July | 2020 | MidiMike

Archive for July, 2020

The Mighty Plan Part 3

Posted: July 27, 2020 in Opinions and Observations, Poetry
Tags: #blm, #lyrics, #michaelskennedy, #midimike.com, #poem, #poetry, #racism, #racisminamerica, #themightyplan, faith, religion

I now see the infinite wisdom here.
God made us in his image and likeness
So we are told.
Angels are white and robed in gold

There are demons and that’s for sure.
Tempting us toward an unholy path
To steal your heart.
Man questioned how he might tell them apart

So he made one red, and another black.
Colors of hair and eyes and some stand tall
Now you can see.
The faces that belong here with thee

But what for the blind that cannot know
The wisdom of the lord from above?
To save them too.
Languages were created no one knew

It is so simple as to be part of my face
We just need a color-guided human race.
How thoughtful to make it so well known
Good and evil separated by the color shown

Your enemy is also made in his image.
And feels exactly the same way you do
Love conquers all.
As another peaceful day begins to fall

https://midimike.com/2020/05/23/the-mighty-plan-part-2/

Music for “Let You Go”

Posted: July 20, 2020 in music technology, My Tunes, Poetry, technology
Tags: #boss, #Martinguitars, #Midi, #midimike, #midimike.com, #music, #original songs, #poetrytolyrics, #recording, #recordingstudio, #singer, #singer song-writer, #songwriting, #Yamaha

I posted a poem earlier called “Let You Go” https://midimike.com/2020/07/07/let-you-go/ that I really liked. While I was working on writing the music for these lyrics I got side-tracked. I had recorded a few MIDI drum parts and had a guitar theme I liked playing on my Martin Acoustic/Electric guitar chained together trying to get a feel for the song.

A good friend called me out of the blue and asked if I wanted to have his old MIDI studio gear. No instruments or toys will be orphaned if I can help it so I drove over that day. We chatted for a while and I left with a van full of what most people would call ‘ancient’ gear. This is the stuff hits were made with. Everything you heard growing up using electronic drums or synths used these gems.

I got home and hooked up a few pieces like a kid not knowing which present he wants to open first. DAYS LATER I opened up my recording project again and played with a vocal effect toy I had not gotten to yet. Not wanting to stop an idea I was working on I started recording in another section of the session. As you will hear, I decided not to sing the chorus parts. Instead I used some of the lyrics to do a chant-style intro and outro.

After juggling the original music around I started to work on a melody for the lyrics. I used some of the chant themes so the melody took shape pretty quickly. Not wanting to overdo the vocal effect, I just used reverb on my voice. Then I added some MIDI bass guitar sounds and put the pieces together.

Next, I added a little MIDI piano in the chorus sections and sprinkled through the end of the song. Then I made some stupid editing error and trashed all of the drum tracks!!! Redo the drum tracks and a few days later I have a rough mix for you.

As some of you will know, a rough mix is probably the last one I do! LOL.

Here is “Let You Go” as it stands today. I hope you enjoy this one.

“Let You Go” by MSK

“Be Your Man”

Posted: July 18, 2020 in My Tunes, Poetry
Tags: #love, #lovewins, #lyrics, #michaelskennedy, #midimike, #personal, #perspective, #poem, #poet, #poetry, #positive, #relationships

Some will listen to you
But you will never talk.
They’d rather play games
In circles made of chalk.

If they thought about it twice
It would have been clear right then.
But faced with the same choices
They’ll make the same decision again.

It wasn’t difficult
I didn’t need a guide
I only had to ask
To know who you were inside.

And that’s when I stood up and laughed,
“I completely understand”.
She said “I don’t want to be your woman,
But I’d love to Be Your Man”.

Nobody thinks life is simple
But it would be nice to get a break.
Give everyone a fair chance
And learn from your mistakes.

It doesn’t take a genius
To know when you are in love.
For me it was your gentle touch
And everything you‘re made of.

And that’s when I stood up and laughed,
“I completely understand”.
When she said “I don’t want to be your woman,
But I’d love to Be Your Man”.

Music for “The Next Step”

Posted: July 13, 2020 in My Tunes, Poetry
Tags: #bandLab, #DAW, #drums, #guitar, #Ibanez, #michaelskennedy, #Midi, #mididrums, #midimike.com, #original songs, #poetry, #singer song-writer, #sonar, #song, #songwriter, #vocalist, #voice

Earlier I posted a poem (although poems and lyrics are often interchangeable with me) called “The Next Step”: https://midimike.com/2020/06/22/the-next-step/

This shuffle will take a while to get used to. Really, there is no groove here. No comedic relief either, but I do like the strangeness of it. How about that for an intro?!!

The recording was simple and there is a lot of open space in this one that makes most listeners a little uncomfortable. I played my Ibanez 6 string electric guitar and used effects from my PC after the recording to get the delay and chorus effects. I created the MIDI drums to match the odd beat in the guitar strums. After laying down a simple bass guitar track using computer plug-ins and the song is almost done.

The Next Step by MSK

A Bit 0f Summer

Posted: July 10, 2020 in Photography
Tags: #blooms, #deer, #flowers, #homebound, #michaelskennedy, #midimike, #midimike.com, #nature, #photo, #photographer, #photography, #photograpy, #whitetaileddeeer

I have not had the chance to get out and take pictures – or a bunch of other things – but here are a few pictures using my cell phone from around my house.

I agree, pictures do brighten up a post!

“Let You Go”

Posted: July 7, 2020 in My Tunes, Poetry
Tags: #lostlove, #love, #michaelskennedy, #midimike, #personal, #poem, #poet, #poetry, #relationships, #singer song-writer, #songwriter, MIDI Mike, poem, poetry

This is another one of my poems I pulled out of the archives recently. Written back on April 2nd, 1984 (what a good year!) and it has a few lines I like.

I want you to stay
For the moments that last forever
Like seasons that always change.

Not to change you
But to watch you grow.
Not to hold you
Or to let you go.

It’s too late to cry
Much too long since you went away
Sometimes you just can’t look back.

Don’t need to know why
Something beautiful goes the wrong way
But you can never go back

Not to change you
But to watch you grow.
Not to hold you
Or to let you go.

I want you to stay
For the moments that last forever
Like seasons that always change.

“None of the Above”

Posted: July 3, 2020 in My Tunes, Poetry
Tags: #love, #michaelskennedy, #midimike, #poem, #poet, #poetry, #relationships, #songwriter, #writing #poem, poem, poet

I found this poem in my archives that I wrote on June 26th, 2016 and I would like to share it with you.

I have a pretty long list
Of all the things I love
I can do any of them with you
Or, if you prefer, none of the above.

Family, friends, writing music, singing songs
Winter walks, coming home, sky full of stars.
Solving problems, helping strangers, reading a book
Practicing yoga, sometimes riding my bike too long.

Learning something new, teaching what I’ve learned
Laughing at jokes, sharing good food, colorful sunsets
Writing on my blog, sharing a story, liking a post
Being silly, going for a swim, getting praise that I earned.

With you I can do anything
And add it to the list of things I love
With you I can do anything
Or, if you prefer, none of the above.

Cuddle and watch a movie, listening to you breathe at night
Playing games no matter who wins, a weekend unplugged
Hearing from co-workers, dancing like a fool, laying in the snow
There are so many other things I’ve added to my list tonight.

With you I can do anything
And add it to the list of things I love
With you I can do anything
Or, if you prefer, none of the above.

MidiMike

Available on iTunes and CD Baby

Social Media

MSK original Songs

Archive for July, 2020

The Mighty Plan Part 3

Music for “Let You Go”

“Be Your Man”

Music for “The Next Step”

A Bit 0f Summer

“Let You Go”

“None of the Above”

Archives

Available on iTunes and CD Baby

Social Media

MSK original Songs

Archive for July, 2020

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: