"The Change"
Reflection on the Questions for "The Change"
On June 30, 2007 Mr. Tony Arata submitted the following response to QuestionsForLiving®.
Please note Mr. Arata's thoughtful reponse to QFL's request that he contribute the questions that most directly defined, and led to the creation of the "The Change" in its final state...
thank you, byron, for your request, but i have to be honest- i rarely analyze songs that i have written and couldn't truthfully say that i thought about anything while writing "The Change" other than trying to write a lyric (wayne tester had already written the music) that i would have sung for Curtis Mayfield, one of my heroes....he made a life and a living out of writing songs about hope, love, faith, brotherhood, compassion....if anything, i just wanted to write a lyric that maybe he would have sung....i know i didn't rise to his genius, but like Curtis sang - "i'm gonna keep on pushin'"...and i will always be grateful that a fellow i met and still think of as a songwriter recorded it....garth got it and i love his take on it....i hope some of this helps....
For further information regarding Mr. Arata's response, I have attached the following links: Tony Arata, Curtis Mayfield, & Garth Brooks
Tony Arata
Bio
Tony Arata was born in Savannah, Georgia and grew up near Tybee Island. While studying for a journalism degree from Georgia Southern University, he began performing his original songs in local bands. In 1986, he and wife Jaymi moved to Nashville where his unique, soulful style began to get the attention of people like Alan Reynolds and Garth Brooks. Garth to date has recorded seven of Tony's songs, and "The Dance" won song of the year at the Academy of Country Music and received both a Country Music Association and Grammy nomination as well as a most performed songs in Radio and Records Magazine.
He has also had No. I records with "Here I Am" for Patty Loveless, "I'm Holding My Own" for Lee Roy Parnell, and" Dreaming With My Eyes Open for Clay Walker". Other artists who recorded his songs include Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Tricia Yearwood, Delbert McClinton, Don Williams, Reba McEntire, Susie Susie Boggess and Hal Ketchum.
Tony has also done two solo albums featuring new songs, covers, and guest appearances by many of Nashville's finest musicians as well as folks who have recorded his songs including Garth, Patty and Lee Roy. Brooks himself has said the following about Arata: "One of my favorite songwriters has to be Tony Arata. He's a cat who doesn't care about appearance. He doesn't care about money. He cares about his children, his wife, and his music. That's neat."
Homepage
http://www.tonyarata.com/