The Singing Nun

Tonight's Blab *WATCH BLAB HERE* was all about The Police and Soeur Sourire. But for me, I chose to blog solely on The Singing Nun (AKA Soeur Sourire), since I know pretty much nothing about The Police. (I'm late but I AM catching up-THE POLICE ARE AMAZING and...I get it now.)

My first experience with the music of The Singing Nun was by a really cool radio station that played mostly 40's and 50's pop (the kind the the adults liked to listen to).  The song was Dominique. Honestly, NEVER did I like that song but was intrigued that she was an actual nun, according to my Mom!

Not long after, I decided that being a nun actually sounded freeing. Freeing and peaceful. I saw myself not having to talk with anyone. I'd just pray and meditate all day! Hopefully I'd get to have a cat, though.

How odd was it that not long after, I'd be visiting my local thrift store to sift through the tons of albums that I'd actually come across a full intact Singing Nun album-photo additions and all! It was Jeannine Deckers' own drawings...well, copies of them. It was in imaclate condition and right in front of all the records...like it was waiting for me! Of course, I heard the calling and bought it!
I'd already heard Domenique plenty, and was now very curious as to what else she had to offer. The one that called was the song, J'ai Trouvé. RIGHT ON THE MONEY! Called to my own sinking dark heart looking for the release of pain. The dark, haunting minor chords just said it all, especially since I know not a word of French!

The story within the album, as I remember, told the story of Soeur Sourire (AKA The Singing Nun) and how she even named her guitar! I absolutely  loved this album and it's folky loneliness. I'd also come to learn years later that Jeannine Decker truly was indeed troubled. Not by the taxes of the orphanage, but from within a tortured place of inner programming-not to ever be called "Tortured Soul", as I do not believe Spirit could ever be anything other than light and all things love.

If you choose to read the story written about her, be prepared that it's not anything like the Debbie Reynolds movie!  I appreciated Jeannine's dark journey, and the beautiful gift she left. It was comfort that someone else was in the darkness with me.  Of course,  I finally found my way out-as I'm sure she finally found hers.

Thank you, sweet Soeur Sourire and Sister Adele.



The Singing Nun Story by D A Chadwick

When funk and ragamuffin called me up....

...I had to answer. 

Ms. Mychols Blab video 

It was the week where I aligned with two completely different genre's. Although, it probably started out with me watching Spike Lee's documentary of Michael Jackson: From Motown to Off The Wall. As soon as those bass lines popped up, I remembered how much I cherished that instrument growing up and have a pretty good idea as to why bass was my first real professional instrument. Shout out to Louis Johnson for the LOVE he left us. Check out: Get On The Floor from Michael Jackson's Off The Wall album!

Of course, I don't actually play that style whatsoever, I certainly DO appreciate the magic, and with the magical musical inspiration from the music of my childhood, I'm realizing something I'd never thought of before: the creative expressions of our musical programming!

When we grew up listening to whatever we were exposed to, at the same time we were also being programmed with how we were emotionally raised,  What music was our escape? What music was our comfort? Which artists and what music pulled us out of the darkness and into the world of adventure and expansion?

This is something of a new thing for me. I can come off saying I only listened to "cool" music growing up and never bowed down to any kind of musical corporate feedings but, I have a great education in most decades of Top 40 and I actually appreciate most of it, even though yes, a lot of music was disgustingly and tiringly overplayed. But little gems here and there DID finally find me and they REALLY spoke deeply to me. This is what made me the musician and songwriter I am today, whoever I am as that!

Who are the influences of our influences? I love that question!

So after being fed whatever I could get musically, I found myself taking my first real baby steps in to the world of New Wave, New Romantic "new ro" and Punk. These first came to me as me as I was going through my Sister's roommate's record collection. Through this collection, I noticed some really exciting looking covers and artwork. I found Devo, The Ramones, The Specials and Altered Images-those stuck out for me the most and I was DYING to hear what the music sounded like! Of course no one wants some grubby young kid's hands all over their beloved record collection-I knew I had to wait....and I soon found a reason to be spending the night over at my Sister's apartment more often than not-like on "girls night out!"

THIS MUSIC CALLED TO ME...and it welcomed me in to the world of the the "Ragamuffin" look.

RAGAMUFFIN Definition

A person who looks really unkempt such as (usually in the mornings; their hair is is styled like they just rolled out of bed, the outfit they thought matched is actually lacking any kind of style.

This look is one of my favorites and yet I've never sported the look myself. To me, it seemed like it was based off of fun, joy and freedom. The music that came with it was extremely fun sometimes quirky and sometimes sounded and felt like it was from another planet. But it seemed really short lived.  My list of Ragamuffin faves belong to the Bananarama girls, Stuart Adamson (Big Country), Howard Jones and....yep, even Madonna worked it in to her own look.

As for funk, in Lisa Mychols' world, one of the most distinctive features of funk music was always that roll of Bass guitar. Deep, driving and FUNKALICIOUS!

It was also a bit SCARY. The funk albums I grew up with usually featured dark and sexy half/mostly naked girls on album covers.  I believe there was even a scream of someone being murdered in an alley way during the "breakdown section" of a song during the band's recording session. That song by The Ohio Players ended up making the Top 40! I give great props over to Curtis Mayfield, who also certainly took me lovingly out of my comfort zone and into expansion.

Pretty much it's lets bring up the Funk and TURN IT UP!!!!

FUNK definition 

A very distinct style of music based on R&B that reached its height in popularity from the late 1960s to late 1970s. Its name originated in the 1950s, when "funk" and "funky" were used increasingly as adjectives in the context of soul music -- the meaning being transformed from the original one of a pungent odor to a re-defined meaning of a strong, distinctive groove.


So I didn't necessarily go out and FIND the music that I would initially love. It was something that found me and something that I naturally aligned and gravitated with.

To the FUNK and the Ragamuffins!

Love,
LMychols

A fabulous time was certainly had at the first "Lisa Mychols and Friends" hang-out on Blab last night. My co-host Angela Estes was there bringing her lovely voice to the many songs we weren't quite prepared to play!

The amazing Tom Richards of The Waking Hours joined in and shared the good news with us about getting his masters back from a label his band used to be signed with. How cool of that label for going out of their way to do something like that for an artist!

Got me thinking.

How wonderful it is to be in control of our own art again! If it's in your hands, you can work it the way only you know how it should be worked. No one else knows your art better than you! Although, we CAN support each other. In fact, I believe we achieve a lot more that way!

But there was a time...

For the past 20 years or so of putting out Lisa Mychols music,  there was never a clear vision of how to work it or what to expect back from it. I'd just make the art and give it away. I might as well have just called it my freakin' hobby. No wonder I was never truly fulfilled! I was working in jobs I hated just to earn the money to put music out. I wanted to make people happy. I wanted to inspire as many people as I could. That was it. I have no idea where all the money from sales ever went, to be quite honest.

But now I feel this celebration of inspiration from Tom's great share of the evening, to immediately reclaim control over MY own art and the future of it!

I LOVE creating and I want to continue doing it! For me, it's the art form of communication, connection with others, aligning with purpose, expanding, and moving into something extremely wonderful with as many people willing to come along!


Elsie Mychols
Fabulous Playground