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Jon McLaughlin's "OK Now" CD Giveaway!
October 18, 2008 - November 17, 2008
This contest has ended.
Jon McLaughlin's "OK Now"
CD Giveaway
See below for prizing information!
"It's like who am I and why am I here?" "Beating My Heart"
A great deal has happened to Jon McLaughlin between the release of his debut Island Records album INDIANA last year, and his new, sophomore effort, OK NOW.
When we last saw him, the 25-year-old singer/songwriter was giving a show-stopping performance of the Oscar-nominated "So Close," the song he sang in the hit Disney movie Enchanted, on the worldwide telecast of the 80th Annual Academy Awards ceremony.
The appearance re-ignited INDIANA, spurring a 1,514% overnight sales increase at Amazon, sending it to the #1 spot on its Movers & Shakers chart, and creating solid momentum for his latest release. The single from INDIANA, "Beautiful Disaster" attracted over 420,000 digital fans when featured as Download of The Week.
And after getting major touring slots with Sara Bareilles, Paolo Nutini and Kelly Clarkson, along with dates with Colbie Caillat, Duffy and One Republic under his belt, Jon McLaughlin hit his stride on the road.
Flushed with that success, McLaughlin entered an L.A. recording studio last year intent on undergoing both a musical and stylistic transformation. The heartland piano player expanded his palette by working with new producer John Fields (Rooney, Jonas Brothers, Lifehouse, Switchfoot), co-writing with the likes of Jason Reeves (Colbie Callait’s "Bubbly") as well as writer/producers Tricky and The-Dream (Rihanna’s "Umbrella"), Troy Verges (Kenny Chesney’s "You Save Me") and Brett James (Carrie Underwood’s "Jesus, Take The Wheel").
McLaughlin admits the experience of appearing in Enchanted and performing on the Oscar telecast was a career-defining moment.
"The whole thing has taken on a life of its own," he says. "I wasn’t even supposed to be in the movie. I love Disney ballads, but I didn’t necessarily connect it to what I do as an artist. But that image of an old-school crooner inspired me. I was able to see myself as something different, which helped me open up to try new things on this album. I wasn’t afraid to try on some new looks, either."
Jon describes himself as a "child of the ‘80s" in talking about the musical direction of OK NOW, with the very first single "Beating My Heart" the perfect example, an introspective, existential tune about nothing less than the meaning of life, with an elaborate pop-rock production that evokes Coldplay, thanks to soaring synths and a crackling backbeat.
With producer Fields playing bass, drums, slide guitar and a variety of other instruments, McLaughlin also enlisted the talents of ace players such as guitarists Tim Pierce and David Ryan Harris, as well as drummer Dorian Crozier in the studio.
"Smack Into You," written and produced by Grammy winners Tricky and The-Dream, is about falling head over heels in love, a combination of the Police’s "Every Breath You Take" and U2’s "With Or Without You," melding acoustic guitar and McLaughlin’s piano to create a passionate undertow. "This song has such a great groove and is so fun to play live," says Jon. "It creates such a special moment in the room."
Jon describes "You Can Never Go Back," which he co-wrote with acclaimed L.A. singer/songwriter Bleu, as his attempt to write a "late-‘70s, early-‘80s Billy Joel song," an admonition to not dwell on the past that evokes the blue-eyed soul of the Bee Gees crossed with Hall and Oates, buttressed by Fields’ George Harrison-like slide guitar riffs.
McLaughlin’s soul/R&B croon also characterizes "Things That You Say," a bittersweet song about "loneliness, the isolation you feel when you’re trying to connect with anybody, but end up with these shallow, going-through-the-motions relationships instead."
Synthesizers introduce "You Are the One I Love," a song Jon co-wrote with Jason Reeves, inspired by the tabloid reports about Amy Winehouse’s stormy relationship with her husband Blake that shows an empathy to the beleaguered pair. The multi-layered production is driven home by Peter Gabriel-like tribal drum rhythms.
"I feel for them," McLaughlin admits. "Who’s to say any of our relationships are any less dysfunctional? I think it’s cool that they’re so madly in love."
"The Middle" is about being able to take the Hoosier kid out of Indiana, but not being able to take Indiana out of the Hoosier. The youngster who grew up in a conservative Midwestern household admits home is where his heart still remains: "Let me tell you now where I went wrong/Hollywood is just another place/I don’t belong."
"Four Years" is another Billy Joel-style, tongue-in-cheek take on a ‘50s rocker about high school peer pressure that advises freshmen not to worry about the dictates of fashion.
"You just spend so much time worrying about stupid stuff that just doesn’t matter," says McLaughlin, who insists his own high school years were pretty good. "I wish I could get back all the money I spent on Abercrombie and Fitch back then. If I heard this song when I was still in high school, I still don’t think it would change anything. You can’t change high school kids’ minds about these things...but I’m still going to try."
"We All Need Saving," a song about the importance of friendship, starts with a stack of Beach Boys-styled street corner doo-wop oooh-oooh harmonies McLaughlin recorded late one night on Garageband.com, which gives the song its sacred feel, while "Throw My Love Around" counsels that, with only one life left to live, it’s preferable to take risks then end up having regrets.
That same spirit of taking chances informed the making of OK NOW.
"My philosophy has changed," nods McLaughlin. "Now I believe you should get crazy in the studio, explore different sounds, and I love the challenge of recreating the songs in the live setting – that’s the best part."
OK NOW is OK to go.
Jon McLaughlin's "OK Now" CD Giveaway
Prizes:
Five (5) Winners
- Copy of Jon's "OK Now" CD
This contest has ended. Any submissions received other than via this email form will not be accepted (no direct emails).
This contest has ended.
WINNERS (in no particular order):
Mel S., CA; Sharon S., TN; Jennifer M., NY; Marl Z., NY; Richard H., NC.
Winners have been contacted & prizes have been sent. Unfortunately, the prize supplier, Shawn Williams (who was working with Island/Def Jam Records), neglected to fullfill his end of the sweepstakes. Because of this, MyParenTime.com substituted another CD as prize for this contest at My ParenTime's expense. We apologize for this unexpected turn of events.
*This contest has ended.
All winners will be notified via the email address that was submitted. Your email will not be used for any further contact except for contacting the winners of this contest/giveaway, by either MyParenTime.com, or Island/Def Jam Records. Entrants' full entry information will be shared with the Sponsors who are providing the prizes for the sweepstakes.
No purchase is necessary to participate or win this contest/giveaway. Void where prohibited. Contest/Giveaway is open to all U.S. and Canadian residents who have not won any prize in any MyParenTime.com-sponsored contest in 2008; must be at least 18 years old to enter. Employees of Jon McLaughlin, and the parent companies, and all affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion fulfillment and/or judging agencies, contractors, retailers of all such companies, persons and/or entities, etc. are not eligible. Participation in this Sweepstakes constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these official rules and the decisions of Sponsor.
All entries will be pooled together and five (5) winners will be drawn at random from all eligible entrants within ten days of contest/giveaway end. The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. The winner will be notified by email. Winners must reply to the winner's email confirmation and provide their name and address within within five days, otherwise prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner will be selected. Return of any prize notification as undeliverable will result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner.
By entering and/or by accepting a prize, you agree to be bound by these rules and to release Sponsors from any and all liability arising out of your participation in this Sweepstakes with respect to the awarding, receipt, use and/or misuse of any prize. Entries that are lost, late, illegible or incomplete for any reason will not be eligible. Sponsors reserve the right to modify or terminate this Sweepstakes or disqualify any entry in the event of technical impairment by computer virus or otherwise. In the event of early termination, Sponsors will randomly select winners from all eligible entries received at time of termination. In the event of a dispute concerning the identity of the person submitting an entry, the entry will be deemed to be submitted by the person in whose name the email account is registered.
There is no fee to enter; no purchases to make. You have not yet won anything. Five (5) winners will receive a copy of Jon's "OK Now" CD. One entry per person, per family. Duplicate entries will be disgarded. Unfortunately, the prize supplier, Shawn Williams (who was working with Island/Def Jam Records), neglected to fullfill his end of the sweepstakes. Because of this, MyParenTime.com will be substituting the prize for this contest at My ParenTime's expense.
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