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Songwriter strives to "Keep Christ in Christmas" with culturally relevant song Posted: December 1, 2006
Longwood, Fla. - A mere 25 days before the celebration of Christ's birth, songwriter and music promoter, Michele G. Hudson, is introducing a new Christmas single titled, "Keep Christ in Christmas."
According to Hudson, the song "Keep Christ in Christmas" conveys a timely message with cultural and political undertones, and she is passionate about sharing it this season, even though it defies industry logic.
"The timeframe is really tight," confesses Hudson, owner of Top-of-Mind, a Longwood-Fla.-based songwriting and marketing business. "Early in November when I contacted a prominent Nashville producer about the song, he told me I should have called him in June, and I completely understood. But the song wasnt birthed until late in the season."
On August 28, Hudson attended a Central Florida Christian Chamber of Commerce meeting and met an evangelical entrepreneur and retired pastor, Ed Ganster. He announced that his firm, Pillars of Heaven, (Pillars of Heaven - Home) was embarking on a national campaign to "Keep Christ in Christmas," offering Biblical Christmas ornaments and "Keep Christ in Christmas" car magnets. Both products serve as tools to promote the need to keep the sacred holiday holy.
"I felt as if God had placed me at that meeting specifically to hear about Ed and Mary Gansters Christmas-mission efforts," tells Hudson. "I rushed up to Ed after the meeting and told him I wanted to write a song to correspond with the campaign."
Ganster told Hudson he already had someone in Nashville working on it, but that did not dissuade her. She came home from the meeting and wrote the lyrics and raw melody for "Keep Christ in Christmas" in one sitting.
"It just flowed out of me," says Hudson. "It was very exciting because, as an artist, you know when a song is really special. I also believe strongly in the message. Commercialism has diluted the real reason for the season, and this song helps put things back into the proper perspective."
During September, Hudsons collaborator, Barbara Hartwell of New Song Music Studio, Lake Mary, Fla., locked down a final melody, created a keyboard arrangement, and sang a preliminary demo.
"I spoke to Ed again at this point and found out the Nashville songwriter fell through. Ed now felt it was too late to do anything. But I just couldnt let go of it," Hudson says.
Through her entertainment attorney, Julee Milham (eMusicLaw), Hudson discovered producer Kyle Ashley of Seaside Music, St. Pete Beach, Fla., who proved to be a key player in bringing the song to the height of production it required.
Even when you are on a "mission for God," often its not an easy road, Hudson relayed. This was evidenced by delays along the way that involved two demo singers backing-out of recording the song, equipment glitches, schedule issues, and changing the recording venue.
"I felt that any delay was still of God," Hudson confirmed. "I tried not to get stressed over any aspect of His project."
When she heard that the second demo singer was going to pass the song along to a soprano in her church whom she felt could reach the loftier notes, Hudson made a critical decision to move the recording session from St. Pete Beach to Orlando so that her co-writer, Barbara Hartwell, could sing it.
"It was like a window of opportunity suddenly opened up and I felt God moving us in this new direction. It became evident that Barbara was meant to sing the song all along she has the voice of an angel!"
As a vocal coach, piano instructor, worship leader/trainer, singer/songwriter, Hartwell is poised to see what God has next in store for her music career. "The Keep Christ in Christmas song gives me the opportunity to share my voice with a wider audience," relays Hartwell, "but more importantly, I am blessed to be a vessel that God is using to help communicate a Christmas message that needs to be heard."
While Ashley was busy working on the songs 38-track production, which includes his playing live keyboard, bass, and guitars, Hudson was laying the foundation for launching her companys first single.
New to the music industry, Hudson brings two decades of corporate marketing experience to the table. "I have some knowledge from all the research I do, but you dont know what you dont know," admits Hudson regarding the music business. His plan is intricate and interwoven its amazing the way He works! I find the Internet to be an invaluable tool. I go surfing a lot and have had many divine hits where God leads me to people he wants to place in my path."
A few of these "divine hits" were in the form of emails that would suddenly appear in her inbox. One such email was from the American Family Association (www.afa.net) who sent out a message about their Christmas Campaign, which like Pillar of Heavens mission, set out to rally Christians to evangelize that Christ should remain the focus of Christmas. Hudson placed a call to a top AFA executive and he agreed to look at her song when it was ready. But getting it to him would not prove to be a quick turnaround.
In mid-November while production continued, Hudson hired artist/photographer, Rob Gillilan, to visually represent the song. She also began researching Internet domain names and website development.
"When I received notice the day before Thanksgiving that the song was completed, I felt some apprehension. Now what? I wondered? Lord...what would you have me do at this point. I just wanted to be obedient to Him."
Hudson acknowledges that most people in their right mind would have called it quits at this juncture, postponing the songs release and being ahead of schedule for next season. "I guess you could say Im not in my right mind," Hudson quips. I have the mind of Christ, and I believe what it says in Matthew 19:26 -- With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible!"
Hudson decided the best way to move forward this late in the season would be through Internet technology. "It was a real struggle because Im not a computer savvy person. I had to try to get over my insecurities about stepping into the unknown high-tech world." With the help of Broadjam and her teenage son, she constructed her company's website in a matter of days.
Hudson feels that the release of her song 25 days before Christmas will be a good "test" within the music industry, to see what is possible with todays Internet technology.
"The excitement right now is seeing what God has in store watching His plan for the song unfold. I willingly accept obstacles and impossible timeframes because then I know if something comes about, its not me who made it happen."
Hudson is open to working in conjunction with music and book publishers and has a completed manuscript to correspond with the song. "I consider whatever activity occurs this month to be a soft release," says Hudson. "I anticipate the songs full release to come next year when a renowned artist records the song and it is packaged."
In the meantime, if people are blessed and impacted by the songs message, then this ambitious songwriter says she will enjoy a very Merry Christmas. To listen or download this song, go to Home of Songwriter Michele Hudson and the Keep Christ in Christmas Song ###
Longwood, Fla. - A mere 25 days before the celebration of Christ's birth, songwriter and music promoter, Michele G. Hudson, is introducing a new Christmas single titled, "Keep Christ in Christmas."
According to Hudson, the song "Keep Christ in Christmas" conveys a timely message with cultural and political undertones, and she is passionate about sharing it this season, even though it defies industry logic.
"The timeframe is really tight," confesses Hudson, owner of Top-of-Mind, a Longwood-Fla.-based songwriting and marketing business. "Early in November when I contacted a prominent Nashville producer about the song, he told me I should have called him in June, and I completely understood. But the song wasnt birthed until late in the season."
On August 28, Hudson attended a Central Florida Christian Chamber of Commerce meeting and met an evangelical entrepreneur and retired pastor, Ed Ganster. He announced that his firm, Pillars of Heaven, (Pillars of Heaven - Home) was embarking on a national campaign to "Keep Christ in Christmas," offering Biblical Christmas ornaments and "Keep Christ in Christmas" car magnets. Both products serve as tools to promote the need to keep the sacred holiday holy.
"I felt as if God had placed me at that meeting specifically to hear about Ed and Mary Gansters Christmas-mission efforts," tells Hudson. "I rushed up to Ed after the meeting and told him I wanted to write a song to correspond with the campaign."
Ganster told Hudson he already had someone in Nashville working on it, but that did not dissuade her. She came home from the meeting and wrote the lyrics and raw melody for "Keep Christ in Christmas" in one sitting.
"It just flowed out of me," says Hudson. "It was very exciting because, as an artist, you know when a song is really special. I also believe strongly in the message. Commercialism has diluted the real reason for the season, and this song helps put things back into the proper perspective."
During September, Hudsons collaborator, Barbara Hartwell of New Song Music Studio, Lake Mary, Fla., locked down a final melody, created a keyboard arrangement, and sang a preliminary demo.
"I spoke to Ed again at this point and found out the Nashville songwriter fell through. Ed now felt it was too late to do anything. But I just couldnt let go of it," Hudson says.
Through her entertainment attorney, Julee Milham (eMusicLaw), Hudson discovered producer Kyle Ashley of Seaside Music, St. Pete Beach, Fla., who proved to be a key player in bringing the song to the height of production it required.
Even when you are on a "mission for God," often its not an easy road, Hudson relayed. This was evidenced by delays along the way that involved two demo singers backing-out of recording the song, equipment glitches, schedule issues, and changing the recording venue.
"I felt that any delay was still of God," Hudson confirmed. "I tried not to get stressed over any aspect of His project."
When she heard that the second demo singer was going to pass the song along to a soprano in her church whom she felt could reach the loftier notes, Hudson made a critical decision to move the recording session from St. Pete Beach to Orlando so that her co-writer, Barbara Hartwell, could sing it.
"It was like a window of opportunity suddenly opened up and I felt God moving us in this new direction. It became evident that Barbara was meant to sing the song all along she has the voice of an angel!"
As a vocal coach, piano instructor, worship leader/trainer, singer/songwriter, Hartwell is poised to see what God has next in store for her music career. "The Keep Christ in Christmas song gives me the opportunity to share my voice with a wider audience," relays Hartwell, "but more importantly, I am blessed to be a vessel that God is using to help communicate a Christmas message that needs to be heard."
While Ashley was busy working on the songs 38-track production, which includes his playing live keyboard, bass, and guitars, Hudson was laying the foundation for launching her companys first single.
New to the music industry, Hudson brings two decades of corporate marketing experience to the table. "I have some knowledge from all the research I do, but you dont know what you dont know," admits Hudson regarding the music business. His plan is intricate and interwoven its amazing the way He works! I find the Internet to be an invaluable tool. I go surfing a lot and have had many divine hits where God leads me to people he wants to place in my path."
A few of these "divine hits" were in the form of emails that would suddenly appear in her inbox. One such email was from the American Family Association (www.afa.net) who sent out a message about their Christmas Campaign, which like Pillar of Heavens mission, set out to rally Christians to evangelize that Christ should remain the focus of Christmas. Hudson placed a call to a top AFA executive and he agreed to look at her song when it was ready. But getting it to him would not prove to be a quick turnaround.
In mid-November while production continued, Hudson hired artist/photographer, Rob Gillilan, to visually represent the song. She also began researching Internet domain names and website development.
"When I received notice the day before Thanksgiving that the song was completed, I felt some apprehension. Now what? I wondered? Lord...what would you have me do at this point. I just wanted to be obedient to Him."
Hudson acknowledges that most people in their right mind would have called it quits at this juncture, postponing the songs release and being ahead of schedule for next season. "I guess you could say Im not in my right mind," Hudson quips. I have the mind of Christ, and I believe what it says in Matthew 19:26 -- With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible!"
Hudson decided the best way to move forward this late in the season would be through Internet technology. "It was a real struggle because Im not a computer savvy person. I had to try to get over my insecurities about stepping into the unknown high-tech world." With the help of Broadjam and her teenage son, she constructed her company's website in a matter of days.
Hudson feels that the release of her song 25 days before Christmas will be a good "test" within the music industry, to see what is possible with todays Internet technology.
"The excitement right now is seeing what God has in store watching His plan for the song unfold. I willingly accept obstacles and impossible timeframes because then I know if something comes about, its not me who made it happen."
Hudson is open to working in conjunction with music and book publishers and has a completed manuscript to correspond with the song. "I consider whatever activity occurs this month to be a soft release," says Hudson. "I anticipate the songs full release to come next year when a renowned artist records the song and it is packaged."
In the meantime, if people are blessed and impacted by the songs message, then this ambitious songwriter says she will enjoy a very Merry Christmas. To listen or download this song, go to Home of Songwriter Michele Hudson and the Keep Christ in Christmas Song ###
