The JBJBs have recorded a rockin' version of our song "Verizon on the Horizon" at JBJB Studio One. Jules and I wrote the song shortly after we found out that we were one of the families in the running for the My Home 2.0 makeover and FiOS upgrade.   At the time, Verizon, FiOS and the makeover possibility were figuratively shining on the horizon of our family's technology challenges and the song was just a natural result of that excitement.

(Listen to song in above player, or click here to download MP3.)

After rehearsing it with Julia, I knew that with a little luck down the road it might have some commercial possibilities with our friends at Verizon.  The song was catchy and simple enough . . . and the chorus "Verizon on the Horizon"  captured the rollout that FiOS is now doing community by community with their superior product. 

Jules and I recently recorded and mixed the song in just a few days at the new studio — leaving it with a raw, high energy, rock feel.  We premiered the song at the Wurtz block party and everyone seems to really like the result: rockin' crazy guitars, banging percussion, a catchy tune and a nice JBJB vocal duet between Julia and her dad. 

We hope you like it too!   C'mon Verizon . . . can't you just hear this in a commercial?!   

Hope everyone has an awesome summer!

Jerry and Julia (the JBJBs)

Lyrics, Verizon on the Horizon:

Verizon, on the horizon

Verizon, day's gonna shine like the sun

Verizon, day's gonna shine like the sun

words and music - the JBJBs - ©2007 Jerry T. Buckley

going-to-the-playground-rough-mix.mp3
(Right-click to download song)

Here's an mp3 of "Going To The Playground" in the works - a rough mix. Dad's playing the guitars and Jules is on the piano. Thought you might like to hear while we are still working on it. Sort of an alternate take - but backwards, before the final recording.

I really like Julia's piano part throughout, but especially at the end. She recorded the whole thing in one take this past Sunday. I was a proud papa listening while she recorded it - and ended on a major 7th! We just added the tamborine and acoustic guitar tonight while Jules played engineer. We're toying with a harmonica and more percussion too. But we're sans that here.

Lyrics:

I'm going to the playground
I'm gonna run round and round
I'm gonna sing happy sounds

I'm going to the playground
I'm gonna swing on the swings
I'm gonna be a ding a ling

"Going To The Playground" by the JBJBs
© 2007 words and music by Jerry and Julia Buckley

Finally some resemblance of Winter weather here in beautiful Bucks County, Pa.

We received a nice little snow storm yesterday - just enough for Jules and I to build a snowman last night before the snow turned to rain. He didn't make it through the night though.

A moment of silence please ;)

Jules is the latest family member recycling the chest cold refusing to leave our house so I'm waiting for her to stop hacking and coughing so that she can get a halfway decent vocal track down ;) But we've been stealing away studio and practice time when we can and she's feeling up to it.

Just wanted to give you an update - and wish we could produce something faster for you to hear!

Jerry

I received a call from some guy in the UK because of the youtube show. He wants to get engaged to his girlfriend who lives in Doylestown and wants me to design and make the ring. How cool is that?! He hunted down the fabulous web site the Gurus had made for me, and then searched for my phone number.

Now I must go and make Julia a quick snack before I take her to gymnastics!

Talk soon!
Sue

Here's Julia doing the final countdown to Christmas Day this "xmas" eve. Merry Christmas from the Buckleys!

Lloyd came for a follow-up visit and dinner. What a great guy: brilliant, thoughtful, creative and wonderful to have around. Plus, he fixes computers! 

Here's the tech guru with two of his adoring fans.

Here he is giving Sue a refresher course and update on her website and computer capabilities for marketing her jewelry. And he downloaded her a cool flying reindeer desktop!

Bravo! What a great experience it was to watch our episode as a family. You guys did a FANTASTIC job . . . thank you sooo much to everyone involved in the show and the wonderful work done to our home and lifestyle upgrade. Too many names to mention but we miss and thank you all!

The phone calls poured in after the show aired - all wonderful reviews. And now that it's DVR'd we'll watch it over and over and over for sure.

Can't wait to see the next episodes . . . and look out for some recordings from the JBJBs!



Susan, Jerry and Julia

The local TV listing for the Buckley episode. The anticipation builds!

Julia took a nice synth solo during our recording session shown here at JBJB Studio 1. 

"Stand back Dad . . . I'll show ya how it's done!"

The wicked-talented folks at Campfire Media designed this great JBJBs logo . . . approved by the band! Love the touches of pink and the care-free feeling of the design.

We'll have to find out who the designers are to give proper credits and thanks.

the JBJBs

Even with the new technology, paper and pencil still have a rock-solid place in our home. Here's Jules sketching in her drawing pad after a busy Thanksgiving night.

The JBJBs started their first recording session this weekend. Here's Julia laying down a vocal track in her "Hip Hop" pjs. Kinda ironic . . .

I'm just figuring my way around the awesome computer recording software Pro Tools and working the basics . . . but we're on our way at JBJB Studio 1!

I think this is the start of some serious fun.

First tune we're recording? Why "Going To The Playground" . . . of course!

Dear Oscar,

I miss you so much. I wish we can play ball or sumthing like that again, and mabey, you can come over to my house too!

This is a picture of Oscar (Jordans doggie) that I took with Jims camera phone.

Thanks Jim!

See more here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/buckleys/sets/72157603021253024/

Love Julia

This weekend was our first in the house after last week's block party . . . so we are just settling into the new amenities and a little down time. 

The family room is rockin with our new set-up. Jules and I are addicted to the HD Music channel - as you can see in this photo. Crank it up and it's amazing between the plasma and the surround sound.

Sue actually ran in to ask me to unplug everything once when the subwoofer kicked in while we were watching Star Wars - she thought there was thunder and a storm brewing outside . . . and she was 2 rooms away!

Mr Jones was so nice to the 3 of us. He paid attention to Julia, asked us about some of the work done on the house and happily picked up on my comment about Field of Dreams being one of our favorite films: he explained that his Terence Mann character was not actually alive any longer - unknown to him until after he was done with the filming. That's why Mann was able to navigate the corn field.

This picture captures the classic laugh brought on by the fun-filled techno gurus Brian, Yue and Lloyd.

What a great time we had as a family during our week of filming and the block party. Can't believe it was almost a week ago . . .

Everyone involved in our tech makeover made us feel comfortable and well, like stars. Thanks again to everyone involved - including the friends, family and neighbors who came out to cheer us on and share in the fun. It was almost too much attention as we usually fly below the radar but we are so glad to be having this experience. The stars were aligned for us and we're lovin' the ride.

Here are some pics that we took during the filming and block party.

More later, the Buckleys