Ryan Welton : Songwriter, Journalist

This is a new tune called “Underdog Blues,” which I just submitted to an online songwriting contest. The challenge was to write a song from the first-person perspective of a superhero or super-villain.

Here are my lyrics:

UNDERDOG BLUES
c. Ryan Welton 2010

VERSE 1:
I got four paws
and a ton of flaws
I’m a lovable shoeshine boy
I go medieval
When the doers of evil
Set their sights on my pride and joy

And when it’s time to hand out truth
I make a mess of that phone booth

CHORUS:
Have no fear
Underdog is here
Underdog, baby that’s my name
Have no fear
Underdog is here
Underdog, baby that’s my name

VERSE 2:
I pop pills by the barrel
Go a little bit feral
On my Polly from dusk til dawn
And when my purebread wonders
When will I return
She laments with a simple song:

“Oh where, oh where has my baby gone?”
I reappear and wave my doggie wand

CHORUS:
Have no fear
Underdog is here
Underdog, baby that’s my name
Have no fear
Underdog is here
Underdog, baby that’s my name

BRIDGE:
I bark in rhyme
To combat sinister crime
We don’t need no Riff Raff ‘round here
But my motives are suspect
‘Cause I’m in love with a girl
‘Cause I’m in love with a girl
‘Cause I’m in love with a girl who’s a dog

Just figured this was the appropriate song for the day. Well,...

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:51:47 -0500

Just figured this was the appropriate song for the day. Well, unless you know of another song called “Flood.” To be honest, this tune does nothing for me. So, how about this:

End the weekend on an old-school vibe. Good example of a...

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 23:48:35 -0500

End the weekend on an old-school vibe. Good example of a song/track that works with just two chords.

soonerterp: June 12: Today is the 40th Anniversary of Dock...

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 01:53:53 -0500

soonerterp:

June 12: Today is the 40th Anniversary of Dock Ellis’ no-hitter (while tripping on acid) vs. the San Diego Padres.

This is truly one of the most fascinating stories in the history of American sports.

Quick Thoughts on a Busy Week

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:34:00 -0500

I’ve been eating much, much better this week than, well, just about any week the past six...

R.I.P. Marvin Isley. One third of Isley Jasper Isley died on...

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:16:33 -0500

R.I.P. Marvin Isley. One third of Isley Jasper Isley died on Monday of diabetes.

I know. You’re asking, Isley Jasper Isley? You mean the Isley Brothers, right?

Well, for me, my first introduction to any Isley was Isley Jasper Isley back in 1984. As a 14-year-old, I asked for this cassette for Christmas, and it’s a cassette I still own. It’s music I still listen to.

“Caravan of Love” was the hit, well, on the R/B charts. My only exposure to the song had been from BET videos. Yes, once upon a time, BET regularly played videos, too, especially in the after-school afternoons if memory serves. Great, great 80s soul music.

This album featured great tunes like “Insatiable Woman” and “If You Believe In Love,” which had (I have always said) one of the best bass grooves in the history of pop.

Well, Marvin was the bassist. He was 56.

Those of you who know me well know that I am a big Jon Lajoie...

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:00:00 -0500

Those of you who know me well know that I am a big Jon Lajoie fan. Most of you know him from FX’s show “The League,” but I have followed the guy’s work on YouTube for much longer than that.

He’s often a bit vulgar and almost always NSFW — but his satire and commentary is often biting, smart and periodically poignant. In this case, Lajoie satires the pop music industry with his parody called “Pop Song.”

One comment about this one: I think the public underestimates how many ADULTS listen to pop music. Way underestimates. Might be marketed to the tweens and teens, but its impact reaches way, way beyond them.

Nevertheless, Lajoie speaks, er, sings truth here.

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 07:59:00 -0500

Truth be told, I’ll likely have 3-4 more days off at least this summer before football season...

adamiss: Twelve (Imperfect) Ways to Clean the Gulf - Op-Chart -...

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 19:00:31 -0500

adamiss:

Twelve (Imperfect) Ways to Clean the Gulf - Op-Chart - NYTimes.com

soonerterp: girlwithatie: allisonwonderlandd: (via...

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 17:08:44 -0500

soonerterp:

girlwithatie:

allisonwonderlandd:

(via squidlove)

WANT!