When is the time to stop pursuing a goal?

[Jester]

"Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind." --The Rolling Stones, from the song "Ruby Tuesday."

39, and it's too late to do something you've dreamed of? Bah! Away with such foolishness!

I'm 45, and never stop pursuing my dreams. My dreams and goals may change, of course, but not because of my getting older, but because of me just changing and having different dreams and goals.

My friend is 60, and in recent years has reedited and republished a novel he put out years ago, produced a Best of Key West music CD, started a promotional website, learned how to ride a motorcycle, started getting tattoos, traveled to NYC, Scotland, Cuba, and other places I've forgotten, started a radio show, and produced, filmed, wrote, starred in, and edited a short film for a short film festival. And this has all been in the short time I've known him, maybe 6 or 7 years. And he's not slowing down any.

Myself, just since I turned 40 five years ago, I've jumped out of an airplane (twice), found the woman of my dreams, advised a rum company on marketing strategy and various cocktails, become a certified mixologist, helped open 2 new bar/restaurants, helped design the menu for a rum and beer pairing dinner for a beer festival, and drank over 700 different beers (and counting) in one calendar year. And I'm not slowing down any.

You may not have time for the CD right this moment in your life, but to give up on it? Fuck that. If it's something you want to do, do it. Make it happen. If not today, tomorrow or next week or next month. But make it happen.

Listen to Mick. And me, but mostly Mick. He's got a far better singing voice.

[mjr]

The good thing is, in December my time will open up a little. I'm finishing a class right now, so I'll have a little extra time.

I think I'm gonna go ahead and keep working on this. I do like the idea of "for entertainment purposes only" videos on YouTube.

I'm a bit stubborn in that I don't really want co-writers at this point, but I may at some point.

But that brings up another question I'm going to have to look up the legalities of. If I record a video of myself doing a cover of a song (in a "studio" environment), and use that to promote myself and songs I've written, I wonder how the law applies there.

[Jester]

I have no idea what the legalities of that are. Butt from a marketing standpoint, if you're trying to promote yourself as a songwriter and prompt the songs you've written, it seems silly to try to do so using a cover of someone else's marterial rather than your own original music.

[mjr]

I have no idea what the legalities of that are. Butt from a marketing standpoint, if you're trying to promote yourself as a songwriter and prompt the songs you've written, it seems silly to try to do so using a cover of someone else's marterial rather than your own original music.

Good points all around here, Jester. Gracias.

[MoonCat]

And remember, if you put yourself out there on Youtube, some troll may come along and trash your work. IGNORE THEM. This is how some lowlife losers get their jollies. It means nothing! Listen to the people who have something nice and/or constructive to say.

[sstabeler]

But that brings up another question I'm going to have to look up the legalities of. If I record a video of myself doing a cover of a song (in a "studio" environment), and use that to promote myself and songs I've written, I wonder how the law applies there.

it's copyright infringement. Specifically, the songwriter has the rights to the lyrics. (I know, because I used to work for a company that handled copyright for songwriters)

[mjr]

it's copyright infringement. Specifically, the songwriter has the rights to the lyrics. (I know, because I used to work for a company that handled copyright for songwriters)

Hmmm...Thanks for the heads up on that. I see people that post themselves doing "covers" all the time on YouTube.

[wolfie]

But a lot of stuff goes on "behind the scenes" at YouTube. If someone sees something that they hold the copyright to, they have a few options. I've seen a number of "This video is not available" (most likely the copyright holder told YouTube to take it down). Another option is to have YouTube send THEM the money from ads on the video, rather than the person who posted it.

[dalesys]

Foo-Toobe for legality reference is like Twitchypaedia for scholarship.

[Seshat]

If you want to stay on the completely legal side, but still showcase your abilities using lyrics and melodic line and basic harmony that's familiar to your audience, use stuff that's in the public domain.

As a rough (but not completely accurate) guideline, material that pre-dates 'Steamboat Willie' (the first appearance of Mickey Mouse) is about 80% certain to be public domain just from sheer age.

Material that is explicitly declared public domain by the copyright holder becomes public domain. Be aware that this is EXTREMELY rare these days: copyright holders got sick of producing something, declaring it PD so that the general public could benefit, and then some corporation grabbed it and republished it and marketed it and got scads of money having people pay for something that they could get for free if they only knew.

Material that is Open Source, Open Content, or GPL is NOT Public Domain, but the authors would probably be more than fine with you (the OP) using it to make a YouTube video of yourself showcasing your ability with it.
Read the licence it comes with, and if you don't understand it, research the specific licence they chose (most of the time, these licences come with a link to the 'what the hell does this legal stuff mean' website).
If you still aren't sure, email the copyright holder.
The main purpose of these licences is to give the general public the benefit of the Whatever-It-Is, while still ensuring that the copyright holder still has some say in what happens to it.


So yeah, if I were you, I'd either produce a version of Clementine or some other Ancient But Well-Known Piece that's waaaay out of copyright; or find some piece I loved that's Open Content (or some similar licence).
Google 'Open Content Search' - there are online databases of open content stuff.

[wolfie]

One public domain song that would really showcase your talents (requires a very wide range between the high and low notes) is "To Anacreon in Heaven" (an old English drinking song). Rumour has it that some guy named Key wrote alternate lyrics to its tune.