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:

Sometimes in art, we are challenged or forced to do things outside of our comfort zones. However, most of the time, it is preferred that the artist stay true to himself.

That’s my opinion of course. For the sake of growth, others would disagree. And I wouldn’t take major issue with it except to say that Marky Mark is not a big band crooner. Get my drift? At the end of the day, we are who we are.

And I posted a video to an original composition tonight that, I think, is kind of outside my wheelhouse. Kind of a slow jazz vocal, it borders on R and B (my ampersand key doesn’t work) — and while I like the composition, I don’t love it. Sitting back waiting for it to post to YouTube and eventually to here, I kept thinking, “That’s not the type of song I should be doing.”

The question is: Good to stretch creatively? Or a waste of time?

Looking for treadmill workouts online for optimal fat burning, but also want to make sure they won’t draw too many strange looks. This might be effective, but I don’t see it being kosher at the Cleveland County Y.

I tend to revere musicians who I feel are underrated. For example, Stevie Wonder is not underrated. He is greatness, and everybody knows it — and for whatever reason I don’t have that big an urge to see him in concert.

On the other hand, two of my favorite all-time musicians will be in Norman (Riverwind Casino) over the next month and a half, and I am quite tempted to go my own damned self if I can find nobody else with even the slightest interest.

On June 19, it’s Ronnie Milsap, who was the most soulful country music artist of a generation. Even though my styles as a pianist and songwriter all gravitate more toward Stevie, my musical upbringing was first exposed to pop music during the urban country years. This means Milsap’s hits like “Smoky Mountain Rain” touched my ears well before “I Wish” or “Sir Duke.”

Tunes like “There’s No Gettin’ Over Me,” “Any Day Now” and “It Was Almost Like A Song” transcended country. Listening to “There’s No Gettin’ Over Me,” I’m thinking to myself: How is this country? Not that Milsap wasn’t a bonafide country artist, but he was more soul a lot of the time.

For the record, I’m tempted to post a cover of the tune here soon.

My favorite Milsap tune was a song that my dad and his duo partner, Don Jo Wright, used to play periodically in church. A song written by Randy Sparks called “What A Difference You’ve Made In My Life.” This is oozing with soul.

Lyle’s concert here isn’t until July 9, and I dig him on another level. I’ll pick up the story soon and write a bit about what make that odd-lookin’ feller the talent he is.

This is your official, last-minute invitation: Come see me play Saturday night (Jan. 24) at Othello’s in Norman. I’ll start between 6:30 and 7 p.m. and play until 5 in the morning non-stop.

Kidding.

But I will be gigging at Othello’s on Campus Corner until about 10 or 10:30. For the first hour, hour and a half, I play instrumentals mostly — jazz standards, pop hits, a couple originals.

And, then I break out the piano bar act.

Admittedly, I shy away from most Piano Bar 101 material except for some Billy Joel and Elton John. Unlike a lot of “piano bar” acts, I try to work in 10-12 original songs, including my hit single, “Dirty Pierre.”

OK, so it’s not actually a hit.

I checked Look @ OKC and the Oklahoma Gazette to see if my gig was even listed, and it wasn’t. (Boo!) However, it’s not like I’m some household name in the OKC area. I’m not even a household name in my neighborhood.

In fact, besides leaving Othello’s full of great food and drink on Saturday night, you’re likely to leave not asking, “Why has this guy not been signed by a major label?” but instead asking yourself, “How is this guy not in a mental ward?”

Among the songs I plan to include on Saturday are:

• Lithium - Nirvana
• Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes
• Private Dancer - Tina Turner
• Fame - Irene Cara

Not that those are bad songs, but I’m betting you won’t hear that combination anywhere on Earth Saturday night.

When I first recommitted to gigging, I found myself conflicted by two schools of thought: Either I could go the singer-songwriter route and take myself all seriously, or I could just have a good time.

I’ve opted for the latter.

Part of that means doing whatever is necessary to ensure folks have a good time when they come to see me play. No, that does not mean I’ll play shirtless. There is food involved, and nausea is not fun. Seeing my man-boobies bounce while I play would only serve to sicken the masses.

On the other hand, I do take requests, but I do have to warn you: I have no shame.

If I know it, and you ask for it: I’ll play it. I’ll sing it. My only rule is that if you ask me to play anything by the Commodores that you protect me from the fruit and vegetables that get thrown my way by Toad, who will be making an appearance. You’ll know who my buddy is when the red pears start flying.

He believes Lionel Richie is, in fact, the devil.

Now, gigging is nothing new for me, but I’d never even attempted solo performance until last year. When I played with bands in Dallas, I wouldn’t even sing backup; that’s how self-conscience I was.

The first couple of times I gigged solo, I’d dread “gig day” because I’d be a nervous wreck, hoping I wouldn’t forget a song in the middle of it.

Now, I’ll just start the heck over.

See, no shame. I have none.

If you don’t know where Othello’s in Norman is, it’s just north of Brothers on Buchanan Avenue on historic Campus Corner, just north of the beautiful University of Oklahoma campus.

And if you’re nowhere near here, get out and see somebody play this weekend, I guarantee you’ll make their day.

Oklahoma lost to Florida 24-14 in the national title game tonight. Repeat of 2004. 2003. Bowl repeat of 2007, 2006. Rinse. Repeat.

Never. Picking. OU in a bowl. Again. No matter what.

The only thing keeping Oklahoma from being the true, blue Buffalo Bills of college football is the 2000 title. Truth is, OU did some nice things tonight. Didn’t get wiped off the carpet like in 2004 against USC.

(Editor’s note: I had a list of things that went wrong for OU tonight, and I am just deciding, resolving to cut everybody a giant break.)

I’ll give it up to the defense. Overall, they did enough. Plenty enough. Gerald McCoy and Nic Harris were terrific. Jeremy Beal.

One absolutely has to give it up to Tim Tebow. But he’s no Matt Leinart, sorry. In fact, I found Matt to be very likable in a gosh-wouldn’t-you-love-to-be-that-guy sort of way. I find Tim Tebow to be kind of an ass. That Gator chop in the fourth quarter was unbecoming for a guy wearing John 3:16 eye makeup.

Nevertheless, it’s clear that Bob Stoops isn’t the same Bob Stoops from 2000. Don’t know what it is, but it’s not a lack of a big-game mentality. We had several big games this year, and the play-calling was great. The stretch of 60-point games was among the best in Oklahoma history.

In the post-game news conference, he said that “if this is the biggest burden” had had to face in his life that he’s a pretty lucky guy.

For some Oklahoma fans, that will wreak of apathy.

But, dude, I gotta tell you: It’s kind of what I like abou him. He’s got perspective.

On the other hand, just once I would like to see him step to the podium like Tebow did earlier this year and say, “I’m sorry. I’m going to do everything in my power, work harder than anybody else to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

But it wouldn’t change the fact that Bob doesn’t throw a pass, make a block, make a tackle or kick a field goal. At the end of the day, all you can ask is that your coach get you into position to win a national title, and there is nobody better at it than Bob.

Unfortunately, for the rest of Division I, it’s becoming a wet dream to land Oklahoma in a title game.

My prediction: Good two or three more seasons, and Stoops will call it a day in Norman, either heading to the NFL or retiring for a broadcasting gig or to take a break. He’s still the third-best coach we’ve ever had.

Something to look out for? Dare I say Gus Malzahn in Norman by 2012?

BTW, Norman isn’t nearly blameless, and I’d go so far as to say that 2008 was a major step backward for the city in terms of crime. Well, not so much a step backward but a step into territory this city has rarely seen.

Over the past four weeks, there have been at least two or three home-invasion robberies in Norman, the most recent of which was New Year’s Eve.

The home-invasion attack is probably the scariest and most violating attack of them all. But how do we stop any of it?

Longer prison terms for violent offenders and lesser terms for non-violent offenders. Cohesive family units for kids growing up. Allow and encourage people to defend themselves.