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"It seems some people, like Cee Lo Green, have the audacity to re-write the lyrics to one of the most revered songs ever," says singer/songwriter Phil Bellante, whose cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” with its original lyrics and performed on the ukulele, is streaming on his ReverbNation page.
Here's a video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skd-Xj_EH94
Born in Cleveland, Bellante grew up in a musical family. "My mom has always been an amazing poet," he says, "and my grandmother could sit at the piano for hours, even into her late '90s, and create meaningful songs."
After graduating college with a business degree, Bellante moved to San Diego, where he met and began working with drummer Aaron Redfield (Switchfoot).
"My lyrics and the overall direction of my music have come from my vast life experiences and observation of others," says Bellante. "I have looked under the surface of things in life to try to understand the whys of life. My music simply leads people to places in their soul to help them see things clearly: that is the best way I can describe it."
Bellante's 2008 release EP2 was produced and recorded by J. Logan Stewart and Taylor Barefoot at Barefoot Studios. Videos for several songs were directed by Steve Woroniecki (Mariah Carey, Kid Rock).
In 2010, Bellante became known to fans of televised poker, due to his song "All In." “Poker is going to be a big theme for us, as the song continues to gain a following and earn more exposure,” Bellante says of the marketing push behind his card-themed tune.
“I wrote the song in ten minutes while watching a TV [poker] tournament,” says Bellante, whose own favorite game is no-limit Texas Holdem. “I want to license it for movies, video games, TV shows, casinos, gambling websites, and of course poker tournaments. I think it has the potential to be like [Kenny Rogers’] ‘The Gambler’…it certainly has more to do with cards than ‘Poker Face’ by Lady Gaga, and yet that song is played in relation [to gaming] all the time.”
To that end, the singer/songwriter plugged his tune on the pokernewsdaily.com website and Phil Gordon’s ESPN radio show Poker Edge. “Phil’s brother-in-law is a friend of mine, so I’ve known him for years. He has a lot of connections who are looking at the song now, plus I spend a lot of time getting it around to others…several Nashville songwriters are pitching ways to make it a hit. It’s all self-marketing and self-financed for now, but that’s the only way to get things done.”
Bellante says he’s willing to consider most any opportunity to market “All In.” “A lot of people are telling me that I should be able to make money off the song, that it appeals to the same kind of passion that poker players have.”
“But selling out isn’t always as easy as it looks.”
In late 2010, Bellante shot a video for his song “One Life,” before departing on an acoustic tour in February, 2011. While in Nashville, he recorded two new alt-country songs with Garth Brooks’ guitar player, “One Life” and “Whole Lotta Lucky.” On his return to San Diego, a cover of John Mayer’s “Heartbreak Warfare” and his own new song “First Time” were made available on his website.
Later in 2011, a new song written on the ukelele, “One Day at a Time,” and a new cut called “Love Again” were both made available on his ReverbNation page.
Yet another new tune, "Bloody Hands," was just uploaded to YouTube this week. "This song was inspired by a friend of mine who came back from a tour in Iraq as well as the recent killing of a park ranger by a soldier with severe PTSD. It's sad how quickly we make our heroes our enemies when they come back from war. At the end of the day, we created these people by sending them to questionable wars."
"The corporations that influence politicians to go to war ultimately are the ones with the bloody hands. There is also an audio clip during the bridge that is a segment from Dr. Ron Paul from the latest debate in New Hampshire addressing these wars and the aftermath to our children."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBfQs89OF3c&feature=youtu.be&hd=1
"It seems some people, like Cee Lo Green, have the audacity to re-write the lyrics to one of the most revered songs ever," says singer/songwriter Phil Bellante, whose cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” with its original lyrics and performed on the ukulele, is streaming on his ReverbNation page.
Here's a video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skd-Xj_EH94
Born in Cleveland, Bellante grew up in a musical family. "My mom has always been an amazing poet," he says, "and my grandmother could sit at the piano for hours, even into her late '90s, and create meaningful songs."
After graduating college with a business degree, Bellante moved to San Diego, where he met and began working with drummer Aaron Redfield (Switchfoot).
"My lyrics and the overall direction of my music have come from my vast life experiences and observation of others," says Bellante. "I have looked under the surface of things in life to try to understand the whys of life. My music simply leads people to places in their soul to help them see things clearly: that is the best way I can describe it."
Bellante's 2008 release EP2 was produced and recorded by J. Logan Stewart and Taylor Barefoot at Barefoot Studios. Videos for several songs were directed by Steve Woroniecki (Mariah Carey, Kid Rock).
In 2010, Bellante became known to fans of televised poker, due to his song "All In." “Poker is going to be a big theme for us, as the song continues to gain a following and earn more exposure,” Bellante says of the marketing push behind his card-themed tune.
“I wrote the song in ten minutes while watching a TV [poker] tournament,” says Bellante, whose own favorite game is no-limit Texas Holdem. “I want to license it for movies, video games, TV shows, casinos, gambling websites, and of course poker tournaments. I think it has the potential to be like [Kenny Rogers’] ‘The Gambler’…it certainly has more to do with cards than ‘Poker Face’ by Lady Gaga, and yet that song is played in relation [to gaming] all the time.”
To that end, the singer/songwriter plugged his tune on the pokernewsdaily.com website and Phil Gordon’s ESPN radio show Poker Edge. “Phil’s brother-in-law is a friend of mine, so I’ve known him for years. He has a lot of connections who are looking at the song now, plus I spend a lot of time getting it around to others…several Nashville songwriters are pitching ways to make it a hit. It’s all self-marketing and self-financed for now, but that’s the only way to get things done.”
Bellante says he’s willing to consider most any opportunity to market “All In.” “A lot of people are telling me that I should be able to make money off the song, that it appeals to the same kind of passion that poker players have.”
“But selling out isn’t always as easy as it looks.”
In late 2010, Bellante shot a video for his song “One Life,” before departing on an acoustic tour in February, 2011. While in Nashville, he recorded two new alt-country songs with Garth Brooks’ guitar player, “One Life” and “Whole Lotta Lucky.” On his return to San Diego, a cover of John Mayer’s “Heartbreak Warfare” and his own new song “First Time” were made available on his website.
Later in 2011, a new song written on the ukelele, “One Day at a Time,” and a new cut called “Love Again” were both made available on his ReverbNation page.
Yet another new tune, "Bloody Hands," was just uploaded to YouTube this week. "This song was inspired by a friend of mine who came back from a tour in Iraq as well as the recent killing of a park ranger by a soldier with severe PTSD. It's sad how quickly we make our heroes our enemies when they come back from war. At the end of the day, we created these people by sending them to questionable wars."
"The corporations that influence politicians to go to war ultimately are the ones with the bloody hands. There is also an audio clip during the bridge that is a segment from Dr. Ron Paul from the latest debate in New Hampshire addressing these wars and the aftermath to our children."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBfQs89OF3c&feature=youtu.be&hd=1