The Oakland Press has published this article about "20 Beautiful Children." We had a great recording session with the kids from DYPAC today - the video and final song are coming SOON!
Local teacher raising money through song for Sandy Hook victims Saturday, December 22, 2012 7:04 PM EST By David Komer For The Oakland Press TAYLOR — Like many, West Middle School teacher Dave Martin is haunted by the news of the horrific shooting of 20 children and six adults in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14. The tragic events of that day at Sandy Hook Elementary School and President Barack Obama’s speech to the nation sparked Martin, an accomplished musician, into action. In a short time, he wrote a song — “Beautiful Children” — dedicated to the memory of the lives lost that day and those affected by it. After people showing an overwhelming response to his song, Martin, 39, decided to record it and hopes to send some aid to those most affected. Using a “donate to download plan,” Martin is raising funds to send to the Rotary Club of Newtown, which is handling donations. Martin also is making the sheet music and lyrics public for others around the country to do the same thing in an effort to reach out. The song is written from a father’s perspective. The first half is from the point of view of answering questions about the children; the second half is imagining the questions asked by the siblings of the victims to their parents. “I have said all along that the song wrote me,” he said just days after the tragedy. “It came very quickly. Music helps people express emotions that don’t always come easily with words.” Martin said a friend gave him the idea to make the song available to other communities so they can make their own recordings and help. Videos of him performing the song are available on his website, shinyheadmusic.com, as is information on the song for others to utilize. By also posting videos to YouTube and his website and by using social media like his Facebook page, he hopes word travels fast and others feel encouraged to give, or at least try to use his music as a fundraiser of their own. Yesterday, Martin planned to record part of the song with children Downriver at the Trenton theater. The singers were recruited from the Frosty Follies Christmas Variety Show and they were to perform the second half of the song. On Friday, he recorded the first half of the song at Winding Road Studio in Trenton, which donated time. Martin plays guitar and sings. Also performing the song are Doug Scott on piano; Jason Cassel, Truman High School band director on drums and Godfrey Porter on bass. After performing the song at a show last week at Tongue’s Cafe, he sent the song to his pastor, the Rev. Phillip Reed of Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church, who urged him to play it at church, where it went over to rave reviews. Martin said parishioners urged him to do something with the song and that’s when the idea for something bigger began to take shape. As a teacher, the event touched him on an even deeper level, he said. “Being a teacher and in my position, I know that everyone around me would protect the students at the school like they were my own,” he said. His biggest hope is that he can empower those who want to reach out, or give comfort to those trying to understand the horrors of that day. “I want to give kids who might feel helpless in the face of horror, to give them something they can do to help,” he said. For more information, see shinyheadmusic.com or find Dave Martin on Facebook and YouTube. Contact Staff Writer David Komer at 1-734-246-0866 or dkomer@heritage.com. Follow him on Facebook and @DavidKomer_NH on Twitter.
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For anyone who is seeking the lyrics, here they are.
"20 Beautiful Children" by Dave Martin Daddy, other kids were talking About the news on the tv I don't understand what happened Can you explain it to me? In some place called Connecticut Something happened with a man And a gun and lots of kids In a school that looked like mine 20 beautiful little children That's what the President called them Oh, I have so many questions Oh, I have so many questions Mother tell me why it happened Can Jesus give us a reason? Daddy, why is the President weeping? Daddy, what's that in your eye? Who will get their Christmas presents? Will their stockings still be filled? Do you think they'll go to heaven? What does it mean to be killed? Did you know these things have happened In other schools across the nation? How long until it happens To the kids at my school? So I listened to the questions Of my children as they spoke And I wondered about the parents Of the children who were gone And I thought about their children About the ones who still remain And I thought about their questions And I thought about their questions Where's my sister why's she missing Who will sleep in my brother's bed Mommy have you eaten? Is there anything I could have said? Did I forget to say I love you? Remember how we fought this morning? Why did Jesus have to take him? Will I ever see him again? Daddy, why did this have to happen? Why did this man have a gun? Daddy, who will stop all the bad men From hurting everyone? Can't we just take away the bullets? Can't we just stop making the guns? Why can't we take away the bullets? Why cant we just stop making the guns? For those 20 beautiful children For those 20 beautiful children For those 20 beautiful children If not for those 20 beautiful children, Then who? Thank you for volunteering to be a part of this project. Because we will have a short time to accomplish a lot tomorrow, here are some things you need to know to help us be prepared.
Please understand that this song may bring up strong emotions in you. This is normal. If you are performing, just keep going. It’s ok. The purpose of this song is to:
Finally, I expect the video to be edited and the final music to be mastered shortly after Christmas. It will be up to our entire community to share the word and get people to support the victims by downloading the song for the donation of their choice. Here’s what you can do: All information will be posted through my website: shinyheadmusic.com Bookmark it. On Facebook, “like” facebook.com/shinyheadmusic and encourage everyone you know to do so also. When the YouTube video and the donate-to-download song are put online, you’ll be notified on Facebook and at shinyheadmusic.com. SHARE the links with everyone, and encourage all your friends to also share it. Share it more than once – maybe once a day - The more you encourage others to view, listen, and give, the more difference we can make. You all have my gratitude and my love. – Mr. Dave "This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before." - Leonard Bernstein
Tonight, I will meet at Winding Road Studios with Doug Scott, Jason Cassell, and Godfrey Porter to record a professional track of "20 Beautiful Children." Much thanks to Steve Sholtes of WRS for making the studio available. On Saturday afternoon, cast members of the DYPAC show "Frosty Follies" will help to record vocals to the song. We will shoot video with help from Bryan Buchan, who will be editing a final video to post to YouTube. Then, around Christmas Day, we will post a link so all can download-to-donate the audio track. Once the track has been released, you can help by SHARING the YouTube video, the download link, and by downloading the track. Upon recommendation from Dr. Noel Jackson, the President of DYPAC, we will be donating profits from song sales to the Newtown Rotary Club, who have set up a fund to benefit victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy. Major news media has been contacted to cover the recording session at the Trenton Theater on Saturday, so with a little help, we might be able to make a big difference in the lives of those in such need right now, all while giving some young people a way to help when they might feel the most helpless. Thanks for your support to all who have been a part of this ever-growing project! I can't wait to see what we can do together! - Dave With Doug Scott - Piano, Jason Cassell - Drums, Godfrey Porter - Bass, and Mike Karoub - Cello
An original song I wrote for the victims and heroes of Sandy Hook Elementary School and performed that night at Tongue's Cafe in Wyandotte, MI. This song "wrote me" after President Obama's address to the nation, where he called the victims "20 beautiful little children." Dedicated to the victims and heroes of Sandy Hook.
20 Beautiful Children by Dave Martin Daddy, other kids were talking About the news on the tv I don't understand what happened Can you explain it to me? In some place called Connecticut Something happened with a man And a gun and lots of kids In a school that looked like mine 20 beautiful little children That's what the President called them Oh, I have so many questions Oh, I have so many questions Mother tell me why it happened Can Jesus give us a reason? Daddy, why is the President weeping? Daddy, what's that in your eye? Who will get their Christmas presents? Will their stockings still be filled? Do you think they'll go to heaven? What does it mean to be killed? Did you know these things have happened In other schools across the nation? How long until it happens To the kids at my school? So I listened to the questions Of my children as they spoke And I wondered about the parents Of the children who were gone And I thought about their children About the ones who still remain And I thought about their questions And I thought about their questions Where's my sister why's she missing Who will sleep in my brother's bed Mommy have you eaten? Is there anything I could have said? Did I forget to say I love you? Remember how we fought this morning? Why did Jesus have to take him? Will I ever see him again? Daddy, why did this have to happen? Why did this man have a gun? Daddy, who will stop all the bad men From hurting everyone? Can't we just take away the bullets? Can't we just stop making the guns? Why can't we take away the bullets? Why cant we just stop making the guns? For those 20 beautiful children For those 20 beautiful children For those 20 beautiful children If not for those 20 beautiful children, Then who? Come out to Tongue's Protein Bar and Chill Lounge this Friday, December 14rh to see me perform a live acoustic show from 7-10. I'll perform original songs, many favorite covers, and even a Christmas song sing-along. Bring the whole family, enjoy some excellent hot chocolate or Moroccan spice tea, and sing along at the coolest coffeehouse in Wyandotte. |
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