Heidi Winzinger

It may just be me, but this past week seemed to be filled with bad news. My head has been spinning with stories of dogs shot, thrown out of moving vehicles and down trash chutes... You know, all that kind of stuff.

I don't know about you, but I'm ready to begin my weekend on a more upbeat note. Hey! It's Saturday! Time for a dog song here at For Love of a Dog.
Admittedly, this one may bring tears to your eyes, but they'll be tears of a good sort. Today's dog song is My Best Friend, written and performed by Heidi Winzinger. It accompanies video Heidi made of her friends and their dogs.

Great lyrics about the relationship we share with our dogs. Want this tune for your listening pleasure later? You can purchase and download Heidi's tribute to dogs My Best Friend at iTunes and CD Baby.

Be sure to scroll down below today's song video because today is another Saturday Pet Blog Hop. Lots and lots of barking good blogs to sniff out!
- Dog Time

Sometimes you run into a cd that appeals to you immediately. Until recently, Heidi Winzinger was completely unknown to me, but her cd ‘Honeysuckle Dream’ certainly belongs to that category. This New Jersey born lady with a PhD in agriculture may be dreaming to sit on the porch of her own farm some day, but I certainly hope she will never leave the singing behind. For ‘Honeysuckle Dream’ is a lovely record, full of variation and with excellent songs. Add to that the fact that her voice sounds very charming to me, to put it modestly. Recognizable, colorful and simply plain beautiful. Colorful like the honeysuckle, in Dutch ‘kamperfoelie’, to adhere to the theme of the album.
This is not an album that digs deep all the time, the jazzy ‘Yogi Momma’ is just a simple ‘feel good’ song and the tasty up-tempo ‘Paper trails’ is just a song about reading a book. But in the very beautiful song ‘I’m Falling Too’ she paints a love affair with the shades of autumn. Beautiful dobro playing, her voice gorgeously combined with beautiful background vocals deliver just the right atmosphere for this song. Similarly, Heidi lifts the folky ‘Midway Avenue’ to a very high level.
There’s a lot of sarcasm in the catchy ‘Another Perfect Day’, about the empty lives of a number of frequent manicure visiting housewives. Happy and cheerful from the outside, but it’s a thin layer of make-up that hides the sadness. But what’s that hollow feeling that follows you through the day? she sings in the darkly sounding bridge. The beautiful ‘I can’t sleep’ with a lovely bass clarinet arrangement closes this cd in an impressive way.
This exemplarily produced cd is released by Tresspass Music. This label recently released some cd’s that are more than worthwile and ‘Honeysuckle dream’ with its extensive instrumentation is certainly one of them. We don’t rate reviewed cd’s with stars in this place, but if we did I would certainly give this one a four out of five. Heidi Winzinger has proven to be a more than pleasant surprise. -Johnny's Garden, Netherlands - Ed Muitjens

"Heidi Winzinger is a songwriter that deserves to be known 'cause she's a very talented one. "Honeysuckle Dream" has many songs that fit perfectly with the way I intend music to be...intelligent and heartfelt. Remo Ricaldone, American Roots Radio, Italy (Feb 9, 2011)
- Remo Ricaldone - American Roots Radio Italy

Heidi Winzinger opens with a real beauty, the title song 'Honeysuckle Dream.' The dobro adds to the interest. Heidi's voice, as she reaches that high note, is memorable. 'I'm Falling Too' walks in the main theme of this collection – relationships. This is sweetly sung and the arrangement, including additional voices, is clever and polished.
'Paper Trails' bops along in the vein of a Carol King song that invites you to "snuggle in for a Friday night..." 'Midway Avenue' is a personal memory, probably of a father, "He was the captain of Midway Avenue." 'Come Home' is Heidi's believable plea for a united holiday with her family. The upbeat 'Yogi Mamma' is sung to a conga beat as Heidi chants her way to the relief she wants from a meditative workout.
'Super Dog' recalls that faithful mutt whose life unfortunately ends far too soon. The memory lingers. 'Killer' is a puzzler. The lyrics suggest serious crime tucked into a soft melody, but it reminds us of the sad moments when we have had pets euthanized. Whatever the source, Heidi is not afraid of difficult subjects. 'I Can't Sleep' dwells on the insomnia and all the methods that fail. I like this last song almost as much as the stellar title song.
Overall, this is nicely arranged and produced collection by an accomplished writer. You can find samples on her website. The use of instruments is judicious and enhancing. Heidi Winzinger's voice has a fine quality, and these are good songs. - J.W. McClure

"Heidi Winzinger has got such a clear voice, really perfect for an emotional travel throughout these beautiful songs ...she is really perfect for my format and my own tastes..." Mike PENARD / American Roots Music / ISA Radio /FRANCE
Mike Penard - ISO Radio France (Jan 29, 2011) - Mike Penard, ISO Radio, France

Sometimes you run into a cd that appeals to you immediately. Until recently, Heidi Winzinger was completely unknown to me, but her cd ‘Honeysuckle Dream’ certainly belongs to that category. This New Jersey born lady with a PhD in agriculture may be dreaming to sit on the porch of her own farm some day, but I certainly hope she will never leave the singing behind. For ‘Honeysuckle Dream’ is a lovely record, full of variation and with excellent songs. Add to that the fact that her voice sounds very charming to me, to put it modestly. Recognizable, colorful and simply plain beautiful. Colorful like the honeysuckle, in Dutch ‘kamperfoelie’, to adhere to the theme of the album.

This is not an album that digs deep all the time, the jazzy ‘Yogi Momma’ is just a simple ‘feel good’ song and the tasty up-tempo ‘Paper trails’ is just a song about reading a book. But in the very beautiful song ‘I’m Falling Too’ she paints a love affair with the shades of autumn. Beautiful dobro playing, her voice gorgeously combined with beautiful background vocals deliver just the right atmosphere for this song. Similarly, Heidi lifts the folky ‘Midway Avenue’ to a very high level.

There’s a lot of sarcasm in the catchy ‘Another Perfect Day’, about the empty lives of a number of frequent manicure visiting housewives. Happy and cheerful from the outside, but it’s a thin layer of make-up that hides the sadness. But what’s that hollow feeling that follows you through the day? she sings in the darkly sounding bridge. The beautiful ‘I can’t sleep’ with a lovely bass clarinet arrangement closes this cd in an impressive way.

This exemplarily produced cd is released by Tresspass Music. This label recently released some cd’s that are more than worthwile and ‘Honeysuckle dream’ with its extensive instrumentation is certainly one of them. We don’t rate reviewed cd’s with stars in this place, but if we did I would certainly give this one a four out of five. Heidi Winzinger has proven to be a more than pleasant surprise. - Ed Muitjens

"Heidi Winzinger is a songwriter that deserves to be known 'cause she's a very talented one. "Honeysuckle Dream" has many songs that fit perfectly with the way I intend music to be...intelligent and heartfelt. Remo Ricaldone, American Roots Radio, Italy - Remo Ricaldone

"Heidi Winzinger has got such a clear voice, really perfect for an emotional travel throughout these beautiful songs ...she is really perfect for my format and my own tastes..." Mike PENARD / American Roots Music / ISA Radio /FRANCE - ISO Radio France