Song of the Great Recession

Local Musicians John Munnelly and Christina Lord Develop Award-Winning Song for the Great Recession

“The Unemployment Blues” Wins the National Jay Gorney Award From ASCAP

"Never thought I'd end up with food stamps to redeem...I've got the blues"

Dec 13, 2009 – NEW YORK CITY – They say music is often influenced by the times. For local musician John Munnelly, he took the unemployment strife of his co-writer Christina Lord and turned it into an award-winning song that could truly be called an anthem for the current economic crisis.

“People are having a tough time finding a job in this economy and we captured in the song what it feels like to be unemployed,” Munnelly said. “Christina and I wrote a song that speaks to today’s audience but also retains historical echoes to a previous popular song depicting the 1930’s Great Depression.”

The original Depression Era anthem “Brother Can You Spare a Dime?” written by Jay Gorney and “Yip” Harburg.

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Foundation Inaugural Jay Gorney Award was established by Jay’s wife and son Sondra and Rod. The award was “for an original song based on its message of social conscience/social significance as well as overall craft, artistry and compositional elements."

Lord and Munnelly were presented with their prize at the ASCAP Awards ceremony held at Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 9.

“The Unemployment Blues” covers many of the real-life issues facing unemployed Americans today, such as recovering from excessive spending, sending out resumes without even receiving a phone call, and even ending up on food stamps.

“I worked with Christina to create a song that expressed some details about what it is like to be unemployed in these tough economic times,” Munnelly said. “It was so true to life that some of her experiences actually made it in the song.”

As an example, the song includes a line about when Lord accidentally took the subway the wrong direction to a job interview (in Manhattan) and unintentionally ended up in Queens.

Even though Munnelly has not lost his job, he knows what it feels like having experienced many of the same struggles to find work after he came to this country as an immigrant from Ireland. “There were some tough times when I arrived in this country,” he said.

“Because of the success of the song, some good actually came of the experience,” Munnelly said. “The Unemployment Blues” may be remembered as the “Ode to the Great Recession.”

For more information about John Munnelly, or his upcoming shows, please visit his MySpace page athttp://www.myspace.com/laughjohn and view the video at www.Youtube.com/laughjohnlaugh.

Christmas - it's been a great year

Christmas List

In 2008 I declared 2009 was going to be my best year ever and it has been pretty awesome. In early 2009 I set a goal with myself to play out at least once per month and in December I made 4 appearances -

Duplex Songwriter's Night

I sang The Unemployment Blue's and My new Christmas Song

Bar 169 - LES NYC
I have to say this was a challenge and though I put a lot of effort into promoting it (City Blogs, Skint )did not get the turn out desired but I had a great night and had a really convivial Christmas celebration with some close friends and co-writers. Thanks be to God for co-writers, it's a lonesome and unsure path being a songwriter and one needs faith hope and good friends to support along the way.

The Sackett Bar - Brooklyn NYC

This was the Christmas celebration for Brokelyn.com and I as their 'adopted troubadour' showed up to play The Unemployment Blues. I met some really cool people there and it was a great opportunity to play this meaningful topical song out in the open.

The Mud Spot 307 East 9th Street

This was a Solistmas Chrismakkawanzaa Celeberation organized by my NSAI friend and NYC chapter member Rob T. Forgive my spelling of the title of the event but its a nice thin place with an LSD feel on the decorations - kind place and a little back area where we had a celebration with other folkies and guest artists playing a number of tunes - a singing accountant, a kid friendly singer songwriter a real Greenwich village folkie and a few more such as myself getting in our last opportunity to play our Christmassy hits.


Happy Christmas to one and all !

Love peace friendship

John

Footage of 1960's Protest Singer Found.

John Munnelly the irreverent and quirky folk singer - "He was always protesting mostly about other folk singer's clothes" said one unnamed contemporary. Some rare footage was found buried in the back of a filing cabinet marked 'use only in case of emergency' and fully restored thanks to the generosity of ASCAP and the Jay Gorney family.

See this incredible archive film here - The Unemployment Blue's

----------

Brooklyn folkie wins with ‘Unemployment Blues’

Brooklyn folkie wins with ‘Unemployment Blues’

I'm happy to report that the little song that could is really taking on a life of it's own - TUB has just been featured on a local Brooklyn website - Brokelyn.com

I have been thinking that instead of H1N1 folkies can say they have T.U.B. - The Unemployment Blues.

(c) John Munnelly

SHOF Hall of Fame Showcase

Bitter End New York City

In the famous Bitter End venue on Bleecker Street, New York, open for 35 years; there is a fading pink poster for Arlo Gutherie on the wall in the back with a date on it Dec 20th - thru Jan 1 - I wondered what year? it doesn't say. Was I even born? I remember as a child in Ireland listening to Arlo's story of 'Alice's Restaurant' on late night radio as I lay in my room late at night with my radio gently murmuring. I have always liked listening to late night radio -it's very soothing. I was very excited about the record but my town was full of sneerer's and no one really shared my enthusiasm ... oh well! I loved it and printed out the lyric's recently just for fun.

I am being honored next month along with Arlo at the ASCAP Awards - so that is a wonderful synchronicity as he is the main awardee. My Jay Gorney award is for my fun message song - The Unemployment Blue's.

Last night several upcoming writers were included in a showcase event for the Songwriter's Hall of Fame - I was on 3rd and played the Unemployment Blue's, Peace and sang the vocals on AC's and my co-write "Don't love you like I used to" I need to be playing more - I am a very prolific writer but would benefit from more stage time to sharpen up my performance chops. I would relax into it more too the more I played out. I played with my co writer AC so that was great to have another musician along with me.

Last act was an Indian combo who really had a good vibe a kind of girl Indian Pop Nusratt Fateh Ali Khan - I had an idea for a co-write with them so that would be a fun thing to try - FALU.

Other folks who played were a team of acoustic/grunge/new rock COUNTRY guys Sellers Wray and a selection of attractively proportioned and voiced ladies of various styles - I liked Bri's 'Hours days & years' song and Gabriella's 'Savory Sweet' was very clever and melodic and slightly risque in a good way.

Do I change my name? It was spelt wrong in the program but we fixed it by hand before gig with a pen - thanks Annie! It was great to goin the last few years from having my nose pressed to glass wondering what was going on in venue to attending as an audience member then to actually playing on the stage - wow, onward and upward to the topmost of the popperpost guys!

The Unemployment Blues

TAXI CONFERENCE

This is my first taxi conference - I'm excited to be going. We have prepared full color CDs with our prize winning song and some of my other prize winning songs on it - it looks really great - Christina did an amazing job taking the pictures then laying it out nicely with color inserts.

Here are the lyrics to the ASCAP GORNEY Award winner-

The Unemployment Blues

Thought I could do it better I could do it all
Little did I know I was headed for a fall
I put in the trouble, I put in the sweat
Got the job I wanted, bought a new Corvette
seven years in college, to achieve my dream
Never thought I'd end up, with food stamps to redeem

I've got the blues ...

I was laid off last week don't know what I will do
I'm gonna go on line with the unemployment blues

I've got the blues ...

To sing I am unable to beg I am too proud
not strong enough to dig a ditch or drag a plow
got no money, got no job,
what can I do different? on the sofa like a slob
looking for a job the city seems so cold,
for all my applications no one ever phones


I've got the blues ...

I was laid off last week don't know what I will do
I'm gonna go on-line with the unemployment blues

I've got the blues ...

I worked hard for 3 years before I got laid off
The boss still owes me money, times are really tough
then someone knew somebody, wanted to see me
(But) I chose the wrong direction, saw Queen's in misery
got a one-way ticket to the line around the block
I'm going to write a song called the unemployment rock

I've got the blues ...

Got a one way ticket to the line around the block
I'm going to write a song called the unemployment rock

(c) John Munnelly /Christina Lord

The little song that could: The Unemployment Blues

I received some good and encouraging news this month - a co-written song addressing the economic times we live in was selected and won the ASCAP Jay Gorney award.

The ASCAP Foundation Jay Gorney Award was established by his wife, Sondra and son, Dr. Roderic Gorney, to commemorate Jay's career and legacy. Jay Gorney, a long-time ASCAP member and composer, along with lyricist E. Y. "Yip" Harburg, wrote, the 1930s classic, "Brother Can You Spare a Dime?," which became the anthem of the Great Depression.

It was awarded for an original song by an ASCAP member or unaffiliated songwriter who graduated from either an ASCAP, ASCAP Foundation or Songwriters Hall of Fame workshop/showcase. The song was judged on its message of social conscience/social significance as well as overall craft, artistry, and compositional elements.

WooHoo! Thanks go to the Gorney Family and ASCAP.