The poem kept rattling in my head all day long and I found them fitting a rhythmic pattern. Then a melody jumped in and I headed up to my studio to get it all down.
There was a mood inspired by the groove and I layed down the guitar tracks to a metronome.
The drums came easily as I followed the rhythms in my head. As I mentioned earlier, this is fun and simple for me. The chorus just jumped out, and I like the changes coming back into the verse. The 6 string acoustic guitar sounded great to me and fit the song perfectly.
From there it was add the bass sound on my MIDI keyboard and it was ready for the Lead and harmony vocals.
It took me a while to sing this one to match the mood and I am glad you didn’t have to listen to me learn the melody and fit it to the music, but I think it came out as intended; short and sweet.
Here is the song mixed down. The whole process took me about a week, but this was before I started working over 50 hours a week!
This has been a very busy year. Even though I have spent most of it unemployed, I find there was so little time to do things on my list. I have been busy recording songs; some old ones from the closet and a few new ones where either the lyrics or melodies have inspired me to power up the studio and work/play. I have not spent much time here. I feel like I need to catch up on some close friends again.
I also started working again. I now work for Amazon and though it is not a glorious position, I do like the company and what I do. It is my first time working 10 hour days and it has taken me a while to adjust. During those days it is hard to get much else accomplished.
I would like to give you a sneak preview of a new release on CD Baby called “After The Chase”. I will post more songs and hope you like them. So, while I may not be in contact with many of you as often as I would like, I keep thinking of the followers and friends I have made here.
I am not very good at naming my songs so it might come to you as a surprise that the name of this song is Get Up! I came up with that one all by myself. The simple groove is introduced with the ringing of a bell. Actually, it is two ‘bells’ that are accurately tuned off center pitch in each direction. If you have perfect pitch, I apologize in advance as this will be like nails scratching a chalk board for you! These were a gift from my friend TR. It just seemed like a good start to this piece.
Lyrically the song reflects the need we humans have to keep trying and searching for different ways to overcome challenges. Too often we find ourselves on the ground or in a ditch and think it is not worth getting up. Thinking it is unfair; that others have it easy and we deserve what they have.
It is far past time that we leave the animal, cultural and magical baggage behind. We are no longer simply the ‘alpha dogs’ on this planet. We need to look at our species (beginning with ourselves) and our universe from other dimensions. Our perspective needs to widen to see the challenges before us. The solution must be good for all life here, not the one-sided scorching policy all too often displayed in our past.
In order for this to happen we need to look at ourselves as individuals. Do we contribute to the problem or find ways we can be part of the resolutions? It is not too late. If it doesn’t work, get up and try something else. Be more than a moth driven unerringly toward the flame. There are more important things than the social trappings of us vs them, surviving or sharing, progress or nature. Add a little depth. Look past the shallow surface of day to day life. “Save the File As”.
Take your future under your control.
Every step getting closer. Every opportunity improve your understanding and apply what you learn. Once you find the right path, grab some fellow humans and take them with you! Now, do it again!
I programmed the MIDI drums, rhythm guitar and keyboard parts. Thanks to Mr. Lee added the hypnotic guitar parts for me. I do all the vocals and try to make a haunting but energetic feel for this song. I call it my anthem for this millennium. Maybe you find yourself singing this one from time to time.
Another song of mine from the year 1988. This was a time of emotion and passion. Learning and truly seeing things for the first time. Life still ahead but so much of it spinning past me out of control. In many ways the perspective is what makes our feelings push us the way they do. The moon to some can be magical and inspiring – to others it can be bitter and unyielding. Often the battles of the day do not end once the new morning arrives. We often wake up to face the same struggles and disappointments that devoured the day before. Reflective, introspective, in many ways bewilderment and confusion, yet we still need to continue and choices must be made. All too often the choices have already been made and we are forced to face the consequences; alone.
MidiMike 