Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Phil Bellante has John Lennon Covered w/ the REAL "Imagine"

"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

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all

Previous article

The Fellini of Clairemont High

When gang showers were standard for gym class
Next Article

Halloween opera style

Faust is the quintessential example

"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

Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

We Asked 25 Local Musicos "Lennon or McCartney?", plus RIP Ike Turner, FYI Rockin’ Rob’n

Next Article

Grammatical B No Longer a 1-Man Band

Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader