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What I've Been Up To...Finally Made It

by Steven Wagenheim
32 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
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I know it's been a very long time. I'm sure some of the old timers still remember me.

So, what have I been up to?

Well, I'm out of the Internet Marketing business. Those of you who remember me probably remember that I was into music. Well, I didn't have any success back then and rightfully so. I pretty much sucked at it.

Fast forward to 2021 and I finally got my act together. Was discovered by a band out of Miami Florida.. They have a big following in Europe and Asia. They liked my stuff and told me they wanted to cover it. Well, a couple of years later and I've had 15 of my songs recorded by them and earning royalties. I'm never going to get rich off of this business but my childhood dream has finally been realized. And I thought I'd come back to my first IM forum and share this with my old friends.

Anyway, that's what I've been up to.

It took me 44 years to make it.
  • Profile picture of the author Jonathan 2.0
    Banned
    Congratz Steven: Nice to see you back. : )
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    "Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."―Joseph Sugarman
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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      Hey Wags, good to hear from you. And congrats on your music success. Nothing like making money when your sleeping
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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
        Originally Posted by discrat View Post

        Hey Wags, good to hear from you. And congrats on your music success. Nothing like making money when your sleeping
        Hey Rob. Been a long time. Thanks for the kind words. Yes, nothing like making music while I'm sleeping.

        I can't post the finished tracks for obvious reasons (people have to buy the tracks) but I can post the home demos I made. They're not as good but they're not bad. Will do that over the next week or so.
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        • Profile picture of the author discrat
          Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

          Hey Rob. Been a long time. Thanks for the kind words. Yes, nothing like making music while I'm sleeping.

          I can't post the finished tracks for obvious reasons (people have to buy the tracks) but I can post the home demos I made. They're not as good but they're not bad. Will do that over the next week or so.
          Yeah you didn't do so bad back in the day when Ezine Articles was " the thing". Along with Bum Marketing . Ahh... those were the days. Write an article, put an affiliate link in the resource box , and watch the sales flow in .Seemed like you topped out at $15k a month or so if my memory serves me right.

          But we all knew even back then your true passion was with your music .
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          • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
            Originally Posted by discrat View Post

            Yeah you didn't do so bad back in the day when Ezine Articles was " the thing". Along with Bum Marketing . Ahh... those were the days. Write an article, put an affiliate link in the resource box , and watch the sales flow in .Seemed like you topped out at $15k a month or so if my memory serves me right.

            But we all knew even back then your true passion was with your music .
            Yes, music was always my first love. But my IM days were fun. I will never forget them.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Originally Posted by Jonathan 2.0 View Post

      Congratz Steven: Nice to see you back. : )
      Jonathan, nice to be back. Thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author RMRC
    Congratulations! I'm happy to hear you didn't give up on your goal and you've had success. Very inspirational Thanks for sharing!
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Originally Posted by RMRC View Post

      Congratulations! I'm happy to hear you didn't give up on your goal and you've had success. Very inspirational Thanks for sharing!
      I hope it is inspirational for some. It took over 40 years. Proof that if you keep at something you can make it.
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      • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
        Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

        I hope it is inspirational for some. It took over 40 years. Proof that if you keep at something you can make it.
        40!!! Just don't post this in the Mind Section!

        If l remember correctly you and Mark were at each others throats about how the music industry was in the sewer or not, and something about leaving for good, in-between mass punch-up threads.

        Things have changed a tad since then, some have passed away and some haven't, closing and irony go hand in hand and of course the three cardinal sins of the Off Topic.

        Welcome back!

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        • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
          Originally Posted by tagiscom View Post

          40!!! Just don't post this in the Mind Section!

          If l remember correctly you and Mark were at each others throats about how the music industry was in the sewer or not, and something about leaving for good, in-between mass punch-up threads.

          Things have changed a tad since then, some have passed away and some haven't, closing and irony go hand in hand and of course the three cardinal sins of the Off Topic.

          Welcome back!
          My beef with Steve was that I maintained that Classical orchestral Music was the pinnacle of musical achievement for the human race in compositional terms. Something he hotly contested.

          One thing we probably both agree on now is that there is nothing but mediocrity in popular chart music. Example: Indian song Naatu Naatu wins an oscar? Are you serious. Great dance video with original dancing and all but the song itself was on planet zero.

          There is only a couple of outfits now creating songs of any merit. One is Sparks and Paul Mccartney can still come up with a good tune when he puts his mind to it. Check out his relatively recent album called "New". And, perhaps I will be adding Steve based on the song he showcased to us.
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          • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
            Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

            My beef with Steve was that I maintained that Classical orchestral Music was the pinnacle of musical achievement for the human race in compositional terms. Something he hotly contested.

            One thing we probably both agree on now is that there is nothing but mediocrity in popular chart music. Example: Indian song Naatu Naatu wins an oscar? Are you serious. Great dance video with original dancing and all but the song itself was on planet zero.

            There is only a couple of outfits now creating songs of any merit. One is Sparks and Paul Mccartney can still come up with a good tune when he puts his mind to it. Check out his relatively recent album called "New". And, perhaps I will be adding Steve based on the song he showcased to us.
            As I've said above, I've mellowed over the years. I do agree that today, most pop music is horrible. I can't even listen to it. As for classical music, like I probably said back in the day, I grew up with it with my mom being a classical pianist and opera singer. Some of it's good. Some, not so good and quite boring. Know who I really love? Schubert. His melodies being such a smile to my face. And of course I can sing the whole first movement of Beethoven's 5th. That should tell you something. LOL.

            Anyway, glad to be back here. Plan on staying for a while. Just not in the IM forum. That part of my life is over.
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          • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
            Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

            My beef with Steve was that I maintained that Classical orchestral Music was the pinnacle of musical achievement for the human race in compositional terms. Something he hotly contested.

            One thing we probably both agree on now is that there is nothing but mediocrity in popular chart music. Example: Indian song Naatu Naatu wins an oscar? Are you serious. Great dance video with original dancing and all but the song itself was on planet zero.

            There is only a couple of outfits now creating songs of any merit. One is Sparks and Paul Mccartney can still come up with a good tune when he puts his mind to it. Check out his relatively recent album called "New". And, perhaps I will be adding Steve based on the song he showcased to us.
            You mean this one...


            Agreed he can still churn out decent songs, and Steve's example equals this one in my opinion.


            I know Cate Blanchett is in this but it doesn't do anything for me, (maybe they have better ones?)


            Agreed the dancing was the highlight, but the song, phew they need to bring Will Smith back, (The Time Bandits where it is necessary to punch every poor person before Robin Hood gives out riches).

            I have spent years searching for over 1000 songs, (mainly from the 80's) and totally agree that modern music isn't fit for an elevator nor a shopping centre.

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            • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
              Originally Posted by tagiscom View Post

              You mean this one...

              Paul McCartney 'New' (Lyric Video) - 'NEW' Album Out Now! - YouTube

              Agreed he can still churn out decent songs, and Steve's example equals this one in my opinion.

              Sparks - The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte (Official Video) - Starring Cate Blanchett - YouTube

              I know Cate Blanchett is in this but it doesn't do anything for me, (maybe they have better ones?)

              Oscars: RRR's Naatu Naatu Honored With EPIC Performance - YouTube

              Agreed the dancing was the highlight, but the song, phew they need to bring Will Smith back, (The Time Bandits where it is necessary to punch every poor person before Robin Hood gives out riches).

              I have spent years searching for over 1000 songs, (mainly from the 80's) and totally agree that modern music isn't fit for an elevator nor a shopping centre.
              Sparks was my favorite group back in the mid 70s. Their album Propaganda was genius.
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              • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
                Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

                Sparks was my favorite group back in the mid 70s. Their album Propaganda was genius.
                You can stream their latest (a new one coming soon), "A Steady Drip, Drip Drip" on YT. They are better than ever.

                Also look up their songs on YT:

                Edith Piath
                All That
                Hippopotomus
                Dick Around
                Lighten Up Morrisey
                I wish you were fun
                Stravinsky's Only Hit
                Left Out In The Cold.

                Their are too many other good ones to mention. Not bad for guys in their 70's
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                • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
                  Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

                  You can stream their latest (a new one coming soon), "A Steady Drip, Drip Drip" on YT. They are better than ever.

                  Also look up their songs on YT:

                  Edith Piath
                  All That
                  Hippopotomus
                  Dick Around
                  Lighten Up Morrisey
                  I wish you were fun
                  Stravinsky's Only Hit
                  Left Out In The Cold.

                  Their are too many other good ones to mention. Not bad for guys in their 70's
                  Russell Mael has a once in a lifetime voice. Some of the catchiest stuff in the last 50 years. Hard to believe so much time has passed.
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        • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
          Originally Posted by tagiscom View Post

          40!!! Just don't post this in the Mind Section!

          If l remember correctly you and Mark were at each others throats about how the music industry was in the sewer or not, and something about leaving for good, in-between mass punch-up threads.

          Things have changed a tad since then, some have passed away and some haven't, closing and irony go hand in hand and of course the three cardinal sins of the Off Topic.

          Welcome back!
          Thanks for the welcome back. I've mellowed a lot over the years. But opinion of music these days is basically, "You like what you like and I'll like what I like" and I leave it at that. But I do agree with Mark on a personal level. For the most part, today's music sucks and I can't even listen to it. There are a few exceptions but very few.
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  • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
    Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

    I know it's been a very long time. I'm sure some of the old timers still remember me.

    So, what have I been up to?

    Well, I'm out of the Internet Marketing business. Those of you who remember me probably remember that I was into music. Well, I didn't have any success back then and rightfully so. I pretty much sucked at it.

    Fast forward to 2021 and I finally got my act together. Was discovered by a band out of Miami Florida.. They have a big following in Europe and Asia. They liked my stuff and told me they wanted to cover it. Well, a couple of years later and I've had 15 of my songs recorded by them and earning royalties. I'm never going to get rich off of this business but my childhood dream has finally been realized. And I thought I'd come back to my first IM forum and share this with my old friends.

    Anyway, that's what I've been up to.

    It took me 44 years to make it.
    Excellent Steve, really great you got some recognition at last. I take it that it was never your ambition to front a band, just to get your music out there and earning.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

      Excellent Steve, really great you got some recognition at last. I take it that it was never your ambition to front a band, just to get your music out there and earning.
      Yes. I'm no performer. I just wanted a band to cover my songs.

      Mission accomplished.

      Thanks for the kind words.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
    Here's one of the tracks the group recorded on their last album of my stuff where they recorded 10 of my songs. I couldn't believe it.

    This isn't as good as their version (much better singer) but it's not bad, even with my substandard vocals.

    https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenh...es-no-tomorrow
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    • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
      Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

      Here's one of the tracks the group recorded on their last album of my stuff where they recorded 10 of my songs. I couldn't believe it.

      This isn't as good as their version (much better singer) but it's not bad, even with my substandard vocals.

      https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenh...es-no-tomorrow
      Good stuff, catchy, good tune.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
    Here's a song the group wanted to do but ultimately passed on because they don't have a female vocalist.

    A little background on it.

    I wrote a Broadway type play. Wrote the script and the music. Plan on pitching it someday. Just don't know when. Anyway, also don't have a female vocalist here so I sang this duet with AI. It was an interesting experience. In case you're wondering, I sang this with my nerdy guy voice because the lead in the play is a nerd. The whole soundtrack is available on Youtube but this is the, as the call it, show stopper. With two really good singers (I am not) I think I've got something here.

    https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenh...-you-all-along
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    • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
      Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

      Here's a song the group wanted to do but ultimately passed on because they don't have a female vocalist.

      A little background on it.

      I wrote a Broadway type play. Wrote the script and the music. Plan on pitching it someday. Just don't know when. Anyway, also don't have a female vocalist here so I sang this duet with AI. It was an interesting experience. In case you're wondering, I sang this with my nerdy guy voice because the lead in the play is a nerd. The whole soundtrack is available on Youtube but this is the, as the call it, show stopper. With two really good singers (I am not) I think I've got something here.

      https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenh...-you-all-along
      Yes, had to get past the vocals on that one, you need some vocalists to create some good pitch demo's. There are some AI sites upcoming that may help with that. Grab some voices etc. You might do a search. Very much a showtune as you say. Nice melody and duet potential there.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
    So the band leader emails me and says they need a song for a high school production. It's a 60s theme and they need something bubble gum. So this is what I came up with. Be warned. This has been called one of the most annoying ear worms of all time. For those of you who grew up with Tommy Roe, the Archies and the like, you'll understand.

    Listen at your own peril. LOL

    https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim/ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
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    • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
      Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

      So the band leader emails me and says they need a song for a high school production. It's a 60s theme and they need something bubble gum. So this is what I came up with. Be warned. This has been called one of the most annoying ear worms of all time. For those of you who grew up with Tommy Roe, the Archies and the like, you'll understand.

      Listen at your own peril. LOL

      https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim/ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
      Agreed sounds like a Monkeys song or something from The Bananas Splits Tv Show!
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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
        Originally Posted by tagiscom View Post

        Agreed sounds like a Monkeys song or something from The Bananas Splits Tv Show!
        Monkeys of course I know but never watched Banana Splits.
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        • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
          Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

          Monkeys of course I know but never watched Banana Splits.
          What sffft,..Banana Splits only had one song from an independant band play on their show, (my Youtube collection) but had their own fictitious band made up of the 4 cartoon type characters, with a team of professionals doing the writing, etc.

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_Splits_discography

          The "Tra La La Song" or theme song you probably heard they tended to thrash that on tv a lot back then.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
    This was the first song the band recorded of mine. Not my favorite track (it was very different for me) but they really loved it for whatever reason. To me, it's okay at best though their version is ten times better.

    https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenh...avanna-on-lead
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  • Profile picture of the author passiveincomebiz
    That is awesome Steve. To be able to accomplish that dream - doing what you love. Nothing beats that.
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    Extra Cash For Those Nagging Bills
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
    We're officially under way. My first promo for my new sitcom Timeshare, premiering Oct 17, 2023 on Youtube.

    [ Link removed by Moderator]
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