A Little More Fight...and a giveaway

"I am backed up into a corner
And there's barely room to breathe
I'm the underdog, the last, and lowest seed..."

Where do you turn when you are backed into a corner, when you are fighting to survive, when the world seems destined to drag you down?

I like to turn to music. I don't have 3,000 songs on my Zen player, nor do I have a vast collection of CDs. I am not even up on the most current players in the world of music. But I know what I like. And I like music that lifts me up and takes me away from the grime of life.

"My forces are outnumbered
The ground I gained is lost
Still I won't lay down my arms at any cost..."

A few weeks ago I was witness to the birth of a star. There is a local boy (I can say that because I am probably old enough to almost be his mother...) who had a concert at the University to celebrate the release of his first CD. A CD that features six songs written, arranged and sung by this oh-so-promising home-grown talent.

I invite you to take a little musical detour with me....



This is a benefit concert that Danny Mitchell played for the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra in 2007. "Raging River" is one of the six original songs on his album, "A Little More Fight."

"The walls I built are crumbling
My fortress has been breached
Yeah, but this white flag
Doesn't fly that easily..."

Danny says of the title track "A Little More Fight" (of which these quotes are the lyrics) that this has become a personal anthem for himself. I believe in having a song that is your anthem....something that you can turn to when you need that little push, that encouragement to go on. Danny's song is one that will be in my personal empowerment playlist.

"I may be all used up
And broken down
You won't hear me plead
No, no, no, I'll just dig in deep
And find a little more fight left in me..."

There are times when I doubt my own creativity. Those "why me" moments when I cannot believe it when someone gives me some accolade or postive comment. Those personal demons are the ones that I have to struggle with, that we all have to battle. It is at those times that I realize that it is in me and that I have to dig in deep and find that litle more fight left in me.

"Let me be the first to tell you
I'm as human as the rest
Sometimes I need to find my worst
Before I can find my best..."

One thing that attracts me to a musician is if they can play an instrument and sing. That is true talent. I can sing, but I could barely play the tamborine or the cowbell at the same time. So while I may have a gift of song, that is not where my true talent lies. Danny Mitchell has the most beautiful arrangements on the piano. He also has some incredibly talented friends, like drummer Wayne Salzmann and saxophonist John Greiner. Self-described as a blend of Harry Connick Jr, Norah Jones and Billy Joel...I would also add one of my very favorites Sara Bareilles. I appreciate the intricacies of his lyrics and the passionate delivery. But more than that, his music is just fun. Check out his rendition of Harry Connick Jr's "Come By Me".....



"And I cannot always be
The one who sets the pace
But you will never see me
Drop out of a race..."

This kid is going far. It is just a matter of time before you hear him on the radio.

To send him on his way, and to thank my loyal readers, I want to give away his recently released CD "A Little More Fight." I promise you will not be disappointed. I have it in my car and know all the words and discover new layers to the songs every single time I listen (and my kids think that he is better even than recent AI winner Kris Allen and ask to listen to him instead).

So....I am giving away not one, but TWO CDs (And who knows? Maybe a little something from the beading table as well!)

To enter answer the following question in the comments of this post:

• What song is your personal anthem?
• What makes it your personal anthem a good one to listen to when you need that "little more fight" to keep going?

One entry for commenting on that question.
One entry for posting this giveaway on your own blog, and sending me the link.
One entry for every person you send over to comment on this question who also mentions you.
I will pick two winners on Saturday, May 30th.

To inspire you (and put his smoldering eyes in your mind), here is the title track, "A Little More Fight"...



Check It Out:: http://www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.aspx?epk_id=50576

Enjoy the day!