"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by The Beatles (as covered by Girl in a Coma)

George Harrison wrote "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" after The Beatles became immersed in Transcendental Meditation (TM). After months of trying to get in touch with your inner One-ness and becoming infinitely more wise in the process, there's a moment when you become despondent that others don't understand what you understand. In the moment, in feels like it was so easy to get to this point. You've forgotten that - in reality - it wasn't. It was full of a lot of pain and before that moment, your life was an endless string of struggles. That's where Harrison was when he wrote this song. He felt so at peace with himself, but walking through the world, all he saw was people in immense amounts of pain. Suffering that was usually caused by their own inner demons - low self-worth, anxiety, competition with everyone in the world. Lacking in authenticity, not knowing that who they were was more than good enough.

I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping

While my guitar gently weeps

I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping

Still my guitar gently weeps.

I don't know why nobody told you

How to unfold your love

I don't know how someone controlled you

They bought and sold you.

You've got to understand - in 1968, when The Beatles really got into the TM movement, they had spent several years under the influence of fame and excess. Lost in that world, they became jaded, as anyone would in that situation. They all felt as if they lost their passion for music and, in some ways, their passion for living. So, they went searching for something, like we all do eventually. Well, those who are awake, anyway. The Beatles decided to visit India and study TM under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. His time there marked a profound change in Harrison and, afterwards, began a period of prolific songwriting. When he came back, he started to read the I Ching and embraced the idea of relativism - that everything is in relation to everything else. Nothing is coincidental. Nothing is an accident. He made a decision to write a song based on the first words he saw when he opened a book, which were "gently weeps." Similar to how Stevie Nicks used bibliomancy to write "Rhiannon." In the lyrics, he laments the universal love for humankind that is dormant in all people but remains unrealized. It was his profound wish that everyone would see and embrace this capability. If Love conquers all, why hasn't it yet? I don't know, George....I don't know.

I look at the world and I notice it's turning

While my guitar gently weeps

With every mistake we must surely be learning

Still my guitar gently weeps.

I don't know how you were diverted

You were perverted too

I don't know how you were inverted

No one alerted you.

A few words about Transcendental Meditation - it's simple to do yet, for some reason, you have to go to a teacher to learn it. Like everything worth doing, the world commodified and commercialized it. The Beatles were partially responsible for that - their very public endorsement as the biggest celebrities of the time created a surge of interest....and, simultaneously, hordes of customers desperate to emulate The Beatles. And once people realize you can make money off something, they'll do it. But, as I said, it's simple to do. You sit in silence, repeating a mantra in your head, for about 15-20 minutes twice a day. Supposedly (and please be aware that I have never taken a paid TM class in my life), the TM instructor gives you the mantras to work with and that's what you're paying for, really. Ancient wisdom. But, my friends, that's what the Internet is for....you can look up mantras and the TM technique yourself. You can decide if it's worth the money to get private TM instruction. But I believe the search for inner peace doesn't have to cost money and I'd be wary of anyone who says otherwise.

I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping

While my guitar gently weeps

Look at you all

Still my guitar gently weeps.

This version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" comes from Girl in a Coma's "Adventures in Coverland" album, which is exactly what you think it is - an album consisting solely of covers. As I've mentioned, I love Nina Diaz's voice, and GiaC's general style is highly influenced by rockabilly and surf rock. While Harrison's original recordings of the song were more folk music-inspired and the final version that made it to the White album had hints of progressive rock, the twangy guitar in GiaC's version hearkens back to the classic rock that influenced the young George, Paul, John, and Ringo. Additionally, I think Diaz's soulful crooning gives the lyrics more weight, somehow. You can really feel the worldly despair at the end.

Side tangent - While I was listening to this song (both out loud and in my head), I began to think about the idiom "heart of gold." Someone once said I had a heart of gold and I always thought that was a good thing. It sounds like a good thing, doesn't it? You would think it means that  I have a pure, good heart that is precious and valuable and needs to be protected. But then I was thinking that gold is one of the heaviest metals, atomically speaking. A gold bar is extremely heavy - you couldn't easily steal a bar of gold, because no one is that strong. So to be carrying around a heart of gold would be like always carrying this weight around in your chest. That's exactly what it feels like. If that's the case, I suppose it would be better to have a heart of stone. You don't have to carry around so much with you. You'd feel lighter. Oh, the places my mind goes when it's not doing anything....

As I write this, I feel strange. There was an eclipse today, the first New Moon of 2019. I don't know if that means something but an eerie calm has come over me. A sort of peace. A feeling that anything could happen - the world could end tomorrow - and I'd still know everything is going to be okay. And I'm ready for it. I can't describe it but I know it's true somehow. I don't really know what's happening to me. Anyway, I'm putting both the Beatles version and the GiaC version so you can hear the differences between the styles. Enjoy!

Girl in a Coma Version

The Beatles Version

"As the World Falls Down" by David Bowie (Girl in a Coma cover)

I love this cover of "As the World Falls Down." I already loved the original but Nina Garcia's voice makes it more beautiful somehow. Girl in a Coma (GiaC) have given it a harder, rock edge, too, that makes it seem almost more heavy-hearted. I've been feeling that way lately...just a little bit hollow, so I've been trying to do more things that make me happy. Like watching Meg Ryan movies and dancing with my son to my favorite songs. This - in case you're wondering - is one of my favorite songs. From one of my favorite movies. Written and sung by one of my favorite artists.

David Bowie was my first celebrity crush. Before Jonathan Taylor Thomas, before Elijah Wood, before Leo...there was Jareth, the Goblin King. True story - after I had my son, I did say the words. "I wish the Goblin King would take you away right now." Not because I wanted him to go away but just to see what would happen. To my chagrin, David Bowie did NOT, in fact, show up. Kind of disappointing but I'm over it. I told you - my imagination gets away from me sometimes. Personally, had I been Sarah in "Labyrinth," I probably would've stayed in that bubble dancing with David Bowie for eternity. It wouldn't have been as good a story, but I'd still be having a great time.

As the pain sweeps through,

Makes no sense for you

Every thrill is gone

Wasn't too much fun at all,

But I'll be there for you

As the world falls down

I consider "Labyrinth" one of the great fairy tales written in the modern era. It's not based on a book or an existing story - it's a wholly original creation of the late genius, Jim Henson. But it follows all the tropes. Beautiful girl, unhappy with life, relies on fantasy to get through tough times. Frustrated with her circumstances, she offers her baby brother up to the Goblin King and, to her surprise, the Goblin King obliges. Realizing she's made a terrible, selfish, irresponsible mistake, she travels into a fantastical world to save the baby. Along the way, she meets a diverse cast of characters and goes on wild adventures. In the end, she barely saves her baby brother in time and learns an important lesson about being happy with the life she has. And all this happens to the sounds of one of the best soundtracks ever created. I would say this soundtrack shaped a lot of my musical tastes - "Underground" is patently wonderful and uplifting. And if you don't find yourself dancing to "Magic Dance," you most definitely don't have a soul.

I'm including the GiaC version and the original, for comparison. The original is considerably longer. The GiaC version cuts out a lot of the fluffy repetition at the end of the original, which - you'll be surprised to know - I don't mind. I actually prefer it. GiaC has an entire album of covers, called "Adventures in Coverland," which I think is amazing and would highly recommend. Besides "As the World Falls Down," my favorites from the album are "As My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Walkin' After Midnight," the latter of which is my go-to song for soothing my little boy.

Girl in a Coma Version

David Bowie Version

"Road to Home" by Girl in a Coma

I've been thinking a lot about my crazy days. Because every girl has a crazy period in her life....or she should. Otherwise, you'll be filled with regrets. I did a lot of stupid things and, to be honest, I kind of miss it. Not really the stupid things....I think it's probably a good thing I stopped drinking so much and stopped bumming cigarettes from strangers. It's more about the people I hung out with, how they made me feel. They made me feel - I don't know - cool, I guess. Maybe not cool, but maybe a little less lame. I never realized how rare those people can be, sometimes....

That's what "Road to Home" is about, I think. Thinking about who you used to be, who you could be if you tried. About how hard it is to find yourself sometimes....about how hard it is to be yourself sometimes. Going over everything you want to do with your life that you can't. And how strange and alone that can leave you feeling. Yes, I'm a bit melancholic today....Fatalist Jess is out in full force. Don't worry, though...she ain't too bad.

I love the bridge because it sounds so raw and earnest when Nina Diaz sings it. "You want to see the world/Don't you want?" Her voice is the reason why Girl in a Coma is one of my favorite SA bands. My favorite line in the song, though, is "Oh you don't regret a thing because it was fun at the time." Yes, wholeheartedly agree, I would apply this to each and every one of my crazy days. Now if I could only get over my bad self and just be who I want to be now. She's a badass, in my humble opinion. Not unlike Amanda Lepore, who is featured in the video and just looks stunning. Think what you want about transgendered people but here's what I know....it takes guts to do what you need to do to be happy - even when people refuse to understand and choose to hate you - and I admire that.

Discover Friday: Girl in a Coma

So.....the radio station I was raving about a few weeks ago....it devolved into typical radio station bullshit, like repeating songs I enjoyed until I wanted to stab my ears, pretentious Whole Foods commercials, and ticket giveaways. Okay, that last one isn't so terrible but I don't ever seem to win those things so fuck 'em. Long story short: I need to start a pirate radio station or something.

Anyway, several good things came out of that post. 1) The radio station retweeted the link, so I now have several new readers, 2) those readers are local and were also kind enough to retweet said post, and 3) some of those people (namely, a person named @DoyleSATX, to whom I will be forever grateful) provided the names of some awesome bands that I didn't find in my cursory Google search for San Antonio music. To those bands....be patient, you will each be written about soon, je promis.  That was a few weeks ago and I apologize for the delay....my day job as a technical writer has been somewhat draining. Today, I literally had to explain to someone that semicolons cannot be used in place of commas. I'm serious. This is my life now.

To start off this Discover the Awesomeness of the SA Music Scene campaign, I wanted to introduce to y'all to a new favorite - Girl in a Coma.

Credit Daniela Rojas
I got this from the Press Kit area, I hope that's okay...Please don't Taylor Swift Me...

I've been think a lot about why I like them so much, mostly while listening to "El Monte" on repeat.  Upon further in-depth analysis, I've boiled it down to this -- these girls' style incorporates: good old alternative indie a la The Smiths (they list Morrissey as a big influence), some post-punk goodness (I heard "Love Song" on the radio - the Cure version, not the 311 cover -- and I was like, "yeah, they sound kind of like that...sometimes), hints of surf rock (similar to The Pixies....especially the "naming songs in Spanish but singing them in English" thing), and the occasional rockabilly twang.  At first listen, Nina Diaz's voice sounded familiar but I couldn't quite place it. It was driving me crazy. The closest artists I can compare it to would be with Sia and Lorde, a sort of mid-range croon that you could imagine at home in the background of a 1950s dance hall.

Girl in a Coma released their first album, Both Before I'm Gone, in 2007 and was a success, landing them on Billboard's Heatseekers chart at #23.  Their first single, "Clumsy Sky," won an Independent Music Award.  They are signed with Blackheart Records, which may sound familiar - it is the record label founded by Joan Jett, patron saint of female rockers. Since then, they have released three more albums, including one with only covers. That album includes covers of two of my favorite songs.  First, there is "Walking After Midnight" by Patsy Cline, a go-to for me when I'm feeling particularly lonely, which GIAC's puts a sultry rockabilly twist on. Second, they did a cover of "As the World Falls Down," which is everyone's favorite song from Labyrinth (if it's not, then you have no soul). It turns David Bowie's glam rock lullaby into a dreamy indie ballad and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Definitely a great band in my book. I'm sure they're going to keep being awesome and I'm excited to hear more of their work. When pay day rolls around, I'll spend a few bills to help these ladies keep rockin' ....and I hope you'll feel inclined to do the same. Check out more GIAC stuff here.

Enjoy the following song and keep on listening, Music Sluts!