Stumble This Site!
Biography
Michelle Cross is obsessed with her music. "I [play and write music] all the time. When I don't have a job I'm playing 14 hours a day. When I do have a job I play 4 or 5 hours a day. I have to do it everyday… as much as I can squeeze in." She describes her songs as therapeutic and very personal. "It's like my journal" although she admits she likes to "steal shoes" a lot.
Sprinkled with classical influences and firmly supported by strong vocals, Cross's songs tend to have a darker moodier feel to them. At times, there is a lot of aggression and rhythm in her piano playing, yet even at its most gentle moments her powerfully emotional and melodic piano-based songs have caused listeners to sit-up and pay attention." ( read more... )
Blog
December 31, 2004
Asian Quake/Tsunami
Oh Boy... My heart is broken. There's been a tsunami in my heart, and I can't stop the tears. I can't handle talking about it for too long because I know I'm going to end up balling again. I surprise myself. I don't like crying. I hate babies. But this, my friends, is too much. Too much for me to even quite understand and my thoughts turn entirely to those who are affected by this horrid, horrid event.December 22, 2004
I found myself needing to do something about this - but I'm poor, living from paycheck to paycheck (and not minding, really - aren't we all in this boat?). My pals are the same way - yes, we could send our play money to the Red Cross, but it doesn't feel like helping. SO, I am trying ferociously to get together a HELP! show where we can donate some money collectively to send to the Red Cross. Matty Poo doesn't even know this yet... (hi Matty Poo). So please, please stay tuned. Next week I should have some more info. If you guys know ways we can help, let me know, 'kay? I'm just so sad. I can't even believe how many people are gone.
Anyhow, it feels weird to wish a Happy New Year, though if circumstances were different, I would wish it with a bunch of exclamation marks. You guys be safe tonight and think of good resolutions to improve ourselves. You guys are so wonderful to me, and I thank you so much for the interest you've taken in my tunes. Thank you (little tear).
Michelle
The boards
It has recently come to my attention that there is an issue concerning the chat boards here at michellecross.com. I've been made aware, have read what needs to be done in order to fix it and will do so as soon as possible. However, "as soon as possible" may not be till after the holiday weekend. I apologize to everyone this effects.December 20, 2004
Also, let me say that fixing the problem may cause old topics to be deleted and even accounts could be affected as well.
I will notify everyone as soon as it's fixed.
The Bison Song - Merry Christmas
This is, of course, the time of year when giving gifts and feeling charitable is in abundance. We share parts of ourselves with others when we give them gifts from love, hoping they take away with them what we’ve given so freely.December 5, 2004
A while ago Michelle and michellecross.com shared with you Michelle’s version of “A Christmas Secret,” now found in the music section of the site. It epitomizes the essence of giving and sharing; it’s what we do all year through that expresses the love, joy and compassion we feel for others. What is it in our daily lives that we can do to encourage selfless giving? What parts of our selves can we freely share with others to let them know that they’re a part of the greater meaning, the greater good?
We can dance, write, encourage, play, jump, make things, donate, cook, feed the neighbor’s cat, sing… We can be part of a larger cause, even if it’s only by the simplest measure because each thing we do affects and effects. It’s the impact that matters, not the package in which the gift is given. It shouldn’t matter when we give it, just that they receive it.
Michelle is giving a part of her self to you in this winter gift. We hope you enjoy:
This song was written a few years back for a very endearing and influential person in my life, Nancy Hazelgrove (Nancy was also my sweetheart's mother and the Original Rabbit). I used one her many amazing paintings for the cover of my EP, My Name is Not Cinderella. I took to Nancy like a favorite ornament- she more or less taught me the philosophy and knighted me into this world of Art that I now feverently defend (among stacks of canned corn and utility bills - but I'm quite satisfied, thank you).
She died in her battle with ovarian cancer, and the world lost a life force. It was quite upsetting to my "generally clear skies" sort of life and totally out of the usual. I had never seen anyone go through the cancer process in my adult life. The doctors would say she needed another course of chemo. I sat with her sometimes, not knowing what words to say.
Nancy told me a dream one day when she was weak from being weak. It involved Bison and it made sense because before she became ill, she had been in New Mexico/Colorado and she had been exposed to those types of imageries. She kept saying how safe she felt when they were around, able to smile. On another occasion, she was under some heavy
meds and she shared with the room that the drawings in her sketchbook could move. Things like this. It broke my heart because I knew that things were not okay. I watched a fellow human struggle with this and I knew the desperate wish of it to just go away. I was stunned into silence. I found the only way I could feel normal and sympathetic was by composing a song in her honor. The lyrics in this music are inspired by my chats with Nancy and are literal first, then metapohorical.
Nancy had a loveliness to her at Christmastime. There was a true joy in her eyes and her laugh. She could make the color green and the color red something I had never seen before. It's important to live closer to the light.
Merry, Merry Christmas!
Michelle
The Bison Song
Where in darkness do you weave?
Through the forest of your dream.
When the pain is coming near,
You will find them waiting there.
You will find a navy sky,
With colored, paper birds in flight.
And you will sleep among the trees,
With their children underneath.
In the violets where you lay,
They will wake you when it's safe.
Rabbits in your drawing books,
Only show themselves to you.
And there is much you want to ask,
There is much you cannot grasp.
When the dark is playing tricks,
They will make them disappear.
Go now rest your weary head.
They will wake you when it's safe.
Things will never be the same,
Things you never thought would change.
All the hands you've held are beckoning you up.
Things will never be the same,
Things you never thought would change,
Will change.
In the violets where you lay,
They will wake you when it's safe.
Holiday's are a'coming
The end-of-the-year holidays are coming. What does this mean for all of you? Why, it means giving gifts!
Can you think of a better way to say, "Dude, I love you," than by giving someone great music? Of course you can't! Have a little sister or brother who is trapped by mainstream music? Are YOU trapped by mainstream media? Have a mother who insists on listening and/or watching MTV, so you might as well give her DECENT music to listen to if you're going to have to tolerate her need to feel young and hip? I know I do, which is why I introduced her to Michelle!
Help your loved ones, but mostly yourself, by giving the gift of music. In other words, buy a Michelle Cross CD!