July 22, 2005

What is "Superfamous" about?

Thanks everybody, first of all, for being so dang nice. It's so cool to connect with people all over the world and share life together. WOW! Secondly, thanks for all the amazing comments about the music. It's very encouraging and inspiring. Sometimes we have no idea at all how much power a simple word can be, spoken at just the right time. Be BRAVE people...tell someone you care about that you actually care about them! It might be just what they've been waiting to hear!

OK - about the tune. What a blast we had recording this song. I really wanted to have a fun, sarcastic tune about how it seems like EVERYBODY wants to be famous these days. Just turn on the tv and watch any reality show if you don't think so. Or go to a club and see how everyone is trying to look like someone famous. Or try living in Nashville and go ANYWHERE!!!

Someone asked me, "Are you being serious in this song?" Yes and no. Do I JUST want to be famous...no, not JUST. I would absolutely love to be able to have everyone in the world hear my music and maybe make them smile after a hard day, or make somebody feel like they can really start living their life, instead of just settling for getting by. So, yes, it'd be a blast to have an audience that enjoys what I do. But, I say "no" to the part of the extreme where it seems like people are willing to do anything to get people to like them. I don't want to do that.

I also don't want to take advantage of people based on any sort of position I might have. Not an easy task, especially when you're tired or lonely! HAH! So, there's a short answer for you. Somebody did tell me once, "You're just doing music cause you want to be famous..." I shrugged my shoulders, laughed, and wrote a song about it...

July 14, 2005

You want to be famous?

No, I'm not starting a reality show. I'm not auditioning people for anything. But I am curious what you think makes people want to be famous. I wonder if it's because we all are bombarded every day by images and messages that make us feel insignificant, and really we are longing for significance. We want to be remembered! And boy, how can you forget the really famous people!

If someone was to ask me who were the people that have impacted my life the most, I probably won't say a certain actor or actress, though many brought me joy through their work. I probably will say people like Willo Boe or Milt Heinrich, teachers that taught me to believe in myself and to keep exploring for a more creative option than the one I might want to settle for. I probably will mention my Grandma Bob, who believed in me more than anyone and showed me how to give away your life for the benefit of others.

It seems like our society is so full of people who want to be famous, as if that's some sort of Knightly tap on the shoulder, pronouncing our worth. I hope that someone that crosses my path is able to say something like, "I chose to stop settling, and start living life because of Mark," or "I see a little more clearly and more vividly the blessings I'm surrounded by because of Mark." Whoa...

I'd love to win an Oscar, or a Grammy, or a Brit, that would be a kick in the pants. But to go to sleep at night knowing I'm famous isn't enough. Loving well the people in my life, and letting them love me -- aaahhh...that's success in my book.

Unleash Your Inner Wannabe!

Why? For too long the word wannabe has had a really negative connotation. I believe it's time to reclaim the word for something positive. Perhaps even for yourself! This word is for you if you don't want to settle for just getting by. It's for you if you don't want to be just like everybody else. It's for you if you want to make a difference in the lives of people around you, and perhaps all over the world.

You're a Wannabe if you are someone who is willing to take risks and step into the unknown, in order to reach out and really live this life. This is your one shot. How are you going to live it?

So, what or who do you really wanna be? And why? I want to hear your story...