Do you have anything to promote? Post shows, CDs and anything else you have going on in the Broadjam Blog.

In this week’s blog, we want to bring the actual music on Broadjam to the forefront. As a host site, we have thousands of songs, from countless genres, and we figure it’s time to listen, critique and praise.

Every song harbors the potential to appeal to a million different listeners in a million different ways. This blog will focus on your interpretations of Future Native’s “Natural Woman.” Below, we offer one of our employee’s interpretations just to get your juices flowing:

The song begins strongly as a funk/blues fusion of cadenced drums, punchy acoustic licks, seemingly improvised vocals and wailing harp draws.

Lyrically, the song grasps the “all natural hippy” cliché and explodes it into a glorified admiration of the lifestyle. Lyrical simplicity and repetition both work together to praise the “natural woman.”

The ending scrapes down the song’s original texture and somewhat rudely bounces into a tribal-esque rhythmic breakdown of guitar and percussion. When the guitar fades, a percussive space (highly reminiscent of Rusted Root) is all that’s left to conclude.

Overall, I felt Future Native made many musical leaps in “Natural Woman,” ranging from blues to tribal. They encompassed quite a variety of musical genres.

Well, there you have it. One interpretation. Now we want to know: who agrees, who disagrees and why. Give us your own feelings on the song.

Song: Natural Woman

(continued from last Friday…)

“I want us all to have a mutually profitable business arrangement,” you say.

The man in black looks shocked for a second and then his grin returns, even wider than before. The other guys nod in agreement. The stranger looks around the cab slowly and then turns to you and says, “I really wasn’t expecting you to say that, but, I must say, I couldn’t agree more.”

You smile confidently and even Mikey’s fear seems to have been replaced by eagerness. The stranger’s demeanor has changed. His grin disappears and he looks into your eyes and says, “I have something for you.”

The manila envelope seems to appear out of nowhere as he stretches it out towards you. You slowly reach out your hand and as you grasp the envelope a shiver passes through you. Very carefully you slide your finger under the flap and peel open the envelope.
The papers inside are old, seemingly very old. A picture falls out onto your lap and, when you see what it is, you simply stare, shocked.

“What is it Ronnie?” Mikey asks, fear and excitement equal in his tone.

“Are you okay?” Charlie whispers.

The stillness in the cab sits heavy and you can feel every heartbeat in the car.

“What is it man?” Mikey pleads, no longer excited, but simply afraid.

You slowly lift the picture up to see it better and your blood goes cold as you see its details.

“It’s us,” you say softly, “except we all have mustaches and, Charlie, you are with some girl I’ve never seen.”

“What?” Charlie exclaims, grabbing the photo away from you. “This is ridiculous! This picture is at least 50 years old!”

“What’s going on,” Pauly whimpers, on the verge of tears.

The man in black begins to laugh. He laughs for a long time, tears rolling down his face. The night seems to swell and you begin to sweat. You wish that you had never left Mikey’s garage. You wish that you had never joined a band. You wish…but it’s too late. The black car speeds into the night and all you can do is go along for the ride.

We have decided to close our story for now, but may resume it again at some future time. We’d like to thank everyone (especially Professor!) for posting and hope that you enjoyed reading the story as much as we enjoyed writing it!

Have anything going on this week that you want to get the word out on? Shows, CD releases or anything else you want people to know about is welcome. Leave a comment on the Broadjam Blog.

How do you feel about the idea of the government taxing music downloads?

In Wisconsin (U.S.), Governor Jim Doyle is attempting to pass a bill that would place a tax on music sold online. This would affect sites, such as Broadjam, whose users can offer digital downloads.

Check out this article, which cites Broadjam co-founder Stephanie Essex Elkins, and let us know what your thoughts are on this proposed tax and the idea of taxing downloads in general.

Last week we premiered our Choose Your Own Adventure series in our Friday blog post. We figured we put something up and see where it went. Well people responded, and our favorite response came from Professor!:

[Professor! posted]
Pauly grabs you and says, ” Wait, think for a second! How did he open the garage door? How’d he know where to find us?”

Mikey frowns and thinks a moment. Suddenly, with his voice almost a whisper and his face as pale as a ghost, he says “Guys… I swear, a second before that door opened I was thinking I would sell my soul to get to…” He pauses a moment and then shudders and says “the big-time”. Charlie and Pauly looked shocked as they simultaneously say “Me too!”

You laugh and say, “Tell me you guys are kidding.”

[Broadjam continues the story where Professor! left off]

Your nervous smile fades as blank, unsmiling eyes return your stare. You gulp and turn towards the black car. The mysterious man has disappeared inside the limo and it idles with a low hum, exhaust pooling over the trunk and gripping the garage doorframe as it pulls itself into the room.

“Well, are we doing this or not,” you say. Your three band mates look at the black car again and then Mikey nods.

“Alright, I’m in.” Charlie and Pauly both pause and then nod in agreement.

“Well, let’s go,” you say. The four of you start towards the car and as you bend down to duck through the door, you smell the heavy, smoky scent of something not quite sweet, but not bitter. You pause a second and then swallow and enter the cab. The man in black is sitting across from you, legs crossed, fingers tapping against each other. He smiles slightly and then nods as the rest of the band climbs in.

“Alright gentlemen,” he says, “I hope you’re ready for some fun.” Mikey reaches out, as if in a trance and closes the door. “Now,” he says, turning his attention back to you, “what do you want more than anything else in the world?” You pause, but a force compels you, reading your mind, searching the depths of your soul. Before you even realize it, you begin to speak.
“I…”

Choose your own adventure! Let us know what should happen next.

Are you releasing a new CD? Do you have any shows coming up? Let everyone know what’s going down and leave a comment on the Broadjam Blog.

Last night was the 49th Annual Grammy Awards, honoring the “best in music” of 2006. What did you think about this year’s winners and performers? Did the night truly belong to the best of 2006?

It’s New York City—1989. You’re the lead singer for a rock band. You guys have been practicing for weeks in Mikey, the bassist’s, garage and you are almost ready for a live show.

“Hey Charlie, turn down your amp,” shouts Pauly, the band drummer.
Charlie lays down his 12-string guitar and walks over to the ragged amp to his right.
“Mikey, hit me with some of those D-flats,” you shout as you jog in place to get the blood flowing.
“Right on dude,” Mikey complies as he picks out a steady rhythm.
“Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about,” yells Pauly, accentuating his approval with a rimshot.
Charlie walks back to his place in front of the drum set and starts hitting the riff to your band’s first song, “Love Money”.

You walk to the mic and are just about to open your mouth, when, with a grinding squeal, the garage door begins to rise.
“I thought your mom said we could practice Mikey,” shouts Charlie irritably.
“Cool it man,” replies Mikey, “She’s not supposed to be home until 8.”
The garage door finishes its ascent, but it is not Mikey’s mother who now faces your band. A shiny, black limo is parked in front of the garage and standing in front of it, a man in a three-piece suit now smiles at you. His hair is slicked back and his heavy, dark sunglasses reflect the sinking sun. He looks around the garage, still smiling, and removes his sunglasses. He looks at you and says, “So, you guys ready for the big time?”

“Who the heck are you?” Mikey raises his voice, but then lets it fall away as the stranger turns his stare on him.
“Easy man,” you say to Mikey and rest a hand on his shoulder. You turn back to the man. “Who are you,” you ask in a steady tone. The man looks you up and down and then folds his sunglasses and slides them into his pocket.
“Who am I,” he asks, “I’m the chance of a lifetime.”
“What are you talking about,” you ask, stepping forward.
“I think you all should come with me,” he says, opening the door at the back of the limo and motioning with his hand for you to get in.
“I don’t think so,” Mikey says. “This is ridiculous.”
“I agree,” Pauly adds, “This is a little too spooky for me.”
“What if he’s for real though,” Charlie says tentatively. “I mean, this isn’t a horror movie…maybe this is a good thing.” Mikey turns to you.

“What do you think Ronnie?”

DO YOU:
1) go with the stranger and get into the limo?
2) agree with Mikey and Pauly and decline the offer?
3) motion Charlie to blindside the stranger with his guitar?
4) You decide! Write your own step!

Do you have any news this week? Leave your latest updates for all to read by posting your announcements below.