This is my version of Jimmy Buffett's classic island escapism song on acoustic guitar. This song is played in the key of D, using just three chords: D, G, and A. Check out the video below, grab your guitar and play along. Enjoy!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
My eight-year-old daughter hates Viacom
Hi folks,
Sorry to get off-topic, but something happened the other day that shocked me and I felt obliged to write about it.
The other day, my eight year old daughter came up to me in tears. I asked her why she was crying.
"Daddy, I HATE Viacom!" she exclaimed.
"Why do you hate Viacom?" I asked. "How do you even know what Viacom is?"
As it turns out, my daughter had seen a fan video on YouTube that had been created by some other kid. My daughter loved this video and would watch it frequently. Unfortunately, this video contained a small clip of content owned by Viacom.
One day, Viacom issued a DMCA takedown order and the video was removed from YouTube. My daughter was brokenhearted. Through sobs, she explained what happened and how much she hated Viacom. She also went on to express another startling view:
"Daddy, copyrights are evil!"
What's the lesson in all this?
Companies like Viacom are so busy trying to squeeze every nickel out of their intellectual property that they can't see how badly they are losing the hearts and minds of today's young generation.
Here's a case where a young girl (and probably a thousand other young children) now hate Viacom, and for what? So Viacom can prevent some other teenaged "outlaw" from using a relatively small amount of their content in a non-commercial, minute-long video?
Meanwhile, they are irreparably damaging their brand with a new crop of voters and consumers.
Now, I work in software and I am also a songwriter, so I respect the value of intellectual property as much as the next person. But I also understand marketing and public relations, and it shocks me to see companies like Viacom ravage their long-term reputations and brands just so they can make a few extra bucks today.
What they should realize is that it's a new world out there, requiring new business models for media and entertainment. I really wish they would smarten up and find a better way to make money than gratuitously upsetting young children who just want to watch a cheesy YouTube video once in a while.
Sorry to get off-topic, but something happened the other day that shocked me and I felt obliged to write about it.
The other day, my eight year old daughter came up to me in tears. I asked her why she was crying.
"Daddy, I HATE Viacom!" she exclaimed.
"Why do you hate Viacom?" I asked. "How do you even know what Viacom is?"
As it turns out, my daughter had seen a fan video on YouTube that had been created by some other kid. My daughter loved this video and would watch it frequently. Unfortunately, this video contained a small clip of content owned by Viacom.
One day, Viacom issued a DMCA takedown order and the video was removed from YouTube. My daughter was brokenhearted. Through sobs, she explained what happened and how much she hated Viacom. She also went on to express another startling view:
"Daddy, copyrights are evil!"
What's the lesson in all this?
Companies like Viacom are so busy trying to squeeze every nickel out of their intellectual property that they can't see how badly they are losing the hearts and minds of today's young generation.
Here's a case where a young girl (and probably a thousand other young children) now hate Viacom, and for what? So Viacom can prevent some other teenaged "outlaw" from using a relatively small amount of their content in a non-commercial, minute-long video?
Meanwhile, they are irreparably damaging their brand with a new crop of voters and consumers.
Now, I work in software and I am also a songwriter, so I respect the value of intellectual property as much as the next person. But I also understand marketing and public relations, and it shocks me to see companies like Viacom ravage their long-term reputations and brands just so they can make a few extra bucks today.
What they should realize is that it's a new world out there, requiring new business models for media and entertainment. I really wish they would smarten up and find a better way to make money than gratuitously upsetting young children who just want to watch a cheesy YouTube video once in a while.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
How to play "He Went to Paris" by Jimmy Buffett
This song is played in the key of A, using the following chords: A, D, and E (simple I-IV-V chord progression). You can also play it by capoing the guitar at the 2nd fret and playing G, C, and D. Enjoy!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
How to play "Growing Older But Not Up" by Jimmy Buffett
I always loved the hook in this song: "I'd rather die while I'm living than live while I'm dead."
I'm playing it in the key of D, using the following chords: D, G, and A (simple I-IV-V chord progression). Jimmy usually plays it in E, which can be accomplished by simply capoing the guitar at the 2nd fret.
Enjoy!
I'm playing it in the key of D, using the following chords: D, G, and A (simple I-IV-V chord progression). Jimmy usually plays it in E, which can be accomplished by simply capoing the guitar at the 2nd fret.
Enjoy!
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