Jon Pinney Official Website » Music

Cover Songs – Gary Jules Mad World

Jon Pinney — Fri, 21 May 2010 07:53:21 +0000

This week I decided to cover Mad World. This song was originally written and performed by Tears for Fears, and has since been covered by Gary Jules (on the Donnie Darko soundtrack) and Adam Lambert (on American Idol). Here I give you my acoustic version.

Mad World
Written by Roland Orzabal

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere

Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I’m dying are the best I’ve ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to takeWhen people run in circles it’s a very, very
Mad World, Mad world

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
And I feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen

Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what’s my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I’m dying are the best I’ve ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles it’s a very, very
Mad World
Mad World

Enlarging your world
Mad World

Cover Songs – George Michael Careless Whisper (Never Gonna Dance Again)

Jon Pinney — Sat, 01 May 2010 22:39:59 +0000

This week I covered a song by George Michael called Careless Whisper. (I actually never knew that was its name till this week… I always referred to it as Never Gonna Dance Again). Either way, this song has one of the most memorable saxophone riffs in history, and was super successful. I read this week that it went #1 in 25 different countries. It is an excellent song. I hope you enjoy my version of it.

Careless Whisper
George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley

I feel so unsure as I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor.
As the music dies something in your eyes
Calls to mind a silver screen and all its sad goodbyes.

Chorus
I’m never gonna dance again
guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it’s easy to pretend
I know you’re not a fool.
I should have known better than to cheat a friend
And waste the chance that I’d been given.
So I’m never gonna dance again
the way I danced with you.

Time can never mend the careless whispers of a good friend.
To the heart and mind ignorance is kind.
There’s no comfort in the truth, pain is all you’ll find.

Chorus

Tonight the music seems so loud
I wish that we could lose this crowd.
Maybe it’s better this way
We’d hurt each other with the things we want to say.
We could have been so good together
We could have lived this dance forever
But now who’s gonna dance with me? – Please stay.

Chorus

No dance
no dance
no dance
you’re gone – no dance
you’re gone.
This matter is so wrong
so wrong
that you had lo leave me alone.

Cover Songs – Rihanna Don’t Stop The Music

Jon Pinney — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 01:36:34 +0000

This week I wanted to cover something a little more unexpected, so I covered one of my favorite Rihanna songs: Don’t Stop The Music. Every time I hear this song it makes me want to dance. Plus, I saw Rihanna in person when she was on tour with Kanye West, and she is, in my opinion, one of the best and most natural stage performers I have ever seen. It also helps that a lot of her music is highly danceable and very catchy.

Rihanna Don’t Stop The Music Lyrics
Written by Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Tawanna Dabney, and Michael Jackson

Please don’t stop the music (4x)

It’s gettin’ late
I’m making my way over to my favorite place
I gotta get my body moving shake the stress away
I wasn’t looking for nobody when you looked my way
Possible candidate (yeah)
Who knew
That you’d be up in here lookin’ like you do
You’re makin’ stayin’ over here impossible
Baby I must say your aura is incredible
If you don’t have to go don’t

Do you know what you started
I just came here to party
But now we’re rockin’ on the dance floor
Acting naughty
Your hands around my waist
Just let the music play
We’re hand in hand
Chest to chest
And now we’re face to face

I wanna take you away
Lets escape into the music
DJ let it play
I just can’t refuse it
Like the way you do this
Keep on rockin’ to it
Please don’t stop the
Please don’t stop the music

I wanna take you away
Lets escape into the music
DJ let it play
I just can’t refuse it
Like the way you do this
Keep on rockin’ to it
Please don’t stop the
Please don’t stop the
Please don’t stop the music

Baby are you ready cause its getting close
Don’t you feel the passion ready to explode
What goes on between us no one has to know
This is a private show (oh)

I wanna take you away
Let’s escape into to music
DJ let it play
I just can’t refuse it
Like the way you do this
Keep on rockin’ to it
Please don’t stop the
Please don’t stop the music

Ma ma say, ma ma sa
Ma ma coo sa
Ma ma say, ma ma sa
Ma ma coo sa (5x)

Please don’t stop the music (2x)

I wanna take you away
Lets escape into the music
DJ let it play
I just can’t refuse it
Like the way you do this
Keep on rockin’ to it
Please don’t stop the
Please don’t stop the music

Ma ma say, ma ma sa
Ma ma coo sa
Ma ma say, ma ma sa
Ma ma coo sa

Please don’t stop the music

Ma ma se, ma ma sa
Ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa
Ma ma coo sa
Please don’t stop the music

Cover Songs – Fleetwood Mac / Stevie Nicks Landslide

Jon Pinney — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 05:09:38 +0000

This week I decided to cover one of my favorite songs of all time: Landslide by Fleetwood Mac. Written by Stevie Nicks, Landslide has been performed and covered by many people. Stevie Nicks’ version of this song however is unparalleled. I hope my version doesn’t detract from the beauty of this song. Thanks Stevie Nicks for writing and sharing something so beautiful.

Fleetwood Mac Landslide Lyrics
Songwriter: Stevie Nicks

I took my love and I took it down
I climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
‘Till the landslide brought me down

Oh, mirror in the sky what is love
Can the child within my heart rise above
Can I sail through the changing ocean tides
Can I handle the seasons of my life

Mmmm Mmmm

Well, I’ve been afraid of changing
‘Cause I’ve built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older
I’m getting older too

(Interlude)

Well, I’ve been afraid of changing
‘Cause I’ve built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older
I’m getting older too

So take my love and take it down
Climb a mountain and turn around
And If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well the landslide will bring it down

And if you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well the landslide will bring it down
Oh the landslide will bring it down

Cover Songs – The Beatles Let It Be

Jon Pinney — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 04:13:25 +0000

Let It Be by The Beatles is in my opinion one of the best songs ever written. Here I cover the song. I just recorded this on my iPhone, in my room, playing my little Yamaha keyboard. I hope you enjoy

The Beatles Let It Be Lyrics:
Songwriters: John Lennon and Paul McCartney

When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom
Let it be

And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom
Let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer
Let it be

For though they may be parted
There is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer
Let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

And when the night is cloudy
There is still a light that shines on me
Shine until tomorrow
Let it be

I wake up to the sound of music
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom
Let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

United State Of Pop 2009 – DJ Earworm

Jon Pinney — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:38:27 +0000

My intern showed me this video today… It’s pretty sweet. DJ Earworm takes the top 25 hits of 2009 and turns it into this awesome Mashup.

The Concept of My New Album

Jon Pinney — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:33:04 +0000

I decided that my new album will represent the pinnacle of my artistic expression to this point in my life.

Since starting to write lyrics and music for the album, I have realized a few things. I decided that for it to really be as good as I want it to be I have to have a clearly defined concept. I need to know what I’m saying and craft my expression carefully.

I’ve realized recently that art is all about making decisions. I used to think that decisions limited my artistic expression. I have since realized that making choices provides clarity and freedom. Once you know what is beneath the surface of the stone, it is so much easier to release it.

My original concept was light and dark. I love the idea of the contrast between the two. I still may try to include a little of this in my album (maybe as the theme of one of the songs) but this will not be the overarching concept.

Instead, I have decided to write about life.

There is a book that I recently read. The point of the book was how beautiful life (and human life specifically) can be. There was a phrase that I think I got from the book. It is ‘choosing life in all its glory.’

That is what I want to write about. Life. I think life is beautiful. I am so glad I am alive, and I want to share the joy and the pain of life. Without one we would never understand the other.

This album will be a portrait of life the only way I have seen it–through my own eyes.

My Blog And What I Blog

Jon Pinney — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:05:42 +0000

Blogging is fun but also very time consuming.

Lately I’ve decided that if I’m going to continue blogging I need to change it up a little. I’m going to focus on music. I’ll still write about my life and other stuff that’s going on, but it will be less frequent.

I’ve announced a new album, and I’ve begun writing a lot of new music. I think I’m going to blog about the songs I’m writing and show you bits and pieces of them as I bring them along. I will also put up videos and even have downloads at times.

Music is one of my favorite forms of expression, and I feel like I’ve got a lot to express. Hopefully this change will be one you enjoy.

No Fire by Jon Peter Lewis

Jon Pinney — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:30:03 +0000

A friend just mentioned to me that he heard this song and it reminded him of me. So of course I checked it out. I was surprised to find a song that gave me the chills it was so good. Please listen to this song. It is amazing.

P.S. I have no idea what this video is about… I haven’t watched it, only listened.

Benton Paul At The Boardwalk In Sacramento

Jon Pinney — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:27:23 +0000

Last night I went and saw Benton Paul at the Boardwalk in Sacramento (it’s actually in Orangevale or Citrus Heights…). It was an awesome show. He was playing with Brooke White and Michael Johns from American Idol Season 7.

Benton Paul Live at The Boardwalk last night

Besides being one of my good friends, he is an excellent musician and songwriter. If you’ve never heard any of his music, please take a listen to the following songs. The first is a cover of Yellow (by Coldplay) from his live show at the E Center with David Archuletta.

This second is my favorite song of his: The Devil. If you look close in this video you might be able to see me in the third row or so. This is a live video recording from his CD release show last year.

After the show I took a photo with him, and then we sat down and chatted for awhile about life.

Benton Paul and I after his show at the Boardwalk

Benton and I after his show... Here we are chatting on the Boardwalk (literally a walkway made of boards)