Chicken Soup For The Soul: The Story Behind The Song is famed publisher's all-celebrity release
Christina Aguilera, Melissa Etheridge, Lamont Dozier,
Paul Anka, Kanye West, Richie Sambora & other top songwriters tell
entertainment veteran Jo-Ann Geffen their inspiration and techniques
COS COB, Conn. ― Musicians love to say that every song tells a story, but they are usually tight-lipped about the story behind the song. Was it really scribbled on a napkin? What love interest was the real inspiration? If we knew the real story behind our favorite songs, would we ever listen to them the same way again?
Chicken Soup for the Soul® has partnered with veteran Hollywood publicist, talent manager and celebrity booker Jo-Ann Geffen for the first all celebrity book from the top selling brand. Geffen peels back the curtain on 101 songs, songwriters and artists with the upcoming release of Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Story Behind the Song (Chicken Soup for the Soul, LLC, November 10, 2009, 978-1-935096-40-5, $14.95). Jo-Ann Geffen is credited as editor along with Chicken Soup for the Soul co-founders Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. The foreword is by Lamont Dozier, who is credited as an architect of the Motown sound.
The book reflects on many of our favorite songs that trace our lives through music from rap trendsetter Kanye West to Top 40 hit-makers Richie Sambora, Christina Aguilera, Melissa Etheridge, John Legend, the Backstreet Boys’ Howie Dorough, and Jewel, classic rock performer/songwriters like Chicago’s Robert Lamm, and Foreigner’s Mick Jones, Daryl Hall and John Oates, alternative rockers Aaron Lewis of Staind to Corey Taylor of Slipknot and legendary punk rock hits such as Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation” and Jerry Cantrell from Alice In Chains reflecting on his father’s tour in Vietnam and its aftermath in “Rooster, pop classics like those of Barry Manilow, Hal David, Diane Warren and Paul Anka who re-tells his history with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, R&B songmasters such as Nathan Morris for the Boyz II Men/Mariah Carey hit “One Sweet Day”, Walter Orange of the Commodores, Smokey Robinson, Earth Wind and Fire’s Philip Bailey, and country hits from Tracy Lawrence, Ray Stevens, Pam Tillis.
Some bring laughter, others bring tears, but all are insightful and great reading for music fans, aficionados or people who just like a good story. Each of the tales is accompanied by a photo and the lyrics for the song that is discussed.
Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC, publishes all the latest titles in the famous Chicken Soup for the Soul book series which are distributed through Simon and Schuster, Inc. Since 1993, books in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series have sold more than 112 million copies, with titles translated into more than 40 languages. Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing also licenses the right to use its famous trademark to high quality licensees through IMG, the world's premier licensing agent. The company is currently implementing a plan to expand into all media, is working with TV networks on several TV shows and is developing a major Internet presence dedicated to life improvement, emotional support and inspiration. In 2007, USA Today named Chicken Soup for the Soul one of the five most memorable and impactful books in the last quarter century. For more information visit: www.chickensoup.com.
Cassidyland.com's
Chicken Soup contest is now closed! After a close race, your votes determined
the winners, entries "B" and "D". Both authors have
won copies of "Chicken
Soup For The Soul: The Story Behind The Song" and will be contacted
via email with details.
Congratulations to our winners and to everyone who participated. You can
buy your own copy of "Chicken
Soup"
through Amazon.com!
Entry A :
My poor mom was an alcoholic and at times would rage. I understand where she was coming from-her life was so isolated and I just believe she had dreams that she could never fullfill because of coming from a traditional farm family-She was expected to marry and have children- At times she would be phyically abusive to me, which started when I was 4 years old. I was 12 and the PF show was going strong and of course I loved David as many other million of girls did-He actually saved my soul. Music saved my soul, I played several instruments and sang-it bacame my sanction of peace-no one could take this love away or hurt me-Music protected me- "I am a Clown" was the song for me-My mom came home in a rage and I was asleep, I had awoken to a razor belt on my back, just hitting me, I asked her to stop but the rage went on for a few minutes. I was welting up and it stung so badly-but like other times of beatings, I would be in my room and I would play "I Am A Clown"-close my eyes and pretended David was singing this song to me and I would just emesh myself into the music and his voice and my physical pain would go away-I believed my life would be better and these were only temporary moments of life that would change. I would always smile and joke with people at school because I didn't want them to know what happened in my house-so I related to "I Am a Clown" but I also heard hope in that song as well and that is what I grabbed onto-So for years David's music helped eliminate the pain of abuse and gave me hope-I hoped I would marry someone kind like David- Well My life has gotten better-I was a surivior of abuse, David's music was my gift of sanction and hope-Today I have a great family, no drinking, no fear and lot of love around me. David saved my soul from dying in those moments of darkness and although he can be cranky at times (he is human)-I always look at the gift of his music and what it did for me. and for that, I will always be a fan-so thank you David for your gift of music-it did save my soul.
Entry B :
"How Can I Be Sure" That's my all time favourite song of David's and the most special to me. I got it in a tape cassette many, many years ago (still have it) when I was a teen. What a fantastic song!! It always sounded to me like a waltz and even I could imagine David and me dancing together. Manchester, April 20th, 2007: My very first time seeing David and the moment I'll never forget: Him singing and me listening to these wonderful lyrics: "I love you, I love you... forever... you know where I can be found...". Still get chills down spine everytime I remember it!!!
Entry C :
In 1991, after 2 and a half years together, my boyfriend Roger proposed to me. I accepted, and we told both our families. Nothing happened - no date set for the wedding, we were just 'engaged'. The idea of a romantic wedding in Jamaica came up, but his migraines put a stop to that. Finally, in late August 1993, we were together in bed and we were listening to 'How Can I Be Sure' by David Cassidy, and I got really upset and said that I WASN'T sure that he really wanted to marry me, and that being just 'engaged' suited him much better....Six weeks later, on 6th October, 1993, we got married! We celebrated 16 happy years together, and two lovely children, now 13 and 12, in 2009. So thanks David, for giving us the final push to tie the knot! P.S., Roger still doesn't like listening to you, but he still puts up with it just as he did all those years ago!
Entry D :
It's so hard to choose just one of David's songs as they are all wonderful and loaded with emotion. But "How Can I Be Sure" is very special to me, because it was David's first number 1 in the UK. I have always loved it, and when I hear the intro with that haunting violin, followed by David's beautiful, expressive voice, it takes me right back to a time when it seemed I could spend day after day listening to his songs, and sometimes even singing harmony with him!! His interpretation of this song was a classic in 1972 and it remains very special for me because David always sings it for his encore in the UK. It was during one such encore that I received my first ever hand-hold from David and I will never forget it!
Entry E :
My sister and I went to see David for the first time in 2007 in Mentor, Ohio ~ you see, we have been in love with him since 1970, but only got to see him in concert as adults....really, I was hoping after seeing him, I would be able to forget my love for the man! It certainly BACKFIRED on me!! I'm am more "ga-ga" over him than ever before. As my sister and I were leaving our hotel for the concert venue, we saw a man standing on the porch and he turned his back to us. We were SURE it was David. Not wanting to disturb him before his concert, we went on our way, THOROUGHLY enjoyed the concert and came back to the hotel for the night. We went to the lobby/bar for a glass of wine and David was sitting there talking to the manager of the hotel and the manager's 90 year old mother! My sister and I sat at a table and had our glass of wine. The manager came to talk with us and asked us what brought us to Mentor. We told him we were there to see David's concert and that it happened to be my sister's birthday. After David was finished with his conversation, he came to our table, thanked us for giving him his "space" and proceeded to have a conversation with us. What a genuine gentleman David was that evening. He didn't stay long and went outside to enjoy some fresh air. My sister and I went to our room and have loved reminiscing about that concert and our meeting our lovely David. He has a heart of gold!
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