1. The Circle Game – Joni Mitchell (Ladies of the Canyon)
2. Romance in Durango – Bob Dylan (Desire)
3. Save Up All Your Tears – Cher (Greatest Hits)
4. Blue Moon of Kentucky – Elvis Presley (The Sun Sessions)
5. Finest Lovin’ Man – Bonnie Raitt (Live at the Philly Folk Fest)
6. My Dog Jesus – Mare Wakefield (Girlfriend)
7. Sweet Dream – Dana Robinson (Midnight Salvage)
8. Somnambulist – Raina Rose (Despite the Crushing Weight of Gravity)
9. My IQ – Ani DiFranco (Puddle Dive)
10. Our Town – Willy Mason (Where The Humans Eat)
Artist I like mostly because he sounds like Cat Stevens: Dana Robinson (Okay, so he’s actually good in a great variety of ways, but the similarity is unsettlingly close).
And since one of my sister’s songs found it’s way onto the list today: Raina was a finalist in the Kerrville New Folk Competition this year, but I just found out that she didn’t win. Only six out of 16 were able to take home prizes, but damnit if I didn’t want her to be one of them.
Other players…
If there is a song that is guaranteed to make me cry, it’s “The Circle Game”.
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Hello M.,
I was googling for news on the Kerrville Folk Festival and came across your blog with the reference to your folkie sister. I ended up reading quite a bit of your blog and your sister’s website. I was impressed with both. I think you are a great writer and I encourage you to keep going.
I am a novice folkie/songwriter myself and last year I submitted a couplbe of original songs to the Kerrville New Folk competition. I did not even make the final 32 and I learned that many, many others, including many now famous sucessful musicians did not either. I became part of the Kerrville losers club which is not a bad group to belong to…the point I am trying to make to you is that the fact your sister made the final 32 means she is very, very good. Please consider that a great acomplishment. If you check out the six winners (via their websites) you will see that they are all ececptionally good and advanced in their craft. Not to say that your sister is not doing well. It seems to me that she is getting gigs and is getting known. She seems to have a flair for marketing herself. The button “Raina Loves You” is a good example. I’m sure she will do alright and your support to her and your enjoyment of her energy is way cool. All the best. bob.
Hey Bob,
Thanks for the kind words about my writing and Raina’s music. We were really lucky in that we come from parents who encourage us to follow our passions and do the things we love, even if there isn’t a ton of money in the offing.
We all realize that the fact that Raina was a finalist for the contest was an enormous honor, and I don’t discount the reality that she had to have been pretty talented in order to have been selected in the first place. It’s just that as her sister, I wanted her to win. I accept that she didn’t, and I know that the judges made their choices based on experience and expertise, but I still wanted her to win. I know that it doesn’t really matter, and that her career will continue to move forward regardless of a contest. I just think she’s a phenomenal musician and I’m stunned when others aren’t rendered speechless by her gifts. But then again, I am her sister and so I may be just a little biased. 😉
Anyway, I do actually appreciate the reminder and I wish you the best of luck with your own musical career. Thanks for leaving a comment!