The Return of Ryan

First off, I love Ryan. I love his style, I love his voice. I've loved him for quite some time in fact but I dug this song out of my "lesser known artists" archive earlier this afternoon because I was drawn to it for some reason and it was then that I realized that I love him more now than when I first discovered him.

I always liked this song but it didn't have a significant meaning to me when I first heard it the way that it does now. I just love it when I experience a serendipity like I did today and I often do that with music. Casey and I had this conversation on the way to Dallas last month...about how amazing it is that it happens that you will hear just the right song at just the right moment for it to speak to your heart in a way that wasn't possible previously; in a way that helps you to capture the essence of what the songwriter was trying to convey...what they were feeling and trying to share. What an amazing gift to write a song...to pour your heart and mind out and mold the contents into words and music and give it away unselfishly as a gift to strangers not knowing if you will be heard or understood. How completely vulnerable and how completely brave all at once. That is so intriguing to me, the feeling that must come from the experience of those simultaneous emotions. To be able to touch people and affect them in such a private, personal way...it's just unfathomable to me...but must surely be worth the satisfaction, no matter the cost.

I wish I could write or play music...I've attempted half heartedly at times and even wrote a song that wasn't too terrible what seems like a million lifetimes ago but I just don't seem to have the talent for it in the way that so many do and I'm jealous of them. I am truly not jealous of other people's talents as a general rule as I feel I have talents of my own to share but the ability to create music is one that I envy. And for those who possess the talent and fail to use it, you piss me off...BIG TIME.

There are so many songs that speak to me on a regular basis...that come to me when I need them most so to speak...and today, this song was it so I wanted to post it here and pimp Ryan at the same time because he really is great. So...check out his site here: Ryan Montbleau and friend him up here: Ryan's Myspace

If you too are enjoying this lovely ditty and like me love lyrics, here ya go:

JUST PERFECT

Writing letters, only to keep them in my head.
Chasing my mind around, building arguments.
And it would be easier if you were here to defend,
But I remind myself that that won't happen.

Six more days 'til Sunday and I swear that I won't call.
And I suppose it's about time I took down that picture on the wall,
The one of you and me when we dressed up for Halloween,
And I'm still not sure what you were supposed to be.
What you were supposed to be.

And I know that time heals all things,
But I feel like time kills all things bad about you.
And could it really have been me who said so proudly,
That I'd be better off without you?

Day by day I work myself down to the bone.
And I put your arms around me whenever I'm alone.
And sure, I know that those arms, they aren't real,
But I say that anything is better than the way I feel.

Day by day I work myself and I smile at all my friends
And I say, I know it's just a second love
And surely it don't mean the end.
But when does that name fade?
And when do I stop using it for protection?
And where does one go to from perfection?

And I know you're not perfect, but I built you up that way.
And I know it's been a year, but I can't take another day.
And it would be easier if you were here to defend,
But as it stands, I'm just left with an image of perfection.
An image of perfection.
An image of perfection, whenever I close my eyes.
An image of perfection, and it gets me by.

Ryan Montbleau-Just Perfect