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Richard D

(8,674 posts)
Sat Oct 12, 2013, 10:14 AM Oct 2013

One last request for help and some DU love



My dear friend, Kimberly, has a beautiful music performance/video that I produced that is in a singer/songwriter contest.

She is a fantastic singer, and her song is very inspirational and a quite powerful story of her search to regain her personal power.

A week ago she entered a contest that had already been running for over a month. In just the last 6 days she rose to 45th place out of over 6,300 contestants, most of whom had already been in the contest for over a month!

To vote for her, all you have to do is watch the video. If you love it, please share it. K&R this too, please.

I would also love any comments you might have.

I've been a DU member now for 10 years. Never asked for a favor like this before. Probably won't again.

This is very important for her as she now is approaching a darn good chance to be in the semi-finals. Every view matters!

Thank you.

http://songwriter.revimage.com/channels/KimberlyHaynesMusic
68 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
One last request for help and some DU love (Original Post) Richard D Oct 2013 OP
Kicked & Recommended In_The_Wind Oct 2013 #1
Thank you! Richard D Oct 2013 #2
Thank you! Kimberlyly Oct 2013 #10
Welcome to DU gopiscrap Oct 2013 #24
Third viewing playing now. antiquie Oct 2013 #3
Thank you! Richard D Oct 2013 #4
Done Phentex Oct 2013 #5
Thank you! Richard D Oct 2013 #6
Nice song! Kaleva Oct 2013 #7
Thank you! Richard D Oct 2013 #8
Done - nice song! (nt) petronius Oct 2013 #9
Thank you! Richard D Oct 2013 #11
Outstanding! Shampoobra Oct 2013 #12
Thank you so much Richard D Oct 2013 #22
By the way, for clarification... Shampoobra Oct 2013 #32
The message I'm getting from this song is: Shampoobra Oct 2013 #47
Thank you Richard Kimberlyly Oct 2013 #29
I prefer "Dick" Shampoobra Oct 2013 #31
LOL Richard D Oct 2013 #36
Oops -- I just realized that could be taken a couple of different ways... Shampoobra Oct 2013 #48
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING Kimberlyly Oct 2013 #13
Okay, I see the problem now Shampoobra Oct 2013 #17
You rock, Kimberly! Thanks! nt Mnemosyne Oct 2013 #18
I liked the song, I am old, how do you vote for it? Rebellious Republican Oct 2013 #14
OK so I just read another post, just veiwing casts the vote? Rebellious Republican Oct 2013 #16
That's one way Shampoobra Oct 2013 #19
I will view often then! Rebellious Republican Oct 2013 #21
Oh and BTW, K&R. N/T Rebellious Republican Oct 2013 #23
Yes. Richard D Oct 2013 #25
I am on top of that, great listening. Rebellious Republican Oct 2013 #27
Glad to help and k&r TxDemChem Oct 2013 #15
Thank you! Richard D Oct 2013 #26
Any time TxDemChem Oct 2013 #40
Thank you Richard Kimberlyly Oct 2013 #20
You have a fantastic voice. I so love it. Your accompaniment is also terrific. snagglepuss Oct 2013 #28
The accompaniment is one of the significant reasons the video works so well Shampoobra Oct 2013 #63
done...K&R hwmnbn Oct 2013 #30
Thank you! Richard D Oct 2013 #34
Yes, I agree - beautiful voice and presence, and the accompanists know what they're doing NBachers Oct 2013 #33
Thank you! Richard D Oct 2013 #35
Hate to reveal myself as a complete idiot but I can't get anything to play. calimary Oct 2013 #37
It doesn't work on iPhones Richard D Oct 2013 #38
Nope, I'm using my laptop. It's a MacBook Pro, whatever that is. calimary Oct 2013 #54
THANK YOU! Kimberlyly Oct 2013 #42
Welcome to DU, Kimberlyly! calimary Oct 2013 #53
#42 Richard D Oct 2013 #39
#41 at 3:12 am Shampoobra Oct 2013 #49
CLIMBING THE CHARTS WITH YOUR HELP Kimberlyly Oct 2013 #41
Beautiful! Congratulations Kimberly! n/t veness Oct 2013 #58
Watched the vid! CherokeeDem Oct 2013 #43
K&R. pacalo Oct 2013 #44
Thank you everyone!! Kimberlyly Oct 2013 #45
Kicking for the Sunday morning lounge Shampoobra Oct 2013 #46
done irisblue Oct 2013 #50
K&R BlueToTheBone Oct 2013 #51
Thank you all! Richard D Oct 2013 #52
"I've seen her music deeply touch hearts that needed to hear her message" Shampoobra Oct 2013 #55
I know, I know, but Richard D Oct 2013 #59
Wow! Just... wow! Kimberlyly Oct 2013 #60
The healing, true, but even more... Shampoobra Oct 2013 #62
Watched twice. Hope it helps. n/t RebelOne Oct 2013 #56
watching now, lovely voice ! nt steve2470 Oct 2013 #57
Thank you! Kimberlyly Oct 2013 #61
Do you know what's holding up the Weekly Top 10? Shampoobra Oct 2013 #64
No idea . . . Richard D Oct 2013 #65
Update Richard D Oct 2013 #66
She Did IT!!!!! Richard D Oct 2013 #67
And, in less than one hour (at this time of night, no less)... Shampoobra Oct 2013 #68

Shampoobra

(423 posts)
12. Outstanding!
Sat Oct 12, 2013, 12:44 PM
Oct 2013

I don't know where to begin. My thoughts, in no particular order of importance:

1. Listening to that was a rare moment of bliss for me, due to Kimberly's voice and the song's melody.

2. I can't share it on any social networking sites because I avoid them all like the plague. (DU is as close to social networking as it gets for me.) All I can do to support her is view the video (which I did), email the link to friends (which I will), recommend your post (done), and buy Kimberly's music.

3. I'm confused, practically to the point of irritation, that I can't go to Amazon and buy Kimberly's MP3s or CDs, and I can't find her on CD Baby.

One of my hobbies is finding amateurs on YouTube (most of whom, while talented and promising, possess only a fraction of the talent Kimberly has), then purchasing their recordings on Amazon or CD Baby. I have entire MP3 playlists and CD-R compilations consisting exclusively of relatively unknown artists. It's a great way to find unique music, and the amateur artist gets the message that his or her vision is working its magic. (I mean, I highly doubt that famous, professional artists get excited when an email informs them they sold a song or a CD that day.)

So there's no excuse for this. Kimberly has created what economists call a "pent-up demand" for her product. I'm positive that, like myself, a lot of viewers would have gone directly from this video to a site that sold her music, had one existed.

4. I'm supposed to be somewhere else right now. I'm not "late" - I am, in fact, a no-show. That's how much her performance moved me today. It literally caused me to change my Saturday plans so I could spend the time telling you how much I liked it.

5. Beyond Kimberly's excellent performance, the song itself is a true gem, and would have translated as such even if it had been performed by someone with none of Kimberly's talent.

6. If or when she makes her MP3s or CDs available, I hope you'll post a link (and send it to me through DU Mail, in case I miss the thread).

Richard D

(8,674 posts)
22. Thank you so much
Sat Oct 12, 2013, 12:57 PM
Oct 2013

For the past years, Kimberly has been a near full-time mom. That is why there are no CD's.
The Phoenix is really a song about how she has been struggling over the past years with removing the chains of a very challenging past that in many ways kept her from really opening up to her inner and outer talents. Entering this contest is a huge step for her and represents her saying to the world "I am ready now".

Obviously, with the incredible success she is showing in this contest, the world is agreeing.

Part of the grand prize is having a 4 song EP produced by Don Was. I'm hoping she wins this, of course. It's a huge game-changer.

Also, as a result of this several producers have shown interest in her. So I expect a full CD sometime soon. There's a couple youtube videos if you search her name. The three on the contest site are just the beginning.

I just got her to join DU, so I'll talk her into making a post here.

She has a website for her voice coaching. kimberlyhaynes.net.

Thank you again. Your words were sent to her and they are so very meaningful and inspiring.

Shampoobra

(423 posts)
32. By the way, for clarification...
Sat Oct 12, 2013, 01:26 PM
Oct 2013

...my "there's no excuse for this" comment was meant to be rhetorical. Of course there are good reasons why a person wouldn't have time to produce a CD. My daughter has a lot of kids, and I don't know how she gets anything done. I find myself exhausted when I babysit them for just a few hours.

(Last December I was telling one of my grandchildren, "You're going to take a long trip for Christmas with your brothers and sisters and your mom and dad. Your school will stop for two weeks, and your dad won't have to work for two weeks, and ..." And then I had a epiphany. I turned to my daughter and said, "You don't ever get a vacation, do you?" We talked about that and likened it to a business trip. Everyone else gets a vacation, but Mom gets a business trip. Mom has to do her regular job as always, but she has to do it on the road, while living out of a suitcase!)

Shampoobra

(423 posts)
47. The message I'm getting from this song is:
Sun Oct 13, 2013, 05:40 AM
Oct 2013

What if, instead of merely thinking it, or saying it, we actually meant it?

Kimberlyly

(9 posts)
29. Thank you Richard
Sat Oct 12, 2013, 01:19 PM
Oct 2013

This is so touching - and inspiring. Thank you for your kind words.... I am speechless...

Shampoobra

(423 posts)
48. Oops -- I just realized that could be taken a couple of different ways...
Sun Oct 13, 2013, 06:03 AM
Oct 2013

... and come to think of it, so could that.

Kimberlyly

(9 posts)
13. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING
Sat Oct 12, 2013, 12:47 PM
Oct 2013

I so appreciate your support in this crazy contest! Every view counts, so please SHARE if you care to - even if you don't LOL!

Thank you so much!

Shampoobra

(423 posts)
17. Okay, I see the problem now
Sat Oct 12, 2013, 12:51 PM
Oct 2013

I was searching Amazon and CD Baby for Kimberly Haynes, and I should have been looking for "Kimberlyly" Haynes.

Shampoobra

(423 posts)
19. That's one way
Sat Oct 12, 2013, 12:54 PM
Oct 2013

If I understand correctly, a view counts as a vote, but it also helps to share the video on sites like Facebook and Twitter, or link to it on your own personal website.

Richard D

(8,674 posts)
25. Yes.
Sat Oct 12, 2013, 01:04 PM
Oct 2013

I don't think viewing it multiple times adds to the votes though. But it's good music.
The other songs are also very nice. If you just leave the initial video going it will cycle through them.

snagglepuss

(12,704 posts)
28. You have a fantastic voice. I so love it. Your accompaniment is also terrific.
Sat Oct 12, 2013, 01:16 PM
Oct 2013

So glad Richard posted the vid. Wishing you every success.

Shampoobra

(423 posts)
63. The accompaniment is one of the significant reasons the video works so well
Wed Oct 16, 2013, 01:38 PM
Oct 2013

I've watched it quite a few times, and I think the video's effectiveness is a combination of (not necessarily in this order) the song itself, the voice, the passionate delivery, the truth behind it (which I guess could be considered the delivery, in which case I'm being redundant), and the accompaniment.

Richard D

(8,674 posts)
35. Thank you!
Sat Oct 12, 2013, 01:35 PM
Oct 2013

The other musicians are fantastic as well. Perfect background.
I hope that they have a future together. I'm also hoping for a stand-up bass or cello.

calimary

(80,521 posts)
37. Hate to reveal myself as a complete idiot but I can't get anything to play.
Sat Oct 12, 2013, 03:01 PM
Oct 2013

I'd love to listen to this!

calimary

(80,521 posts)
54. Nope, I'm using my laptop. It's a MacBook Pro, whatever that is.
Sun Oct 13, 2013, 06:03 PM
Oct 2013

And I just can't get the music to play. Can't figure out how. I wouldn't even begin to know how to do it on an iPhone. I can barely make a coherent phone call on mine. Severe technophobe here, I'm afraid.

Kimberlyly

(9 posts)
42. THANK YOU!
Sat Oct 12, 2013, 04:40 PM
Oct 2013

You must listen on a computer. Phone or pad won't play.

Thank you so much for checking it out, and PLEASE SHARE! Making dreams come true

calimary

(80,521 posts)
53. Welcome to DU, Kimberlyly!
Sun Oct 13, 2013, 06:00 PM
Oct 2013

Glad you're here! I understand your music is WUNNderful! My son has a band that I plug whenever I can (check my sig line).

I am using my laptop, but that's where I can't get it to play. And there's no way I could figure anything out on an iPhone. Can barely even make phone calls with the damn thing.

I'll keep trying, but I can't get anything to respond. Sure wish you the best of luck, though!

Kimberlyly

(9 posts)
41. CLIMBING THE CHARTS WITH YOUR HELP
Sat Oct 12, 2013, 04:30 PM
Oct 2013

Thank you everyone for your views and shares!!! My video is rapidly gaining on all those ahead of me! So exciting to get my message out there. A dream unfolding right before my eyes. Wow!

Great gratitude to each of you!

http://songwriter.revimage.com/channels/KimberlyHaynesMusic

Kimberlyly

(9 posts)
45. Thank you everyone!!
Sat Oct 12, 2013, 11:05 PM
Oct 2013

We've done so great!!! We hit 1900 tonight around 7:30 and I know we will take 2000 by midnight tonight!!

I'm really humbled by your loving support and I look forward to sharing amazing news tomorrow!!!!

Great gratitude!

Richard D

(8,674 posts)
52. Thank you all!
Sun Oct 13, 2013, 02:22 PM
Oct 2013

The really important part of the contest was completed at midnight. We won't know the results till around December 15, but I can't imagine that Kimberly didn't get into the finals.

Beautifully, her views continue to climb, and she's on the cusp of entering the 30's. It's so astounding that this all happened in just a week.

Now I'm hoping that the trend continues, and while it won't directly affect the outcome, her continuing up the ladder can't hurt. Plus, even more importantly, I've seen her music deeply touch hearts that needed to hear her message.

So please keep sharing!

Thank you all so much. So happy and proud to be a member of this wonderful community.

Shampoobra

(423 posts)
55. "I've seen her music deeply touch hearts that needed to hear her message"
Mon Oct 14, 2013, 04:39 PM
Oct 2013

It scares me a little to think I almost didn't click on your thread when you posted it. I was feeling very negative that morning, but I thought: Who knows, why not at least give it a chance.

My initial positive reaction, which began in earnest about a minute into the video, happened to coincide with a recent epiphany. I mentioned up-thread how the performance resulted in a rare moment of bliss, which was a topic that had been on my mind just a few days earlier.

I was taking a walk and listening to the radio, and a song came on that reminded me of the summer of 2001, which was one of the happiest periods of my life. Now, I've experienced moments of happiness and/or pleasure since then, but as this old song played, and as I felt a rising bliss that took me back to that summer, I discovered the reason my life was so good then, and so mediocre now.

Back then, I made it a point to experience blissful moments as often as possible. It was healthy, unlike chasing an addiction or an obsession. It was the kind of bliss that made me realize my very existence is a valuable gift that has been bestowed on me. Without that bliss, and even in moments of happiness or pleasure, the universe can seem ugly, cruel, and even punitive.

So that day, on that walk I realized why my day-to-day life was so much better then. (It wasn't because I was younger in 2001 than I am now, because 2001 was much better for me than many of the preceding years.) I had been seeking and finding bliss on purpose, on a regular basis, and that resulted in feelings of thankfulness instead of want.

Two or three days later, I was experiencing bliss again while listening to Kimberly sing "The Phoenix." I felt like, happiness and pleasure aside, I had developed an invisible shell that was made up all things negative ... as if the magnetic properties of this shell transferred to the outer layer, attracting more negativity (and further strengthening the shell).

I realized, happiness and pleasure aside, that what I've been doing for the past 12 years is WAITING. Nothing was going to improve, there was probably nothing good at the end of the journey, and suicide was (as always) out of the question.

I could go on all day like this. I'll try to cut it short. What happened when I watched Kimberly's video was just a pleasurable experience at first, as her voice is physically soothing. But then, the song's message seemed to address this inner version of myself, a version which had long been in hibernation. It reached the one who used to be in charge: the bliss-maker. The one who used to insist that life be made valuable on a recurring basis, and would tolerate no opposition.

"Its dark in here, where I've been hiding all my fears."

Had I seen those words in print, I don't think I would have noticed them, but when Kimberly sang them, the bliss-maker became enraged at his unlawful imprisonment, fought to break the shell, and it was a surprisingly easy exit. (Negativity, it turns out, has no intrinsic power!) The evidence I have that the experience is real has been my increased levels of creativity over the past two days.

So, seriously ... no need to thank anyone. Thank YOU for posting the link in the first place.

Kimberlyly

(9 posts)
60. Wow! Just... wow!
Tue Oct 15, 2013, 11:14 AM
Oct 2013

That is so beautiful. I am honored to have been a part of an awakening for you - and even more that you have shared the experience so beautifully with me - and others.

It is truly this healing that songs are meant to serve. So, thank you for having the ears to hear - both literally and figuratively - my songs.

Blessings to you.

Kim.

Shampoobra

(423 posts)
62. The healing, true, but even more...
Tue Oct 15, 2013, 02:02 PM
Oct 2013

Artistic expression often reminds the listener, viewer, or reader that he or she is not alone.

When the artist has experienced extreme pain or joy, something so strong that it can't help but direct the artist's creative path; and when the resulting message has been so carefully delivered that the audience can't help but perceive it as genuine, it can send a feeling that reaches to the core of our experience as humans. The feeling is a reminder that we are not alone, that others experience the same intense levels of pain and joy that we experience.

Keeping that in mind, the very first time I watched your video, it seemed like it was being sung with the energy of someone who had already won the contest. That alone gave the song a sense of validity for me. ("This is someone who knows what she's talking about, so I should pay attention.&quot The song became a kind of warning to me that procrastination is artistic sin, a reminder that I need to get serious about a project of my own - something I had been putting about five minutes a day into when I could afford to spend at least an hour or two each day on it.

Kimberlyly

(9 posts)
61. Thank you!
Tue Oct 15, 2013, 12:58 PM
Oct 2013

Thank you so much for viewing! Please share if you have any way to do so.

Many blessings to you.

Kim.

Shampoobra

(423 posts)
64. Do you know what's holding up the Weekly Top 10?
Sat Oct 19, 2013, 05:12 PM
Oct 2013

Do they wait a couple of weeks before updating those?

It's the 19th now, but the most recent Top 10 list is still 9/29 though 10/6.

I keep checking to see if Kimberly's video made it to the 10/7 through 10/13 list, but it hasn't been created.

Richard D

(8,674 posts)
65. No idea . . .
Sat Oct 19, 2013, 06:51 PM
Oct 2013

. . . and actually, sadly, the weekly top 10 is not indicative of who will be in the judged top 100 as it includes all the people in the contest, including those who were already in the weekly top 10 in the past. Oddly, the top 100 are not revealed, so we'll not find out unless Kimberly is one of the 10 chosen finalists. That will be released around Dec. 15.

If she is, and I so hope so, she will then perform in front of the judges to see who gets first place.

Richard D

(8,674 posts)
66. Update
Sat Oct 19, 2013, 07:04 PM
Oct 2013

She got up to #39 overall, which is extraordinary, but has in the last day slipped down to #40 overall.
So she still needs as much help as possible spreading the video until the contest ends in 2 weeks.

Thank you all over and over again!

Richard D

(8,674 posts)
67. She Did IT!!!!!
Tue Oct 22, 2013, 08:32 PM
Oct 2013


As you can see, Kimberly is now one of the top 10 views of the week. This means that she will go on to be one of 100 semi-finalists, personally viewed by the judges. This is out of over over 7,800 contestants! Next step, top 10!

While the weekly part of the contest is successfully completed, there's still nearly 2 weeks where your love and support can only help her in the eyes of the judges.

And beyond helping her, watching the video is deeply touching people's hearts.

Here's the video in case you haven't seen it yet or want to see it again.

http://songwriter.revimage.com/channels/KimberlyHaynesMusic

Again, thank you all so much!

Shampoobra

(423 posts)
68. And, in less than one hour (at this time of night, no less)...
Wed Oct 23, 2013, 03:54 AM
Oct 2013

...I watched her channel jump from 41 back up to 39.

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