I’ve admitted in earlier posts that I observe people a lot, and that I get a number of ideas for songs from watching other people; friends, family, co-workers, I steal from them all! I can empathize with people as they face challenges and triumphs in life. I try to understand what it feels like to be in those situations even though I myself might not be directly affected by them.
I also have some rather obvious political points of view. I can understand why there are those that do not always agree with my positions but in many cases I can still understand theirs. In this song I basically insult every group I can think of! As you are more than likely in at least one of these groups I apologize in advance. In a lot of ways, this song summarizes the items on my Love – Hate list. I hate things that should work but do not, and I really hate personal and corporate greed. The song uses a lot of references to things we would hear on the news, although it was written a long time ago. Unfortunately most of the issues are the same today!
Recording this song took a LONG time. We did rough mixes here and there changing this or that, but it did not feel right from beginning to end. Eventually, I think we rearranged some of the chorus/verse structure and it just fell into place. For some songs this is the agonizing part; all the components are there and sound good, but the piece as a whole just does not grab you. I might have even tried changing tempo on this one to get it right.
If this is not the first song I did using my new Alesis ADAT recorder it was one of the first. I was also transitioning from the Atari computer to a Windows machine, so not everything went smoothly! I played electric guitar on this one (I have a few guitars and do not know which one was used for each song but my guess this is either my Ibanez or a Yamaha 6 string) and did all the sequencing and drum tracks as described earlier. My wife does the vocal main lines. Using the limiter/compressor chain I described from other songs the vocals are recorded so they stay soft and spooky and a little eerie as the lyrics become more and more cynical. A bunch of family and friends came in and did the voice add-ons. You can hear both our daughters, my co-writing brother and a few neighbors help out with the spoken parts. I ‘sing’ the chorus.
The bass line in this one is particularly cool because it is my Oberheim Matrix 6 synth and it has this patch or sound that continues to play an arpeggio (sequence of predetermined notes) as long as you hold a key down. So the bass lines are done by holding one note for a while but hearing many notes played. We even got to play with one of the audio samplers from the music store and used it to trigger the ‘broken word’ parts. Once we got the arrangement right it was just fun to ‘decorate’ the basic tracks and add a little movement to the mix. Have fun with this one.
Nice song
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! That is very kind of you. I appreciate the comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is really cool, love the tune, it is really creative and all encompassing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Excellent! Very cool and appreciated bunches.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s definitely an interesting song and sometimes good to get it all out. I can’t hear all the lyrics which may be a good thing, ha, ha! Definitely well worth the effort.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It certainly was one of my ‘release anthems’ for a while LOL! Not sure if I got it all out with this one, but I keep writing!
We debated on posting lyrics first (if at all….) and decided to let the music speak for itself for a while!
LikeLike
It’s always a good idea to post lyrics, I think, because it causes people to engage more. Of course, I get that you may be worried about people becoming offended but I say, no apologies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ohhhh beautiful ..i love the overlapping of voices..different ranges…while at the same time i can figure out the age difference if each one who participated in the voice over..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awww! Thanks! It was a family project and even though it took a long time it was a lot of fun layering all the tracks and voices. I was hoping the generations of voices came through.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The feedback guitar on this tune is Hendrix worthy. I don’t care which guitar you used. Along with the robo-drums, it set up a “surf.” The vocals are very deliberate. Talk vocals. Three voices, each distinct. Message is intense, but hardly an attack on the average man. You need fear offending nobody.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I often twist knobs on the guitar amp with little success. Every once in a while it really sings and sounds great. It took a lot of learning to get all the parts in the mix so they did not drown out everything else, so I am satisfied with the overall mix for the time. Much appreciated!
LikeLike
I want to twist a knob and get that resounding feedback sound. Write some instructions, please.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can do that! What guitar amp do you use most (now)?
LikeLike
I have no idea what this means “The bass line in this one is particularly cool because it is my Oberheim Matrix 6 synth and it has this patch or sound that continues to play an arpeggio (sequence of predetermined notes) as long as you hold a key down. So the bass lines are done by holding one note for a while but hearing many notes played” but it is such a good song.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahh. In most modern keyboards, there are preset sounds (and some have user programmable sounds) Some play a single note as you hold a key down. and others will continue to play more than one note as long as you Holla the key down. Usually the notes are within a specific scale, so they play “good sounding” notes. I will try to post an example of this soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay, perfect. I’m not a music person, I just know what I like. I liked that. Just give us non-music people a crash course in the musical lesson. LOL.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will do my best LOL!
LikeLiked by 1 person
the secret of this song is harshness. harshness against The Man.
LikeLiked by 1 person
but I adidmit — who is ‘the man?’
LikeLiked by 1 person
take your time
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘Tis the season. …….
LikeLike
I struggle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Take it from the other man.
LikeLiked by 1 person
my considered opinion — people harshly compete. it’s a fact. they tromp upon each other. they hurt each other, fly by, and try to look innocent.
LikeLiked by 1 person