So apparently I’m playing a wedding in New Zealand in February. Sort of….
A few weeks back I received an email from a man named Simon, who lives in New Zealand. He told me a story about how his friend is getting married on February 9th and the couple wanted to walk down the aisle to my version of ‘Galway Girl’ – which is actually a Steve Earle song that I covered a few years ago. He was writing to ask if he could purchase a copy of the song or obtain an mp3 from me to use at the ceremony (full disclosure: I’ve made no money from this cover or demo recording).
This is interesting for a few reasons.
- New Freaking Zealand – that’s cool in and of itself!
- How the hell did Simon from New Zealand hear my version of the song? I’ve never properly put it on an album (since it’s not my tune anyway). The only way they could have heard it was either via a soundcloud upload I did a while back, or if they had stumbled across my music website – again, not easy to find the track.
- The world is pretty small when it comes down to it.
I can answer number 2. He was kind enough to point me to a link to a YouTube video of my song (well, MY version of Steve Earl’s song). The thing is – I didn’t post that video! YouTube user Marie Ježková from who knows where, posted it with a still from the movie PS I Love You-where yet ANOTHER version of the song appears (not mine). At least she gave me credit. It’s funny how a song I appropriated w/out asking was again appropriated without asking. But it’s that sharing and remixing for free that got my cover to be played at a February New Zealand wedding, and I couldn’t be happier.
Message – whenever you can, enable users to share, remix and spread your art. Connections can be made, and good things can happen.
