#ovationguitars | MidiMike

Posts Tagged ‘#ovationguitars’

Lyrics for ‘First Move’

Posted: June 27, 2025 in #poetry, My Tunes
Tags: #acoustic, #beforethechase, #closerlook, #easysong, #firstmove, #folk, #localbands, #lyrics, #michaelskennedy, #midimike, #midimike.com, #msk, #music, #musician, #ovationguitars, #poem, #poetry, #progressivefolk, #recordingstudio, #singersongwriter, #songwriter, #Soundengineer, #syncopps, #takeacloserlook, #thechase, #vocalist

For a bit of prospect work, I wrote lyrics to an old 12 sting guitar jam of mine. I released ‘First Move’ as an instrumental track on my cd ‘Before The Chase‘ on February 25th, 2016.

(As a side note, one of the great cover/original bands I performed with live was ‘The Chase’. I also released a title called ‘After The Chase‘ in 2017. In both cases, auto-spelling correction wants to make the title : Before the Chase and After the Chase. Some on-line distributors would not accept the capitalized version in their listing. The reference to my former band mates does not jump out if it has a lower case ‘t’ for the. Now, back to my previous train of thought).

I really like the way the tempo and the groove combine to make an interesting driving-sports-workout jam. I use open tuning for the guitar, and that allows me to get those really clear harmonics to stand out. The lyrics reference the many people in my life that are truly amazing. Dedicated, hard working, dependable friends and strangers in the background making the world a better place for others. Doing the right thing – for no real reward and little recognition. Heroes are all around, they just don’t make that much noise.

‘Take A Closer Look’

“Take a Closer Look” © MSK 6/25/2025 (First Move)

It’s difficult to get going
Usually, it’s too hard to stop.
Heroes rise up against the wind
In spite of the inevitable drop.

Everyone has their place in life
But can not see it most of the time.
Not all of us become astronauts
Or Sherlock with the unsolvable crime.

Take A Closer Look
And you will see.

They guard over you silently
Yet never seem to get in the way.
Easy not to see them at first
But they are always ready to play.

One of them might be an artist
Musicians you truly understand.
A friend who has never failed you
Or strangers that gave you a helping hand.

Take A Closer Look
Take A Closer Look and you will see.

MIDIMike

Music for ‘It Only Takes One’

Posted: January 24, 2025 in My Tunes
Tags: #audio, #guitar, #guitarist, #korgnautilus, #lyrics, #Martinguitars, #michaelskennedy, #Midi, #midicontroller, #midimike, #midimike.com, #music, #musician, #ovationguitars, #personal, #poetry, #recordingstudio, #singersongwriter, #songwriter, #studio, #Studio1+, #studioengineer

I posted lyrics earlier for this new song and I have a mix of the music ready for “It Only Takes One“

I am working on the vocals now and will have some ‘filler’ tracks to add at some point. I used drum loops (edited and a bit tortured at times!) for the rhythm tracks. I play all the guitar tracks and added a MIDI bass guitar part from my keyboards ……. until the band can make it in for a session.

But for now, here is the instrumental version.

Happy New Year!

It’s Easy to Die MSK 1990

Posted: February 20, 2024 in Poetry
Tags: #12string, #audio, #Cakewalk, #death, #lyrics, #Midi, #midicontroller, #mididrums, #midimike, #midimike.com, #music, #musician, #ovationguitars, #personal, #poetry, #recording, #recordingstudio, #reeltoreel, #singersongwriter, #songwriter, #sound

Back with the morbid themes. A how to guide when the end of your life is here. A lesson from the wise and experienced. Dyeing is the easiest part. Once you are gone though, your story can be told by others. So be kind!

In the Middle of the Day MSK 2005

Posted: January 9, 2024 in Poetry
Tags: #12string, #Cakewalk, #lyrics, #michaelskennedy, #Midi, #midicontroller, #midimike, #midimike.com, #music, #musician, #ovationguitars, #personal, #poem, #poet, #poetry, #poetrypod, #recording, #recordingstudio, #singersongwriter, #songwriter, #sound, #vocalist, #Yamaha DX7

I remember writing this when I was at work managing the call center at CMI. Everyone joked you could tell when it was a full moon – even in an underground bunker – just by listening to the calls we would get. People are just nuts sometimes and many times it is predictable. You can talk plainly and truthfully and make sense and they act as if you are torturing their grandparents or something. So coming back to work from lunch I notice there is a full moon.

I Gave it Back MSK 1980

Posted: December 26, 2023 in Poetry
Tags: #12string, #audio, #guitar, #lyrics, #michaelskennedy, #midimike, #midimike.com, #music, #musician, #ovationguitars, #personal, #poem, #poet, #poetry, #poetrypod, #rec, #recording, #reeltoreel, #singersongwriter, #songwriter, #sound

I don’t remember a time when these lyrics and the music were separate. It has always been a slow groovin’ piece I usually played when no one was around and I was just jamming. Learning how to play sing with more power, but controlled. I must like juxtaposition and odd perspective observations but the thought that someone would give you their love that you would give it back. It can be taken both ways. Is giving their love back in addition to yours or does the word ‘but’ in the Chorus mean it is a rejection and you are refusing their love or a meaningless phrase? You can be the decider on that one.

Glass of Tears MSK 1981

Posted: October 24, 2023 in Poetry
Tags: #12string, #audio, #lyrics, #michaelskennedy, #midimike, #midimike.com, #music, #musician, #ovationguitars, #personal, #poem, #poet, #poetry, #poetrypod, #recording, #recordingstudio, #reeltoreel, #singersongwriter, #songwriter, #sound

Another set of lyrics that started out more of a poem. Stating the obvious again, it appeared to me many people search for the perfect one overlook the very person they are seeking. Even in 1981 I knew how easy it was to underestimate the importance of relationships and great friends. We will all find out eventually that we were just a bit too late. The commercials of the day are responsible for the rest of the lyrics and I am not sure if they mean anything at all, but I like the idea of a glass of tears.

Get out of Line MSK 1981

Posted: October 10, 2023 in Poetry
Tags: #12string, #audio, #lyrics, #michaelskennedy, #midimike, #midimike.com, #music, #musician, #ovationguitars, #personal, #poem, #poet, #poetry, #poetrypod, #recording, #recordingstudio, #reeltoreel, #singer, #singersongwriter, #songwriter, #sound

From a broken relationship and the ensuing emptiness reflections are not easy. You can’t forget and remembering is overwhelming. A realization that you don’t have to wait, but what you want will easily pass you by. And from that day on you will know your loss. I remember adding the line about the train because our bass player in the Merchants of Death said he really liked to watch trains. So there you go!

From Where We Are MSK 1976

Posted: October 3, 2023 in Poetry
Tags: #12string, #audio, #lyrics, #michaelskennedy, #midimike, #midimike.com, #music, #musician, #ovationguitars, #personal, #poem, #poet, #poetry, #poetrypod, #recording, #reeltoreel, #singer, #singersongwriter, #singing, #songwriter, #sound

Wow, this is an old one! As a younger man I am beginning to imagine the life of a musician and entertainer. But my stage is in an empty arena. Family building with no money and less time takes its toll. Spread thin, sacrifices required, you know, the usual stuff kids deal with. Time to redirect and focus my life to move forward. Learn from mistakes and turn painful lessons to good use.

Cry, Cry MSK 1981

Posted: May 30, 2023 in #poetry, Poetry
Tags: #audio, #lyrics, #midimike, #music, #musician, #ovationguitars, #personal, #poem, #poet, #poetry, #poetrypod, #recording, #relationships, #songwriter, #sound, #vocalist

Lyrics with few words but lots of passion. Prophetic, in some cases but sad throughout. This kind of pain is even more difficult to watch. I put it to a slow bluesy ballad with sparse chords and vocals. It is still a haunting tune to me. I only have old reel-to-reel recordings copied and recopied over the years but it still paints the mood very well.

Brighter and Brighter MSK 1980

Posted: April 11, 2023 in #poetry, Poetry
Tags: #audio, #lyrics, #Martinguitars, #michaelskennedy, #Midi, #midicontroller, #mididrums, #midimike, #midimike.com, #music, #musician, #ovationguitars, #personal, #poem, #poet, #poetry, #poetrypod, #recording, #singersongwriter, #songwriter, #sound, #vocalist, #vocals

This is nothing more than my usual ramblings at people that keep turning on lights every time they come into the room and I am sitting in the dark. Then to add insult to injury, they leave the bright lights on when they go out of the room! AARRRGGGhh. Keep your big bright ideas to yourself.

MidiMike

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MSK original Songs

Posts Tagged ‘#ovationguitars’

Lyrics for ‘First Move’

Music for ‘It Only Takes One’

It’s Easy to Die MSK 1990

In the Middle of the Day MSK 2005

I Gave it Back MSK 1980

Glass of Tears MSK 1981

Get out of Line MSK 1981

From Where We Are MSK 1976

Cry, Cry MSK 1981

Brighter and Brighter MSK 1980

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Available on iTunes and CD Baby

Social Media

MSK original Songs

Posts Tagged ‘#ovationguitars’

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