Good morning

A Letter to Elise

I've been in A Mood lately. I need more time for music in my daily life.

A few days ago, I found myself dusting off old CDs to listen to in the car for my daily 3+ hours of commuting to my thankless job. I put on The Cure: Paris and it has been on endless-loop ever since. I had forgotten how beautiful A Letter to Elise was and when I tried to sing along, I choked up a little. The song has been in my head ever since, so I decided to sit down this morning and play it on the piano.

It's not fancy or thought-out, my fireplace is out of tune...it just is what it is. And just for fun, I thought I'd share it with you.

Happy Birthday, Morrissey!

Dear Morrissey,
I often wonder what you think of me... but surely you know how much love I have for you. I hope our paths cross one day so that I can tell you in person.
Warm wishes for you on your birthday today and continued love the other 364 days of the year.

XOXO
Janice

Opperation: The Smiths Project YouTube Videos

When I started The Smiths Project, music videos were never in the plan. I was just happy to get through all 71 songs one year. But, as Youtube has become an important place for musicians to have a strong web presence, I am faced with a huge challenge: How do I create 71 videos to represent the project? It's a daunting task and I will be the first to admit I have no real video editing skills. Sadly, if it is up to me, these songs will never have videos beyond what you see now which is just a picture on the screen (a heart-felt thank you to the late Margaret Dale for creating those videos).

People write to me all the time telling me they found me through youtube and I know there is an audience there. Currently, with absolutely no effort on my part and not even having proper videos, some of these songs have thousands of views already. Imagine how many views they would have if they had real videos and links to/from other videos in The Smiths youtube community.

I know these songs mean a lot to you- and several people have even gone as far as to create their own fan videos for the songs. (I've seen many, so if you have made a video, please send me the link!) Much like The Smiths album covers, I am not visually represented in these fan-made videos, but I think it's in keeping with the aesthetic of The Smiths and it works. Plus, I like the idea that the videos are completely open to interpretation.

For Example:

by The Mystery Parade

It is with this in mind that I propose Opperation: The Smiths Project YouTube Videos

1. Comment below to pick the song you want to create a video for and I'll cross it off the master list of available songs
2. I send you a re-mastered mp3 of the song to use
3. You create a video and send it to me for upload on my channel (you can put it on your channel as well)
4. I give you free stuff such as digital album downloads, CDs, records, T-shirts, necklaces, posters, stickers, or even temporary tattoos
5. I promote the videos on youtube, twitter, tumblr, facebook, mailing list, reverbnation, last.fm, Jango, etc.

End result:
- You are forever associated with The Smiths Project and your work is seen by a lot of people
- I will have a youtube channel filled with creativity and love from people around the world
- Karmic dance party of internet awesomeness

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For each video, please include the following information:
Song Name, an a cappella cover by Janice Whaley, The Smiths Project, 2010
www.janicewhaley.com

The Smiths Project Song List

A Rush and a Push and the Land We Stand On Is Ours
Accept Yourself
Ask
Asleep
Back To The Old House
Barbarism Begins At Home
Bigmout Strikes Again
Cemetry Gates
Death At One's Elbow
Death of a Disco Dancer
Draize Train
Frankly Mr. Shankly
Girl Afraid
Girlfriend In A Coma
Golden Lights
Half a Person
Hand In Glove
Handsome Devil
Headmaster Ritual
Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
How Soon Is Now
I Don't Owe You Anything
I Keep Mine Hidden
I Know It's Over
I Started Something That I Couldn't Finish
I Want The One I Can't Have
Is It Really So Strange
Jeane
Last Night I Dreamt that Somebody Loved Me
London
Meat Is Murder
Miserable Lie
Money Changes Everything
Never Had No One Ever
Nowhere Fast
Oscilate Wildly
Paint a Vulgar Picture
Panic
Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I want
Pretty Girls Make Graves
Reel Around the Fountain
Rubber Ring
Rusholme Ruffians
Shakespeare's Sister
sheila Take a Bow
Shoplifters of the World Unite
Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
Still Ill
Stop Me if You Think You've Heard This One Before
Stretch Out And Wait
Suffer Little Children
Sweet and Tender Hooligan
That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
The Queen Is Dead
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
This Charming Man
This Night Has Opened My Eyes
Unhappy Birthday
Unloveable
Vicar In A Tutu
Well, I Wonder
What Difference Does It Make
What She Said
William, It Was Really Nothing
Wonderful Woman
You Just Haven't Earned It Yet Baby
You've Got Everything Now

Mom and I circa 1975

These guys keep me company while I practice

I should have posted this on Star Wars Day

Behold: my cat.