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Diane Sawyer on failure:
“Sometimes, of course, it just teaches you that this is gonna be the funniest thing in the world… when it stops hurting.”

While recording original music, I got this brilliant idea to cover a song by my favorite artist Crystal Lewis. Although the original was mid-90’s CCM perfection, I was amazed how well my jazzy electronic cover turned out. So I did another, and another, eventually deciding I was gonna do a full album of Crystal Lewis covers and send it to her as a birthday gift! [Famous. Last. Words.]

If I had a time machine, I’d go back and talk myself out of it. I was so inspired though! Every song was a personal victory. I challenged myself to bend tempos, genres, phrasings, arrangements and pay tribute to the songs I felt most connected to. It was my best work as a producer, vocalist, and musician to date.

I was proud, but every time I neared her September 11th birthdate, I’d waffle. “It’s not good enough. I hate it.” Stop. Rework it ‘til you’re back in love again. Unfortunately, this went on for about 5 years. [Bang head against desk.]

Love hard, aim badly

Weary of the perfectionist cycle, I decided to just go for it. I put my art degree to work and designed professional CD packaging where the liner notes were a letter thanking her for how her ministry had supported and encouraged my walk with Christ.

Finally I shipped the gift, titled Crystal and I, to the address I got from her manager, and breathed a sigh of relief. Then I waited… for a “thank you” call or “God bless you” e-mail. I got silence. Utter, motionless, devastating silence. And you know how silence kills me.

Maybe it got trashed and she never received it. Maybe she received it but didn’t really like it. Maybe she liked it, but moved to Montana to live a simple life unbothered by cloying fans. Maybe she, like Prince, really hates people covering her songs. Or maybe it just sucked.

I released “It’s Heaven” as a single in early 2011, but it only got so far. My brilliant idea became an albatross around my neck. My insecurities went into full seizure. I gave up on recording. The new brilliant idea? Build a funeral pyre and burn everything. I melted like a wicked witch in water. Ohhhhhh, what a world.

What were you thinking?

Now I ask myself “What is it you wanted from her?” At worst, I hoped she’d be flattered. At best, I hoped for a genuine connection with someone of like spirit to give me validation. But what if she’s not that and ain’t got that to give? Shazbat. I barked up the wrong tree.

Hopefully, she at least read the letter. But the misfire of such an overreaching effort exposed a major flaw. My love wasn’t unconditional. I expected something in return, which is the wrong way to love. When I didn’t get a response, I was hurt. And as her music reminded me of my flaw, I couldn’t listen for months. That was my fault, not hers.

I wrote most of this in September 2012—a year after the fail—so I could verbalize it and let it go. I wouldn’t dare publish it though, not while I still felt followed by a snarky referee signaling “incomplete pass.” But like warm feeling returning to numb fingers, the sting has subsided.

Clearly my approach was overzealous and overreaching. She probably shows my picture to security now, like “do not sell show tickets to this man—possible stalker.” Womp, womp. But recovery’s going well. Hearing Crystal’s music is no longer demoralizing. Meanwhile, I’m almost ready to record again. You can laugh now. It doesn’t hurt anymore.

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If you’re curious about the songs I scrapped, I posted my 3 favorites: “Reach Out,” “Fearless,” and “Change My Heart” on SoundCloud.

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Related Articles

• Your Most Embarrassing Mistakes Do You the Most Good (psychologyblog.com) — The only reason I should ever really publish anything like this.
• Humor as the Antidote for Failing and Choking (psychologyblog.com) — I always say I need to take myself less seriously. Maybe this is God’s answer to the prayer. Oops. lol
• Sorry Prince, But We Love Covers (theirbatedbreath.wordpress.com) — God only knows why the Purple one has to be like that, but thank God the law is on our side.