I was asked by a band member in Michigan Curve to write a bluesy song about a gold-digging woman. Hmm, maybe he was dealing with some dark memory. Anyway, this song captures it with a surprising move from sugar daddy to eternal love. And all with a hopping little groove.

Diamonds & Gold

In 1981 my sister and I asked my mom to write a song for us to sing in the school Christmas concert. It has a beautiful melody and lyrics that will touch your heart. Enjoy!

Long Lost Daddy

This song is both melancholy and dynamic with a vintage sound afforded by the pedal steel. The lyrics represent the torturous inner state people can create by expecting romantic love to make us whole. Instrumentation includes vocals, 6 and 12 string guitars, pedal steel, brushes on snare drum. Suggestion: close your eyes and sway.

Make Her Love You

Here is a nice light crowd pleaser with a bluesy rock sound. 

Hey Mister

Deep is a song that weaves connections between the human psyche and nature images of earth, water, fire and air. The electric guitar with tremolo - by Kris Ruston - gives the song a retro vibe.

Deep

The ninth track on my CD "Away from here" which will be officially released on December 10th. This is one of my songs with a bluesy sound.

Moving Down That Road

This is a heart tugging original with a country sound.

Far From Great

I wrote this song about my mom, a wise woman in a long line of wise women. My son Steve plays some fine lead guitar on this one!

Know Me Better

Sing Little One feat Steve Botel lead guitar

Leap Now blends natural world elements such as water and fire with ethereal vocal harmonies and earthy, tribal drumming to move the listener toward taking action. Michele's love for people and the earth inspires hope and a desire to take the leap.

Leap Now - Michele Botel

No Middle Ground - A Ballad written in 1997, recorded live in studio in 2010, and released in 2020. Let's call it a long-term project!

I had the privilege of spending a big chunk of my life living on Haida Gwaii on the west coast of Canada. The 'tree hugger marries a logger' became my story. To ease the inner conflict arising from this dichotomy, I wrote and recorded this song, live in my studio.

I performed this song many times around Haida Gwaii and Victoria, including at a Unity Feast and other inter-community events. It is well-loved and evocative on many levels.

Singing and listening to No Middle Ground always brings a tear to my eye and connects me to the father of my children, my beautiful children who also grew up in this powerful place, other folks making a living in resource extraction, and to the very strong Haida people.

Lyrics to No Middle Ground copyright 1997 Michele Botel
Green up on the rolling hills, storm wails through the valley
Windbreak falls like dominoes, ten thousand years in all
Ancient ones do not forget, the teachings carry on
While vertical they’re at their best, spirits withstand falling down

The humble man who makes his pay with chainsaw in his hands
As a boy ran through the woods, his laughter filling up the land
He now plays a different part that in his mind is right
Survival of his family takes precedence over nature’s plight

Standing on the 19th floor gazing out the plate glass
Concrete carpets far below muffling the cries
She marches in the protest, and chains herself to trees
We people in our passion lose sight of our hypocrisy

When they meet on the front line, you know their will is strong
You can’t see what they’ve given up but to which side they belong
Shall there be no middle ground achieved without a fight
One side for survival, the other for continued life

Vocal instrumentation

Shall there be no middle ground achieved without a fight?
One side for survival, the other for continued life.