This week's mp3 was made a few months ago. I am extremely proud of it. Here's the story:
Me and my 3 roommates entered the 48 Hour Film Festival. Our movie was about a former child star who was on a sitcom called "Once In A Smile."
We needed the theme song for the end credits. Well, OK, we WANTED the theme song for the end credits. On the morning of the due date, I whipped it together.
The idea is that it's a lame 90s (or 80s?) sitcom theme, with cheesy meaningless lyrics and a heavenly mix and terrible guitar soloing to be "cool", and of course, the bluesy and soulful ending of the song (my favorite part.)
Here are the lyrics:
Every once in a smile You gotta be with the one you love You gotta look right at the sun Fits just like a glove!
Once in a smile A brand new day Through the dark Your face will light the way ONCE IN A SMILE!
Isn't that what life's all about?
We got far in the festival, making it to the "Best Of NY" screening and winning an audience award! Not bad at all. I think the song may have gotten a few laughs at the screening, but it was hard to tell if people knew what was going on.
I haven't been updating this as WEEKLY as I'm supposed to. But anyway:
This MP3 is from my show last week. My friend Daniel requested I perform my song "Swish." "Swish" is definitely an odd one. It's lyrics were basically a flowing poem that I wrote and then put to music, playing a chord progression and not worrying too much about the melody or catchyness. Usually not my style, but I think the song has a kind of directness and raw quality that the others may not have.
The song was inspired by this crush I had on a girl. I was trying to get over her, and then I thought I saw her walking by my house. It wasn't her, but the feeling I felt when I thought I saw her (i.e. having a heart attack) made me realize I was in no way over my crush. These are easily some of my favorite lyrics I've ever written.
Here they are:
Eyes focus through the fence down at the train station Some straight haired girl Stole your whole style And I looked like a guy who Had one too many Too many things on my mind
And they fell out Fell down On the sidewalk Dripped down And in the stream of consciousness A cigarette but couldn't help but... resist
Like a log headed for a fall it dripped down to the gutter Underwater tunnel And down to Brooklyn Passed under your shoe I think I hope for once you knew I think I hope for once you knew And while you had to STOP Your friends made fun of your SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH
Thoughts fly like the breeze Sometimes inviting, but sometimes chilly stinging I can remember everything In seconds flat it all comes back In between 0 and 1 That's all it takes to break it down That's all it takes to break down
This week's MP3 was made...yesterday! A girl I've never met named Sarah Epler said she'd pay me a couple bucks to write a song about her.
Why the damn hell not?
So I did. I thought of the melody while I was driving 2 days ago and recorded the idea into my phone. I recorded the song the next day.
I really used it as an excuse to make my first ever recording with my new amp and my new drum program, making this MP3 very different sounding (in my opinion) than all my others. From now on the fake drums in my music will still be fake, but more real sounding.
EXCEPT!!! For the cymbal that I found in the GARBAGE, featured on this very mp3. In fact, I find it difficult to determine which is the real cymbal and which is the fake cymbal. Try and guess! GARBAGE CYMBAL!
Since I barely know her, I didn't try to pretend that I did, so the lyrics are (sort of) about how easily google-able she is, which hopefully this blog entry will help reinforce.
Lyrics:
Sarah Epler I've never met her But you bet I'll never ever forget her
She's the internet She's an online chat She's a jpeg and a profile and an iphone app
Sarah Epler wrote me a letter Sent her back a letter in reply to her letter
Sarah Epler I can't help her But I'm gonna do what I can
Sarah Epler Gave me a dollar That I plan on spending on Sarah Epler
Hello there! This week's mp3 is actually something I made THIS week. I've been submitting theme songs for Kevin Allison's (The State) podcast RISK!, as well as serving as part of the house band for the live shows. Here is one of many theme songs I've made.
It's very affectionately in the style of Stephen Merritt, or his band Magnetic Fields. I'm really damn proud of this. As my friend Daniel said, "you've got the moon, love, dancing, lullabies, and death, all in under a minute."
This week's song is from a live show I had a month ago! I explain the origin of the song to the audience in the MP3, so need to ramble over here! All you need to know is I handed out a list of songs, so that the audience can make request. That's what you hear at the very beginning of the MP3.
It's a happy loving marriage song. It also contains one of my only guitar solos. Enjoy!
Here are the lyrics, why not?
Here we are laughing at the same joke Half an hour and it's time for the next show For everyone who says that boring lives have no surprises, well I've got one
Will you marry me so we can go to sleep? Will you marry me so we can watch TV? I've spent too much time by myself doing things that never add to much I'm one, you're two, and we'll be pooped together
For a time I didn't go out much I met you and we don't go out much (but it's nice) For every dollar bill I save by staying home for dinner We get thinner
(chorus)
Counting down bringing in the new year All around it's been a pretty good year A simple resolution is easier to keep And I'd like to keep you - keep you here
So this week's mp3 is one of the theme songs I did for the podcast RISK!, hosted by Kevin Allison (The State.) They used this song in the 2nd episode, along with some other instrumentals of mine. This is very awesome of them. I am excited. I've made 4 theme songs so far.
This was actually one of the first recordings I've made with my new mac. I haven't made any music in a really long time due to changing computers, moving, etc, etc. I really like how nice my acoustic guitar sounds in this.
