with a new agent in NY) and producing as many acts as I can.

Next year is going to be busy, busy, busy.  

So, all that to say this: thanks so much for helping me have the year I've had.  It's been really great and you guys have had much to do with my success this year!

I'm back

So, I've been conspicuously away from the blog for 12 days.

Hey, no biggie...I'm back.

The Stripped Tour went well.  I'm hoping to make this a yearly thing.  It was a lot of fun - Jon Skaggs, Jason Walker and I bonded and became closer and truly had a great time.

All the shows were cool and I think the story-telling/stripped down arrangements work really well.  I still am in love with the rock show we normally do, but once a year I think it will be cool to do a stripped down thing.

This weekend, I do the gig in memory of Kelsey in Virginia.  She was the girl that passed away in a car accident on the way to our gig in Fredricksburg, VA a while back.  Obviously a sad situation.

I sent the family an mp3 of my song "Faith Begins" and told them the story of how that song came to be: I was in a band called the Chris Sligh band back in 2001-2003.  Joseph Bunn was my keyboard player for the whole time.  The band broke up when all of the guys went to college and at that point I started Half Past Forever with 2 new guys and 2 guys from CSB.  Like 3 months later, Joseph was on his way back up to school at North Greenville (where I finished up) and apparently fell asleep at the wheel.  His car went off the road, he was thrown from the vehicle and was killed.  It was the first person close to me that I dealt with the death of, and I just could not understand why this was happening.  For the first time, I was struggling with questions with God and as I worked through all that stuff, I wrote "Faith Begins" (which is on myspace.com/chrisslighproductions).  The family has asked that I sing the song this weekend, so the band is working it up.

Anyway, life is good.

Archuletta

I just listened to Archie's entire album streaming on the Z100 website.

I gotta say, they knocked it out of the park with this album.  My concerns on him being a Rick Astley clone are now completely gone.  The dude sounds GREAT singing really good pop songs.  There's nothing ground-breaking here, but the pop songs are well-written and he sounds really, really good.  

The guy deserves major props.  Er, well the songwriters and producers do, too.

Hail to the Chief

I congratulate Barack Obama for his win tonight.

God is in control, and though some might disagree with certain beliefs he holds, let's not forget that God isn't surprised by this.

I believe Obama could make a great president.  

Join me in praying for him!

Video Reminder

Just a reminder that your videos are due November 2nd!

If you have a Halloween party or something of that sort this weekend, use it as a great way to get a funny video of you in a costume singing "Empty Me"!

Now, get those videos in!

Video Extension

Hey guys, over the past few weeks, we've received enough video submissions to make a great video...but I feel like I've kinda failed in keeping everyone's attention on this.  So, we'll extend the deadline for the videos for another week or so till the Nov 2nd!  That way you can get in some Halloween stuff!

Also, we're changing the requirement slightly.  We'd love for you guys to make a video for the whole song, if you're up for it!  if not, just go by the alphabet (I'll reprint it below) like before.  If you have time and courage, film yourself doing several different things for different parts of the song!  The more you film, the better chance of you being featured for more time in the video! 

So, go make a video!

A-C - 0:00-0:35 (start of song until "to see how it gets in the blood")

D-F - 0:30-1:05 ("I've tasted my share" until "Empty Me" of 1st chorus)

G-I - 1:00 - 1:35 (full 1st chorus)

J-L - 1:30 - 2:05 (full 2nd verse - "I've seen just enough...")

M-O - 2:00 - 2:35 (full 2nd chorus plus 1st "everything is a lesser thing" from bridge)

P-R - 2:30-3:05 (full bridge - starts with "everything is a lesser thing" - plus guitar solo - DO A CRAZY AIR GUITAR SOLO!)

S-V - 3:00-3:35 (quiet chorus until 1st "empty me of me so I can be" of last chorus)

W-Z - 3:30-4:05 (first "empty me of me so I can be" of last chorus until the end of the song - MAKE SURE TO MAKE THOSE HIGH NOTES AT THE END LOOK AS PAINFUL AS POSSIBLE!)

Empty Me: VIDEO!!!

Hey guys,

So we need your videos in ASAP!  We've gotten a few in already but we need more, more, more.

So, even if you did a 30 second clip, you can do something else for the whole video if you like!

So, go and make a video!

Another couple of Christmas tunes

I just put all 4 Christmas tunes from the EP over at myspace.com/chrisslighproductions!  Go checka-check 'em out!

By the way, the EP should be out by the beginning of December.  Just in time for my stint on the NewSong Christmas tour.  It will only be available nationally on iTunes and in concert.  On iTunes, I think it'll be $2.99 and in concert, you get it free with the purchase of Running Back to You.

So, you've heard all the songs in demo form....are you guys excited to hear the final versions?  I go into the studio this week to record drums and then, with some newly acquired recording gear, will be finishing up in my home studio!  Then it's off to mix then to master, then from my studio to your ears!

Gina Glocksen

So, this week, Gina Glocksen is in town, staying with Sarah and me.  I've been on Gina for months to come into town to write songs for her record...she finally had time when I had time and she came Monday night.

Tuesday morning we wrote with Jason Walker.  We got a great 70's vibing modern pop song that is really cool.  Then, Jason came up with a cool piano riff that Gina and I took after Jason left and made a great song.  Both songs are great, but the second one we wrote is freaking awesome!  It's just nice pop piano ballad, but the words are pretty awesome...she really dug inside and wrote some great stuff from life experience.

Wednesday, we wrote with a new friend of mine, Adam Smith.  Adam is, in my humble opinion, one of the most talented people I've worked with in Nashville....or ever.  He is a great musician who knows music and loves music and has a ton of knowledge of how to get great sounds and write great songs using those sounds.  We wrote a KILLER song with Adam.  Really cool synthy pop rock.  

I think you guys are gonna be blown away with the stuff Gina is doing.  It's edgy, different and rocking - but rocking with autonomy...in other words, it's not JUST big guitars.  It's got cool keyboards and interesting stuff going on with the guitars instead of just stacking a bunch of guitars in order to "rock".

Anyway...today, we wrote with Jeff Spence, who wrote "When Did You Go" with me.  Gina recorded that song, too (and she sounds GREAT on it!).  She loved "When Did You Go" so it was natural to get Jeff over to write, too.  We wrote another killer pop rock song.  It's a party song and it sounds great!

Tomorrow, we are writing with Clint Lagerberg, who of course wrote "Empty Me" and "Here Comes Goodbye" with me.  I expect that I'll have another song or two to talk about!

So, look for new music from Gina Glocksen very soon.

What Child

Moved all the mp3 over to myspace.com/chrisslighproductions...

Go listen to all 4 Christmas songs!

New Music

So, I wanted to give some real quick thoughts on some new music I've been listening to lately.

First off, Downhere's "Ending is Beginning" is seriously wearing a hole in my iPod (if that were at all possible).  I've listened to it a ton and I'm more impressed now than I was when I originally posted about it.  You have got to get this album, then tell a friend to - after they've bought Running Back to You - buy this album.

Secondly, Ben Folds' new album Way to Normal came out this week.   Be warned...there's a Parental Warning.  Apparently, Ben's recent divorce and remarriage unleashed his ascerbic wit, and from an artistic standpoint, amazing creativity.  He's always been a favorite of mine, but this stands up with any work he's done in the past, if not surpasses it.  It is a GREAT album.  Not perfect and there is some language to deal with, but if you can deal with objectionable elements, this album is his best easily since Rocking the Suburbs.  

Thirdly, I'm still chewing on Bebo Norman's new self-titled album.  It's good.  On first listen, I thought it was his best in a long time.  It definitely holds up better than his last album.  But the more I listen to it, the more I kinda feel like it's uni-dimensional.  The songs are well-written.  The production is competent.   But after listening a couple of times, you've got it.  Or at least I feel like I got it.  I'm a huge Bebo fan.  But this album may need a little more time in my ears for me to just LOVE it.  It's a good to very good album.  I don't know that it's great yet.  More to come on that.

Fourthly, I'm in love with Darius Rucker's second solo album.  You may remember him as Hootie.  Hear this album and he'll just be Darius.  Great country music.  That's right, I said country music.  Haha...check this album out.  For sure.

Lastly, I'm really enjoying Kings of Leon's Because of the Times.  This ethereal garage rock album (yes, I put those words together) is fantastic.  It's probably not for everyone...there's a lot to dig into...but if you can dig it is GREAT.  I like their past stuff, but this one especially is great.  It's kind of earlier U2 meets Nirvana meets southern rock.  Weird mixture, but it ends up really great.

Sales Report

By the way, guys, I haven't given a sales report in a while.

2 weeks ago was the first week we dipped under 1k sold (983) in the over 4 months that the album has been out, and this last week it popped back over 1k...so, slow but steady. 

For the year, we're at a little over 33k.  The label and management thinks that by the end of the year, we'll be at 50k!  And "Arise" isn't expected to make significant headway until after Christmas!  When "Arise" takes off (hopefully) and then the third single comes out, it will (again, hopefully) continue to drive sales.  By the time, the 2nd album comes out, I think it's comfortable to say 100k will be a great goal and 150k isn't out of reach!

Also, we're still neck and neck with Tenth Ave North for best-selling new artist in the Christian genre.

Empty Me: the Video

So, for a while, we've been trying to figure out what to do for a video on "Empty Me.  The song is a special song to me, and as we've been out on the road, we've seen how special it is to so many people, that I knew the treatment of the video needed to be something cool and special.  We've finally figured out how to do it.

You, my friends, can star in my first music video!

We want for you to video yourself in an interesting situation (in front of the White House, in the airport or on a plane - be creative) lip-syncing to "Empty Me".  It doesn't matter the quality of the video: use your cell phone, or use professional quality stuff, if you have it!  Just make sure you have the actual song playing either through headphones or over a sound system to make sure your lip syncing lines up with the actual song.

First off....because we want to make it as easy as possible for you guys, we are asking (depending on what letter your last name starts with) you to do 35-second clips of the song.  Secondly, we're doing this because it will make file sizes smaller.  So...you can totally do the whole song if you'd like to, but it might make more sense for you to do a couple or three 35 second clips.

So, here's the breakdown of names and what 35 second clips you'll do:

A-C - 0:00-0:35 (start of song until "to see how it gets in the blood")

D-F - 0:30-1:05 ("I've tasted my share" until "Empty Me" of 1st chorus)

G-I - 1:00 - 1:35 (full 1st chorus)

J-L - 1:30 - 2:05 (full 2nd verse - "I've seen just enough...")

M-O - 2:00 - 2:35 (full 2nd chorus plus 1st "everything is a lesser thing" from bridge)

P-R - 2:30-3:05 (full bridge - starts with "everything is a lesser thing" - plus guitar solo - DO A CRAZY AIR GUITAR SOLO!)

S-V - 3:00-3:35 (quiet chorus until 1st "empty me of me so I can be" of last chorus)

W-Z - 3:30-4:05 (first "empty me of me so I can be" of last chorus until the end of the song - MAKE SURE TO MAKE THOSE HIGH NOTES AT THE END LOOK AS PAINFUL AS POSSIBLE!)

So...the key to this is going to be your creativity...do crazy things and you WILL end up featured in my first video!

To send it, you will need to use a website called yousendit.com.  The site is pretty self explanatory...you simply upload your file and send it this email address: emptymevideo@gmail.com. 

You need to have your video submission in by October 24 to be in the video!

Now, get to work and thanks for your help in this...I think it's gonna be pretty awesome!

Colorado, Colorado!

We spent 3 days in CO.  Actually, I'm still here...leave bright and early tomorrow morning.  I'm an idiot and still awake.  Been suffering from insomnia lately.  Not sure why.  Just can't sleep.  Feel like crap all the time, but still can't sleep.  Hopefully that passes soon.  I've been told that sleeping pills are an artist's best friend...I might have to go to the doctor to see.  I'm so freaking tired, but can't sleep.  Got so much on my mind, trying to process.

So, what's been up?

Let's see...of course, I did the Requiem.  Been listening to that a lot, trying to figure out ways to make it better.  Also been discussing out how to get the Requiem out there.  I thought I might like to put it at the end of the next album, but I'm second guessing that.  The next album is kind of going in a very poppy direction ("Hands Up" and "Love Remains" prime examples) and I'm not sure Requiem will fit on that record, even separated at the end of the album.   So, we've talked briefly about possibly releasing Requiem as a separate EP on it's own.  I mean, it's 6 songs, 26 minutes...maybe throw a couple more sacred songs on there and it's a good sell...maybe something to tide everyone over till the next album...which may be a while.  Anyway...that's one thing on my mind.

So, not sure if any of you ever read or heard about a novel I was writing long before Idol happened called Locks, Stocks and Sylvia Romero.  Well, it has sat untouched for almost 2 years now.  I recently started working on it again.  (For those that don't know)  The novel is probably going to end up more like a novella.  It's kinda like a bit like a Chuck Palahniuk novel (Fight Club) or like a novelized version of a Coen Brothers movie.   It's zany, weird, character-driven, funny and, in the end, will (hopefully) have gravity to it.  Before Idol I had written 12 chapters (short chapters, but I digress), so I recently started working on chapter 13.  Soon, chapter 14 will come.  So...that's been on my mind.

I'm still working on the screenplay idea I talked about a while back.  In fact, October is a slower month for me, show-wise, so I'm going to spend a good deal of time working on the script.  I have finished the treatment and the scene outline both...so it should be easier to work on a script now.  I think this script has real potential to be really funny.  We'll see...

In October, it looks like I'll be meeting with some new agents for the acting side of things.  My management and I think that tv/film could be a great avenue to put me in...but we need an agent to work for me.  CAA was the agency I was with, but as I started to book shows, we realized quickly that they simply didn't catch the vision for what I wanted to do, so we moved over to Third Coast Agency for my personal booking.  They are so great and they've worked their tails off for me...but they don't have a theatrical/movie/tv side.  So, we're looking at some agencies for that.

In October, Gina will be coming into town to stay with Sarah and me for 5 days.  We'll be spending every day in writing sessions with some of the guys I've written with over the last few months.  Gina's finally beginning to work on a record.  I'm hoping to be able to produce some of her record, too...so we'll see what happens with that.

We're still working hard on the tour for next year.  We're looking at a 5 artist co-headlining tour.  5 artists that are up and comers will go out together, and change off every night who closes the night.  If we can work it out, it's gonna be cool.  Really cool.

In November, of course, we have the Chris Sligh STRIPPED tour.  If you can make one of these shows, make sure to make it...they're gonna be cool.  Jason, Jon and I will be doing a stripped down acoustic show that I think has the possibility to be really, really cool.

The day after Thanksgiving, I start out on the NewSong Christmas tour.  It's NewSong, Rush of Fools, Ayesha Woods and me!  Should be great.  I'll be sleeping on a bus again!  Thank God!  I'm so tired of driving in a van or SUV!  That tour is 15 dates up until Dec. 21.

So, because of the tour, I'll be going into the studio in October to record a Christmas song or 2 to sell out on the road.  So...another thing on my mind.

So, life is busy.  But life is good.

And, we're back to where we started.  I'm in Colorado.  And it is freaking beautiful.  How anyone could believe this just exploded into being, I don't know.  I look at Colorado and know that there must be a Creator.

Downhere - Ending Is Beginning

You must, must, must check out this album.

Downhere is a Canadian band transplanted to Nashville.  They're one of my favorite bands ever...one of my biggest influences.   You'll hear that immediately when you hear this album.  It just came out today and it is their best work yet.

I was up till after midnight listening to it this morning!  It's melodic pop/rock with inspirational, well-written, non-cheesy lyrics.  If you like Chris Sligh, you will LOVE this album.

Go now and you can thank me later!

State of the Union

Well, the Chris Sligh First Annual Back to School tour is coming to a close.  We've had some really, really good nights.  We've had some okay nights.  We made some brilliant decisions, we made a few rookie decisions.  But...overall the B2S tour has been a HUGE success.

It will end up being 30 shows.  We've averaged about 350 a night, overall (about 250 on ticketed nights - some shows were given free).  We had some really big nights, attendance-wise.  We had a couple of nights that were less than 100.

What I have to remind myself is that I'm a new artist.  I'm on my first headlining tour...though I'd love to see thousands of people flock to the shows, I simply have to be patient as I build this thing from the ground up.  However, management and booking and my whole team is extremely encouraged by how well this little experimental tour went.  We definitely will be having the 2nd annual Back to School tour next year!

One rookie mistake we made was putting the tour in August and September.  Apparently, the Christian music industry has a couple of dead times - Christmas (unless you're on a big Christmas tour - more on that later) and August.  Oops.  Little did I know.  So, I booked 21 shows in August - 17 of those headlining shows!  Haha...rookie mistake.

Another rookie mistake was taking crazy-butt drives between shows.  Kansas City to Greenville, SC?!!!  Stupid!  We will try to keep those shows to a minimum.  When I get no sleep, my voice sounds like poop!

Overall, though, the band played GREAT every night.  We had Jason Walker out for about half the shows and he killed it every night!  We got tighter in friendships and that was great.

So...what's going on in the near future.

Well...first of all, October is a slow month show-wise.  But I am writing a ton.  Along with the 7 shows on the books right now, I have 8 writing sessions, and will be adding more.  I have about 20 songs that I've written that have not yet been demo-ed, so I'll be, hopefully, getting a lot of demo work done.

November is filling up.  We have the Chris Sligh STRIPPED tour, with me, Jon Skaggs and Jason Walker that is up to 10 shows now.  We also will have a couple of full band shows.

One exciting bit of news is this: I'll be going out on the NewSong Christmas tour!  It's NewSong (of course), Rush of Fools, me and special guest Ayesha Woods.  We'll be doing 15 shows starting the day after Thanksgiving until December 21!  Yay!!!  I get to sleep on a bus again!  No driving ourselves!  Roadies!!! YAY!!!

Seriously, though, it's gonna be awesome...more on those dates later!

Also, it looks as though in January through March I'll be on a massive tour for like 35-40 dates...we're still working on details, but if it works out...this tour is going to be awesome!

Then, in March-June, I'm working on building my own tour to own, featuring myself and 3-4 other up and coming artists.  Not sure how this will work yet, but if it works out like I have it in my brain, it's going to be cool.

Masterworks

So, I've been a little vacant from the blog.  There's no reason to send out search parties or anything.  Just very busy.

Even when I'm home, I'm working a lot.  Though, I have taken some time to catch up on some of my favorite tv shows, as well as discovering some new stuff.

However, the real reason I've been absent from the blog is I've been working on songs for the next album.  Specifically, a song set called Requiem that I think will be at the end of my next album.

When I was in college and studied music, one thing that almost every composer of note worked on was a Requiem mass.  Schubert, Verdi, Mozart, Beethoven...the list goes on.  All of them worked on Requiem masses.  In the 20th century composers like Rutter have composed their own - more modern, albeit - versions of the Requiem.  So, in college I always had my sights set on composing my own Requiem.

As I've become a composer of sorts in the pop/rock genre, I have been mulling for a while over the idea of composing a pop/rock Requiem set in English instead of Latin and combine it with classical elements.

So, I took the Latin text, found the best translation of the text and then either adapted the text to being a lyric or wrote a song based on the text.  I've spent about 3 months mulling over how to pull it off, and then actually started writing the songs about a month ago.  When I got home, last week, I went to work in earnest on the project.

The hardest part was trying to figure out how to adapt the text.  The Latin text is all Scripture, so sometimes it worked well to simply use the text.  But sometimes the text was obscure Scriptural references to angels and crazy-named places in Palestine...obviously the average listener isn't going to get the references....so, taking the ideas, breaking them down to their basic concepts and then forming a song around them, well, it was difficult.

But...today I finished the basic demos for the song set.  The 9-part text turned into 6 songs.  When they get produced they'll have boys choir, a chamber orchestra, full band, a full choir in places, and much more.  It's going to be a massive production.  But it's gonna be really, really cool!

I can't wait for you all to hear it!

Chris Sligh Stripped

So, I'm doing a mini-tour in November called the Chris Sligh stripped tour with special guest Jason Walker.  

We'll be going out as an acoustic 3-piece, with Jon Skaggs on percussion/drums, Walker on keys, and me on acoustic guitar...should be fun!

We've got 8 shows up on myspace...check 'em out!

Michael Gungor Band

A new album came out yesterday that you need to check out!

Michael Gungor Band's "Ancient Skies".

He's actually a long-time indie artist who wrote the title track a while back and it was cut by Israel and New Breed and was nominated for a Dove Award.  The album is a mixture of U2, Coldplay, John Mayer and more with great inspirational lyrics.

I think you'll love it.

A year has passed

I spent a little time tonight going back and watching old videos from the Idol tour last year.  The tour this year is coming to a close, so a year later...wow, how life is different.

I remember the tight pants I was made to wear for "Thanks for the Memories".  Not cool.  Chubby guys and tight jeans.  Not cool.  But Gina and I had so much fun with that song.  

And the Boy Band.  Wow.  That was awesome every night.  I know we weren't the tightest band.  That wasn't the point.  The point was that when we got to the "Nah-nah-nah-nah's" on "Hey Jude" every night, we had every single person in that stadium in our hands!  I don't know if I'll ever experience that again...10k people singing along with me...hopefully, but you never know...if not, at least I got to experience it once.

Doing "Typical" every night was so awesome.  I know most people didn't know the song and there were times on the tour I wish I'd done a different song.  But to sing one of my favorite songs ever in front of that many people was great.

I miss my castmates.  I miss being in the green room every day with them.  I miss talking about useless information and getting on the bus for a few hours every night heading to the next city.  I miss Blake and his craziness.  I miss Sanjaya and his young messiness, his silliness.  I miss Rich and his kindness.  I miss Phil and his baldness (though I did just hang out with Phil last night).  I lived for almost a year with those guys...and though we're still friends, I don't know if it'll ever be the same.  

I miss the girls, too, don't get me wrong...Gina was one of my best friends...but it was different...the guys were together a lot.

My season got the short end of the stick in a lot of ways, I think.  But here I am a year later doing what I do, my management and label are pumped at how things are going and I'm building something.  Life is good.  

A year has passed.  

Like a virgin

I'd like to take a minute to say that I think that Russel Brand is HILARIOUS.  I think his brand (not a play on words here) of humor is hilarious.  What I saw of the VMA's last night, he was the highlight of the night...he's funny.  Really funny.

However, I would like to give props to my girl Jordin Sparks for standing up for what she believes.  For those who didn't see it, Brand made fun of the fad in Hollywood to wear purity rings.  Jordin came out and said something to the effect of: not everyone, guy or girl, wants to be a slut...and that's okay.  I'm assuming that she doesn't mean that simply having sex before marriage implies slut-dom...but the thought behind what she said is great!

Hey, personal choice is personal choice, but I can say for certain, I am incredibly happy that I waited until I was married to have sex.  And I think my wife would say that same for herself.  

There's no judgement here: everybody has baggage to deal with.  Premarital sex is no worse than the next person's baggage...but it's nice to see Jordin take a stand on one of the biggest broadcast's of the year.

Hearts go out

On Friday night, we played a fun, fantastic show in Fredricksburg, VA.  The show was used as a fundraiser for the Christian school there and in return we had over 900 kids and parents show up to support the school.  All profits went to the school...so it was really cool to help out the school.

I was struggling with sickness all week, but we went out and rocked it!  And the crowd was INCREDIBLE.  It hadn't been since Blake performing on tour that I'd heard so many little girls scream that loud.  It was crazy.  And the boys put on a great show.  My voice was cracking in and out, but it's nice to have the band steady behind me.

It was a great show.  

After the show, about 400 people stuck around for autographs and pictures.  I was wasted.  I went back to our green room to get some rest before we packed up.  As I sat in the little conference room that was acting as our green room, I heard sobs and whimpers coming from what sounded like teenage girls down the hall.

I wandered down to see if whoever was crying was okay.  As I asked, an adult came up and whispered that a senior girl was driving to the concert and had been in a two-car accident and was killed instantly.

My world nearly caved in.  I can not imagine what that family and church and school are going through.  My heart breaks with every thought for the family.  

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is in control.  But sometimes it's hard to reconcile how God is okay with taking a girl so full of promise, so great by all accounts.  It echoes the sentiments we all felt with Amanda leaving us far too early.  I don't understand it.  

Call it naivety.  Call it faith.  But I choose to believe that God is in control, somehow.  I don't think God was surprised by this, nor do I feel He finds pleasure in our pain.  Yet, he uses our pain to build our faith and His kingdom.

But sometimes I can't help but wonder why.

But, ultimately, my questions are irrelevant.  My deeper thoughts on God and faith mean nothing.  All that matters is that a family is hurting.  Deeply.  And my heart...I don't think I'm going too far out on a limb to say, our hearts...go out to them.

Please keep the family and friends in prayer.

Her name was Kelsey Orndorff.

Daylight is coming/here

Remedy Drive's new album Daylight Is Coming is out today.

Please support these guys (if you like the music, of course).   They're a great band, and Jason Walker wrote with them and has gotten to know them and really thinks they're great guys.

I'm hoping to do some shows with them at some point...I really like them.

David Cook

I hung out and wrote with Luke Menard today.

He told me a story that I got his permission put on here.

Luke Menard found out he had cancer the week of the finale.  2-3 days before David Cook performed in the finale, trying to win Idol, he took time to come to Luke's hospital room in L.A.  I can tell you from experience that the final 2 don't have time to use the restroom, nonetheless break away to see a friend in the hospital.  So, that sacrifice alone says a lot about the dude.

But this story blew me away:

Luke recently did a fundraising concert to help pay for his mounting medical bills.  So, his hometown put on a concert to help pay for said bills, and Luke performed.  David Cook sent a signed guitar as a donation to be sold in the auction.  Nice enough, right.

Then, as the concert/auction/fundraiser was starting, David called and told Luke to let the audience know that whatever they bought the guitar for, he would match personally dollar for dollar.  And he did.

Now, David didn't pay off Luke's bills...he still needs help...but that act of sacrifice was pretty incredible, and, to me, says what kind of guy David is.

Hey, in my first EW blog I questioned if he came across as cocky.  But, speaking as someone who is misread a great deal, I have a feeling David is misread also.

So...just a little story.

Coming Up!

So, it was great to see Risa and Candy this weekend!  Seriously, we've gotta get to Little Rock because it is not fair that you have to drive so far to come and see me.

But then, Carmen has driven way further...so, you know what, Risa, quit your complaining!  LOL

Seriously, though...Candy and Risa, thanks for coming out...it means the world to me.

So, coming up is some cool stuff:

Thursday, is Bowling Green...that's gonne be a cool show.  I think some of management and booking are gonna be there.  Plus, they have sold a buncha tickets already, supposedly!  So, it should be a big ol' great show!  And...Jason Walker is going out with us for like 10 days!  This will be the first show he'll be playing with us.

Then Friday we travel to KC, MO!  I'm pumped!  I haven't been to KC in about 10 years...it'll be cool to see friends again!  So, we'll hang out on Friday night, then Saturday is the KC Royals game.  I'm doing an acoustic opening set in front of Natalie Grant...so that'll be awesome.  Plus, I get to go to a Royals game.  I used to go see Bo Jackson and George Brett play!  It'll be cool to go see the Royals again.

Then Sunday, I play a church in Lenexa, KS.  We are playing at Lenexa Baptist Church.  I'll do a coupla songs in the morning service, then a show for the evening service that night at 5pm.  Then as soon as we finish, we load up and drive 14 hours to Greenville, SC.  Fun!

I have to be there at 10am to do chapel for North Greenville University.  Then that night at 7pm we do a show for the students.  So, that'll be fun!

Then, while Clint has to go back and practice with another artist he's playing with in October, the rest of us get 2 days off in Greenville!  It'll be great to see old friends and my brother!  

So, that's what's upcoming!

Empty Me to Arise

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later.

Empty Me finally fell.  Back to #8.

Hey, it had an incredible run, but great songs coming up the charts and the fact that I've been on for almost 6 months takes it's toll.  

However, I am proud to announce that, though "Arise" has gone to CHR stations (more rocking stations), it will hit AC (where Empty Me has lived) on August 29!

So, be excited.  One single down....1 to go...after that, let's hope we get 2 more...'cause that'd be great.

David Archuleta - "Crush"

Okay...

So, all season long, I had my doubts about Archuleta.  I thought he had a fine voice, all right, but I just thought he was boring on the show.  On top of that I had real concerns of how he would fit into the landscape of today's music culture.

I just listened to his debut single "Crush".

My initial thoughts are that it is a fine song and any concerns I had about his fitting into today's music business, have been relieved in spades.  He sounds great and I think this is a genuine contender for a hit single!  

If you've known me for any certain amount of time, you'll know I have no problem admitting when I was wrong.  On Archie, I was wrong.  

And, honestly, I'm glad I was.  I wish him all the luck in the world.

Number 7

We moved up once more, probably the final time, this week to Number 7.

Yeah!

Remedy Drive

I try to keep my music recommendations to a minimum so that when I do tell you that something is great, that you believe that I'm serious.  

Remedy Drive is one such band that you should take me seriously on.  They're a new band for Word Records and they are one of the best new bands I've heard in a while.  To me, they're a mixture of Switchfoot, piano-based groups like Keane, Coldplay and Jack's Mannequin, with some Relient K influence in there, too.

They're a brothers group that is incredible and Ian Eskilin produced this record to a tee.  

Check it out August 26.

Back To School!

The Back to School tour just did it's first 3 shows in Southern Illinois, and they went great!  We saw great-sized attendances and the show went great.

Here's our set list:

Intro/Hands Up

Loaded Gun/Eleanor Rigby

Somewhere/Living on a Prayer

Cry Tonight

In a Moment

Something Beautiful

Arise

Broken (beautiful)

Something/I'm Clean

City of Blinding Lights

Potential/Interlude/Empty Me

How Long

Let You Know

Vessel

So, it's an exciting time!  Thanks to all who came out for the first 3 shows.  We have a bunch more to come!

An Alog Heart

A fan gave me David Cook's album Analog Heart from 2006 a while back.  It got tossed into a bin after a show and I didn't find it until today as I was unpacking stuff to repack for the tour dates upcoming.  Anyway, I finally got to listen to it.

I was David Cook fan while he was on the show.  This album, if I weren't a fan wouldn't do anything for me to become a fan, if I'm being honest.  The albums sounds great, but I wish they had spent more time on the vocals...David Cook proved this year he's a fantastic vocalist, and unfortunately, there are many times on here that isn't shown.

However, with that said, this album actually makes me even more excited about his upcoming album.  Why?  Didn't I just say Analog Heart wasn't incredible?  Yes...but overall you can hear his ear for a great song (though the songs weren't all that great here, they were awful close), great arrangements and good production.  The thing about indie albums is that it's tough to find an indie that puts everything together right...on this one, David put together a great album with good songs, and really good production (for the style of music he was going for).  I'm not sure who produced the album or who played on it, but everything sounds really, really good.

So, for those who haven't heard it: you're not missing a lot - in fact, I think that, for once, 19 entertainment got it right, in forcing people to wait for the "real thing".  But trust me (and tons of others who have heard it) in saying that David Cook is a star and he shows great promise of it on this album.

I hear he's working with Rob Cavallo...that's freaking awesome!  Rob produced the Green Day records, the Black Parade album for My Chemical Romance and, most importantly to me: Goo.  Rob produced the greatest Goo Goo Dolls albums...if he can pull the same vocal performances from David that he's pulled from tons of other singers, then this album is going to be a winner.

I've learned my lessons on predicting how many albums someone might sell...so I'll save it.  But I will say this: I think David Cook has every tool he needs to be a best-selling artist.  Doesn't mean he'll be it, but he has the tools, and that's a start!  Now, let's hope his label continues to pour money into radio promotions!

ETA: So we're clear: I am a David Cook fan.  I like his music and this his songwriting shows incredible promise here.  I think that this album is in the 95th percentile for local indie artists I've ever heard (and I've heard a lot).  So, please don't read into this as me trying to bash David Cook or that I'm jealous...I am doing neither!  Thanks for checking out the blog.

Up another...

Empty Me moves up to #8 this week!  

Just be warned though that it may not go much higher...the stations who added 6 months ago when the single first came out are slowly coming off of it, so we'll be losing plays steadily until we drop out of the top 15.  So...we had a great run and we got in a top 10 single!

Just confirming for you...just looked at the R&R Charts and I'm #8 on the main Christian AC chart, and #9 on the Indicator chart, which is the secondary chart!  

Just some little stats: of the 82 stations that are counted, I'm only on 55 of them...yet, I still am in the top 10.  Apparently, the stations that are playing the song are playing it like crazy!  Thank goodness!

Just a note, though.  On the main AC chart, it's my first week without a bullet.  In other words, even though I moved up on the chart, I actually lost plays compared to last week.  Don't get me wrong: I'm hoping it continues to move up the chart, but chances are we've had our run!  And it's been a good one!

Finally...

I've got a new song up on myspace.com/chrisslighproductions.

Just a rough demo. The song is the first one on there...called "Finally...." It's the first song I've ever written with my good friend Don Chapman. We cowrote most of the music then I wrote the words.

I'm pretty positive this will be on the next album.

Finally…
Words by Chris Sligh

Music by Chris Sligh & Don Chapman

I am just light cast on a curtain

Traveling light, still heavy of hurting

A speck of a second of day

A soap bubble floating away
I’m just a guest, passing through slowly
I’ll never find rest, there’s no one that knows me
I’m just a thought, passing on

A steam burst that’s here and then gone 



Felt the sun rising
Just on the horizon

And with it the graceful skies came dancing over me

Favorite childhood games

Memories feel the same
Life in a flash flies by with light that sets me free
I am not of this world

Ooh….
I am not of this world - I can’t see

Follow the light, like pouring rain
It washes over me the same
Wiping every stain

Running down streets, echoed light
Pouring down, chase away the night 

And suddenly it’s right

I’m home; I’m home

Finally home - home

I’m home; I’m home

Finally home - home



Instrumental

I’m home; 
I’m home

I am just light cast on a curtain

Traveling light, still heavy of hurting

A speck of a second of day

A soap bubble floating away

Oh, by the way, it's 7 and a half minutes long.

Top 10

"Empty Me" is the #5 most increased played song of the week, jumping up to #9!

We have a top 10 single, ya'll!!!!

I told you to wait and see.

The Dark Knight

This is not a movie for small children. I'm not even sure kids younger than 15 would be able to understand and process this movie. It is dark. It is violent, though not gory. It is emotional and sometimes hard to watch. It also happens to be one of the best films I have ever seen.

I don't like the "Superhero" genre. Men in tights, wearing underwear on the outside, doing outlandish, unhumanly things aren't really my favorite things to watch. I like reality. I like things to seem real life. Super hero movies never seem to be rooted in reality.

Then "Batman Begins" showed you could make a movie about a normal guy who becomes a vigilante with outlandish toys, yes...but still rooted in dark reality. Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale made what seemed like an odd combination to make a Batman movie, but when it came out, I was blown away. I have said for 3 years that movie was the best superhero movie I have ever seen.

Until now.

But "The Dark Knight" is more than that even. It's one of the finest films ever made, in my opinion. It has everything: drama, action, emotion, humor, and that slight bit of zaniness needed to root a superhero movie with super men and super villians in crazy reality.

Christian Bale gives a multi-faceted performance that is one of his best performances (coming from a HUGE Bale fan - I've seen nearly every one of his movies). Aaron Eckhart gives a remarkably strong performance as Gotham's White Knight Harvey Dent. Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine give inspired supporting performances. Gary Oldman is at his best.

But we land on Heath Ledger.

If Ledger hadn't died in February, I believe his performance in this film would have still put him in the running for an Oscar. He is that good. One of the creepiest, scariest, zany, chaos-inspiring performances ever on film. I think that other superhero franchises should simply shut down, because there will never be a villain that rivals what Heath Ledger did in becoming the Joker. His death, however, should seal a posthumous Oscar.

This movie will break all kinds of records. And, for once, the movie making records actually deserves it.

Well, done Mr. Nolan...I've been a fan since Memento. You have made the greatest superhero movie ever. Thank you.

Another New Song...

...is up on myspace.com/chrisslighproductions.

I really like this one...we have a big artist interested in doing it...I kind of hope he/she doesn't because I really want this song on my record...but, then again, money is good.

The song is called "When Did You Go?"

ETA: Lyrics

When Did You Go

Words and music by Chris Sligh & Jeff Spence


Oh, I hate it here without you

I guess I made it all about you

London’s cold and dark ‘cause you’re not here
It wasn’t long ago, I held you
Right here in this room, I felt you

Slip away, without a single step you disappeared



When did you go, when did you go…

When did you go, when did you go…

When did you go, when did you go away?



Was I careless, did I break it?
I always thought that we could make it

Was there something that I should have done?
If I could start from the beginning
Just rewind and know the ending

Would I see you leaving long before you were gone



Chorus x2


Whoa, I won’t come down until I find you

Whoa, are you looking for me, too?
Are you looking for me, too?
But if we’re really through,
Please tell me….

Chorus

New Song

I just put up a song I wrote with Jason Walker on myspace.com/chrisslighproductions.

It's not what you're expecting, I promise. That's all I'll say.

But...I think it may be on my next album, strangely enough.

Song is called "Hands Up"

The weirdness of radio

Well, I'm tired. Really. Really. Tired. I don't really know why...maybe just the last 6 months of work finally catching up to me. Maybe the fact that even when I'm home, I'm working too hard on demos and new songs and cowriting. I keep telling myself that I have to strike while the iron is hot. I need to work my tail off while I'm at home. Then I realize that I'm slowly burning myself out with 11 hour drives to Traverse City, MI and a week later getting in the car and driving 10 hours back up to Lifest in Wisconsin. Those trips in a packed SUV with 4 men is fun...but tiring.

I'm trying to find a balance. Every person that I'm working with right now says I'm the hardest working artist they've worked with. Ever. I can't figure out if that's sad or awesome. I don't feel like I work that hard. I feel like I do what I need to do to make a living and to try and build something that on the other end of this career will be worthwhile. But literally every time we get together my team breathlessly talks about how hard I work. Artists must be pretty freaking lazy, I guess.

By the way, Lifest and the Cherry Festival were GREAT shows. The band is starting to gel. Well, we still haven't settled on a full-time bass player. Walt, our main guy, is playing with Jeremy Camp right now. Jeremy is big right now...it's a big gig. I'd love for Walt to play with us, but from a financial standpoint, it makes more sense for him to play with Jeremy right now. Down the road, Walt will be my guy again. But we've had a revolving door of bass players. You guys met Tommy. Besides the two of them, we also played a few shows with a guy named Scott...an amazing bass player out of Dallas who played with Jon for Nichole Nordeman. It looks like we've settled on Tommy, though for the Back to School Tour, which is in August and September.

You need to find a way to come to a Back to School date. The show is going to be incindiery. Your face will melt off and your heart will be melted. We've got some big plans

By the way, I put up a bunch of dates for the Back to School tour on myspace. I'll announce the opening act very soon!

Anyway, back to the weirdness of radio.

So, we released "Empty Me" back in February. February 11, actually. We went for adds and have something like 40 stations in the first 3 weeks add the song to their rotation. Then we slowly worked our way among the Third Day's, MercyMe's, and Casting Crowns' releasing big ballad singles. Then in April, the adds just stopped coming. We knew we were connecting in a big way in the markets that were playing the song, but KLove hadn't added and we could not get stations to add the song. It was amazing.

Suddenly the song that we all thought was a top 5 was stuck at number 18 for 8 straight weeks. On top of that, we went 7 of those 8 weeks without receiving a new add from a station. Then, the kicker. In major markets, we were kicking butt in testing, but 1-2 stations nationally had mediocre testing. We only had 70 or so stations spinning the song, so mediocre numbers from a couple were schewing the national testing number down. We were in the top 20-25 in testing, but in order for a lot of radio stations to take a chance on a new artist over an established artist, they have to see at least top 10 testing and usually top 5 or top 3. So, while I was out at the finale for Idol in May, my radio guy and I had a sad conversation talking about giving up on "Empty Me".

I was pretty sad. When we released that single, a lot of people thought it was a top 5. Maybe a number 1. Hearing all these long-time pros get so excited about a song got my hopes up...only to be dashed. I was sad. Not because I want a top 5 or a number 1...but because of what those numbers mean...when you have a top 5, 3 times as many people are hearing your song than where I was at number 18. I just wanted the song to have a chance to connect. I was getting testimonies almost daily on myspace and elsewhere from radio station guys and from listeners whose lives were being touched by the song.

But slowly over a couple of weeks, I gave it up. Without sounding cheesy, I simply gave it over to God and realized that the places where the song was playing, it was connecting. We were selling extremely consistently when other new artists weren't. We were selling tons of downloads of the single. We were connecting. And that was all that mattered.

Then...the weirdness of radio happened.

Klove finally added. And when they added, their however many stations started testing. And started testing very very well. And suddenly, the numbers were schewed their way. 3 weeks ago, national testing came out and I was #2 behind Chris Tomlin's "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" for women 35-54 and women 35-44. And BOOM!! Six months late, the song has new energy. I don't think we'll have a top 5 (because stations that added 6 months ago are coming off of heavy rotation to what they call recurrent - that means we lose 5-15 plays per station that does that), but stations that have not added the song for 6 months are suddenly jumping on the band wagon and being excited about the song!

It is looking like "Empty Me" may be one of the most played songs of the year, whether or not it ever reaches higher on the chart. However, it looks like we'll debut in the top 10 this week, though. It really is amazing. I finally give up and let go of "Empty Me", we decide on a release date for "Arise" and all the plans are moving forward and boom! everything changes.

So..."Arise" is going to CHR (more rock oriented) radio August 1. We're looking at August 29 or September 5 for AC...but if "Empty Me" continues to explode, it may be later than that. It is possible (and this sounds so freaking crazy) that it could be after Christmas before we go for adds on "Arise" at AC.

Ah...radio is so weird.

Twitter

So, I've been dragged into this thing called "twitter".

Basically, it's blogging, but I can do it from my phone and you can receive a text message from me whenever I blog. Twitter's cool...you'll only get twitters from the people who you sign up to receive them from...no giving away info...very private. So, make blogging even more fun!

Go to twitter.com and sign up.

It's gonna be fun.

Fro Patro'

Well, this weekend was awesome!

Friday, Sarah and I got to hang out with DJ, Risa, Carmen and Cathy at breakfast (at IHOP). That was a treat. Everyone chattered away until I had to run to sound check for the show that night. Then, probably 50 for Fro Patro-ers joined 2000 or so others at the show in Mt. Juliet. That show was fun...I thought it was one of our better shows thus far.

The picnic was humbling, moving and fun all in one. Amanda's family decided to make the trip up to hang out with the Fro Patro', so that was incredible. The picnic raised $1225 for St. Jude's the hospital where Amanda was treated up until she went home to Jesus. And, though Amanda was definitely a huge part of the Richness and the E-train, I realized this weekend how large a part of the Fro Patro' she was! Rosalee and the blogger girls put together a little tribute to Amanda that included some quips she had left on the blog...it was so cool to read what Amanda had written along the way. I sat with Amanda family, reading these incredibly kind things Amanda had written about me, choking up that a girl so strong in her faith and so at peace with whatever God had for her could ever possibly look to me as a hero...I am still blown away.

It was great to finally put faces with names, and I think everyone there enjoyed finally meeting the people they've been cyber-talking to for so long. Over a year now! Wow.

I had a vision pretty early on for what I wanted this place to be. I wanted it to be a place where Chris Sligh fans could congregate and hang out online. It would be couched with news from my life and what was going on with me, obviously, but with every new blog, it gave another place for my fans to simply hang out, get to know each other online and form a "core group" (LOL) that would be the foundation for making new fans.

Boy, did my plan come to fruition and some! I think my fans are closer than any fans I've heard of. Gosh, we had people from San Diego (pronounced San Di-Ah-Go, of course), Kansas City, Jacksonville, Little Rock, Phoenix, Birmingham, New Jersey and more! Not counting the people who came from Tennessee and surrounding states! Seriously, 10 states were represented!

And the show last night...wow! I think the band was in top form, my voice was in tune all night long and Jason Walker kicked some major bootie! By the way, (for those at the concert last night) did you guys enjoy Jason as much as I hoped you did? I love his voice. I love his songwriting. You don't have to like him as much as me, of course, but I just wondered what you thought.

So, to those that weren't there...plan on coming next year! This is going to become a yearly deal...every year, we're hoping it grows. And since we have the best party planning team in the world, I know it'll go off without a hitch!

So, thanks to all who came! Thanks for making the weekend great!

Idol Fav

When You Come Home Again

When You Come Home Again

words and music by Chris Sligh

I’m here, you’re there


Is it hot outside tonight?


‘Cause Nashville’s cold and the streets are turning white


I’m here, you’re there


But I know what’s on your mind:


Christmas memories from a different time


I’ll be wishing you were here


I’m sure you’re wishing you weren’t there



Peace on earth, may God be near


Another Christmas and we’re praying 


That you’ll be home with us next year


It’s the holidays: good will to men


Just be safe; just know we’re here


And Christmas will be waiting…


When you come home again.



I’m here, you’re there


Are you dreaming like I do?


‘Cause Christmas doesn’t feel right without you


We’re covered up with snow


I’m sure you’re covered up with sand



chorus




Hoping all our love gets through


In boxes wrapped with “I love you’s”;


“We miss you here’s”; “Just come back safe’s”;

And all the “thank you’s” we could ever make


I’m shivering in my coat


I’m sure you’re sweating in fatigues



chorus

News

So...I spoiled some of this in a comment below.  But...

Yesterday was spent in a 10-4 meeting with management, dealing with every aspect of my career and how we can do things better, what we're doing right, what is wrong (if anything) and how to move forward.  It was an exciting time!

The main focus of the meeting was to discuss mainstream possibilities.  We feel like Christian music is our home, definitely.  And we will continue to build my career in the CCM industry, even when we're focused on mainstream conjointly (like the big word?).  But, at the same time, I was recently with a large group of radio consultants and program directors for some of the largest mainstream radio stations in the nation and several stations sought me out in a large party to tell me that they would support me and give any song I brought at least a chance to connect...and if it didn't work, it didn't work, but at least I'd have the chance.  

So, we're trying to figure out how to go to mainstream radio as smart as possible.  We feel strongly that you don't have to spend a gajillion dollars to make a record work.  It comes down to the song.   So, the plan is to spend the next several months with 5-10 radio stations that will give the first mainstream single a full cycle, giving the audience a chance to know the song, feel it, then they will test it.  Hopefully (fingers crossed) the song tests as a hit.  That testing can then be used to entice other radio stations to take a chance on me, a new artist.

It is not failsafe, by any stretch.  Pop radio is HARD to break into.  So, there is a touring plan in place that I won't give all the details for yet...but it will involve 20-25 cities where we will hit the ground running and build a following that will (hopefully) spill over to radio in those markets and spill over to other markets.  This touring plan is grassroots at its best!  I'll have more details down the road, but the plan is pretty darn cool.

So, mainstream is going to be huge.

But for the Christian market, what's up?

First off: August 1 is the official release date for Single Numero Dos: "Arise"!  Everyone feels strongly that "Arise" is a song that will make an impact at radio.  "Empty Me" was an introduction to the market, and radio stations are already giving excitement for "Arise".  So, that will come out and we'll probably work that until Christmas time or so.

Over the next couple of months, I'll be recording a digital 3-song Christmas EP that will be available exclusively online.  We will be releasing 3 singles to radio at the end of November for the Christmas season.  CCM radio is strange in that it literally shuts down current music for about a month and a half for Christmas and plays Christmas music.  So, in order to have a toe in the market, we're sending Christmas music out!  Tony Wood and I wrote a song called "Comes From the Heart", I might be doing the Harry Connick, Jr. tune "I Pray On Christmas" and some well-known Christmas song that hasn't been chosen yet!  So, look for that stuff soon.

Touring the CCM market is going on throughout this year.  Then in 2009, we'll be doing a tour here and there.  We're working on a co-headlining tour with a major Christian artist that would AWESOME if it worked out and we're still working on the God and Country tour.  2009 will probably be spent mostly touring mainstream, but we'll be doing several small tours in the Christian market and a couple of larger ones.  

So, that should get everybody up to date!

R.I.P A.D.D

Blake Lewis announced recently that he was dropped from Arista.  From what I understand in talking with him at the finale this year is that 19E is still on board and are very loyal to him and his career...so I doubt you've heard the last of Blake Lewis.

Blake, in my opinion, made a record that was just enough left of center that it didn't quite work in the mainstream, though I still think this record could've and should've been one of the bigger records of this year.  If "Know My Name" had been the first single, I believe it would've been a smash and then "How Many Words" could've been the hit it deserved to be.  But Clive, in his omniscience decided that "Break Anotha", my least favorite song on the record, should be the first single.  The moment I heard the song, I had a feeling that A.D.D. probably wouldn't recover - bad first single usually leads to the album not doing great...and unfortunately, I ended up being right.

However, let's put it in perspective.  He has sold close to 300k.  In today's music culture, that is fantastic for a new artist.  I think he'll end up with an indie label, making great records for years to come.  And from what I've heard Blake saying, it's where he'll be more comfortable.  If he can put together a hit for his genre, I think it's gonna be great!

I'm excited and disappointed at the same time for Blake.  Blake is a good friend who got screwed by the major label system.  Say what you will about the guy, he's a talented musician and is remarkably creative.  If anyone deserves to have a career in music, it's Blake.

So, rest in peace, Audio Day Dream.  Blake, here's to the future!  It's looking good!

ETA: By the way: the way that record deals work, is that every album is an option.  A normal record deal is 1 option + 4.  Each option is the label's choice.  An option can be a year.  An option, if an album is ultra successful can be 3 or 4 years.  Most of the time, an option on a new artist comes up right at a year from when they first signed, which was the case for Blake, when the artist and the label decide on if they're going to make another album.  It was also the case for Katherine last year, as well as Taylor.  Though news didn't filter down until later in the summer, Kat knew in May last year when I saw her that she was going to be leaving her label and going elsewhere...in fact in May of last year, she already had an idea of where she was going to end up.  It wasn't announced until August-September that she had been officially dropped.  Blake signed in June of last year.  It wasn't announced until September.  You'll notice you haven't heard an official announcement from Arista yet.  Why?  Because it takes a while for a record label to get around to that stuff.  So...to make clear...Blake did NOT get dropped sooner than any other Idol ever.

Happy Birthday Paul

I meant to do this "Yesterday", but I forgot, so I'll just "Let It Be".

Happy one day belated 66th, Sir Paul McCartney.

You have influenced me as much as any other person if not more as a musician.

I think that you are a genius and 100 million people who bought your records can't be wrong.

Plus, I can't be wrong.

Thanks for all you've done for music.

2 more new ones....

....are up for your perusal at myspace.com/chrisslighproductions

Enjoy.

The titles are "Simple Love Song" and "Love Remains"

Yes, I know "Simple Love Song" is similar to "Poorly Written Love Song".  

Sue me.  [insert smiley face here]

Here's the lyrics:

Simple Love Song

Words and music by Chris Sligh

Sarah’s got a way of shining

Like the sun in mid July and

She’s the woman they all wanna be

She’s got my heart all tied up in a knot 

‘Cause she’s center of my thoughts

And she’s the only one for me

This is just a simple love song

‘Cause being honest with my feelings

Never feels wrong

There’s no other high intentions
Just a way to mention

All I have inside my heart to say
So it’s just a simple love song today



All my life is wrapped up in
The girl who made me love again
And she’s the reason everything is good
I know I’m taking all the easy ways
To say the things I want to say

But I don’t feel bad, even though I should



Chorus


...the truth is, I’m done,
The best part’s to come:
I’m irretrievably hers
I know it’s not vague
Or poetic, okay?
I’m just trying to get across

My heart to her
That’s all that really matters to me...



Chorus


This Record

Life doesn't get much better than this: I'm sitting back at home - MY HOME!!! - and I'm listening to the new Coldplay album (which, btw, is fantastic), getting great news about what's going on.

First off, let me be clear.  Me talking about the next album or showing you guys new songs should in no way be construed as "moving on" from this album.  It will probably be at least 2 years before another album comes out, maybe longer.  This album has a ton of life left to it.  We're the best-selling new Christian artist of 2008 so far and as I mentioned before we're finalizing booking my first official headlining tour, promoting the album.  

However, because of the way my schedule is looking for the next few months and even years, the label and I have decided to take a different approach with the next album than with this one.  Instead of spending 3-4 months straight working on a record, I'm gonna be recording it off and on for several months, perhaps even over a couple of years.  The plan is to end up recording great songs as I write them and when it feels right to make a new album, then we'll figure out what we have, who we need to bring into finish the singles and then the album is already done.

So...these 5 songs I recorded last week are simply the first batch of songs that I recorded.  It may be a direction for the album, it may not.  We've got a long time to come to that conclusion.  What I do know is that the next album will be different from this album, and it will be better than this album.  This album is the peak of who I am creatively at this point...but with every day, I'm growing musically and lyrically and creatively and the next album will definitely explain and inform that growth!

Anyway, on to this album.  Remember a while back I told you to not worry - that the Billboard chart is just a waiting game?  Well, after I think 8 weeks at #18, last week, we jumped to #16, and this week, we gained more plays but moved to #17 (MercyMe's new song hopscotched from #21 to 16 - hey, it's MercyMe - they're bigger than me!).  However, early indications for next week are looking like we could be #12!  The plays are so close between #12-16 that it will be hard to tell this early, but we're moving up.  On the other main chart, AC Indicator, we have a top 10 hit!  So, "Empty Me" is by no means done at radio.  It just takes a long time to move up the charts, especially as a new artist!

We finally got the 2 biggest Christian networks  - KLove and Salem -  to pick up on the song!  These are 2 stations that several other stations watch as an indicator if the song should be picked up....so we may get a bevy of adds in the next few weeks!

I think I'm finally allowed to announce that "Arise" is the second single.  Depending on what happens with "Empty Me" it looks like it'll be coming out some time in July.  We may have to hold it off, if "Empty Me" picks up even more steam - but for now it looks like July is launch for "Arise".  I knew it took time to move up the charts...but to put it in perspective, Matthew West recently had a #1 with "You Are Everything" - it took 20 weeks to reach the top 5 and another 5-6 to reach #1.  It's number 8 this week and it's been on the chart for 36 freaking weeks!  The Robbie Seay Band has a song at #9 that's been on the chart for 42 weeks!  That's 81/2 to 10 months they've been working their way up the chart!  So, my measly 14 weeks on the chart is nothing.  Believe me when I say that the Christian chart is THE hardest to move up on.  It just takes time.  But "Arise" is the next single.

Also, this summer, we'll be taking a couple of songs to mainstream radio for testing.  The basic plan for the mainstream songs is to get a few stations to add the song, give the song a chance to get tested and if it comes back from testing as a hit, it gives us a chance to use that data to build a story in the mainstream market.  The plan for now is that starting in January we go for official adds en masse in the mainstream market, about the same time we take our third single to the Christian market.  We're not sure what the first mainstream single will be but it's between "Let You Know", "In a Moment" and "Cry Tonight"....I have a feeling "Let You Know" will win out, but you never know - if our mainstream radio guys really dig another song?  Well, we'll know more about that soon.

When we go mainstream, we are already working on relationships for tv stuff, for me to make appearances, etc.  Again, it has to work at mainstream radio first, but we have people interested in having me on tv shows, etc...we just have to have a hit.  That's the hard part.  I have no idea what works at mainstream radio...I mean I look at the charts and every week a new song jumps to the top 10 and it's something I had no idea would work at radio!  So, maybe we can get lucky and have a hit!

We've sold about 11,000 so far.  We sold 4,100 our first week and this last week we sold 1,500.  We're selling steadily, which is a great sign for our industry.  The more exposure "Empty Me" and "Arise" after it get, the sales will build.  The more I tour, the more sales will build.

Sales are obviously important because they are what keep me going as an artist...but the most important thing to me is the fact that people are being changed by the music.  I get testimonials almost daily from people who have been touched by a song or their lives reflect a song like "Empty Me" or "Potential".  So, no matter how many records are sold, I know that people are being touched...I hope a lot of people are touched, but whatever number it is...I'm totally okay with.

This blog is the perfect example of people's live being changed...friendships have been made in a virtual world that have transferred to real life, all because of some chubby kid who sings songs he wrote!  I don't understand it, but I love it!

So, that's the update!

Oh, yeah, I've written about a quarter of the script for the movie idea I was talking about last week.  It's a first draft, but I think it's pretty funny.  It'll only get funnier as I hone it, but I think the idea is good.

Thanks for being the best fans in the world!

Amanda

Vacation was beautiful. 

It was probably a beautiful thing, but the internet went out 2 days into our trip so I just got home.

I would like to take a moment to say goodbye to Amanda.  She was beautiful, she was perky and I feel as though I am better for meeting her.  

I met her twice.  Once at a show when she was backstage to meet Chris Rich, her true fave.  She came and told me that she loved my singing and that she thought I was funny.  Then I noticed she was posting on my blog.

Back then a lot more people were posting and many times it was hard to keep up with who was who.  I didn't know that the "core group" (as they became known) would become the "core group" till about 3/4 of the way through the summer.   I mean, for goodness sake I though DJ was a guy!

Amanda had posted about her disease and the kindness on the blog touched me, as I'm sure it did her, too.  I came out of my hotel in Little Rock, AR to film an interview with Ash Grayson for his documentary Bleed Into One and there was a girl waiting in the middle of street who looked oddly familiar.  She had cut her hair since the first time I saw her, and she came running up - quite scarily, I might add - telling me I had to wait!  I had to wait!  Risa from the blog was coming!  

I signed a few autographs for her and we talked for about 5 minutes and she told me more about her condition.  I was amazed at the strength I saw in this little girl.  She was far stronger than I could imagine being under the same circumstances.  She smiled and had fun and actually tried to talk me into waiting around to meet Risa!  It was a joy.

Those few minutes left an indelible mark on me.  She would stop by the blog and I think became accepted as part of the Fro Patro'.  You guys treated her so well, and my heart was overjoyed to see that.  

I didn't get to see Amanda again.  I had hoped to make it down to St. Jude's while she was there, but stupid things got in the way.  I wish I was not so caught up in my own world...I wanted to see her and Sarah and I even talked about going to see her several times over a weekend, but a show would come up here and a dinner would come up here, and poof! time slipped by too quickly.

So, regrets will be regrets and life if full of "what ifs" and "if I's".  What I do know, beyond a shadow of a doubt is that Amanda is far, far away from this life of pain!  She is able to breathe freely!  She is able to run!  She is able to bask in the glow of our Savior!  She is where I long to be!  She is worshipping as pure a worship as there is!  Simply worshipping our Savior for eternity is beyond my belief and is completely my expectation.  In a way, I'm jealous.

But still my heart yearns for the family.  Gladness is found in mourning, but the loss of someone so young...I don't understand it, and never will.   I hope and pray that Amanda's family will know that she was loved - beyond a doubt, she was loved!! 

Here is a song:

I'm Ready

I'm halfway to nothing,

Walking this road, making my way

So tired of the running

Why is every day as long as today

Should I long for all I long for out loud?

Today I'm praying todays the day

You come split open the clouds!

I'm ready to walk, I'm ready to run

I'm ready to find my way to the Son...

...to walk beside that glassy Sea

Hands lifted up for eternity

I'm ready

It's not that I'm unhappy

But nothing could ever compare to You

Forever stands waiting

A life stands beyond the one we dance through

Call me crazy, say my thoughts are strange

But I am dying, I am crying

For something to change!

chorus

All eternity spent in worship alone

I can only imagine my eternal home

chorus

New Song Lyrics

ETA:  Poorly Written Love Song is up on myspace.com/chrisslighproductions...it's the 2nd song.  It's a rough demo that was recorded live in the studio with no editing yet, so know that going in...I was sick so my vocal's not great.  But I'm really excited about this song and I think you'll get the idea!  Hope you enjoy.

Poorly Written Love Song
Words and music by Chris Sligh



Everything I say
ends up sounding so cliche’


It’s all been said way too many times

Everything I write
ends up sounding far too trite


Love can’t be conveyed with word and rhyme


But I guarantee I’ll try



I - I love you


I - I love you


It’s just three words


But it’s the best thing I’ve ever heard


So I’m giving it to you


I’m screaming it to you now


I love you



You’re worthy of
the best things I could say of love


But everything I say you’ve heard before


As phrasing fails,
I hope your heart’s not underwhelmed


‘Cause words are just a part of something more


So, here goes my best tries:



Chorus



I’m trying for metaphors


But my best tries still leave you bored


And I’m out of similes


So, I guess you’ll have settle for this, baby:



Chorus 




You Are the One


Words and music by Chris Sligh



All I need is to believe we can be free,


But life is moving on too fast 


Love won’t change anything but who we are


And who we want to be


Why do we pretend we’re doing better than we are?


I guess the act we put on makes us feel


Good or bad, the feelings make us know that we’re alive


Even if it isn’t real


All I need is to try and see on through


But the pain we feel’s not passing


We try to change everything but all we really do


Is try to change our futures


Every move of queen and pawn 


A desperate chance to find 


A way out of the maze
we call a feeling 


But feelings make us feel 


Like life is coursing through our veins


Yet leave us reeling from all the life they’re stealing



You are the one


You are the one


You are the one


That changes everything


Change my everything



solo

All I need is to see the way we were


But life flies by with every blink I’m taking….


Comatose, I’m sleeping through
the best years that I’ll get


And every smile from you that I keep missing


I’m waking up, I’m coming back to life
here in your arms 

There’s something shifting


Something’s shifting in my heart, baby…



Bridge 


New Songs

Hey guys...writing from Cancun!

Wanted to let you guys know that last week on Thursday, the band and I went into the studio and recorded 5 new songs! We got a really good deal on a studio/engineer, so Jason Walker took a day and I took a day. Jason did 4 songs on Tuesday and I did 5 on Thursday. Jon on drums, Walt on bass, Clint on guitar and Jason piano. I played acoustic on a couple of songs.

We were mostly recording to pitch to tv/film stuff, but we got a couple of songs that may be on the next album...they ended up sounding so great. I'll try and throw a couple of songs up over at the production myspace. Right now, they're still rough, but I think they're gonna polish up nicely.

As a side note, I knew my band was great live, but they rock in the studio, too. Skaggs came up with some incredible drum stuff and Walt and Clint rocked their respective guitars. The surprise of the day was Jason Walker, though. I knew he was good, but he blew my socks off! He was channeling Ben Folds and Freddie Mercury in one song and then playing some tasteful licks in some other stuff...really blew me away.

I can't wait for you guys to hear this stuff.

Update

I'm kind of anal. Sorry. I'm rewriting this now that I am finally at home.

In May I literally had 1 day off. 1 day in 31 that I didn't have something to go to, somewhere to be, a show to play, a signing to do or anything. 1 day off. It was a great freaking month. But I am wasted. Beyond belief.

So, June 3-27, with the exception of 1 day, is my first extended vacation since Idol started in January of '07. Man, a year and a half has flown by. Sarah and I had about 10 days off last May after the finale (we went to Cancun, if you remember), but since then, I have either been on tour, writing, recording demos, recording the album or doing promo dates every week since then. So, for June, I asked to have a few weeks off to recoup, figure out what's next and get ready for a bunch of stuff coming up.

We should be announcing the final dates for the Back to School tour for August and September. It looks like we'll be doing about 45 dates over the 2 months and it will be our first official "real" tour! We'll have an opener and an RV and a big ol' trailer! And we'll rock the U.S.A.!!! Most of the shows are being promoted by the local radio stations all across the U.S. so look to start hearing more about that. And yes, it looks like we'll be getting to Little Rock, Risa (and Birmingham, D.J.).

We also just started working on a big tour for the beginning of 2009 that would be with a great friend of mine who's a country artist. It'd go out as the "God and Country" tour. We're also looking at an Idol from Season 7 to go out as the opening act! It could be an exciting tour, if it works out. I think the tour will definitely work out...just how big, etc. it will be will take time to figure out.

A song that Clint Lagerberg and I wrote, called "Here Comes Goodbye", has been put on hold by one of the biggest country groups and a secondary hold has been put on the song by one of the top female country singers. The song is also garnering some interest on the pop side from a pretty big act. It's one of those special songs that people seem to be freaking out for. I think it's definitely up there with some of the best songs I've ever written. You can hear it on my producer page: myspace.com/chrisslighproductions. It should be the first song that comes up.

Film and tv stuff is still being worked on. I've met some key tv people that interested in hearing more about a tv show I've developed and written the pilot for. Obviously it doesn't mean anything really, but at least there's interest. A couple of people have read the script and think it's hilarious and commercially viable. I also have an idea for a film vehicle that, if it turns out like I'm hoping, could be a huge break for me as an actor and writer. Obviously, I have to deliver a great film, but I have presented the idea to a couple of key people and they're excited about it, and that's huge. I just have to go write a great script and then let a pro finish it and make it even better. But it's a film that we will be presenting as a vehicle for me. So, that could be huge, too. Again, this is stuff just in the works. I'm so busy with music right now that it's tough to find tons of time for the other stuff, but part of vacation will be spent on the first draft of the script. Idol doesn't get you gigs, but it sure opens up doors. You'd be surprised at the producer who wants to take a meeting with me because he and his family loved me on the show. Hopefully, the next time I'm in L.A. I'll be able to set up a meeting with him and pitch the idea for this film...it'd be right down his alley, I think.

Anyway...as we've found out with a lot of this stuff, it comes and goes and stuff doesn't work out...but know that I am working hard to do stuff outside of just music.

June will be a time of vacation. A few meetings. A few little writing sessions. A nice 10 day vacation out of the country. And sleep, sleep, sleep. And maybe some XBox. I got that Assassins: Creed game that I've been itching to mess around with. So, I may not write a ton, but know that I'm just recharging to rock socks off!

Indiana Jones should've stayed in retirement

I went saw Indiana Jones 4 last night.

Not good. They shoulda kept this puppy in development for about 10 more years.

I was bored the entire movie...and this is coming from a guy who actually found some entertainment value in Idiocracy.  

Seriously, see this movie only to help Spielberg, Lucas and Ford fatten their retirement funds.  It's all it's good for.

On the other hand last week, I saw Iron Man  and it was freaking fabulous!  Go see that one today!  Well, tonight after you get off work.

Sales Report

So the sales report came in for last week: 2300!!!

I know it doesn't sound like a ton but it's only a 40% drop from last week, which is great! In fact on iTunes we only had an 8% drop from 698 to 631...again the key is longevity. We're selling a lot of downloads on Empty Me - it's been in the top 10 Christian/gospel on iTunes for 3 straight weeks. So people are definitely reacting to the song.

The finale was fun...I thought Jimmy Kimmel's Seacrest/Sligh joke was hilarious. The Pyps video had me rolling...Iron Man looked great dancing! And I'm glad a rocker finally won!

ETA: Apparently (thanks to Rosalee for pointing this out) Ken Barnes over at USA Today reported that i sold 1100. I just checked with my label and 1100 is what we sold in the mainstream (iTunes + stores) and we sold about 1200 in the CBA (Christian) market. Apparently, Ken just missed those sales.

Coldplay and other muzak

So, Coldplay has a deal at Coldplay.com where you can download a song for free by just giving an email address...the song is their first single from their newest album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends called "Violet Hill".  I'm a minor Coldplay fan (I loved Rush of Blood but was disappointed by X + Y)  so I went and downloaded the song.  I had heard a buzz about this album because Brian Eno (sometimes called the 5th member of U2) was producing so I went with tempered excitement.  And was blown away by how good the song was.

On iTunes, they have a pre-order of the new album and with it you get another song, the title track of the album, "Viva la Vida".  So, I pre-ordered the album and downloaded that song...and my head almost exploded.  I think this is the best Coldplay song ever.  It's incredible.  So, go pre-buy the album and get the track in advance.  It really is great.

I also bought an album called Cannons by an artist named Phil Wickham.  Wow.  Seriously, you need to buy this album immediately.  It is some of the best brit-rock I've heard in forever.  It's what Coldplay's last album should've sounded like but with some of the best spiritual/religous lyrics I've read in a while.  Great, great record.  Go buy it immediately.  Or the next time you're at a store.  Or at on iTunes.  Well, download my album first, then Coldplay's then this one, how about that?

A while back (hey, I haven't written about music in a while), my favorite dread head (sorry Castro, but me and Adam go way back) Adam Duritz and his band Counting Crows released their 5th studio album Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings.   You will remember that Jim Bogios, the drummer for Counting Crows, played on 3 songs ("Waiting For You", "I'm Clean" & "Love is Raining Down"), and Counting Crows has long been one of my favorite bands, so I downloaded it the day it came out.  This album is seriously their best work since, well, ever.  I think it's all the best parts of August and Everything After and Recovering the Satellites, their first two albums.  The first half of the album rocks.  Hard.  Not Disturbed or Marilynn Manson hard, but classic rock hard...it's great.  The second half is more acoustic like their first album.  It's Adam's best songwriting and it's catchy and great.  Put this on your list of records to buy.

I got Bryan Adams new one 11 and it is classic Bryan Adams.  You know, he's a nostalgia act, and that's okay.  I don't want to buy a Bryan Adams record and find it to be a Radiohead record.  When I buy Badman (his nickname and publishing company) I want great love songs, great melodies and that classic voice.  This album does not disappoint.  Great songs, great production, and - as I said - that voice that I can never quite get enough of.

Finally, I recently got Jason Mraz's We Sing.  We Dance.  We Steal Things.  I wanted to support a fellow Fool's Banquet alum, plus I was so blown away with his talent at the songwriting retreat that I knew this album was a must-have.  I've only started to digest it, but it's really cool.  It's kind of fresh...lite-funk horns, thick bgv's, some reggae influences, some strings, acoustic guitar and poof, you've got a great sounding record.  I'm enjoying it.  More on this later.

So, I've gotten a lot more music that this since my last music post, but I'll get to the others later.

iTunes + Reviews!

Hey guys,

I'd love for everyone who has bought the album and has seen the blog to leave a review over on iTunes.  Then, once you've done that, I'd love for you to copy the review over into the comments here.  This is the review blog I mentioned a while back!

Even if you didn't buy the album on iTunes, if you have an iTunes account, just sign in and leave the review!

Thanks so much!!!

Jason Castro

I got to hang out with Jason Castro last night for a few hours.

Seriously, what a great guy.  We have mutual friends and mutual friends of friends, so I had gotten his number a while back and reached out to him the week before he got voted off.  He was leaving L.A. as I got here for Crystal Cathedral and he was getting back to L.A. as I was leaving for El Salvador, so we decided to get together when I got back.

So, after my plane trip yesterday and his dance rehearsals (you remember how much I loved dance rehearsals finale week last year), we got together and ate dinner and hung out.

I also shortly got to meet Carly and Kristy Lee...both were very sweet.

Anyway, I won't get into details....but the guy is a great guy and I had a lot of fun getting to know him over a couple of hours!

First Week Sales!

We came in a little under 4,100!

Doesn't sound like a ton, I know, but for the CCM market right now it is pretty great!  We sold a ton on iTunes, too, which, again, for the Christian market is a great thing.  

Just so there's no freaking out...in the Christian market, people find out about the album with the single going up the charts.  The higher the single, the higher the number of plays, the higher the number of impressions, the higher the sales.  So, for having a #18 single, it is pretty freaking great!

CCM has no centralized media...sure, there are websites that do great, but nothing like tv and mainstream radio marketing can do.  Usually, people find CDs as they wander through the Christian book store OR (as I mentioned above) hear a song on Christian radio, find out who it is and buy it.  

This is going to be a slow build and I'm glad...no Idol has ever come off and really done a grassroots thing: get in a van, travel the country, play, play, play, play and connect.  That is what I'm gonna do.  My label is pumped (it's their highest debut ever!) and distribution is pumped!  Now, the more shows I play the more you'll see sales trickle in.  Hopefully Empty Me can reach top 5 on the charts and then you'll see more sales than even this week.  It's seriously all about the songs!

Thanks to everyone so far who bought the album!  Now, tell a friend and let's sell some records!

Musicchristian.com

Musicchristian.com is having a special this week on my album Running Back to You for only $5!

So, encourage friends to take a chance on something beautiful and get the album for a cheap, cheap price!

Some Thoughts...

Quite a few people have asked me why I decided to move more in the pop direction for the new album, away from the more alternative pop/rock of HPF Take a Chance, and I think it's a fair question that deserves an answer.

I listen and love tons of kinds of music.  My favorite artists are bands like MuteMath, Muse, Switchfoot, Relient K, My Chemical Romance, etc., but my favorite songwriters of all time are artists like Bebo Norman, Steven Curtis Chapman, James Taylor, Bryan Adams & Adam Duritz (of Counting Crows).  The thing about that is: my favorite songwriters are many times on the opposite end of the spectrum of my favorite music to listen to.  So, as all songwriters do, you try to figure out how to combine all your influences to make and amalgamation that is your own style.  

With HPF, I was in a band and we were a mainstream band that wanted to put on as exciting a show as possible, so songs like Hero, Closer, Tunnel Vision, Somewhere and Convenience ended up really working for what we wanted to do.  When we played a 30 minute opening set, we had the opportunity to rock out for 30 minutes straight.

Now, the goal for my solo career is to be at a place where Chris Sligh is identified as being a band show...but there are still times that I will be playing acoustic gigs.  After all, I am a solo artist.  I'm not a band.  On later albums, I'm hoping that I don't have the problem of having to worry about playing acoustic gigs, so my albums may be informed by that.  However, on this album, I knew that in trying to break me as an artist that I'd be playing acoustic gigs...thus, I needed songs that I could sell with just me and an acoustic guitar.  I'm sorry but none of the songs I mentioned the prior paragraph would work in that fashion.  I included several songs as it is (Love is Raining Down, Arise, Waiting For You, etc.) that do not really work acoustically...but I have enough of a song base that I can pull it off.

So, to answer the questions...the reason I went more pop has to do with being real in a live situation.  I'm a solo artist now.  Look for albums to come to definitely be a little edgier...but for now, I'm excited for and proud of the album I made, and I think it fits me perfectly for where I am at this point!

Another thing I've seen is people saying that they wish I'd shown more of my personality in my lyrics.  I would like to point out someone like John Mayer...Mr. Mayer is one of the funniest celebrities I've ever seen and in concert he jokes and tells stories and is hilarious.  But his music is deep and serious.  As a songwriter, I feel like that's my place.  There are few things in life I take seriously and those things are my relationship with Christ, my relationship with Sarah and music.  Period.  That's it.  I feel like I would be cheapening my vision for my artistry by writing "witty" or funny lyrics.  I want to write songs that meet people where they are for a lifetime, not just makes them laugh for a couple of seconds the first time they hear it ('cause let's be honest...once you've heard the joke, you've heard the joke - it's not as funny the next time around).

I hope that people listening to the album will enter in listening with an open mind.  Don't go in with preconceived notions of what I should be (funny, witty, etc.) because you won't get those things.  What I hope you get is an album full of killer songs that speak to your life like they came from mine.

Empty Me on iTunes

Hey guys, I thought this was interesting this morning:

Empty Me is #13 on iTunes Christian songs!

In A Moment is #52!

Not bad! Thanks for your support!

Thanks!!!

Guys, thanks so much for making my release day so great!

It looks like the album is selling extremely well (for the market we're in), so thanks for making it great for me!

Some review snippets:

"Fans of Chris Sligh during last season’s American Idol recognized in him something the show had never previously had — not just a bright contestant capable of wising off to Simon, though he certainly was that, but a rocker with an omnivorous musical appetite and a flair for the unexpected. Running Back to You shows what Sligh didn’t have time to do before being voted off. The songs, many written pre-Idol for Sligh’s band Half Past Forever, clearly come from a Christian perspective, though they’re still full of wit and intelligence. And the arrangements aspire to pop grandeur: Soaring string runs, burbling synthesizer riffs, edgy guitars, and Sligh’s occasional flights into falsetto make Running the most musically ambitious of any post-Idol album". — Brian Mansfield USA TODAY

USA TODAY REVIEW

"Running Back to You gets off to a running start as the first track, “Arise,” thunders in with a drum lick that kicks you right into the song – a strong, radio-ready rock piece featuring a full band sound, driven by Sligh’s easy-to-listen to vocal delivery. “I’m Clean” follows, still in a strong, mid-tempo rock mode, and proving that Sligh can write memorable, hook-filled songs that have plenty of opportunities for funky guitar licks as well as full, commercially viable production values. Sligh doesn’t compromise the rock and roll, even when the lyrics get very explicitly Christian, as they do in “I’m Clean,” where he sings, “Love is just a picture of your glory / And my best tries at love have fallen short / I pretend these dirty clothes are holy / Knees patched up with grace from you, Oh Lord.” Make no mistake – the lyrics on this album are boldly Christian in nature. Sligh has clearly made a decision to be bold about his faith on this project, even though the big ballad, “In a Moment,” and the rocker, “Waiting For You,” could easily cross over to mainstream radio and, I think, get considerable attention.

From the straight rock of “Love is Raining down,” to the ‘Eleanor Rigby’-like string accompaniment of “Loaded Gun,” Chris Sligh is a powerful, expressive, credible rock/pop singer and has crafted a well-rounded debut project that shows us that there’s more behind that cherubic appearance than meets the eye. Hopefully, he’ll be running back to us again soon." - Bert Seraco

Soul Audio

"Running Back to You is a rather impressive piece of work. Back in February of this year, Sligh released "Empty Me," his first single, to radio outlets. The song, simply put, is a made-to-be modern worship hit. The Chris Tomlin-esque melody and passionate lyrics of putting aside pride really do the job of setting the tone for the entire album. From tracks like "Arise" to "Something Beautiful," Sligh constantly praises God for his mercy and sacrifices. "Let You Know" could even easily find its way to the top of the contemporary pop charts.

Love is unquestionably one of the main focal points of this record. "Love Is Raining Down" speaks for itself, and Chris cleverly and thoughtfully compares love to a "Loaded Gun," while at the same time manages to make the track the most unique one on the album. The combination of the orchestra that plays throughout along with Sligh's voice add an unexpected twist that is sure to make "Loaded Gun" a fan favorite. One song that you can absolutely not pass up is "Vessel," the closing track, where chilling vocals and an incomparable message add a great finishing touch to the disc.

It truly is amazing how open Chris Sligh is about his life and faith on this record. This is a spectacular accomplishment for him and is definitely worth a listen all the way through (especially for fans of artists like Jon McLaughlin and Brandon Heath). In fact, this could be noted as one of the best records of 2008 whether or not it receives the attention it very much deserves. And don't be surprised if it garners a few nods at next year's Dove Awards either." - Logan Leasure

Jesus Freak Hideout

Tour Update 1

Well, 2 Wild Wing Shows down.  

And it's going great!  Wild Wings was a perfect choice to start off my official touring.  It's a low-pressure venue (you show up whenever you want), they LOVE the cover songs we have in the set, the audience is there to just have fun, and it gives the band time to settle into being tighter in front of an audience that is eating and drinking, etc. as much as they are listening.  It's kind of like having a dress rehearsal with an audience that actually kind of cares!

We actually have played 2 really good shows, too!  The band is really, really tight already and, outside of not being able to hear really well, we're listening to each other, playing off each other and just playing great.

Here's how the set list works:

The band goes up and does "Summer of '69" which morphs into "Arise".  From there we go to "Love Is Raining Down" into "Pleased".  Then "Cry Tonight" & "In a Moment" followed by the Killer's "All These Things That I've Done" (which is great as everyone sings the bridge - "I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier!").  I then introduce Jason Walker as my special guest.  He does 3 songs with bass & drums and then one song alone with the piano.  Then the band comes back up and we do Bryan Adams' "When You Love Someone" which segues into my Compassion International presentation (for $32 a month you can literally change a child's life - more on that in later posts).  Then we go to break.

We take a 15-20 minute break then head back up.  In most shows, I do a 2-song acoustic set and tell some stories (it hasn't worked at Wild Wings yet...but in church shows, we'll do the acoustic set).  Then the band comes back up and we do "Eleanor Rigby" straight into "Loaded Gun" (we do the full band version).  We then go into "City of Blinding Lights" (by U2) and that goes into "Potential".  We finish up that set with "Empty Me" which morphs into "40" (by U2), which ends that set on a very very meditative note.

We leave the stage and hopefully people cheer.  Loud.  Once they do, we head back out and we perform a surprise song (which I won't give away here).  And we end the night with "Let You Know".

So, I can't wait to see all of you at a show!  Now you know what to expect.  Listen to the songs, learn then, learn every word and then sing along with me (and quickly realize how many words I get wrong!)

In A Moment

7. In A Moment

Words and music by Chris Sligh

Produced by Brown Bannister



The Writing:

This was the last song that I wrote for the HPF record. We actually had finished recording the album by the time I went to Hollywood week. In Hollywood, I was roommates with Phil Stacey and when we both made it to the top 40, we talked about n him coming up to Greenville to record a couple of songs in the time in between Hollywood and top 24 to have them available once the experience was over and he was talking to labels. I knew that for me, my HPF recordings would be invaluable, and I wanted Phil to have something, too. So, I went home and wrote this little love song for my wife with the intentions of Phil recording it.
 In order for Phil to learn the song, I put together a demo and sang on it. It was a full demo: piano, guitar, drums, etc. And I sang the vocal that you heard on the HPF album. I was proud of the song and took it over for Don to hear and he flipped and told me that I could NOT give that song to Phil. I talked to a bunch of people and everyone agreed, I had to keep that song.


As far as writing goes...it stayed the same from when I wrote it on guitar. Because I was writing it for Phil, I was trying to write my version of a Diane Warren song (she wrote Edwin McCain’s I Could Not Ask For More, Aerosmith’s Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing and literally hundreds of other hit songs). And it worked. 

Just a side note: Brown told me that when he first heard the song, he couldn’t place it but he thought that it was weird that we were covering a Diane Warren song until he realized on second listen that it wasn’t a Warren song. Haha...little did he know. 



The Meaning:


Well, it’s pretty simple: it’s a love song about my wife and how in a moment life can change, both for good and for bad. But with her it’s changed for good.



The Recording:


This one included all the same players as the other Brown productions, with the addition of Stephen Leiweke on acoustic guitar. Brown and I wanted to change this song up slightly with the production, so instead of being completely piano based as the original HPF version had been, we wanted to start off with acoustic guitar and sparse piano...we thought with this one that less would be more, especially at the beginning of the song.

Dan Needham programmed the loop for this one, sitting at his drum set, with a little computer with Logic installed. He programmed at the end of the day on the first day of tracking, so that we could work on this first thing the next morning. Once he was done, Stephen came in that night and recorded the acoustic guitar.



One key difference between this and the original HPF version is where the key change happens. The HPF version’s key change happened right as it was going into the last chorus. Both Brown and I thought there was something special about that last chorus, but we didn’t want to make it so obvious (i.e., cheesy). So, we masked it a little bit by going to E major (from D major) out of an E chord out of the bridge. Simple, yet effective. 



Don, once again, did the string arrangement and we used the same method as we did for “Let You Know” and “Cry Tonight”...Don recorded his “fake” strings and then David Davidson recorded real violins over the top of that.

In a moment, love can pass you by  * 
And in a moment, a heart can come alive  * *

Every moment's getting better   *  Every moment brings me closer to you  * *  Can I hold you till the morning light  *  Takes away the dead of night  *  And sunrise shines on you?  *  Can love take all these fears away
 *  Till morning comes with brand new day?
 *  It's love that pulls us through
 *  In a moment  * *

In a moment love can tear you down
 *  And in a moment a heart can come around  * *  pre-chorus * chorus  * *  I feel you in my heart
I feel you in my soul  *  Oh, you make me whole  *  In a moment…  * *  chorus



Let You Know

6. Let You Know

Words and music by Chris Sligh

Produced by Brown Bannister



The Writing:

When I decided to take HPF in a different direction and Adam Fisher and I started working together, he brought an extra computer over that had Logic installed. I basically used it as a songwriter tape machine. I would record ideas and write lyrics over music I had pieced together.
 Originally the opening riff was for a song called “Somewhere” (the lyric of which became the song “Somewhere” from Take a Chance with different music). The riff was cool, but the rest of the music was really stupid. I thought the lyric was cool, but it just didn’t fit the music. So, I did something I hadn’t done ever before...I wrote and recorded an entire track without lyrics. I used the riff and put together chord progression I thought was cool and later wrote the lyrics that became this song (originally just “Know” on Take a Chance - we changed it because on the radio Know sounds like “No”...it’s confusing.)
 The song, since I recorded that original demo has not changed a bit musically and once I wrote the lyrics, they have stayed the same...it’s one of the few on this album that didn’t go through various permutations.



The Meaning:

This is one of those songs that I wrote down the lyric pretty quickly and started to piece together what it means down the road. It’s actually a very Christian song without being a Christian song. The premise is this: I make mistakes, the reverberations of my choices continue on and they’re mine to deal with...but we need each other. Some day, soon, I’m gonna call on you to be there for me, and as brothers and sisters we’re there for one another.



The Recording:

This was like all the other Brown productions. We tracked with the same guys and this one went down pretty quickly. Dan Needham changed the intro drum beat up just a bit from the original HPF recording. For some reason, drummers don’t really like the Coldplay “Clocks” beat. So, we changed it up. This one in initial tracking was pretty note on like the HPF recording. It was in overdubs that different stuff started to happen.


I did all the rhythm guitar stuff with George Cocchinni acting as tone chaperone. I’ve played those guitar parts thousands of times over the years, so the recording actually went very quickly on this one. On the bridge we did several huge guitar parts on the riff going into the last chorus to give it a little extra umph. I tuned to drop D and did the riff in that tuning, giving it a huge bottom end.


We went over to Paul Moak’s studio and this was one of the songs included in that session. He threw on the little delayed part at the very beginning and on the verses. With everything that was going on, we kind of felt like that was all it needed.


Don Chapman, again, arranged the strings on this one. I think this arrangement is brilliant. It is churning and majestic at the same time. Seriously, Don is going to be a big name in arranging soon. He just does things that other people don’t do. He’s great. And this song is one of his shining lights showing his talent. For the string session, Don had already recorded the “non-real” strings and had them in the session. Then David Davidson laid down 8 violin tracks over Don’s track, making the “non-real” strings feel way more real.


Lost in the windows of time, * You see a time of change
Don't it all feel strange?
 * Stuck in the reverb of me * I hear echos of myself
 * But I can't say what I see * * 

I'm finding the answers * 
To my great divide

 * * Someday when the sky is falling I will let you know * 
Someday when my dreams are caving in, I will let you know * 
I'll let you know * * 

Forget the first verse of life * There's nothing learned at al * 
At least until you fall * Stratospheres and atmospheres collide * 
Worlds come to an end * 
And there's nowhere left to hide * * 

pre-chorus * * chorus * * 

...when I'm falling * 
I'll let you know when I'm calling
 * I'll let you know when I'm breaking
 * I'll let you know when I'm making it through * * chorus


Something Beautiful

5. Something Beautiful


Words and music by Chris Sligh


Produced by Brown Bannister & Stephen Leiweke



The Writing:


The original version of this song was written right after HPF had right after we had finished up the 1st HPF album. We recorded a 2nd collection of songs to add to our merch table that we called Besides… (a play on B-Sides), and the original version was recorded for that album. The original was more along the lines of Jason Mraz or John Mayer, with bluesy tones and b-3 organ...it was also a little slower.


As I started preparing for this album, I wanted to explore old songs that I’d recorded before to see if they would work for what I was wanting to do with this record. Obviously, I knew that a few songs from Take a Chance were going to be on this album, so I didn’t want to leave any rock unturned. As I listened to this song, I felt that the chorus needed to be rewritten to really pop like the rest of the record was going to. So, I made it a little less John Mayer and little more U2, melodically. The bridge and verses stayed the same, however.



The Meaning:


I remember having a conversation with a close friend where we talked about how frustrated he was basically with not being in control of his life. There are so many things about God that didn’t make sense to him. As I walked away from that conversation, the optimist that I am, I thought about all the things that didn’t make sense, but really turned out in our favor as human beings. I mean, Christ left heaven to come and die on a cross. Tell me how that makes sense? So, I wrote a song that put all the things that didn’t make sense into a song that basically says that it’s okay that I don’t understand God.



The Recording:


For Stephen & Brown’s co-production, we used Stephen on guitars, Joey Canaday on bass and Will Denton on drums for initial tracking. Will & Joey were in Stephen Curtis Chapman’s band together for a long time and now play with LeAnn Rimes. 


As we started to record, Stephen really wanted to break away from the feel of my new demo, and we tried several different ideas. Joey came up with what is now the opening riff and it stuck. It went from more 80’s pop/U2-ish to Maroon 5-ish in a hurry, but it felt good and it worked.


We did guitar and keys overdubs at Stephen’s studio. I recorded some rhythm guitars and did most of the keys on this one. The keyboard part is from a moog sampler called MiniMonsta. The piano part on the 2nd verse is from Akoustik piano...we threw some distortion and delay on there to really mess it up. Finally on the verses, we used a Nord keyboard to throw a moog-like bass (real filtered and funky) to copy what the bass was doing then mixed the real bass and fake bass together.


On bgv’s Chris Eaton came in and did them all.

There’s something beautiful   * 
About the way you don’t make sense
 *   A crown for a cross, heaven for earth  * 
Beauty for ashes in the dirt  *  There’s something marvelous,
 *   Some kind of mystery in your grace  * 
Love comes from pain, joy comes from loss  * 
Still we find beauty in the cross  * 
And hope from what was lost

 * *   Though I can’t wrap my mind  * 
Around the mysteries I’ll be fine  * 
There’s something beautiful in all I can’t see through
 * *   There’s something wonderful
 *   About the way you break my heart  * 
This world for a cross  *  Riches for shame
 *  Trading this glory for your name  * 
And success for lovely gain   * * 

chorus

 1  * * Though I don’t understand today  * 
The mysteries of grace I’ll be okay  * 
There’s something beautiful in all I can’t see through  * *  Oh, something beautiful  * 
Oh, something beautiful  * * full chorus  * *  bridge



Don't Pretend Like You're not Impressed

A Couple of Things

I saw the Ken Barne's article about my chart position.  He is right that I've been at #19 for a couple of weeks.  However, from what I'm being told, there's nothing to be worried about with where we're at.  With the way that Christian Radio works, there are stations that will not add a song until they have gotten testing back.  And every radio station involved will not put the song into heavy rotation until the testing has come back.  Testing usually takes about 6-8 weeks from when they add the song.  Our single's release date was Feb 22...so, we're just now getting research back for the stations that added week one or the stations that started testing week one.  

We are hearing that testing is coming back out-of-this-world good, so the team around me feels pretty confident that we'll see the single start to climb again in the next few weeks.  If you look at Matthew West's single, he was on the chart for close to 20 weeks before he broke the top 5.  We've only been on the charts for 6 weeks.  It just takes time.  If you look at the top 20, no one is moving up substantially except the huge artists like Third Day.  We're doing great right now! 

Secondly, I'd love to have you all post reviews of the album street week.  Just 2-3 paragraphs would be great.  On May 6, I'll start a discussion thread that will be dedicated to your reviews.

Thirdly, I just posted another Theological Digression.  So, check that out.  

Fourthly, I posted another Adventures of Sligh.  So, check that out.