This Simple Song - Number 5

“This Simple Song”

This Simple Song was written during the first of the three British nationwide lockdowns that consumed most of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021. Originally created as a reflective but feel- good tune for an online music festival, it addresses the political unrest taking place around the world, particularly in Hong Kong, India and the USA, giving a nod to the continued physical and emotional violence which erupted as the world watched a police officer choke ordinary black civilian George Floyd to death on what started out as an ordinary, sunny day in America. It also gives a nod to the ongoing COVID- 19 pandemic, and the seemingly- endless fusillade of physical and emotional threats that come with it.

The songwriter expresses that she is helpless in these times and that she doesn’t have the means to change any of these situations directly, as can be heard in the lyrics of the first verses:

“I wish that I could write a song, telling all the world how to get along, but I barely run my own life, so that’s a no-go” and “I wish that I could cure diseases, but I never liked science and my mind just freezes at the big words...” However, despite this feeling, she also expresses a hope that her song - this song - will have the ability to bring people together and make a change, even if indirectly, even if just for a little while.

“I heard that music heals the soul and the mind… I grabbed my guitar and I wrote this song, hoping some people might sing along…”

This is the 5th Friday in a row Rhonda Merrick has released a new song. She will continue releasing a song every Friday for the remainder of 2021. Next week, should you choose to tune in, you will find the same album cover, with a different song title and a number 6 on the white door in the background.

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Rock and Roll.

New Album Cover

This is the new album cover for Project Undeniable 2021. It's a selfie taken on my phone in my studio and I'll use it for all 52 songs in this project. At the end of the year all 52 songs will be available as a single album on Spotify and other places. During the year, I'll release one song every Friday and you're invited to chat about it on my Facebook page, leave comments on the website or even send a tweet!

Anyway, this is my album cover for Project Undeniable 2021. The week I decided to use this as my cover was Week 4 and the song I'm releasing today is Legend In The Making. You'll notice there's a number 4 on the wall behind me in the photo. I'll change the number and song title, but all else will remain the same on all 52 songs from January through December.

Right now, all of England is in lockdown because of COVID-19 and there's no clear indication when the severe restrictions will end. I feel fortunate to have this wonderful, deeply creative space to hide in every day whilst writing, rehearsing, recording music, learning to draw and chatting with a wide range of people online. Despite all this, I sometimes find myself battling an almost overwhelming sadness.

The tears come from nowhere, unprovoked, unexpected but I let them flow because it relieves the pressure in my chest and throat. I didn't know the tears I refuse to shed still shine in my eyes until I saw this photo. I live in a world where a simple trip to the grocery store to buy a loaf of bread can expose me to a virus that could kill me in 28 days or less. It's so serious, governments around the world are aggressively battling it until scientist have a chance to make us reasonably safe again. If I survive, then I'll carry on being a writer and musician. If I don't survive this situation, then I'll create as much as I can so my songs and stories bear witness to the fact that I was here. Right here.

If you have all sorts of emotions flinging themselves around in your head, I hope you know that you're not alone. If you feel isolated, then I hope you'll join me in this weekly exploration of art and music throughout all of 2021.

• Add your thoughts and requests on my Facebook page.

• Add a link to your music with a similiar vibe or message to the song of the week or anything posted in the past.

• It's okay to message me, I'll get back to you as soon as I can for as long as I can.

• I hope you like some of the songs.

• Be sure to tell me about any books, movies or art that interests you because odds are I'll be interested too.

• I don't like scary things though... just saying.

I've already recorded Song 5. The next song is This Simple Song. You know it's the 4th song by the number 5 on the wall behind me. I hope this gives you a little insight into how my tangled mind is able to function. I just love, love, love systematic things.

On that note. Let's rock and roll all through 2021 together.

Rhonda

Party Of Crooks and Thieves

It's all over the news that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny returned to Moscow today and was immediately detained by the police. I saw a look of such deeply profound sadness in his wife's eyes that was almost unbearable to witness. Back in 2011, he spoke on a radio show in Russia and described Vladimir Putin's government as the Party of Crooks and Thieves. That phrase caught on like wildfire across the nation and beyond.

That was the year I wrote a song every day about things happening in the world, but I missed what was going on in Russia. I have a feeling, his story will make it into Project Undeniable 2021. This man is definitely one for the history books, but today I am concerned that as I sit reasonably comfortably in my drafty old flat in England, he is suffering untold physical or mental pain right now... in this very moment and if I'm worried about this total stranger, how much more does the woman with the sad eyes feel for him right now?

Our nation is on lockdown due to COVID-19. It's the third national lockdown and for some reason I seem to be struggling a little more than I did the other times. One moment, I'm perfectly fine, then for no apparent reason, I'm feeling a sudden rush of sadness or tearfulness, then it fades and I'm okay again. I suppose a lot of us are feeling sad, anxious, depressed or angry at something or other that's happening in the world.

My hope is that the songs I write and sing will help even just a few people feel a little better for a little while. Be sure to go outside and walk around when you can... create something... learn something... find a sense of purpose because your life matters to somebody, even if you don't know it.

As for Alexei Navalny, there's nothing any of us can do for him today, but the manner in which he's chosen to live his life has inspired, uplifted and encouraged a songwriter who was feeling a little too isolated to stop moping and sit down to write a few lines about crooks and thieves.