Series 1, Episode 42: Captain, Commander, Mover & Shaker

The real Captain Commander, Mover, Shaker of Watchfire Music is Julia Wade. Not only does she take care of the day to day grind of running the company, but she is also the #1 best selling artist in the company among over 300 various artists. Here is a rundown of all of the shoes she fills plus a best of Top 10 List and playback of examples of her ability to perform across many genres and styles ranging from Inspirational to classical to classical crossover to comedy.

Theater of the Imagination is presented by Watchfire Music watchfiremusic.com

Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel as well:  https://www.youtube.com/@WatchfireMusic

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:08

Welcome to Scatter Shot Symphony. The music of Peter Link. That's me. Hey y'all. This week being the forty-second episode of this podcast, I prefer to let the music do the talking. However, if you need to know more about me, please visit Wikipedia.com or Peter Link. This episode is entitled Captain Commander, Mover and Shaker. It's about time we set the story straight. I am not the Captain Commander, nor am I the mover and shaker of Watchfire Music. Those titles belong to someone else. I have the easy job. I get to hang out in the studio 16 hours a day making music. I'm listed as the CEO of the company. But that's a job that takes me a couple of hours a month. Another listing I have is that of creative director. That's no job. That's too much fun to be called a real job. I get to just sit around and think of fun and crazy ideas, and then assign those ideas to a terrific staff that does all the work. No. The real Captain Commander, mover shaker, our beloved leader, chief cook and bottle washer, and COO that's our chief operating officer of the Daily Operation is our president. Julia Wade. Now, most of you know that Julia Wade is also my wife. That too can be a full-time job for her. Let's just say that I'm well taken care of. She also does the shopping and the gardening and the laundry and breakfast for the birds. Oh, did I mention that she's a singer? And a working auditioning actress? And watch fire music best-selling artist over these last twenty years. I know. You've probably guessed by now that I'm a fan. And in fact, a great admirer of this beautiful workaholic. All that's to say that it's time she gets a little credit. She also sits on the board at church and teaches in the Sunday school. Where she ever finds time enough to run three to seven miles a day is beyond me. And sometimes, she would admit, a bit beyond her. For a while there she got so busy that she stopped singing. Bad idea. But our small staff and huge website drew far too much of her attention in the years after her seven-year stint as soloist at the Mother Church in Boston, or her four years after that, on the road concertising around the country. And then, of course, there was COVID. People needed hope and inspiration. Watchfire Music, an inspirational music company, became busier than ever. Julia, our president, led the way. Many of you know that she started off her career as an opera singer, singing not only around the country, but also in Europe at the Palermo Opera and Rome Opera. After those years, she began to evolve into what the music industry calls a classical crossover singer. Her subsequent fifteen albums caused critics to call her the female Josh Grovan. So I'm here today to remind you that first and foremost, Julia Wade is a singer. And yes, a most exceptional one. I could wax poetic for the next thirty minutes. But finally, let's let Julia speak for herself. Okay, Julia, it's time for you to take stage. Let's start with a beautiful song that's reminiscent of her operatic chops The Coming.

SPEAKER_02 5:30

That mourns in load exil until the Son of God Reto shall come to thee. Oh come thou day sprinkle and she our spirits by thine dispers thou through the clouds of night and death's dark shadows to fight. Shall come to thee expected Jesus one to set thy people free from our fears and since let us find our rest in thee. And then there's all the rest truth, and then there's all the rest. How do you find it? How do you get there? How can you possibly break through? You start by going to the deepest place, the innermost point of control The deepest of your inner still point of your stone where battle doesn't matter, and my dear and truth holds forth like a fountain where darkness is not gone, and the life is over, and it's simply and gone upon the mountain upon the mountain Upon the Mountain Upon the Mountain Upon the Mountain East of the Sun West of the Moon.

SPEAKER_00 16:16

Julia was blessed with a gorgeous instrument. However, I've always thought that Julia's real gift was her ability to get inside of a lyric and pull her audience in with her. All the truly great vocal artists are also actors. That combination is the recipe for greatness for all singers. I've always loved Julia's rendition of this classic song. It definitely demonstrates the above. She told me late one night having come back home from Boston. While she was telling me the story, I quickly grabbed pen and paper and jotted down a few notes. It came out sounding something like this. On a train.

SPEAKER_02 22:14

I met a woman on the train. Usually the conversation skirts the Monday. Usually I find a seat apart from all the people. But I can't complain. About the night I met a woman on the tray. I show her my candle on the tray. She sits in wrapped amazement while I explain. She admits to me she's 83 and looks much younger. But I sense her pain. As the night rolls on behind us all the tray. It goes like I tell her I sing every weekend at a church in Boston.

SPEAKER_01 23:37

She confesses to being a Catholic. And that she finds me a little odd.

SPEAKER_02 23:47

She says she told her children to go and find their own truth. I look into her eyes and give my new old friend a nod. She says, Oh honey, we all are children of God. Oh honey, we all are children of God. The veils of social prudence no longer pertain. But I can't complain. All because we share two lifetimes that terra I tell her of all my regrets of never raising children. She admits to her rash impatience. And that she should have spared the rod. We both look out the window and accept our imperfections. I look into her eyes and give my new old friend a nod. She says, Oh honey, we all are children of God. Oh honey, we all are children of God. Boston to New York. Trains have a way of putting us up on time. No one grows any older on a train. A perfect stranger sleeps head on my shoulder. The sleeping train gets quiet, the car a little colder. My laughter mile with her head upon my shoulder, and I dare not move a muscle lest she wake. This woman on a train.

SPEAKER_01 27:44

I was hiding hand as so when he came down the chimney. Cause I did not believe he could actually come down the chimney, but he came down the chimney just like they always said he would. Uh yeah. With a grunt and a whoosh and curplop. It amazed me so I forgot I was hiding, so I stood up in amazement at a fat man in a red suit with a scowl upon his face. What in tarnation are you doing up now at this ungodly hour, young lady? He said as he texted on his iPhone back up north to his elf. Well, Mr. Claws, I replied most polite. I guess I just had to speak for myself. Well, now you've gone and done it. As he pulled out his list, let's see here, uh huh. You must be young Julie. Is that right? Well that's right, said I. Well, now you're in big trouble, Sure's Pye. I've got a most busy schedule now. You're making me late. Right now I oughta be back in my sled instead. So go ahead now and go back to bed. And don't you be peeking through the keyhole. When I got up that morning, that Christmas morning, there was nothing in my stocking but a lump of coal. Rats.

SPEAKER_02 29:33

I would have cried my eyes. But remember, good people. It was just a dream. Just a dream. Just a dream.

SPEAKER_01 29:48

It was just a dream about the nine I know. Saint! I don't know if he was a saint, but he sure was cute. Okay, don't go away. There's more to this story. Next Christmasy was hiding again on the sofa as he whooshed down the chimney. I remember you. You're that girl. You're Julie. You were troubled from the get-go, and now you're back again, my friend. Oh yeah. The same right and it's just got too stomped. Well, it is time, actually. I'm kinda glad to see ya. I'm a little bit stuck here. Got a flat tire and a reindeer, and I'm flown on out of squares.

SPEAKER_02 30:39

Whoever heard us off to think like that. Well now we number good people. It was just a dream. Just a dream. It was just a dream about another night.

SPEAKER_01 31:01

I never promised it would make much dance.

SPEAKER_02 31:05

So I grabbed my old rusty bastic of fun. And we went swoosh up the chimney in a flash.

SPEAKER_01 31:15

And there stood Dasher Dancer Prancer and the other. Fixed saddle flat tiger. In the blink of a lash.

SPEAKER_02 31:26

And old Saint Nick was all like a stop. Well, goodbye. He says Merry, Merry Christmas across the sky. Cheer all a happy, happy new year. He never looked back. He never said thanks. He just disappeared into the cloud. Hold on, just wait a minute, Santa. Here I am, stuff on the roof. And no way, I'm going back down that chimney. Uh-uh. It's too darn dirty, and I just don't have it in me. I decides I'll never eat a bed. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 32:26

That Christmas morning. My stocking was filled to the brim and overflowing. Present in the kitchen. Present in the bathroom. Presents in the attic and present in the bed.

SPEAKER_02 32:42

And one more. Under the pillow in my bed. I could have cried out. And all the presents left me. But then again, my friend. It was just a dream. It was just a dream about the night I met.

SPEAKER_01 33:08

Huh.

SPEAKER_02 33:09

Or what?

SPEAKER_01 33:12

It was just a dream about the night I met. Saint Nick. Now, who in Tarnation ever heard of a flat tire on a reindeer? I declare, Santa! I mean, I just don't make any sense. That's ridiculous! I just that makes no sense. Nothing makes any sense.

SPEAKER_00 33:39

However, most people know Julia as a gifted inspirational voice. Here are two favorites. Psalm 139, followed by satisfied.

SPEAKER_02 34:04

How precious are your thoughts, O God? How great is the sum of them? How grand if I could count them all, O God They are more in number than the sun. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy care? If I ascend up into heaven, you are the you are there, and if I make my bed with the devil behold you are there in the halls of heaven, you are there watching over if I take the wings of the morning, and I dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your left hand shall lead me, and your right shall always hold to me, for you are the You are the on the wings of morning, you are then always holding me if I say surely the darkness shall cover me Even the night shall light my way The darkness cannot hide from me, but with you the night shines as the day and I will raise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully man Yes I will thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully mervelous are thy works, O God, and that my soul knows right away your thoughts, oh God, how great is the sum of them how grand if I could count them all, oh God They are more in number than the Seem They are more in number than the Seed They are more in number than the Sea They are more in number two It matters much Let me thy large So love God For storm or shine Your peace is thine What it does End of these stones or tyrants' thrones God to raise our seed in thoughts and seed To finds go hands Our God is good Well, here is a song, first song by Barbara Streisand.

SPEAKER_00 42:18

Normally, a female should never try to cover a song for a song by Barbara Streisand. But we fell in love with this little known love song, and I've always thought that Julia really held her own on it. On my way to you,

SPEAKER_02 44:05

I find myself reciting no words I've said or should have said like scenes that need rewriting the smiles I never answered perhaps I should have opened sogotten in the morning I relive the roles I've played, the tears I may have squandered the many pipers I have played along the roads I've wondered I knew it was somewhere out there waiting though I may regret a kiss or two if I had changed a single day what went amiss or went astray I may have never found my way to It happens so often as I wait for sleep the time I knew it was somewhere out there waiting I may regret a kiss or two if I had changed a single day what went amiss or went astray I would not change a thing that happened on my way.

SPEAKER_00 47:15

Here's one of our favorites from off her Spanish album.

SPEAKER_02 49:27

Lucho con afer y me accepta la colline de passion como de sauvegarde. Hacia ti señor Salma y danos pan hasta ver la luz la costus correus pan de ti pastor la colina de pasture let us close in this age of confusion with hope.

SPEAKER_00 53:22

Anyone who really knows Julia knows that she is for the birds. Now that um sentence could be read in two different ways. The correct reading was to mean she is all for the birds. She feeds them, she watches over them, she talks to them in that high soprano voice, and they listen and sing back at every breakfast offering. So it's only fitting to end this ode to Julia with the story of one of her favorite friends. Some would call it a Christmas song but since I wrote it I can tell you that I wrote it for any season.

SPEAKER_02 54:09

It is a joyous song of hope bird song silver bird fly spiritual bird sing bird song The Christ is born spread the word let fly the song of peace sweet release sail on silver bill across the world spread the word a new age dawns as the silver bird streaks across the red size sail on silver bird across the world sail on little word and take this message that the Son of God has joined us on this earth and brings us nothing but the good word it's the word of God he brings to us it's a kind of peace that lasts forever it's a love that spray from one to one another never fading away sail and sing your song bird as you swarm the mountains as you wind along the rivers of life singing to each heart singing to the mind of mankind silver bird fly from the stable humble where Christ is born spread the word go forth his kingdom come up and you lum back and forth between the prophecy and the unforeseen the time has come a new age storms and the world will now change from one of song to one abounding hope sail on silver bird across the world sail on little bird and take this message that the Son of God has joined us on this earth and brings us nothing but the good word and sing your song bird as you wing your way through cities through the masses and the chaos of life sing it to each soul sing it to the shambles of men silver bird fly unto the people tell them the Christ is born silver bird fly and sing your song the Christ is born this Christmas born the Christ is born this Christmas mourn the Christ is born this Christmas born the Christ is born many thanks to the wondrous singers who sing on Julia Many Things also goes to all those recorded tremendous talents over the years.

SPEAKER_00 59:20

Also please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and to keep abreast of the latest episode you can subscribe to Scattershot Symphony from your podcast app of choice and thanks to Watchfire Music and the entire staff for all your work in producing and promoting this podcast. A very special thanks also to Stuart Barefoot our associate producer for all your invaluable knowledge and great vibes.

SPEAKER_01 59:49

And lastly a posthumous thanks to Ludwig von Beethoven for your opening four bars this podcast is presented with loving care by the staff at Watchfire Music. If you liked what you heard we got lots more where that came from in the meantime you can find the songs you just heard on WatchfireMusic.com forward slash podcast there you can purchase the singles or albums and have access to all the words also there you will find all previous podcasts and future scheduling if you just became a Scattershot fan tell your friends stay tuned