"What Would John Lennon Say?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nbk3Lwkz-w"haunting . . . beautiful!" ...
Carole Easterling, Performing Rights Director, BMI- Nashville
"What Would John Lennon Say?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nbk3Lwkz-w"A powerful, very timely song written and performed by Celeste Friedman, a great singer/songwriter. The images are as mesmerizing as the haunting lyrics and melody. If this doesn't touch you and make you think and hopefully take action, nothing will"...Chaparral2004- YouTube comment
"What Would John Lennon Say?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nbk3Lwkz-w
"This is going on my play list. Incredible. A beautiful voice with gut-wrenching lyrics....listen...really....it's worth it and I dare you to get it out of your mind afterward" ...
Julie Powers Schoerke, JKS Communications, Chicago
"Single 101", Artist, Celeste Friedman
Pure Genius by Design
Celeste Friedman is a highly lauded singer/songwriter/composer whose work has been featured on Live! With Regis And Kelly; The Ghost Hunter; A Prairie Home Companion; National Public Radio; Music Choice and ESPN. A 2005 GRAMMY nominee, Friedman can lay claim to a #1 album, a GrIndie Award, Indie Track Of The Year Award, and a nomination for Artist of the Year in the Netherlands. Friedman is also a prolific author, with her most recent book, Single 101: 101 Reasons To Celebrate Being Single raising the curtain on her own life and the joys of going it alone.
Concurrently, Friedman has written a collection of songs, also entitled Single 101, which serve as a musical companion to the book. Friedman digs deep into the emotions of joy and loss, using humor and insight to parse emotions and get to the simple truths that lay underneath. “I Can Change My Mind” underlines the classic line about a woman’s prerogative with a funky bass line and some of the best piano work you’ll hear in one of the best all-around tracks on the album. “My Bra And His Underwear” is a humorous take on the comingling of a couple’s undies in light of their fading shared libido. It’s a cute and funny bit of commentary in song that has the advantage of being informed by truth.opens with "The Dribble On My Pillow", an amusing little ode to night drool done in a cute, classic pop style complete with hand claps. There's a certain cheese factor, but it's all tongue in cheek and entertaining. "Gotta Get It Right, Gotta Get It Straight" is all about trying to get your bearings, even taking time out from a relationship to find your true north. This is the proverbial foot out the door whose status as a relationship cliché doesn't mitigate its occasional truth. Friedman celebrates reclaiming her bed as her own in the wake of a relationship with "Mattress, Sweet Mattress”, a bit of hokey fun that will hit home with most anyone newly single.
“Batteries Not Included” is an ode to the sort of products that make living on your own more bearable. In this funny little tune, Friedman explores the purchase of one such item from the internet, right down to getting dressed up for the delivery and the knowing grin from the UPS man. Everything comes together for Friedman on this number, from the vaguely nervous, almost Christine-Lavin style sense of humor to the musical arrangement. Friedman tackles such subjects as emotional eating (“I’m Pudding On Weight”) and the unintended side effects of garments from Victoria’s Secret (“Suddenly We’re All French”) before settling into a surprisingly serious love ballad entitled “This Time”. Here Friedman shows a bit of 1980’s pop/R&B pastiche in a tune that sounds like it should have charted twenty-five years ago.
“Three Little Words” is a bluesy number about a partner who just can’t say the right things, and leads into the woeful melancholy of “Taken Away”. It’s hard to discern exactly what Friedman’s intent is with this tune, but the musical approach is a bit off the beaten path and intriguing. Friedman slips her funny shoes back on with “Barbie’s Got The Blues”, projecting relationship troubles onto America’s favorite anatomically unlikely plaything. “Flying Solo” is a song of independence that throws off the shackles of expectation. Stylistically jazzy and fun, Friedman channels her inner Nellie McKay for one of the best turns on the album. Friedman closes with “Every Day Is Independence Day”, a song that touts the opportunities and possibilities made available by being single, delivered in a semi-big band style arrangement. It’s a nice closer that supports Friedman’s sense of celebration of singlehood.
Celeste Friedman mixes funny and serious moments on Single 101. As a stand-alone album Single 101 has enough light and dark to give a full reflection to the ups and downs of relationships and also of choosing to be on your own. As a soundtrack for Friedman’s book of the same name it is a sublime companion. The musical ups and downs on Single 101 are quite comparable to those found in life. If by design this is pure genius. If by accident then it is the sort of socio-musical accident that is the by-product of artistry. Either way, Single 101 is an entertaining farce that pauses to uncover some of the more serious truths that lay beneath its comical face.
"I think your recording of The Son of a Soldier is quite outstanding. It certainly pulls at all the heart strings."
. . . John Poole-Warren, Regimental Secretary, The Rifles
Charlotte Examiner~
by Cheryl Williams, Charolotte Love and Marriage ExaminerWhen Celeste Friedman contacted this Charlotte Love & Marriage Examiner, asking me if I would like to review her new book, I was surprised. After all, what does “being single” have to do with love and marriage?
After reading the book, I know. Single 101 shows us the flip side of love and marriage. It shows us something different. It shows us the love of self, which is something that we often forget as we get lost in the search for that perfect loving relationship with someone else.
Being married is not easy. It is challenging. It is even more challenging if we do not know who we are as individuals. I would recommend Single 101: 101 Reasons to Celebrate Being Single to anyone…whether single, dating, or married It gives you insights into who you are as a person and what you may have to gain or lose by being in a committed relationship with someone else.
Ms. Friedman uses a lot of humor in the book, saying the things that many of us have thought of, but did not have the nerve to actually voice. Each page is a chapter in and of itself, which means you do not have to read the book cover to cover. Each page is a complete thought on a particular topic ranging from “Vibrators Don’t Talk Back” to “You Can Cut the Grocery Bill in Half” to “You Can Come Home at Whatever Time You Like”.
She touches on those truths, ideals and needs that all of us have lurking deep inside.
This would be a great book for someone who is in the midst of a breakup. It is also a great book for someone who is in a relationship. It will show them some of the things they have given up in order to be in a relationship….some okay, and some that are not okay. It is all done with a great sense of humor.
Celeste Friedman is an author and singer-songwriter who has decided to remain single after being in two marriages and several relationships. Her insights are both entertaining and thought provoking.
For more information on how to get the book as well as other relationship ideas, check out Celeste Friedman’s blog. You won’t be sorry!
Ink Blog - Pamela E. Spencer
Kiss & Tell: Single 101
Pamela E. Spencer on July 8th, 2010
If you've been single for a while, you just went through a breakup or you need courage to leave a bad relationship, read this book.
This time of year is a hard time to be solo. Couples are walking around town hand in hand, kissing in the park, eating ice cream on a bench, sitting close at the movies. Well, love might be in the air, but it sure ain’t in your living room with you while you watch “Modern Family” reruns by yourself.
If you’ve been single for a long time and you’re looking for upsides, trust me, plenty exist. Try reading Single 101: 101 Reasons to Celebrate Being Single by Celeste Friedman.
Reason No. 98: You don’t have to worry if he will or won’t call.
“We’ve all be there, wondering if he’s going to call and when. Most of us would love to have a ‘Get Out of Limbo’ ticket,” the book says.
One woman in the book wondered, “What does he do all the time? Is he sitting around hoping I’ll call or maybe just thinking that I’ll call eventually, so he won’t worry about it?”
Argh. I read my journal from when I was on the dating prowl a few years ago and that was me. That’s a lot of women. Going out on dates, waiting for the phone to ring, wondering what to do in the meantime, wondering if it’s him that’s the problem or you.
In 2006, I wrote, “I kind of feel like, ‘nothing takes your mind off a man like another man.’ But do I really want to go on a date with another weirdo? No. I’m sick of it all. I am trying to be happy despite. What do I keep doing wrong? I don’t know. But I need to be happy now, when it’s just me.”
This, of course, was written while I was waiting for some guy to call. He didn’t.
One of my friends who was going through the same thing, told me, “It sucks that all boys can’t be dreaming of reading the paper in bed with us for the rest of their lives. But good thing they aren’t, because otherwise we’d make out with them and be smitten, they’d be smitten and next thing you know, we’re married to losers. Thank God they don’t all love us because we overlook too much.”
I found that whining and complaining about being alone to friends and family (which I did for a long time) only makes you seem sad, pathetic and awkward. How are people supposed to respond to that anyway?
Taking ownership of your singlehood takes away all that stress. The same friend who offered me advice sent me a shirt that said “Sassy, sexy, single,” which I wore with pride.
Among the 101 reasons to enjoy being single:
No. 91: You can flirt as much as you want
No. 89: You can hang your unmentionables wherever you want
No. 73: Lucy, there’s no s’plainin’ to do
No. 72: You can have as many sleeping partners as you like
No. 68: Vibrators don’t talk back
No. 19: Shaving is optional
No. 17: You are the keeper of the remote
No. 14: Farting is less embarrassing
Those are some of the more light-hearted reasons, but there are deeper ones too, such as No. 32, You can focus more on school or career, a good message for people our age.
“Flying solo, even on a temporary basis, can give you an opportunity to find what you’re searching for and what you want from your life,” the book says.
If you’re not single, but you’re wondering if maybe you need to be, the book also has words for victims of physical or emotional abuse — and those who are simply sad and unfulfilled in their relationships.
“You don’t have to be afraid to go it alone,” the book says.
You’re not alone, singletons. That’s something I’ve been telling you since I started this column.
The book says single life is on the rise, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2008, there were 92 million singles living in the states, where 54 percent were women and 63 percent had never been married.
If you’re in recovery from a breakup, and trust me, I know how hard it is, the book has lots of encouragement for you, too.
“Single men and women are not lonely and desperate by any means. You are not half of a person if you’re no longer half of a couple, I ask, ‘Why should I give up my independence and my privacy again?’ ” the author, who’s been divorced twice, says in the book.
“But Pamela,” you say, “I’m young. I want to get married someday.” That’s cool, just appreciate the perks of being single for now, such as No. 65: You can be messy and leave it that way.
Once you learn to be happy on your own, you’ll be more confident when you start dating again anyway.
I wouldn’t say this book is groundbreaking. But it is a quick read. Flip through it if you need a reminder or two about why being single is OK and actually can be fun.
Check out the latest review of "The Tide" on TakeRootandWrite.com.
Take Root's Marta Hoelscher shares her review of each track of Celeste's CD.
"Celeste's newest CD was just released in June of 2009 and is really an interesting mix of music. Celeste has an absolutely beautiful voice that is smooth and soothing as you listen.
This is a beautiful CD from a relatively new face on the Christian music scene and it's well worth the time to listen to it."
. . . Marta Hoelscher
Click on the link below . . .
For Immediate Release:
August 11, 2009
Celeste to Appear on BlogTalkRadio
Salt Lake City, Utah- Grammy nominee and singer-songwriter Celeste Friedman will appear on Talk Radio Portal, Sunday, August 23, 2009 from 7-9pm EDT.
Your host, MoJoe of Talk Radio Portal, will feature a few of Celeste's songs and they'll talk about Celeste's latest quest to be on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.
It's live on August 23, 2009 from 7-9pm EDT, so you can call in your questions. Don't miss it!
For more information, contact: Radio@SongsForCharlieMusic.com
“Live at the Bluebird Cafe” is the latest release by Grammy nominee artist Celeste. Featured on this album is a wonderful collection of performances highlighting Celeste’s vocal abilities with various styles and lyrics. This highly talented country/blues singer and songwriter kicks out vocals that are melodic, strong, and alluring. Her bluesy and bold lyrics on “I Can Change My Mind” will have all women nodding their heads in agreement. “Suddenly, We’re All French” has witty and fun lyrics which Celeste delivers with easy flowing spoken wordplay. Sweet and tender, “Body and Soul” shows the diversity in style this delightful singer has to offer. Celeste’s “Live at the Bluebird Café” is a great album to hear especially if you’re looking for some new and refreshing country and blues.
-Diane and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
xoxo
Celeste
Check out the latest interview on IndieBeat Celeste talks about her latest album, "Every Tear I Know"
“Everyone should be singing her songs!”
"a fine and appealing effort, with very sweet and delicate sound and sensual singing"
"The most beautiful voices and songs are hidden by independent label artists.
It's is like a refreshing wave, coming over you. The music and voice of Celeste are a wonderfull contribution to the programs of Country Special in the upcoming weeks."
"Great vocalist and songwriter!
Celeste, I just happened by and heard your marvelous voice,(thanks to CDBABY) I am hooked on you. Your song "EVERY TEAR I KNOW" is so great. I wish you much success with your talent and career and I hope our paths cross someday........You are a great vocalist and songwriter,...... Sincerely yours, Sam Stray."
"It pointed right at me! Great work, great vocals, getting it right."
“With a beautiful voice and contagious smile, Celeste presents her music with passion and lights up Manhattan.”
“A painter of lyrical portraits, Celeste share her experiences and visions.”
“Celeste’s song, “A Home Run” is a heart warming tribute to her father.”
“Her inspirational song, “A Home Run”, will be a big hit some day, a home run in its own right!”
“Celeste’s gesture of giving and kindness illustrates our Nation’s strength. I thank her for her contributions to New York City schools, her support and friendship.”
“All lovers of subtle beauty in lyrics should hear this songbird.”
“A committed performer and songwriter . . . A Woman to Watch!”
“Celeste is in my car, at our breakfast table, at work and everywhere we take our radio. She is part of our day, every day.” . . . WBNS Radio listener
