Garth Jensen: The Searching For Adonis Music CD

What started as a music project about my many interactions and relationships with men evolved into a musical play, which became a non-musical play, and now I'm back to creating a full CD of material related to, but separate from the "Adonis" script! I need to get off my lazy ass and finish the CD, which has been in progress since approximately March 2001! I feel that I need to complete two more tracks and then this project will be complete!

THE MUSIC ALBUM (SO FAR):

These songs were written before and around the time I began working on "Searching For Adonis" as a play.

"Friendship, Men & Me"

I wrote the lyrics to this in the late Summer of 2001, and finally got around to recording it in late 2003. I kinda tried to find a way to express my revolving door of relationships with men. Not so much "actual" relationships, but just how my interactions and attractions have led to a game show atmosphere of different and interesting outcomes. I think of it as my theme song! (Hee hee...)

"King of the Clubs"

What do you get when a young homophobic Italian dude and an outgoing diva-in-training clash? A song, of course! Seriously, though, this is my latest frustration played out to a Euro beat. My point in the song is that only one thing can bring homophobic "Ginos" and openly gay guys together - music! (The real life mess hasn't resolved itself yet. I work with the dude, and the guy's still uncomfortable around me! Whatever!)

"Earnest & Young"

Man, oh, man...everybody thinks this song is about some giant accounting firm or something. Seriously, it's about me being impressed by a business guy (my age) who's making the jump into "real" life and my fear of trying to talk to him. A fun rhythmic number with a bit o' broadway in the middle! Since I'm young and trying hard to accomplish my goals, I myself am being "Earnest & Young" heh heh... Ok, humor on the Net doesn't always work. :-)

"Woodbridge"

Woodbridge is a town just outside Toronto, Ontario that has a reputation for macho "Gino" guys...who, in many cases are homophobic. This is kind of a campy, fun song about guys that aren't supposed to get along with each other. (Ginos and gay guys!) When I mentioned the song to a few people, and joked about performing it this city, they said, "They'll stone you....They'll shoot you." That didn't give me too much confidence in the open-mindedness of this town - and that's exactly the issue I'm trying to confront. Where do stereotypes become realities, and how do we interact with them? Gay guys get stereotyped just the way Woodbridge "macho" guys do. As well, some people use "Gino" as a classification...so I'd love to know if it is an offensive term to anyone.

"Have You Seen This Man"

Hmmm....kind of the "theme song" of the whole project. It's about the "Adonis" of the play's title. I finally got to meet him in person, and I worked that into the final verse of this "Broadway musical" style tune. I wanted a fun song to show the craziness of what it's like to try to meet someone that catches your eye - while trying to respect them and their space. (Long story short - I think it's sometimes tricky, but ultimately possible for gay guys and straight guys to get along as friends, respecting each other's different lifestyles.)

"Things Must Change"

This song takes on homophobia to an extent, but in general it's about the idea that people want you to fit their idea of what's acceptable. I wrote a letter to a guy that I work with, asking him out for coffee. He took offense, but we became pretty good friends after the "awkward" period passed. Then, about six months later, his sister let it slip that he'd originally wanted to beat me up after receiving the letter. Er...not quite the stuff dreams are made of. It really shocked me, so this song was written during the turbulent weekend when I found out that new piece of information. (It fits really well into the themes of the play, so I added it in to one of the "peak" moments where the characters have to deal with these issues.)

"Study The Classics"

This song essentially asks, "Why can't guys from two different worlds at least be friends?" Most of the song is about the danger of taking an interest in, and trying to meet a "forbidden" guy, but I also wrote parts of it about the guy (mentioned above in "Things Must Change") that I once wrote a letter to. Even though we became good friends, just the fact that he originally did want to beat me up made me realize I gotta be careful!

"Jealous Cat"

This song explores the pain and jealousy I felt during a close friendship I had with a guy who betrayed me in many ways. It's a kind of a primal reaction to his ignorance, but also a way to voice the feeling of knowing that someone won't stand by you the way you need them to. A lot of the feelings behind this song are too personal to get into, but I went to Hell and back with this guy - and it taught me to value myself enough to get out of a bad situation before it's too late. Ironically, the guy I wrote it about helped me become who I am, and encouraged me to be myself and "come out" to the world. I'm grateful for that, but I'm still upset at the way he went from being so supportive, to so "not there" for me.

"University Song"

This song was written for the "Searching For Adonis" play itself, which is why it's not gonna be on the finished album. (Because it makes no sense outside of the play.) This is about arriving at University, expecting a huge difference in people's attitudes from high school, and realizing not much has changed. It's about trying to celebrate diversity as University sets the stage for your journey into the "real world." (While being afraid to be yourself, at least when you're starting out.)

Watch this page for updates on the progress of the "Searching For Adonis" project!

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Check out my Music Page for more information about my previous albums and even some pictures from my live performances! Swing by http://www.mp3.com/garthjensen for some mp3's of my songs!

I'll continue to revamp this page over time. For now, also check out my service provider Inter.Net. And e-mail me at arrikj@ca.inter.net