I recently posted on YouTube my cover of “Only Hope” from “A Walk to Remember.” My version is similar to the version originally in the movie performed by Mandy Moore. Switchfoot also has a version of the song.

This is an acoustic version of track #3 from my debut Album “When We Started”.  The song itself is entitled “The Cure”.  Enjoy!

Live Acoustic Version of The Cure by Jon Pinney

While I was on my date with The Mormon Bachelorette, she asked me to play her a song.  So I played her a new song I recently wrote, entitled More.  This is currently the only recording of this song, and I didn’t actually realize they’d be posting it on YouTube.  So since they did, I figured I’d post it here as well so you could see some of the new music I’ve been working on.

You’ll notice that the camera work is a little crazy (that’s because they weren’t planning on posting it either, and Larry the camera guy was just trying to get a couple shots to include in the highlight video of the date).  Also, I may have messed up slightly, but just pretend like you didn’t hear it lol.  You’ll also get to see a couple shots from the date itself.  Anyway, I’d love to know what you think of the song – it will most likely end up on my new album.  Enjoy! 

So I redid my website again

I decided that I wanted to highlight my debut album and remind everyone that I am a musician (just in case you forgot lol ).

I released my album “When We Started” in June of 2008. If you haven’t had a chance to listen to it, please hop on over to iTunes or MySpace.

All of the songs on the album are original music written by yours truly. They are also fully produced (with a full band). I was lucky to work with Jake Joyner, Jordan Kester, Paul Bates, and Ryan Lindow in the recording and arranging of the songs on the album. They are all great musicians in their own right, and it was great to work with them.

From Left: Paul Bates, Jon Pinney, Jordan Kester, Jake Joyner at Harlow's July 2008

This week I covered Closer by Ne-Yo.  I used to hear this song on the radio and I was never sure who sang it but I always loved it.  So, I have decided to do my own acoustic version.  I hope you enjoy

This week I decided to cover Mad World by Gary Jules and Adam Lambert.  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

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.

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)

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
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

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

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

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

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

This week I decided to cover one of my favorite songs of all time:  Landslide by Fleetwood Mac (Stevie Nicks).  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

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