My Last 1,000 Words On Gabriella Cilmi, Gabriella Cilmi, Gabriella Cilmi

I wrote this post over a year ago — in August 2008, to be exact — after I got a cease and desist for posting a song by a girl named Gabriella Cilmi. For whatever reason, I didn’t post this. Maybe I figured some mysterious record company man in a long black coat with scars on his face would whack me in the parking lot if I did. Not so worried about that now.

And, if you don’t mind me noting: as of today — November 20, 2009 — I haven’t heard a lot about Gabriella Cilmi. On her ‘official’ record company site, I see it’s been since March that anything has been posted…perhaps confirming what i said in Chapter 7.

Chapter 1 – The Opinion As Rendered By the Judges

About a month ago, I posted a review of an album by a teenage My Space Singer named Gabriella Cilmi.

I thought the record was pretty awful but I tried to be diplomatic. Instead of beating up on a teenage girl who seemingly didn’t know any better, I took her producers to task for what I thought (and still think) was gross negligence of musicality. The production was B-grade and the song choices were spread so far across the map I had no idea who I was listening to: new wave retro? R&B chanteuse? I dunno.

But, I was polite about it and posted a few songs I liked to give her some publicity.

Chapter 2 – Google Gabby, Won’t You Please?

I’m a bit of an analytics junkie; I find it interesting to learn how visitors get to my site, where they come from, etc.

Over the past month, I found it the 2nd most trafficked page on my site was the Gabriella Cilmi page. In spite of the fact there are hundreds of people making better records today, Gabriella Cilmi is seemingly among the most popular. (Who The Bloody Hell Are They claims 15,000 visitors to the page where a picture her beautiful snout is posted at the top.)

As an experiment, I thought I would write a post that goes something like this:

This post is not about Gabriella Cilmi. It could be about Gabriella Cilmi if I wanted it to be about Gabriella Cilmi but, in fact, it’s not about Gabriella Cilmi. It’s about the popularity of Gabriella Cilmi, the fashion of Gabriella Cilmi, the whole aura of Gabriella Cilmi, etc.

You get the idea. If I mentioned Gabriella Cilmi enough times, I could increase my traffic by several thousand visitors.

Chapter 3 – Is This Is A Set-Up?

While contemplating what color chalk to use as I write I Love The Traffic Gabriella Cilmi Brings Me But I Wish I Really Liked Her Music on the blackboard 1000 times, I get a comment two days ago from one “spot the dog” that says:

After the initial “sweet about me” the more i hear the more i like.
Her backup band is excellent and the sound production is superb.
I think she should be part of THE band, rather than a solo artist ???
Who writes her lyrics and music ?
Either way the combo is really good…
Can you pleeeeeeease post some more album tracks, maybe Einstein.
regards,
spot the dog

Well, OK, “spot”, I guess I could do that but, seriously, that is one stupid song.

Chapter 4 – Your MP3 Or Your Life

The day after “spot” asks for more, I get a cease and desist request from Gabby’s lawyers via my hosting company. I can’t help wondering if “spot” is actually Deep Throat or maybe a lawyer for Warner Brothers.

Chapter 5 – No Problem, I Didn’t Like It That Much Anyway

When I was in college, I worked as an auditor for BMI.

I was paid to go to bars that weren’t licensed and log the songs that were being played. I’d send the report back to BMI, which they were use as part of their case against the bar owner, and I would get a check in the mail. It was a pretty sweet gig until I submitted a liquor expense that was a little too high, the owner’s lawyer called it into question during a deposition and BMI lost the case. All I can say is that it was pre-rehab.

The upshot of my confession is that I understand the ins and outs of copyright law and I have no problem taking down a song if the copyright holder requests as such. In Gabriella Cilomi’s case, I did it in about 5 minutes after my hosting folks called me. (Yes, my hosting people are cool. They call me at home.)

Chapter 6 – There Are No Coincidences In God’s World. In Gabriella Cilmi’s, We’re Not So Sure

I will offer these facts, though:

1. As a rule, I write about music I like.

2. So you, the reader, can make your own decisions, I post a cut or two for you to hear.

3. I encourage you to purchase music from the artists you like.

4. And, I talk about the music I like with the people I know.

So, what happens then?

A half-dozen people have PURCHASED Ruthie Foster‘s Runaway Soul album as a direct result of my recommendation. One of them did it on the phone while we were talking. Another attended one of her shows in Atlanta and bought three of her CD’s afterward.

I don’t need any research companies or journalistic investigations to prove that people like you and me (and everyone else who loves and talks about music) are making more of an impact than all the under paid over-worked marketing managers in all the major labels in the entire world. Sorry, product management intern dude at that major label: you’re making $9 an hour riding the ass end of a dinosaur.

Chapter 7 – The Real Lessons To Be Learned

Most of the artists with whom I’ve spoken understand that music blogs aren’t going to go away. They understand that they are one of the most effective, cost-efficient ways on the planet to promote their music. Most of them have come to understand their income is going to come from a) performing, b) selling CD’s at their shows, c) selling their merchandise and d) licensing their music for commercials, etc.

But most of these people are independent musicians who are in it for the long term. They see music as their career and understand they will take a lifetime to master their craft. They are not short-term acts on major labels.

The hard truth is that the record company is protecting their interest, not Gabriella Cilmi’s. They see MP3 blogs as cutting into the profits they need today with absolutely no regard at all for the long-term benefit from building a fan base from the ground up. But, tomorrow will come and the safe bet is that Gabriella Cilmi – if she remains a singer – will be on an independent label herself (and very enthusiastic about having anybody write about her and her records).

In the meantime, these will be the last 1,210 words I will write about Gabriella Cilmi for a while. And I’m sorry about that. I was loving that traffic.

PS to Gabby: If your boneheaded producers figure out the right way to take you – which, personally, I think is New Wave Garage – you might want to try this one on for size. Don’t worry; I don’t need any credit on the album.

The Easybeats – Made My Bed, Gonna Lie In It