“Ch-ch-changes” with Lynn Lovegreen

 As I thought about our theme of change, I found myself singing David Bowie’s “Changes” song. That led to a concept that I’ll share with you.

 

I’ve always liked David Bowie’s song, and I went to look up the lyrics to quote from it. Instead, I found a great article about how Bowie wrote and recorded the album Hunky Dory that the song first appeared in. Bill DeMain writes, ““In the early seventies it really started to all come together for me as to what it was that I liked doing,” Bowie told me in 2003. “After I came back from my first trip to America, I had a new perception of songwriting, and it was about a collision of musical styles. I found that I couldn’t easily adopt brand loyalty, or genre loyalty; I wasn’t an R&B artist, I wasn’t a folk artist, and I didn’t see the point any more in trying to be that purist about it. 

"What my true style was is that I loved the idea of putting Little Richard with Jacques Brel and the Velvet Underground backing them. What would that sound like? Nobody was doing that. At least not in the same way." 

How cool, that this song and the others in this album helped David Bowie find his voice and discover the performer that we came to know and love.

Bill DeMain writes, “Did Bowie know back in 1971 that he was making a career-defining single? 

Putting it in context of the album that it kicked off, he told me: “Hunky Dory gave me a fabulous groundswell. First with the sense of: ‘Wow, you can do anything.’ You can borrow the luggage of the past, you can amalgamate it with things that you’ve conceived could be in the future, and you can set it in the now. 

"Then the record provided me, for the first time in my life, with an actual audience – I mean people actually coming up to me and saying: ‘Good album, good songs.’ That hadn’t happened to me before. 

"It was like: ‘Ah, I’m getting it. I’m finding my feet. I’m starting to communicate what I want to do. Now… what is it I want to do?’”

Maybe that’s how we deal with change, by finding our real selves and communicating that to others.  Thanks, David Bowie.

I’m going to think about this as I write. My voice and my ideas are unique to me, and I should lean into that and not worry about writing like others do. That’s how I will make my own path through all the changes in this world.

 

How about you? Have you had any discoveries during this time of change?

 

Here’s the link from Louder: Classic Rock in case you’d like to read the whole article: https://www.loudersound.com/features/david-bowies-changes-the-story-behind-the-song.

 

Lynn Lovegreen has lived in Alaska for over fifty years. After twenty years in the classroom, she retired to make more time for writing. She enjoys her friends and family, reading, and volunteering at her local library. Her young adult historical fiction is set in Alaska, a great place for drama, romance, and independent characters. See her website at www.lynnlovegreen.com. You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram.

Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda!

By: Marcia King-Gamble

www.lovemarcia.com


With age comes wisdom, or so they say. While it sounds trite, the older I  get, the more I realize that  whomever came up with that saying was exactly on point.

I've had few regrets, but will admit to a  misstep  or two. Mistakes are lessons in life and things we should learn and grow from. I view them as learning points or turning points. That said, looking back, perhaps I would have chosen  a different mate. Though I will admit to having  a lot of fun with my romantic partner growing up.

The signs were all there from the beginning. He appeared to be loving and caring, and some might even perceive him as being on his way up. But the man I thought would make a good life partner never really grew up.

Now get one thing straight, this is not about bashing my ex;  a brilliant man with a lot of potential. This is about straight talk.  We are all ultimately responsible  for the choices we make. At that time he seemed the right one. The red flags were there from the beginning, but when you're younger you ignore them, or  figure with time things will change. 

Funny thing is the vivacious partier can grow up to be an alcoholic. The job hopper who thinks he's smarter than the boss, that no one can criticise, may end up  making poor decisions that affect your life.  Come bill-paying time, when he falls short, he expects you to pick up the slack for expenses you know nothing about.

Then there's the frivolous spender who insists you have designer clothing and purses when you don't even want them.  Some see you as pampered and spoiled. When wisdom kicks in it's a case of not having your  priorities in order.

As you grow older you have a better understanding of yourself, and what's important to you in life. When the telltale signs pop up, you run in the opposite direction.

Sure, if I could turn back the clock, perhaps I would have chosen a more responsible partner. Someone who was more focused, and understood the importance of working toward common goals. I would have chosen someone less needy, and less dependent on me for life planning. And I would definitely have chosen someone less emotionally fragile.

But all in all, given this small regret, my life has turned out well compared to most. I've grown and learned from these  experiences. And now I have a better feel for the  kind of partner who works best with me.

Daily I put it out to the universe that a smart, emotionally strong man will come along. Someone who will come to the table secure in himself, who I can respectfully disagree with, without him becoming angry or out of control. I pray and hope for a planner, and someone who recognizes that adversity can happen in the blink of an eye, and so you save for a rainy day.

I hope for someone not broken by life, and one willing to embrace the ups  and downs that happen. One who sees life as an adventure, and views me as the partner that enhances his life not makes it better.  Had I known what I needed earlier on, my life might have turned out differently. Not necessarily better, but certainly gone  off in a different direction.

The question is would I have grown?

About Marcia King-Gamble

Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This travel industry executive and current world traveler has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling to exotic locales, and caring for her animal family.

Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com or “friend” her on Facebook:http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

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