The official blog of Portland's Songwriter of the Year

Archive for the ‘bittersweet parade’ Category

So I, So I, So I Welcome the Change

Sunday, March 7th, 2010

This video was recently sent to me by my good friend Jeff who has been raising his son right. Last seen in a Lander onesie, this cute kid has been listening to my newest album and, I’m proud to say, he’s even singing along!

The video you’re about to watch is of my youngest fan singing the chorus of my song Welcome the Change. Though it may not be entirely articulate, the lyric is “So, I welcome the change.” Thanks Jeff for the video and raising the boy well.

For your reference, here is the song in its entirety. Enjoy.

WELCOME THE CHANGE

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They’re Listening in the UK

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

I was recently contacted by a new-found fan in the UK that was having trouble ordering my new album Bittersweet Parade from CD Baby. Not sure what the issue was but after going back and forth one-too-many times, we finally worked out a deal where he paid via PayPal and I sent him the album personally.

A Letter from Tyler Stenson

As you can see, he surprised me by documented the delivery and is currently listening to my new record all the way across the ocean — hopefully spreading the word as he goes.

A Letter from Tyler Stenson

If you’re from anywhere in the world that bars you from purchasing my new album from iTunes or CD Baby, feel free to contact me personally and I’ll make sure you get ahold of Bittersweet Parade — signature and all.

Wyoming – EXPLAINED

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

I recently posted a number of videos that promote my new album Bittersweet Parade by discussing and explaining the behind the scenes perspective. I’m taking each song, one-by-one and giving it some time in the spotlight. Enjoy the collective media behind Wyoming – track #11 off of my new album Bittersweet Parade.

WYOMING

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EXPLANATION

MUSIC VIDEO

LIVE PERFORMANCE

LYRICS TO “WYOMING” by TYLER STENSON

The world started to run
With the turning of the sun.
Cities rose from towns
And quiet turned to sound.
That place stayed the same;
That’s Wyoming.

So, the legends say
That explorers tried to explain-
But the beauty that they found
Was too much to write down.
So, in fiction,
They believed to be Wyoming.

Where the clearest sunny days
Quickly turn to rain
But we don’t mind,
Because all of the sweetest smells remains.

I know Adam’s never seen such a scene
(In neither Eden or his dream).
Even Eve would stop to stare
At God’s most perfect square.
That’s one thing I believe;
He made Wyoming.

Where the clearest sunny days
Quickly turn to rain
But we don’t mind,
Because all of the sweetest smells remains.

All the years hang on the wind
Above this last good plot of land.
I hear it echo in the trees.
I hear its whisper on my knees.
Even Dust can be a king
In Wyoming.

Yes, even Dust can be a King,
In Wyoming.

BUY or DOWLOAD WYOMING HERE: http://www.cdbaby.com/tylerstenson2

Fight til Dying Day – EXPLAINED

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

I recently posted a number of videos that promote my new album Bittersweet Parade by discussing and explaining the behind the scenes perspective. I’m taking each song, one-by-one and giving it some time in the spotlight. Enjoy the collective media behind Fight til Dying Day – track #10 off of my new album Bittersweet Parade.

FIGHT TIL DYING DAY

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EXPLANATION

MUSIC VIDEO COMING SOON!!

LYRICS TO “FIGHT TIL DYING DAY” by TYLER STENSON

As long as there has been a song, I’ve felt it in my bones
It was a gift from my dear mother and her father who passed on
A long line of the Music Makers and of Soldiers for the Muse.
Oh, that boy in my war fell out of tune as he fell upon a couple grenades.
That boy in my war is still alive and he’ll fight ‘til Dying Day.

I crossed into California with a smile upon my face
But then I soon left San Francisco with my tail between my legs.
I swear, I was good as I could be on any given time of day
Still, that boy in my war saw the beach burn and the earth quake like a grenade.
That boy in my war is still alive and he’ll fight ‘til Dying Day.

He’ll blow like leaves in the wind
But be proud just to know that he can be his own man-
Not that boy.

I burned a bridge in the desert and left Arizona northbound
And thought If it’s not in Salt Lake, is it Oregon to be found?
On certain nights all the notes were bright and on others they would fade
And that boy in my war called out to god: Tell Hell with all the grenades!
That boy in my war is still alive and he’ll fight ‘til Dying Day.

He’ll blow like leaves in the wind
But be proud just to know that he can be his own man-
Not that boy.

Now, every time I sing, it’s just my confidences wearing thin
So I have to believe this lonely road will bring ‘em back again.
I’m as good as I can be on every given time of day
Oh, that boy in my war will no doubt rise in spite of a couple grenades.
That boy in my war is still alive and he’ll fight ‘til Dying Day.

BUY or DOWLOAD FIGHT TIL DYING DAY HERE: http://www.cdbaby.com/tylerstenson2

Blush – EXPLAINED

Monday, February 15th, 2010

I recently posted a number of videos that promote my new album Bittersweet Parade by discussing and explaining the behind the scenes perspective. I’m taking each song, one-by-one and giving it some time in the spotlight. Enjoy the collective media behind Blush – track #9 off of my new album Bittersweet Parade.

BLUSH

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EXPLANATION

MUSIC VIDEO COMING SOON!!

LYRICS TO “BLUSH” by TYLER STENSON

It’s a sign;
A sign of a temperature rise
That spreads across your face
And in an instant you know what love is like.

When the skin colors crimson and rose
And it burns your eyes
And crawls on your face
In disguise as this thing called Blush.

Underneath our clothes
We are just heart and bone-
The rest is empty space
But we can fill it,
When from the inside we grow like Butterflies

And the skin colors crimson and rose
And it burns your eyes
And crawls on your face
In disguise as this thing called Blush.

Don’t rush me now.
I could stay this way all day.

When the skin colors crimson and rose
And it burns your eyes
And crawls on your face
In disguise as this thing
That comes up rushing love to the head
And is nothing more than proof we’re alive-
We are in orbit-
And with blood-red cheeks,
I could break at the seems
And the insides of me
Could float on above everything.

BUY or DOWLOAD BLUSH HERE: http://www.cdbaby.com/tylerstenson2

The Road to a Valentine

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

Happy Valentines Day one and all. This is a special day for many reasons but to me, none more important than the fact that it’s the one-year anniversary of the completion of my song The Road.

Yep, exactly one year ago I put the pen to paper and navigated my way through the new song. Though I tweaked a few lines over the months to follow, it was written, roughly recorded and given as a Valentines Day gift to a loved one on Feb 14 2009.

In celebration of the one-year anniversary, below are the 2 versions of the song … separated by one very long year.

THE ROAD (Feb 14 2009)

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THE ROAD (Feb 14 2010)

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Time is a funny thing. This song has taken on a whole new meaning across the last year and what was originally written as a private Valetine’s Day confession has become the promoted single off of my new album Bittersweet Parade.

If you enjoy this track, it is up for consideration to be included on the KINK.FM Plug in Portland Sampler. This is a vote based contest, so I would endlessly appreciate your support by voting here.

Help Get Tyler Stenson on the KINK.FM Sampler

Explode – EXPLAINED

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

I recently posted a number of videos that promote my new album Bittersweet Parade by discussing and explaining the behind the scenes perspective. I’m taking each song, one-by-one and giving it some time in the spotlight. Enjoy the collective media behind Explode – track #8 off of my new album Bittersweet Parade.

EXPLODE

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EXPLANATION

LIVE PERFORMANCE

LYRICS TO “EXPLODE” by TYLER STENSON

What have I been doing?
What good could come from keeping it in?
I’m terrified of losing
But fighting wars a could never win.
I watch the seasons turn it over.
I watch the reasons change over and over
To different words
But what’s between the lines don’t change.

I have seen my demons.
I have seen their faces.
I’ve seen their eyes.
They’re what I should be leaving
But in that mirror I see they’re still mine.
I watch the seasons turn it over.
I watch the reasons change over and over
To different day
But the same old suffocate.

So, I feel to lighten up my load, I should explode.

I am far from empty
Cause what you don’t let go is bound to build up
Or take you down a piece by piece-
Man, I’m in desperate need of your love.
In my bones I’m feeling older.
This war time has changed me-
I’m no doubt colder
And I will freeze here long before I burn.

So, I feel to lighten up my load, I should explode.

So, I feel to lighten up my load,
I should open up and let the insides show
And explode.

BUY or DOWLOAD EXPLODE HERE: http://www.cdbaby.com/tylerstenson2

Push That River – EXPLAINED

Saturday, February 13th, 2010

I recently posted a number of videos that promote my new album Bittersweet Parade by discussing and explaining the behind the scenes perspective. I’m taking each song, one-by-one and giving it some time in the spotlight. Enjoy the collective media behind Push That River – track #7 off of my new album Bittersweet Parade.

PUSH THAT RIVER

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EXPLANATION

MUSIC VIDEO COMING SOON!!

LYRICS TO “PUSH THAT RIVER” by TYLER STENSON

If you had a heart, I might say you were the one
And it’s been worth the battle spread across the year.
Since that’s not the case, I am going over numbers
And calculating how to end The War-
I won’t try to push that river anymore.

I remember it was sunset, out by the Hidden Cover
And I could see that there was leaving in your eye.
So, when I said: When I say I love you, I mean it to the bone.
We both knew your heart was miles from that shore-
So I won’t try to push that river anymore.

I know that I could walk away,
Try to make you chase me,
Play the game of playing hard to get,
But I know just how my heart feels
So I will not lie to appease you
Your majesty, am I really such a bore?
I won’t try to push that river anymore.

You wrote: If he doesn’t come back,
He was never really yours

But now my knuckle is blood
From pounding at your door.
So, I’ll leave it at I love you
And I’ll mean it to the bone
And I’ll begin to mend
That red piece of me that was torn
And I won’t try to push that river anymore.
I won’t try to push that river anymore.

BUY or DOWLOAD PUSH THAT RIVER HERE: http://www.cdbaby.com/tylerstenson2

As the Crow Flies – EXPLAINED

Saturday, February 13th, 2010

I recently posted a number of videos that promote my new album Bittersweet Parade by discussing and explaining the behind the scenes perspective. I’m taking each song, one-by-one and giving it some time in the spotlight. Enjoy the collective media behind As the Crow Flies – track #6 off of my new album Bittersweet Parade.

AS THE CROW FLIES

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EXPLANATION

LIVE PERFORMANCE

LYRICS TO “AS THE CROW FLIES” by TYLER STENSON

I blew all the way down to Arizona
Then, like a leaf, I settled down into Rome
And somewhere in between me and Barcelona
I heard the rush of the wind calling Home.

I could see seven miles into the distance
Before the earth began its curve out of site
And I leaned to the wind to feel a resistance;
To let me know I’m not a bird – I don’t fly.

I won’t take my time or circle ’round
Or weave my way through busy towns
Cause I could get lost if I miss a sign.
I’ll take the shortest path between you and I
And cut right through in a perfect line
And come to you as the crow flies.

From where I stand my Home is like a middle daughter;
Just a dot, on the map, in a world
And I’m reminded wheels don’t roll on water
So, tell me lies – tell me I am a bird.

I won’t take my time or circle ’round
Or weave my way through busy towns
Cause I could get lost if I miss a sign.
I’ll take the shortest path between you and I
And cut right through in a perfect line
And come to you as the crow flies.

I will come to you as the crow flies.

BUY or DOWLOAD AS THE CROW FLIES HERE: http://www.cdbaby.com/tylerstenson2

You Already Know – EXPLAINED

Friday, February 12th, 2010

I recently posted a number of videos that promote my new album Bittersweet Parade by discussing and explaining the behind the scenes perspective. I’m taking each song, one-by-one and giving it some time in the spotlight. Enjoy the collective media behind You Already Know – track #5 off of my new album Bittersweet Parade.

YOU ALREADY KNOW

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EXPLANATION

LIVE PERFORMANCE

LYRICS TO “YOU ALREADY KNOW” by TYLER STENSON

A city girl in her heels
But made up of small town bones.
She was loud and soft
(Somehow it was all at once)
And I could not get enough.

I made plans to go to the grave
And hold her high to the end
But she’s impetuous
(Then there’s me, maybe twice as much)-
Both too hell-bent to bend.

So, there’s not room in this town for the both of us
And one of us should get up and go.
I drove by your house to tell you how I feel
But it looks like that’s something you already know.

I know now not to make plans-
Don’t fall in love with a breeze-
Don’t start saving up for wedding rings
Until she says yes in writing.

There’s not room in this town for the both of us
So one of us should get up and go.
I drove by your house to tell you how I feel
But it looks like that’s something you already know.

She might say get away!
I wish I could,
Then I would be all well,
And would not resign to see his face where once was mine
Each time I closed my eyes.

There’s not room in this town for the both of us
So one of us should get up and go.
I drove by your house to tell you how I feel
But it looks like that’s something you already know.

BUY or DOWLOAD YOU ALREADY KNOW HERE: http://www.cdbaby.com/tylerstenson2