This song Hattie was inspired by a character from Woody Allen’s Sweet and Lowdown. It’s about a fictional “the second greatest” jazz guitarist Emmet Ray. I love the costume (it’s set in 1930’s) the music and Emmet’s obsession with Django Reinhardt (the greatest jazz guitarist ever) but the character that fascinated me the most was Hattie, Emmet’s girlfriend. Hattie is a mute but she emits so much energy and somehow looked more alive than Emmet who just can’t stop talking! I always wanted to give her a voice and this song was my attempt to give her one.
The video was shot by a very talneted photographer Megan Senior. This was our first video collaboration and I’m really happy with what we came up. Not to mention blowing up and wrangling 72 balloons was a blast! (pun intended)
Spring is coming and with it, it’s bringing lots of changes. I like changes. It’s exciting and challenging, and really who doesn’t like a new adventure? But what if it’s your friends who are about to embark on a new adventure, and you have to see them off while wishing them luck? Lots of my friends are about to start new chapter of their lives. I know I should be excited for them but the problem is I have a hard time saying good-bye.
I’ve been living in NYC for a while now so I’ve had my share of saying good-byes. But I never seem to get used to it. Each good-bye hurts and the pain surprises me like it never happened before.
Last weekend, I had to say good-bye to one of my most favorite people in the world. My 3-year-old friend Gretsey. Gretsey and her family, who are all close to me, are about to start a new life in suburbia. I know it’s only a train ride away but past three years, I got to see Gretsey on a weekly basis. Being only a walking distance away, I could just pop in to see them at the end of the day or meet them at a park near by. Gretsey and her little sister Maddie, made my life so much better and so much more fun. Sometime we spin ourselves till we are dizzy, or sing a song badly and loudly on the street. It’s nothing like seeing their faces light up when I walk in the door.
I cried like a kid when they drove off in their packed car. As I sat down in my very quiet room – kids are noisy! – with the pain in my chest, I did what I usually do when that happens. I wrote a song. I didn’t want say “Good-bye” so I used “Goodnight” instead. I don’t really know why but maybe that goodnight sounds a lot less final.
My band performed the song at our last show. (There was another good-bye at the show but that’s for next time) I asked James to take a video and asked audience to say “Goodnight Gretsey” at the end of the song. I hope she gets a kick out of it! A little of bit of singing makes you feel a whole lot better – that’s something I definitely re-learned from her.
Hope you enjoy!
Oh the sun has long gone down
Here we are still holding hands
Wasn’t today amazing?
Wasn’t it so much fun?
But the clock is ticking and it’s almost time…
Isn’t it hard to say Goodnight?
Isn’t it hard to say Goodnight?
Though I know I’ll see you soon
But I know I’ll still miss you
Isn’t it hard to say Goodnight my love, Goodnight
I love the stories you told me
While we waited our train
How we couldn’t stop laughing
No one else seems to find it funny
But the clock is ticking and it’s almost time…
Isn’t it hard to say Goodnight?
Isn’t it hard to say Goodnight?
Though I know I’ll see you soon
But I know I’ll still miss you
Isn’t it hard to say Goodnight my love, Goodnight
Maybe one day, someday, I find you far away
Drifting apart from one another
All but a memory fading away
I met Sophie when we happen to play on the same bill at the Living Room in the lower east side, Manhattan. I loved her beautiful songs, voice and her ukulele so I was thrilled when she asked me to do a duet with her.
Choosing what song to cover was the most difficult part of the project. I mean there are so many to choose from! In the end we settled on 9 to 5, because we both love Dolly Parton. Turns out, Dolly wasn’t the only thing we love in common. We both love old films (Jimmy Stewart, Hitchcock, Audrey Hepburn…) studio Ghibli (My neighbor Totoro!) Agatha Christie (Poirot or Miss Marple?) and of course, Murder She Wrote. “You have Murder She Wrote board game!” was the first thing she said, when Sophie arrived at my place in Brooklyn. Jessica Fletcher just makes everything alright, you know?
Every time we get together to work on the video, we end up drinking numerous cup of tea (hello, English and Japanese over here) and chatting about old films. It was very pleasant. We did work hard though, especially Sophie with all the sound and video editing. I couldn’t be happier with the finished video. Did I tell you that there is a surprise ending? Maybe I will tell you about how it came about one day, but for now, please enjoy! I hope it brightens your 9 to 5 day with a smile.
Do you feel like the beginning of the year is just another day? Or do you, like me, feel like it is a chance to start fresh? I like January because you get to do the things for the first time just because it’s new year. Like first day of the year, first dinner, first drink, first run, first dance, first song, first…
I have lots of “first” things coming up. First show of the year, first recording day of the year, first project of the year – so exciting! I’m superstitious so I feel like if the first show of the year goes well, I’m off to a good start! I know it’s silly, but I can’t help it. I hope you have lots of “first” things.
Sat. Jan. 12
Freddy’s Bar (Brooklyn, NY)
Sun. Jan. 20
Rockwood Music Hall (NYC)
Sat. Feb. 16
Living Room (NYC)
Here’s to a wonderful 2013. May it be filled with exciting adventures!
Fantastic Lies of Grizzly Rose 