(Alternate title: "Choose to Be Happy")

I always hated that positive affirmation shit. Always seemed self-indulgent and inherently... wimpy. Now I see that it is self-indulgent but that it's OK to indulge yourself in love, health, happiness and all that good stuff. Still, when I try to say the affirmations, it just seems weak and silly (not in a good way). Somehow singing it makes it more believable and stronger.

Cut the first part out because it was just too long. Maybe release it sometime... so, ya' know, check back and get all the good stuff.

This one is going to be a major international hit within five minutes of my hitting the "Post" button.

DJ's, have fun, just gimme some props, 'K?

I did nothing to this but chop a few seconds off the end. It's as raw as you're gonna get from me without having me in your studio.

Technology and "progress" can be so ironic; thanks to technology and a constant barrage of immoral entertainment, finding a lover is easy, but finding love -- real, easy, healthy, pure love -- is getting harder and harder. That's what the song's about.
--------------------------

Two songs -- set the mic level too high (on the recorder -- didn't sound like that in the room, just very loud) and clipped the hell out of it but oh well -- take what you can get, right? You you know you do...

The first song is called "So Long." Been workin' on it for five years. Almost done. :)
--------------------------
Do yourself a favor and learn to play the guitar. (affiliate link)

Yeah, I just said that.

Mythos restaurant has the best Greek cuisine you will find anywhere in Queens and, by extension, in all of New York City.

Everybody who knows anything knows the food's better in Queens. (Why do you think all the guys look like Doug Hefernan of King of Queens fame?)

Mythos is fantastic.

Richard Berle is an interesting guy. He started the first personal training center in New York back in 1986 and hasn't looked back. His place, Body by Berle, has a special energy about it. It's an interesting concept in fitness. Check it out.

Here's his personal training in Queens website.

Mike Ogletree puts on a great show, but then he's had a lot of practice.

This song is about Lisa McPherson.

--------------------------
Do yourself a favor and learn to play the guitar. (affiliate link)

Fun little song I did about my car. Most of the words were freestyled 'cause it's fresh and I don't remember the words.

Already recorded a gangsta' rap version of the same song... you would find it amusing. Perhaps I shall release it at some point.

I'm a rock and rolla
in my Corolla...

This is the realio. Accept no imitations!

It has come to my attention that someone else has started using my handle, perhaps trying to cash in on the alluring and growing global mystique of the CharlieHipHop brand. I have been called CharlieHipHop for over 20 years. This name is mine, and all the snakes and fakes trying to steal it out from under me or just ride my coattails... well, they frontin'.

This was a good exercise in old-school acoustic. The guitar wasn't plugged in so I had to modulate by moving away from the mic when I wanted to play or sing louder. It was fun. Seemed to go over OK.

--------------------------
Do yourself a favor and learn to play the guitar. (affiliate link)

... and I'm not just talking about old Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and the other stuff that's cool to like, I'm talking about right now, on the radio!

Something very strange happened to me last week. I was driving upstate, rollin' the Corolla alongside the mighty Hudson listening at the foot of the wise old Catskills. The Corolla has a jack for an .mp3 player and all, but I like radio. The radio turns you on to stuff you wouldn't otherwise hear.