Santa’s Sack!
The Next Big Thing: an online interview with yourself.
(How romantic!)
The effervescent Lizzie Violet tagged me in a blog experiment called The Next Best Thing in which writers answer ten questions about a current project and post them on their blog, tagging other writers who would have interest in doing the same. It started as a bookwriters exercise and Lizzie added the playwright angle. Now I add the songwriters angle!!!!
Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing:
(Songwriters version by Kat Leonard)
What is the working title of your song? Santa’s Sack
Where did the idea come from for the song? During a Christmas song brainstorming session with Heather Hill, Aynsley Saxe and Steve Didynuk.
What genre does it fall under? Novelty/comedy
Which performer (if not yourself) would you like to perform the song? Will Ferrell
What is the one-sentence synopsis of what the song is about?
Wanting to help Santa unload his heavy sack by taking your gifts now.
Will your song be self-published or represented by a separate music publisher?
Self-published.
Will it be part of an album or EP? Possibly a festive collection.
How long did it take you to write the first draft? 6 hours
What other music genres/artists would you compare this song to?
Weird Al Yankovic, Bob Rivers, Jack Black & Tenacious D.
Who or what inspired you to write the song? Santa’s huge sack and jingle bells.
What about your song might pique the listeners interest?
The singalongability of “Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho” and the triple entendres.
Bonus: A sample! Here is a smidge of my performing Santa’s Sack at the Music Mentor Productions holiday party this month: http://youtu.be/DJMudNqYdiU
And there are the lyrics:
SANTA’S SACK
by Kat Leonard November 2012
(Spoken) Dear Santa…
You’ve got a big sack– jam-packed
With heavy gifts of joy that could break your back
I can help you… damn straight
I can help release the pressure and reduce the weight
I’ll take my gifts now… and how
You know what I like and I’m willing to be wowed
I’ve been a good girl—giddy up
I saved half of your cookies and egg nog in a cup
Chorus:
Santa, how your sack does bulge
Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho
Bursting with the gifts I love
Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho
What could be inside for me?
Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho
Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho
Bulging sack of festive glee
You’ve got a big sack—paddywack!
The strain must be a constant risk of heart attack
Let me hold it– pick it up
I’ll keep it upright and inspect it close-up
You can trust me—fingers crossed
I’ll handle it with care so nothing gets tossed
Let me touch it—Jingle bells
I see something for me right there where it swells
BRIDGE:
Jolly yuletide clown
Come on down
Loosen your belt, recline by the fire
I’ll roast some nuts and sing like a choir
I’ve been a good girl
I saved you a cookie
I’ve been a good girl
(Spoken): Well, half a cookie.
It’s better than no cookie.
I’ve been waiting a long time, Santa.
They kept getting into my mouth… I couldn’t stop them.
(Repeat chorus and improvise to end)
I do hope you’ve enjoyed Santa’s Sack and benefit it from the real sack this holiday season! Happy Ho Ho Ho! I do believe Heather Hill and Arlene Paculan might be interested in doing The Next Big Thing exercise. If anyone else is, please feel free to use my adapted questions!
Love Kat
Knowledge is Power!
She’s Listening!
OVARIAN CANCER – The Little-Known Killer of Women!
We the Four Winds Collective (independent artists Kat Leonard, Arlene Paculan, Meghan Morrison and Heather Hill) played a fundraising event for Ovarian Cancer Canada last Friday night with local artist Kelly Sloan at Bass Line Station in Ottawa, Ontario. Mike Anderson of CanadaParties.ca organized the event. As the Winds traveled the 401 east, we discussed our issues with supporting certain types of charity fundraising events. We agreed that we are not as interested in supporting organizations that are backed by pharmaceutical companies as much as we want to support the charities that are lean, agile and creative and not backed by organizations that serve to benefit from the illness and its treatments.
Upon arrival at Bass Line Station we met Lynn Griffiths, who has been an active volunteer for Ovarian Cancer Canada since losing her dear sister Ann to the disease in 2007. The Four Winds were pleased to learn that Ovarian Cancer Canada is not backed by pharmaceuticals and relies heavily on volunteers and donations to help raise awareness and funds for research. Lynn had all kinds of literature for us and she shared some incredible information.
When Corinne Boyer succumbed to ovarian cancer in 1997 at the age of 57 years old, she left an enduring legacy. Corinne’s husband, Patrick Boyer, created the Corinne Boyer Fund to advance ovarian cancer research and awareness. In 1999 the name was changed to National Ovarian Cancer Association (NOCA). In 2002 the name was changed to Ovarian Cancer Canada, and it remains a member-based and funded organization. There is a research chair at the University of Ottawa as well as one that was added recently in Toronto.
Every year, 2600 Canadian women are diagnosed and 1750 women succumb to ovarian cancer. What is most difficult is that there is no test to screen for whether you have ovarian cancer, and the symptoms are incredibly generic and subtle and very easily missed. And ovarian cancer must be treated early to increase the chances of successful healing. Lynn mentioned that one of the risk factors is ovulation, that the more you ovulate the greater the risk of ovarian cancer. So women who have not given birth and are not on the birth control pill could be at greater risk for developing ovarian cancer.
For more information, please visit www.ovariancanada.org.
What every woman NEEDS TO KNOW – or tell a woman you love!
▪ There is a lifetime risk of 1 in 70 that you will develop ovarian cancer
▪ Many doctors are unfamiliar with the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer and fail to consider it as a possible diagnosis
▪ Failure to find the disease in its early stages is partly due to (i) lack of sensitive detection tests and (ii) health care providers and even women themselves may ignore warning symptoms
▪ A Pap smear does not detect ovarian cancer
▪ HPV vaccine helps prevent cervical cancer, not ovarian cancer
▪ Recent research has found that a large proportion of ovarian cancers actually start in the fallopian tubes rather than the ovaries. If you are having gynecologic surgery, ask your doctor whether or not removal of the fallopian tubes would be beneficial to you. For more information, visit ovcare.ca
▪ Pain in the abdomen is not necessarily a symptom of ovarian cancer – even if you have no pain, your doctor cannot rule out ovarian cancer
▪ Even though ovarian cancer is known as the “disease that whispers” the majority of women with ovarian cancer report symptoms, including women diagnosed at an early stage
▪ Ovarian cancer rates rise after menopause, peaking from age 60-75, although it can occur at any age
▪ The hereditary form, found in families where many close relatives have had breast and/or ovarian cancer, tends to occur at an earlier age
The Four Winds enjoyed a warm night of music and amusement with Lynn and the staff of Bass Line Station as well as friends and audience who came out to join us. We were thrilled to learn that many of the audience members donated very generously to Ovarian Cancer Canada and we were happy to donate proceeds of CD sales to the important cause.
Please do inform yourself about ovarian cancer and its symptoms as well as other insidious diseases, and please share information with your friends and loved ones. As the Ovarian Cancer Canada tagline states: Knowledge is Power.
Four Winds with Mike Anderson and Lynn Griffiths
And now, for your listening pleasure, please enjoy two of the Winds’ cancer-inspired tunes: How Long by Heather Hill and Fuck Cancer by Kat Leonard.
Be well and be informed.
Love, Heather and Kat
(Two of the Four Winds Collective)
Love feels better when you give it away!
It’s true, isn’t it?
This past week we held Wonder Women IV and there was so much love and spirit pinging off the walls of The Central Bar & Grill I felt bombarded by joy!
Wonder Women is a series of live events started by the uber-talented and ever-generous Wonder Woman Arlene Paculan. She created it to help promote local talent and also raise awareness and funds for local charities. For WWIV we joined with Red Door Family Shelter and Beverly Webb from Red Door attended the event to share the love and spread the word.
A highlight for me was when the beautiful Arlene Paculan covered my greatest hit Jockstrap and made it sweetly and sinfully soulful.
Here’s a link to the video: Arlene does Jockstrap!
Blurbs and pictures from WWIV can be found in the blogs of the following Wonder Women:
“Four, hot talented women join forces for Red Door at Wonder Women IV”
-Life With More Cowbell
“Wonder Women IV“-Lizzie Violet
“Wonder Women Awesomeness“-Lizzie Violet
“The Wonderful Women at Wonder Women IV“-Ellie Anderson
Wishing you the joy of love coming in and going out in equal measure!
Love KAT 🙂
Spring has sprung!
The sun is shining, the windows are open, the breeze no longer bites your arse, and it’s time for dreams to come true!
I am so thrilled to be involved in this amazing show coming April 25th at Central in Toronto!
Happy Spring, everybuddy!
Love KAT
Living The Dream: A Taste of Hollywood!
Hi!
Happy month leading into springtime!
I just returned from my first (but not last) trip to LA, where it’s springtime or better all year round! For years I considered LA to be this mystical land of lights and action. I couldn’t quite resolve a clear visualization. It was like I was trying to make out a grey cloud on an overcast day. What a pleasant surprise when I arrived! The people of LA look just like us and the sun is shining! I immediately felt like I belonged in LA and that I may bump into Britney Spears. Why Britney spears? I dunno! In the land where dreams come true, there’s no interrogating the dreamer. I love my home, but I think I could fill a good many buoyant days in LA!
For much of the entertainment industry, LA is the last stop: the mecca which many actors, musicians and other storytellers work toward and pilgrimage to. And you can feel that. Everyone in LA seems happy to be there. They’ve got a dream and they’re enthusiastically pursuing it. My dream is to entertain and inspire with my music and comedy. My LA traveling companion and BFF Arlene Paculan is well on her way. Hearing her spirit soar through her music is enough to send you to a place where dreams are alive. You can check her out at www.arlenepaculan.com. What are your dreams? Where will we be a year from now?
LA inspired and invigorated me. A year from now I vow to be back in the mecca of dreams, if not sooner! If you’d like to follow my expedition in “Kat’s Return To LA”, and read about my preparation, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter here! www.KatLeonard.com. You’ll also receive a song download. 🙂
Go forth and keep those dreams alive, everybuddy!
Love KAT!
XO
KAT LEONARD (Kat & The MP3) 