By Jenny Biddle.
Warning: Today we tinker on the edge of “Country music”…
Continuing the 10 year anniversary of my album "Hero in Me", this month I’m telling the secrets behind Track 5 “Chasing Stars”.
Each album I create hosts a range of genres and subgenres: the mellow folk songs, the passionate piano pleas, dirtier blues grooves, a one-off poppy song, the guitar-roots vibes… and then there are hints of… *gasp*…. country music (shhhh! Don’t tell the country music haters). Part of this eclectic assortment is deliberate because I enjoy variety when listening to other people’s albums; and part of it is the natural result of needing to express different moods as a human/composer. But I have wondered if this makes my music hard to pigeon-hole, define and hence hard to find my audience. I guess I never wanted to be put into a box; I wanted to express the beasts within, and whoever wanted to come along for the ride could jump aboard.
I hear people say they hate country music. I’ve cowered in the corner like I’m holding a dirty secret, because I’m not sure what “subgenre” of country music it is, but I must admit there are certain country songs I freaking love (and others that are like nails on a chalkboard). Chasing Stars” was my attempt at writing an upbeat, easy-going, country song.
If you enjoy country music, perhaps you’ve come across the Tamworth Country Music Festival in NSW Australia and its rich feast of country music. Well… one year I attempted to win the busking award at Tamworth. I stood on the street outside Jeans West in the scorching 38°C heat dressed up in my jeans, boots, cowboy hat and flanny (aka tea-towel shirt), and played my guitar like it was a banjo for 9 days straight. I won the People’s Choice Award for the 2012 Australian Country Music Festival Busking Championships at Tamworth (but I’m told a couple dogs and a pony voted too).
Chasing Stars isn’t about the regular concerns of country music artists; a girl wanting to meet a boy, or day on the ranch, or chewing straw next to a Blue Heeler. This song is a reminder to myself to spend less time ruminating on the past, less time worrying about the future, and instead enjoy living in the present moment… all the while revelling in the country licks of a banjo and guitar.
Tell me, are you a country fan, or nae?
What do you like/dislike about country music?
Who are some for favourite country musicians?
Recording:
Inspired by Liz Stringer’s banjo playing on Sinking Like a Stone, and my newly-realised love of country music, I decided to buy a banjo! I figured how hard could it be to play banjo (I was wrong, it’s a whole other thing). And Chasing Stars totally needed banjo to fulfil its existence. So I layered up this song, and you’ll find it weaving in and out of my acoustic and electric guitar playing and vocals.
I also got a couple of friends to sing on the album including Travis Gardiner, Stuart Maurice and my very own mum, and we had a party in the studio!
Guitar Talk:
I play this song is in an Open D tuning: DADF#AD, with the capo on fret 6. Have you ever played around with this guitar tuning? I hope you find some gems!
Check out my video of how I play this song with alternate tuning - click here.
Evolution through time:
If you’re familiar with my various albums, you see this song pop up in various forms - including live, acoustic, and studio versions. The guitar solo always comes out differently, which is part of what I love about playing this song! But if you’ve been particularly perceptive, you’ll noticed I’ve changed the lyrics in the chorus from “thank God for this fine day” to “be glad for this fine day” and back again. This highlights my own exploration with/without spirituality over time, and I continue to interchange it, depending what I feel in the moment. At the end of the day, what I want for this song is to promote gratitude, wherever/however you do that, with your own version of “God”, with nature, yourself or with some higher being.
Listen to three different versions of "Chasing Stars" here:
Studio Version: open.spotify.com/track
Acoustic version: open.spotify.com/track
Live Version: open.spotify.com/track
Lyrics:
Sometimes I wish just a little too much
You know I’m caught in my dreams, I can never get enough
I know I try to climb a little too high
I won’t let myself stop till I’m touching the sky
But if I’m not chasing stars I’m living in the past
I’ve gotta find myself a way to be glad for this fine day
If I’m not chasing stars I’m wishing my life away
Sometimes I think a little too hard
I love stirring up the pot, churning up my past
And I still see pictures and memories
Oh how they haunt me, it’s no surprise this body don’t sleep
But if I’m not chasing stars I’m living in the past
I’ve gotta find myself a way to be glad for this fine day
If I’m not chasing stars I’m wishing my life away
Some wise words were whispered in my ear
“You won’t be happy there, if you’re not happy here”
We’re in the now
Right now...
But if I’m not chasing stars I’m living in the past
I’ve gotta find myself a way to thank God for this fine day
If I’m not chasing stars I’m wishing my life away
You know I’m wishing my life away....
Credits:
Song by Jenny Biddle
Recorded & Mixed & Produced by Sean Carey at Trackdown Studios, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
Mastering by Don Bartley, Blaxland, NSW, Australia
Album Art by Katrina Leighton
Jenny Biddle: vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, banjo
Sean Carey: bass, electric rhythm guitar
Michael Quigley: drums
Ann Biddle: backing vocals (hi mum!)
Travis Gardiner: backing vocals
Stuart Maurice: backing vocals
Read more from Jenny...
Track 1 - Hero In Me
Track 2 - Across The Nullarbor
Track 3 - Pockets
Track 4 - Running Out Of Lies
Jenny Biddle is an Australian, Folk, Blues & Roots musician, she is a well seasoned guitarist, witty storyteller, poignant songwriter and winner of the Blues & Roots Radio International Song Contest 2020. Jenny fashions an infectious mix of down to earth modern folk for the wandering soul. Her 8th album 'Hoping For A Hero' is out now..