OnlineHost: Grammy Award-winning song writer, Shawn Colvin, is here tonight to talk to us about her Album of the Year, "A Few Small Repairs" and how she arrived on the scene! Send your questions now!
HarpoAce: Welcome everyone to tonight's event with Shawn Colvin!
ShawnClvn: Hi. Welcome everybody! Ask whatever you would like, and I'll answer as honestly as I can.
HarpoAce: Mrpunk2u, you've got the first question for Shawn Colvin.
Question: Shawn, Adam here.. is there a personal story behind your song "Sunny Came Home?"
ShawnClvn: Not in the way you might think. It's not about anyone I know...not really about me. I was inspired by the painting on the cover of my record and so I made up a story about it.
HarpoAce: Next up for Grammy Award-winning artist Shawn Colvin is Dreamcfe,
Question: I would like to know about the song ôShotgun Down The Avalanche.ö Could you talk a little about how you came to write that song?
ShawnClvn: Like a lot of the songs I write I co-wrote that song with John Leventhal. In this case, he wrote the music and gave me a tape of it. At the time, it was really hard for me to write and I remember that the word avalanche seemed like a fun word and maybe I could use it somehow. I don't remember how the shotgun part came about, but once I had that title I knew it would be a sort of 'hopeless' type love song.
HarpoAce: Qmind, here's your question for Shawn Colvin!
Question: Shawn, I've been a fan of you for many years. I'm wondering what your favorite song is to perform live?
ShawnClvn: Well, that changes. Lately, I really like playing "Witchita Skyline" and I also really love to play a song by Jimmy Webb, called "If These Walls Could Speak".
HarpoAce: Hi AngelicLe, here's your question,
Question: Shawn, what advice would you give to an aspiring singer? And how did you get your start? --Leala, an aspiring singer.
ShawnClvn: You just have to get out there and do it and see how it goes for you. Some people love to play live, some people would rather be in the studio. Some people find that the music business is not worth it. But if you really love it, then all you can do is be true to your own taste and don't give up. Basically, that is what I did. In my case, I did love to play in front of people and it was okay with me to perform in a bar for four hours a night. I think that helped me get really good! BUT, it took about ten years, or so, doing that kind of thing before I got what I guess you would call....a break.
HarpoAce: Milomax, thanks for coming tonight! Here's your question for Shawn,
Question: Shawn, Tommy here. I wanna know how's the pregnancy going? Do you know if its a boy or girl, and do you have any names?
ShawnClvn: Thanks for asking. I feel fine. It's a girl.
HarpoAce: Hi Pasn8drms, here's your question for Shawn.
Question: How much time do you plan to take off after the birth of your daughter?
ShawnClvn: That's hard to say. My plan is to make a record, and I can do that at home. So, I'll just see when I feel like starting it.
HarpoAce: TearRaRa, here you go!
Question: Shawn, just was wondering when your next album was coming out and what your plans are as far as tours go, now that you are on a "hiatus" waiting for your newborn :o)
ShawnClvn: On the average it seems like I put a record out about every three years. So, that would mean next fall is not far off the mark. I would imagine I will do some touring though next summer.
HarpoAce: Next up for Shawn Colvin, FELMAR55,
Question: When did you first started singing? And how old where you?
ShawnClvn: Well, I always sang...so did my mother...so did my father...I just don't remember ever NOT doing it. I learned the guitar when I was about ten and that's probably very important, because so many of the musicians I would come to love played
acoustic guitar songs.
HarpoAce: BraveBoat has this good follow-up question for Shawn Colvin,
Question: I have a nine year old daughter who, inspired by you, would like to learn guitar. Is there a size, or type, you would recommend her to start out with?
ShawnClvn: I learned on a four-string guitar...I don't know if they make them anymore. A nylon string guitar is easier on the fingers but the neck is usually wide. I wouldn't put a lot of money into a first guitar. I guess the important thing is that her hands can fit the neck. So just look for something small.
Question: Ever thought of releasing your albums on the forgotten media (vinyl or 8-track?)
ShawnClvn: No!
HarpoAce: RotorMurf, here you go!
Question: Could you give me some insight into the song, "Kill the Messenger?"
ShawnClvn: It's been a while. I remember that at the time I was listening to Jane Siberry a lot. Also I had seen her play at The Bottom Line. This was in New York. And she was so great that I wanted to quit! Usually that's a good thing to have happen because you get inspired to try to do better. Anyway, I was so moved by her that I felt 'spoken to'. When I started to write this song I had the idea that I would tell my troubles to a character named Jane. I was thinking of Jane Siberry but I also liked the idea of the name. Jane is rather common and has been used in other songs. Besides all that, it's just another one of those kind of angry songs.
HarpoAce: Hey JDchat000, thanks for coming tonight! Here's your question for Shawn,
Question: Shawn, my favorite lyric of yours is: "so red is the color that I like the best, it's your Indian skin and the badge on my chest, the heat of my pride and the lips of the bride, it's that heart of the truth..." could you explain the meaning for you?
ShawnClvn: Well, I guess so, and it's kind of hard to explain. That section came from a very inspired moment when it seemed like the color red represented so many things, feelings, and images. I could go into detail but I know that it's better if it remains to you what it is to you.
HarpoAce: Hi Bradsap, you've got the next question for singer/songwriter Shawn Colvin,
Question: Hey Shawn, Just curious as to who is your favorite band or musician?
ShawnClvn: It's impossible to pick one favorite. Totally impossible. But....Hmmmm.... ...you can never lose with The Beatles.
HarpoAce: Fantality, here you go!
Question: To Shawn, I was wondering what it was like to play with the Indigo Girls?
ShawnClvn: They're great! Very friendly. And they love music with all their hearts and souls. They just want to play and play and play. They have so much enthusiasm. I wish I could borrow some!
HarpoAce: Kvanhuy, here you go!
Question: Hello Shawn! I am a big fan of James Taylor, and really enjoyed your backup vocals on his CD "Hourglass". How was it to work with James, and will he be backing you on your CD's in the future?
ShawnClvn: Well.... James is one of my idols. If you had told me when I was fifteen, after I heard ôFire and Rainö that I would not only MEET James Taylor, but SING ON HIS RECORD I would have died! He's as good as you would ever think and way better then that even, one of the best singers I could ever think of. Not only that, he's a good, sweet man, and hysterically funny too. I can't believe I got to sing with him. I would LOVE to have him sing on my record.
HarpoAce: Hello A4NsicChi, thanks for your question for Shawn Colvin! Here it is!
Question: Do you feel the release of "Diamond in the Rough" would have received more acclaim if not overshadowed by the debuts of Melissa Etheridge and The Indigo Girls? Do you think the newfound interest in mainstreaming women's music has made it easier?
ShawnClvn: The first record that I made with ôDiamonds In the Roughö on it...I wish it would have done better. I'd like to think maybe it could have, but it's truly impossible to
know. Besides, there are so many variables above and beyond who else has a record out. I suppose its easier now. For example, radio stations seem to no longer feel that they need to limit the number of women they play.
HarpoAce: Bowsmith, here you go!
Question: Shawn, tell the story behind "Climb On".
ShawnClvn: Again, I'm not so sure that there's really a story to be told. Song writing sometimes, for me, has a lot to do with the way the words sing or even look like as a title. I remember wanting to convey an image literally, of a strong back. I suppose the reason for that is that I felt strong. I felt strong physically and emotionally, and I felt I had a lot to give, and that's what this song is about.
HarpoAce: Milosch, here's your question for Shawn,
Question: How much of an influence has Bob Dylan been on your music?
ShawnClvn: Probably more than I even know. I didn't become a Dylan fanatic until later on. (Blood On The Trap) But, when I look at everything he's done and I see how basic and integral his work is to the last thirty-five years. I think any songwriter today would be lying if they said Dylan had no impact on them.
HarpoAce: FritzKat1, you've got our final question for musician Shawn Colvin,
Question: You write great sad songs, but you also write great up-lifting songs. Do you find it harder to write when your happy and you life is going well?
ShawnClvn: No...not really. It's not as though I am in a big happy phase and then go into a sad phase. My life is like yours, even in the happy times there is nostalgia and melancholy. And in the sad times sometimes you learn great lessons and find deep clarity. So, it all blends together.
HarpoAce: Unfortunately, that's all the time we have with Shawn. She'll say a few words in closing.
ShawnClvn: Thank you for being interested in what I did. I hope this has been enjoyable and insightful. You all mean a lot to me. None of this would work with YOU. See you out there.
HarpoAce: Thanks for coming to tonight's event with Shawn Colvin! If you missed part of tonight's event, check out Oprah Online tomorrow for the transcript! Have a terrific evening everyone! Bye! ;-)
