39-40 IAQ (Infrequently Asked Questions)

1) WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO ACHIEVE HERE?

I plan to record and post a cover version of a randomly selected song every day between my 39th and 40th birthdays. The original version of the song will be posted along with my cover, as well as some written words about the song or the process or marine biology.

2) HOW ARE THE SONGS SELECTED?

The songs are "picked" each day by iTunes. I refresh the iTunes DJ, and whatever song comes up in the #1 position, that's my assignment. Period. Doesn't matter if it's the between-song patter on a live record or an artist interview or fragment of an audiobook whatever... that's the "song" I have to do.

Yes, there's some pre-selection here since the songs are all being pulled from my own iTunes library. What of it? I have lots of songs on there. Around 92,000, it says here.

3) ARE THERE ANY OTHER RULES?

Nope. I'm free to interpret the material however I wish, using the tools available to me, as long as it gets done within 24 hours. Most likely the default setting will be voice and guitar, although I can foresee doing more elaborate treatments as time allows; conversely, on a busy day, I might just read the lyrics into my cellphone and post that. Most assuredly my band will be tapped to perform a fair amount of these tunes with me.

4) WHAT'S THE END RESULT?

If this works, and you download all the tracks posted on this blog at the end of the project, you'll have two 365-track virtual albums, one of the original songs and one of my covers. Just like the This Mortal Coil box set. Only with less awesome artwork and, you know, physical existence.

5) WHY, GOD? WHY?

For the challenge and for the fun of it. Like a lot of artists, I'm more productive with a deadline. As for the "fun" part, well, as a music-obsessive, I spend a lot of time thinking about what constitutes a song, or a recording, or what might make a great recording or performance of a lousy song or vice-versa... so here's a chance to put some of those ideas into practice, and with a little luck, generate some discussion about those ideas. That, to me, is fun. Yeah, I know.

I'm also, to be frank, getting past the age at which one is supposed to be playing rock and roll in clubs with bands and that sort of thing. I'm going to keep on doing that anyway. But I also hope this challenge keeps my musicianship up and pushes it a little further on a daily basis. I'd like to start my 5th decade at the height of my powers as a musician.

So hey, it's my 39th birthday. I guess I have to start, huh?