Interview with a Frog pg.2

George (the bean frog) and Mark (the Rock Star) are seated on a comfortable balcony overlooking the Hollywood hills.

George: So Mark, here we are, I'm feeling very honoured being able to conduct this interview.

Mark: Well I do enjoy being here.

George: I'm proud to say that I have been following your career since before you began to go solo.

Mark: Really!

George: Yes. I recall the days when I first met you, through your friend Ryan, when you were in the band "One Way".

Mark: Oh man, that was quite awhile ago.

George: Yes, it sure was. But you have come quite a long way, to get where you are now. Haven't you?

Mark: I suppose so. Some of it is a blur to me.

George: Well, to recapture, you've released two albums, put on countless shows, and toured the world!

Mark: More like, northern Alberta!

George: Let's not get technical. You've done very well.

Mark: I've always kind of seen it as, "I've done fairly well". I mean, in all honesty I have been slacking off lately.

George: Slacking off! Well, tell me how you see your own career.

Mark: I'm simply a songwriter who releases an album now and then, and my shows are getting more rare every day. A lot of people I know haven't even seen me perform.

George: Well, I guess I wouldn't know what kind of fan base you have. I mostly stay cooped up alone, and don't find myself venturing out into the world to often.

Mark: Ha ha, you're a hermit!

George: Don't laugh, the world doesn't accept me for who I am. It is through your lyrics that I find comfort. The rare time a radio station interviews you or plays one of your songs I'm glued to the tiny, crackly speaker. I frequently request you on CKUA, they tend to be the only station that will play you on request.

Mark (ill at ease): Okay.

George: Tell me about yourself, who you are, where do you plan to go next, when will you bless us with another album.

Mark (quite nervous): Well, I'm forming a band with a few other musicians in Calgary. So I'm going to have two careers going, the band and my solo work. Although, I'll probably be releasing another album on my own. It will be a concept album, another album that probably won't pay itself off.

George: I love how you pour yourself into your work, spending every cent you have, making nothing back in return. Tell me more about your next album.

Mark: Well, I'm still trying to sell the last one. How about we talk about the next album another time.

George: You are so level headed, that would be best, another time, when you are ready to tell us about it. So tell me about the tattoo on your hand.

Mark: That isn't a tattoo. It's the stamp they put on my hand whenever I leave the home.

George: Oh I see, let's see it, what's it say .... "insane".... hmmmm. very interesting. Would you care to ellaborate on this?

Mark: No.

George: Anyway, I'd like to ask you something about your latest release, "Star Flake". Is it a concept album?

Mark: No! There isn't any link between any of the songs on the whole album. They all stand alone, each one written about something different, usually.

George: Just wondering, I'm just all caught up with concept albums right now. So, I was at a SOCAN information meeting a while ago, I believe you were there too. And I do recall they reviewed your song "Star Flake" off of your CD "Star Flake". They didn't quite like it as I recall. What did you think of their review?

Mark: Those guys were looking for top 40 hits, songs that you could sing along with on your first listen. I'm not a top 40 artist and don't want to be one. I write my music for the pure joy of writing it however I want, experimenting, and being creative. They said exactly what I expected them to say. In fact, they said what I wanted them to say. I guess you could say it was a good review.

George: Are you saying top 40 songs are all crap!

Mark: Of course not! I like a lot of top 40 songs. And I write a lot of songs that aren't any different from the common song form. But "Star Flake" was suppose to be a little different.

George: Being a devoted fan, I don't mean to sound like I'm attacking you. I've actually found that a lot of your songs become more brilliant to me everytime I listen to them. I hear something different each time. But on a first listen they aren't necessarily too impressive. I think people have to sit down and actually listen to you to appreciate you.

Mark: I guess so. Not everyone has the time for that though.

George: You're too forgiving! I'd stomp anyone to the ground who knew me, yet didn't support me. Doesn't it insult you when people you know don't own your CD?

Mark: No. You're kind of weird you know. What do I care if someone doesn't buy my CD. I do think people should buy my CD to support me. But I'm not going to hold it against them if they don't. There are lots of CD's I've been meaning to buy for some time now. I'm sure it's the same for them.

George: You should let me be your agent. I'd get you some sales.

Mark: You're a frog.

George: Are you going to hold that against me too!

Mark: Nobody wants to talk to a frog. They'll feel too weird.

George: You're talking to me.

Mark: well I'm different.

George: Well then, how about you just sign with my record label.

Mark: Okay, I could do that. What's it called?

George: George's Record.

Mark: That's crazy! And what would your record label do for me.

George: Probably nothing. But what are you losing?

Mark: That's true, We'll talk about that later. Aren't you suppose to be interviewing me?

George: Yeah but, you don't really think anyone is going to read this do you?

Mark: Probably not, actually I'd rather this didn't get published. This could be bad for publicity. Me talking to a frog. I think I'll just go now.

George: Well, thanks for your time. It was pretty great to be talking to you. Sometimes I think you've disappeared off the music scene.

Mark: Me! Disappear off the music scene! Ha ha. No way man, I'll always be around.

.... and with that last line Mark (the Rock Star) flew away.