Monday, December 31, 2012

Year of Song: Year in Review


New Year's resolutions come and go.  They usually come after Christmas and disappear by mid-January.  To this rule, I have historically been no exception.  However, I'm proud to announce that 2012 is the first year in which I have made it through.  I'm writing this review to chronicle the process and the experience, but even more important than the accomplishments from this resolution, was spending a year of being true to myself, which was the primary impetus for the accomplishments that resulted.

In December of 2011, I was a student in the PhD program in music theory at Louisiana State University, with a minor in music composition.  I had always had a passion for composing music, but I was majoring in music theory, because I believed that as a teacher, I would actually prefer to teach theory instead of composition.  Sadly, this decision led to a major decline in my compositional output.  In reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, one key point really stood out.  It was that we are "defined by our actions."  I realized that although I considered myself to be a composer, I no longer felt like a composer, because I simply didn't compose very much.

I had gotten frustrated with myself and the reception of my material in the world of academia, which didn't generally appreciate popular music and musical theatre, which were the main thing I enjoyed composing.  In December 2011, I had the idea that it would be really great to make a big push for writing songs again, not for school, but just so my actions would once again define me as a composer.  I had considered writing and recording a song each day, but my wife wisely suggested that a song each week would be a more reasonable goal, considering my current time commitments as a student, teacher, father, etc.

So I set out in January 2012 announcing that I would be writing and recording a song each week for the entire year.  I think many people didn't expect it to last, in fact, three or four months into the project, some of my colleagues told me how surprised they were that I was keeping up with it.  Personally, I was surprised at how much more efficient I got at the process of writing and recording with regular practice.

In fact, I didn't have a lot of home recording experience.  I have some musical equipment and a decent computer, but I wasn't very familiar with recording software.  I had used a freeware program to put together some very basic recordings a few years back, but they were far from professional quality.  When beginning this project, I had remembered that a colleague had once recommended the freeware program Audacity as an excellent home recording software, so I downloaded it and starting tinkering.

In my first song, "The More You Think You Know," I recorded a piano track and then added the vocal parts on top, and finally added a tambourine and shaker (as these were the instruments at my disposal).   For the second song, "Big Bad Jim," I actually had the foresight to use a click track, which made the process of aligning the instruments easier.  I also experimented with using EQ on the vocals to make them sound more brassy.  Additionally, I learned how to use the horizontal pan space to make these two songs sound fuller.

For the third song, "I Look to the Stars," I recorded my first "synth" song, in the sense that I used my Roland XV-5080 sound module to create something that sounded like "synth" music, as opposed to using it to emulate actual acoustic instruments.  This also came in handy for the sixth song, "We Have a Visitor," which used synthesized music and audio clips from the ALF TV show.  This was also the first song of the year which I wrote with a humorous intent, but was certainly not the last.

I was amazed at how soon after the beginning of the project that my musical colleagues became interested in collaborating.  After the first couple of songs, I asked my friend Gracie Steavns, who is a vocalist and string player in Denver, if she would be interested in collaborating.  She was very enthusiastic about the idea, so I wrote song five, "Damascus," for her to record.  I scored it for two violins, viola, and mezzo soprano, and Gracie performed all four parts on the recording.  I was absolutely pleased at how the recording came out.

Song ten, "Lonely Tonight," was my next collaboration.  My friends Stephen and Adam Embree recorded this one.  They perform in an electropop duo called The Solution, and I was very interested in seeing what they would do with one of my songs.  I wrote a song specifically with them in mind, and I recorded a demo with just piano, playing chords in quarter notes, and a single vocal line.  I made the actual surface musical choices as generic as possible in my demo recording to give the Embrees plenty of room to interpret it their own way.  The result was astounding, and very different than I ever could have imagined.

As the project went along, I also learned more about creating videos to go along with them.  I posted all the songs to YouTube, mostly as a convenient way to host the audio and to share via social networking sites such as Facebook, Google Plus, Twitter, and Pinterest.  The "videos" for the first four songs included only a title card that remained on the screen for the duration of the song.  The next few songs featured slideshows of images, which were more or less timed to certain words or musical features of the song.  For song 11, "The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls," I experimented with video for the first time, by simply recording a stationary video of a lake in Baton Rouge.

Songs 19 and 20, "Breathe in the noiSe (Breathe out the Silence)" and " You Talk Entirely Far Too Much," featured full video throughout.  The former contained video of me walking around doing things around Baton Rouge Lake, and the latter was video of me singing the song, although the audio heard on the video is the version that I recorded previously on the computer.  Song 28, "Celestial Dance," represented a fascinating collaboration in which I recorded an instrumental track for a samba tune, which I shared via Dropbox, with the vocalist Kelly Riely in Independence, Missouri.  In her home studio, she added the vocal part to the track and her husband Michael helped shoot a video of her singing it.  She shared these with me via Dropbox, and in Baton Rouge, I recorded a short clip of me playing the keyboard solo in the middle of the piece.  The final video shows Kelly singing in Independence, MO at the beginning, and at the next cut, I am seen playing keyboard in Baton Rouge, LA.  It is amazing that internet technology makes this sort of collaboration possible.

Only one of the videos in the project was a live performance, "Psalm 16" from week 23.  This was a live performance of a choral work that I composed, which was performed by the Trinity Lutheran Choir in Baton Rouge.  This came about as a colleague of mine in the PhD program heard "Damascus" and became enthusiastic about me writing a song for his church choir.  Although the video is live, there was a small amount of creative editing that helped get the best possible outcome from the footage.  I recorded two performances of the song (one from each service) from different angles.  One of the angles put the camera rather close to the air conditioning vent adding a lot of background noise.  The other angle had less noise, but unfortunately there was a rather noticeable missed note during the end of that performance.  For the best result, I carefully spliced the audio from the end of one performance on to the end of the other, being careful to make sure that the audio remained in sync with the video, but also making sure that the audio splice was not noticeable to the ear.  It was not possible to get an entirely clean recording with congregational noise in addition to the previously mentioned air conditioning vent, but with a little work, I was able to get the best product from the recording footage that I took.

One of the most interesting aspects of the project was the opportunity I had for experimentation.  In particular, songs 9 and 45, "Bathsheba's Song" and "I Have a Bad Feeling About This" were electronic pieces that were included on the programs for the Experimental Music/Digital Media concerts at LSU in the spring and autumn.  "Bathsheba's Song," in particular, was full of experimental ideas.  I used effects such as phasing, panning, reverb, reversing the audio, among others to create a very eerie sound.

An interesting and not entirely expected outcome of the project was the number of humorous songs that came out of it.  I figured that I would write some humorous material, but to my surprise, more than one fourth of the songs were overtly humorous in their intent.  As I wrote humorous material, I sent it to Dr. Demento, a radio DJ that specializes in novelty songs.  This endeavor proved rather successful, as songs of mine were featured on eight episodes of The Dr. Demento Show in 2012.  After a while, I realized that it would beneficial to send my material to other DJs as well, so I also received airplay on Ben's Wacky Radio, A-log on the Airwaves, and I Still Get Demented.  Additionally, I was proud to learn that my "ALF for President" song (week 22) was shared by Linda Fusco on her Facebook wall.  Linda is one of the ALF puppeteers and wife of Paul Fusco, creator of ALF.

It was also interesting to keep an eye on the viewing statistics, which YouTube tracks automatically.  In week 39, I wrote a parody of the Sesame Street theme, entitled, "That is How You Get to Sesame Street."  After Romney made a controversial comment about eliminating funding for PBS at the first presidential debate, mentioning Big Bird specifically, I noticed a significant spike in the number of views on that particular video the next day.  After seeing the rapidity with which internet memes popped up immediately following the debate, I decided that I would try to quickly pick up the most memorable quotes to pop up in the next two debates and post something as quickly as possible.  After the second debate, I posted song 43, "Binders Full of Women" around noon the next day.  It got a considerable amount of attention, but to my surprise, I found that there were already about a dozen other "Binders Full of Women" songs posted before mine.  For the third debate, I began writing "Horses and Bayonets" while the debate was still taking place.  After the quote was spoken by Obama, I saw a big response to it on Facebook and decided that it would probably be the most memorable of the debate.  I completed the recording of the song that very night and it ends the year with the highest number of views with 5,798.  Of course, while these two videos had enormous viewership in the first week after posting, they dropped significantly after the hype cooled down.

I had been considering getting involved in advocating for children's mental health for some time now, and after the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, I felt moved to begin work on a free internet source for stories and songs that can help children to learn coping skills.  The final three songs, "Time to Calm Down," "When Things Don't Go Your Way," and "Time to Clean Up," are all songs that were written for this effort.

Many of the songs in the Year of Song project allowed me to express a wide variety of emotions, but the one that will probably leave the most lasting memory is "Te Quiero, Princesa," which I wrote for my eight-year old niece who was dying of cancer.  It was difficult to write, but it also turned about being the most meaningful.  The song was played at my niece's funeral in July.

An interesting, and completely, unexpected outcome of this project occurred about halfway through the year, when a music theory professor of mine actually asked if I should perhaps be a composition major instead of a theory major.  I had actually been thinking how I would like to do this, but felt that it was logistically impossible without adding at least another year to my program.  However he suggested that I at least consider it, so I began looking at the requirements and asking questions.  Long story short – my professors were very supportive and I succeeded in switching my major and minor and still plan to graduate on my original time frame.  It's amazing that when I began writing regularly (in other words, doing what a composer does), that I very naturally became a composer, and my professors also saw this and were able to easily accept that I am a composer.  In this way, I truly defined myself through my actions.

The year is at an end, but I see no reason to end the project.  My resolution for 2013 is to continue producing a song each week.  In addition, I plan to add new material to my website for children's coping skills on a weekly basis.  The current plan for the website is to have a collection of at least 90 stories with discussion questions and twenty songs that can be used to help children cope with real life situations.  I'm hoping that at this time next year, I can write another review about the effect of this outreach effort.

Week 53 - "Time to Clean Up Today"

This is the third song I have written for the website for coping skills for children.  Cleaning up may not seem like a coping skill, but for children with certain mental health issues it can be very difficult to stay organized or to stay on task. Hopefully, singing this song while cleaning will help.


Lyrics:

It's time, it's time, it's time to clean again,
Pick up all your toys and things again.
Ev'rything that you got out today,
Now it's time to put away.
Well, isn't it so nice to keep a clean space
where you can learn and play?
It's time, it's time, it's time to clean up today.

Do the dishes, make your bed, and put
All your books and toys away, once more.
Put your laundry in the hamper and
Put your clean clothes in the drawer.
Well, isn't it so nice to keep a clean space
where you can learn and play?
It's time, it's time, it's time to clean up today.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Week 52 - "Time to Calm Down"

This is another song for my website for kids.  This is to be used to help children calm down when they are upset by doing deep breaths.


Lyrics:
Time to calm down all the thoughts in your head
And to relax, take some deep breaths instead.
Breathe in
Breathe out

Just close your eyes and imagine happy things.
Think to yourself lots of nice and warm feelings.
Breathe in
Breathe out
Breathe in
Breathe out

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Week 51 - "When Things Don't Go Your Way"

This song is one of the first that I have composed for a new website that I'm working on.  The website will have resources for parents to teach coping skills to their children.

Lyrics:
When things don't go your way. It'll be okay.
I know just how you feel. Just say, "It's no big deal."
Sometimes things will get you down.
And they will make you frown.
Just remember, you'll feel better when you let it go.
Let those sad feelings go.
And you'll feel better, I know.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Week 50 - "Don't Panic"

This song is based on The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and uses clips from the 2005 movie.  The impetus for writing the song was the December 2012 doomsday predictions.

I created an eerie sound for this by reversing the piano part, applying reverb, and then reversing it again (back to playing forward).  I did the same for the vocals except that after the previously mentioned steps, I added reverb again to the forward playing track.



Lyrics:
If your world should end, don't panic, don't panic.
If your doom seems to impend, don't panic, don't panic, my friend.

And if someone builds a bypass through your home.
Rest assured that you will never be alone.
I'll be there, too.  I'll be with you.

If the earth should break apart, don't panic, don't panic.
Don't give in and don't lose heart, don't panic, don't panic, my friend.
This is not the end.

And if the Vogons should appear up in the sky,
Destructor rays ablaze.  It makes you wonder why.
Then we will go.  Yes, we will go.

If your world should end, don't panic, don't panic.
If your doom seems to impend, don't panic, don't panic, my friend.
This is not the end.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Week 49 - "Please Won't You Share This Post?"

This song is about Facebook hoaxes that make wild claims about benevolent rich people that want to donate money to worthy causes in exchange for sharing dubious posts.


Lyrics:

Have you heard that little kids are starving
In countries far away that you didn't know exist?
But don't despair, there's a simple way to feed them
Just forward this Jpeg to everyone that's on your friends list.
And for every single share
Facebook has promised to give ten dollars to every person living there.

Please won't you share this post?
To show me that you care the most.
I don't really mean to boast, but you and I can
change this whole world one click at a time
if you'll only share this post.

Have you heard there's a child in Seattle?
His name is Jimmy Smith and he's got some strange disease.
And there's a specialist doing research on his case,
but he doesn't have the funding so he's asking your help, please.
With your help he could cure him very fast.
But if you have no heart then I guess you can keep on scrolling past.

Have you heard that it's bad luck to ignore these posts?
Best to play it safe, resist the urge you have to scroll.
I've heard that lots of freaky things happen to you.
If you don't click to share, God have mercy on your soul.
It's not much effort to exert.
Just point your mouse and click to make sure that nobody gets hurt.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Week 48 - "Fables of Kinfolk"

I experimented with obscuring the vocals with various effects this week.
There is a $100 prize if you can correctly identify all of the lyrics in the first stanza (0:22-0:52), and an extra $50 if you can also identify the lyrics of the bridge (1:40-1:57).  Post your guesses in the comments.


Lyrics:
???

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Week 47 - "That's What She Said"

This song is partially based on the research I've done on humor for my dissertation, which is on musical humor.  I was reading about the semantic theory of humor (Victor Raskin) and I realized that the switching from one verbal script to another to create a humorous incongruity can be signaled by the phrase "that's what she said."  That's where the middle section comes from.  The rest of the song was built around that idea.

I shot this video with a regular digital camera.  No other person helping me, I set the camera up on a tripod, started the song, and then walked into shot and sang in sync with the audio.  I shot the song (or portions of it) from about six different angles.  I only used four of them in the final video I think.  I took the different videos and edited them together with Window Live Movie Maker.  For my first attempt at anything this complex, I think it turned out alright, considering my limited resources.



Lyrics:
Long ago there was a very special man
And if I could I'd really like to shake his hand.
He became a master of verbal comedy
By inventing a line that never fails to be funny
and it was, "That's what she said."

Don't know how he came up with such with such a perfect line.
I know some guys who really use it all the time.
You can use this phrase to catch your friends off guard.
It's pretty short and it's really not that hard.
That's what she said.

And the thing that makes the whole phrase so ingenious
is the way it changes the interpretation of the preceding sentence
with semantic mechanisms that trigger you to reinterpret what it means
according to a different verbal script.
And then you think about the alternate meaning
and it's usually something dirty that you didn't intend
but that's the genius of the phrase - that you can use it any day.
And even if it's not that funny, somehow it makes people laugh anyway.

That's what she said.
It's the lazy man's way
to make a joke out of anything you say.
And it never gets old from week to week,
And I will even confess
you need absolutely no finesse.
You only need the ability to speak.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Week 46 - "The Whole Wide Revolves Around You"

Extremely busy week, so I only did piano and vocals on this one.  I might come back later and fill it out.


Lyrics:

Did you ever wonder if you were treating me right?
Did you ever wonder why I gave up the fight?
Did you ever wonder if you were hurting me so?
Did you ever wonder why it was I had to go?

Because The whole wide world revolves around you
And we're all so very interested in everything you do.
Tell me all about your latest victory.
But don't bother wasting your time to ask about me.

Is it any wonder that your friends went away?
But in your delusion, you think that they'll regret it someday.
Is it any wonder that you find yourself alone?
Does it make you wonder as you sit upon your throne?

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Week 45 - "Star Wars Episode VII - I Have a Bad Feeling About This"


This is song is in response to Disney acquiring Lucasfilm today and announcing that they are planning to release Star Wars Episode VII in 2015.  Let's hope they don't blow it, but until then . . . "I Have a Bad Feeling About This!"


Lyrics:
Princess Leia: I have a bad feeling about this.
("It's a Small World After All")
Ben Kenobi: I have a bad feeling about this.
("Under the Sea")
Han Solo: I got a bad feeling about this.
("Zip-a-dee-doo-dah")
Luke Skywalker: I have a very bad feeling about this.
("Hakuna Matata")
C3PO: R2, I have a bad feeling about this.
("Heigh Ho")

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Week 44 - "Horses and Bayonets"

Because of Barrack Obama, I am again ahead of the game for week 44.  Here is the song "Horses and Bayonets," the main zinger from the 10/22/2012 Presidential Debate.




Lyrics:
Horses and Bayonets, Horses and Bayonets
What this country needs now is Horses and Bayonets

Back in 1917, the greatest year our country's seen.
The army was a fearsome threat with horses and bayonets.

Heavens knows the cavalry, just ain't what it used to be,
Used to make the bad guys sweat, with horses and bayonets.

Nothing else is such a bore, as the scene of modern war.
Battle used to be such fun, and this is how we got it done…
With...

The atom bomb is not my friend, it could mean our untimely end.
But as sure as might is right, I’ll always kiss my horse at night.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

View Count Chart for "That Is How You Get to Sesame Street"


This is the daily view count chart from YouTube for "That Is How You Get to Sesame Street."  The first day had 32 views because that is when it was posted on YouTube and consequently on my Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus accounts.  After that, it got 3-6 views for six days.  Then the morning after the first presidential debate, when Romney made the infamous "Bid Bird" comment, the video saw a significant increase in daily view count, peaking at 135 views on 10/6.  In the four days after that it declined back to the baseline of 3-6 views.

Week 43 - "Binders Full of Women"

Okay, so this one's a little early.  After the significant bump in views on my Sesame Street parody after Romney's "Big Bird" comment in the first debate, I decided to jump on whatever major meme came out of this debate.  Romney's "Binder's Full of Women Comment," ruled the day, so here is the song!


Lyrics:

Oo, oo, I’ve got binders full of women.
I’ve got binders full of women.
I’ve got binders full of women,yeah yeah.

Oo, oo, I’ve got binders full of women.
I’ve got binders full of women.
I’ve got binders full of women,yeah yeah.

Oo, oo, I’m looking for a special lady.
And I’m gonna search the whole world over ‘til I find her.
Oo, oo, and when I find this special lady.
Well you know she’s gonna be the front page in my binder.

In this three ring circus kind of world.
You’re a three ring binder kind of girl.

Oo, oo, I’ve got binders full of women.
I’ve got binders full of women.
I’ve got binders full of women,yeah yeah.

Oo, oo, I’ve got binders full of women.
I’ve got binders full of women.
I’ve got binders full of women,yeah yeah.

Oo, oo, I’m looking for a special lady.
And I know no other woman can outshine her.
Oo, oo, and when I find this special lady.
Well you know I hope she’ll want to be in my binder.

In this three ring circus kind of world.
You’re a three ring binder kind of girl.

Oo, oo, I’ve got binders full of women.
I’ve got binders full of women.
I’ve got binders full of women,yeah yeah.

Oo, oo, don’t you want to be in my binder?
Don’t you want to be in my binder?
Don’t you want to be in my binder, yeah yeah.

-----
UPDATE: This song has now been played on four programs - The Dr. Demento Show, Ben's Wacky Radio, A-Log on the Airwaves, and I Still Get Demented.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Week 42 - "There's a Tap Dancing Cow Upstairs"

I had intended to write at least one children's song for the Year of Song project, but I hadn't been inspired with any ideas in that direction.  Then the other night, when there was a commotion coming from the floor above, my wife asked, "Is there a tap dancing cow upstairs?"  And that is the inspiration for this song.


Lyrics

When I moved in, it caught me unawares.
I did not know there’s a tap dancing cow upstairs!
I cannot sleep at all while he’s up there.
I did not know there’s a tap dancing cow upstairs!
He’s not that good, but that’s alright except that
It drives me nuts the way he practices all night.
He wants to be a four-hoofed Fred Astaire
Who wears a bell.  He’s the tap dancing cow upstairs.
                                                                
(Dance Break)

Oh what to do?  My life seems so unfair!
Not a moment’s peace, with a tap dancing cow upstairs.
I’ll have to move.  It’s more than I can bear.
I just can’t stay with a tap dancing cow upstairs.
He’s not that good, but that’s alright except that
It drives me nuts the way he practices all night.
He wants to be a four-hoofed Fred Astaire
Who wears a bell.  He’s the tap dancing cow upstairs.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Week 41 - "The Teletubbies"


My friend Stewart McKee enthusiastically suggested that I should include a Teletubbies song in my Year of Song project.  Although I was familiar with them (and some of the controversies that surrounded them), I had to admit to never having seen an episode.  Fortunately, the internet has allowed my mind to be enriched with information and streaming videos of the Teletubbies, so here is the musical result!

I used my Roland XV-5080 to created the musical accompaniment.  I have composed a few other songs this year trying to create an entirely synthesized environment, but they have still been General MIDI sounds.  I decided to explore several other preset patches on the XV-5080 for this song.


Lyrics:
The Teletubbies.
I hear them speaking to me through my TV.
They bring a message meant specifically for me.
With answers to this life and all its mystery.
The Teletubbies.

They come in colors.
I see them purple, green, and yellow, and red.
I see the rainbow form inside of my head.
Now I know what it must be like to be dead.
They come in colors.

I hear them speaking in my mind.
The words are soothing, they are kind.
It's time to turn on my TV,
Lay back on my couch and unwind.

Their time is coming.
When the world will follow everything they say.
When their shining colors come to rule the day.
The Teletubbies will come forth to lead the way.
Their time is coming.

A time for Teleteubbies.
Telly bye bye.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Week 40 - "Tailgating Trash"

Tailgaiting in and of itself is not a terrible thing.  It can be a lot of fun if everyone does it respectfully, but this song is dedicated to the jerks that park on sidewalks and handicap spaces, leave mounds of trash for someone else to clean up, and act like they own the campus because they're season ticket holders (or even worse when they act this way and don't even have tickets to the game).

I created this song using the Roland XV-5080 sound module.  There is a thick wash of sound provided by the sounds of piano, bass guitar, drumset (especially with the prominent cymbal crashes), clavinova, electric guitar, marimba, chimes, and warm pad.  I also sang two vocal parts and played the synthesizer solo (and the synthesizer part in the final refrain) on my RD-600 keyboard.


Lyrics:

Tailgating trash. Tailgating trash.
I wish you'd get lost all you tailgating trash.
Tailgating trash. Tailgating trash.
I wish you would leave all you tailgating trash.

You're loud and you're obnoxious and you do not even care
About the way you're treating all the people living there.
You throw your trash out in the street here in my neighborhood.
I wish you all would go away and disappear for good.

I'm tired of all the childishness and flat stupidity.
I'm sick of all the poorly managed drunken revelry.
You're so fat you couldn't throw a football if you try,
and if you tried to run a lap, I'm sure that you would die.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Week 39 - "That is How You Get to Sesame Street"


The original Sesame Street song is filled with the plaintive cries of children begging for directions to Sesame Street.  This call has never been unanswered . . . until now!  "That is How You Get to Sesame Street" is the missing half of the song that gives directions to weary travelers that have spent the last 40 years searching in vain for Sesame Street.


Lyrics:
JFK is the airport you fly into.
Hailing a cab is the next thing you want to do.
And you tell the cabbie to take you to the Port Authority in Manhattan.

Then you buy a Metro Card in the booth at the station,
So you can ride several forms of public transportation.
Then you take a subway train or a bus to the Upper West Side.

Ride until you reach a street that's called Sesame.
Walk until the apartment building 1 - 2 - 3
and that is how you get, how you get to Sesame Street.
That's how you get to Sesame

Friday, September 21, 2012

Week 38 - "Happy Birthday for Amateurs"

Jeff Yunek and I were talking today and we decided that most performances of "Happy Birthday to You" are just dreadful. To remedy this, we have adapted the song in order to make it more accessible to amateur performers. Some of the changes we made include discarding 3/4 time in favor of the more familiar 4/4, beginning on scale degree 1 instead of 5, and eliminating all large melodic leaps. You may access the musical score https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B7TgO-MU-U9AMHJGbXR2ZTdvSHM



Lyrics:
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday dear Jeff.
Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday dear Patrick.
Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday dear Tiffany.
Happy birthday to you.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Week 37 - "Commander Data (Cool, Clean, Sentient Machine)"


This song is a tribute to Lt. Commander Data from Star Trek:The Next Generation.  The instrumental track was made entirely by layering different sounds from my RD-600 keyboard, as opposed to last week's "Ode to Spot," which was entirely notated on Finale on the computer and played through the XV-5080 sound module.


Lyrics:
It's true that I've met quite a few mellow guys.
But I've never met one with yellow eyes.
He's really strong and he can run very fast
But teaching him to whistle is a difficult task.

Commander Data.
He's a cool, clean, sentient machine
Making calculations like you ain't never seen.
You'll not see a sleeker robot
So intellectually keen.

He cannot say contractions no matter how hard he tries.
He sometimes seems naive although he is very wise.
The things he says will make you ask if he's sane.
But I bet you can't out-think his positronic brain.

With human feelings he can be such a dip
Unless he activates his emotion chip.
With stand-up humor, didn't make it too far,
But at least he made it with Tasha Yar.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Week 36 - "Ode to Spot"

The text of this song is from the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Schisms" in which Data recites the poem "Ode to Spot," in honor of his pet cat.  I have also incorporated video clips from the show.  This is my most complex attempt at syncing audio with video clips thus far in the Year of Song project.

The instrumental track was entirely notated on Finale on the computer and played through the XV-5080 sound module.  I used Audacity to align the audio clips from the Star Trek episode with the Xv-5080 audio playback.

This song was played on the Dr. Demento Show on September 15, 2012.



Lyrics:
Data: Poets have composed odes to individuals who have had a profound effect upon their lives.  In keeping with that tradition, I have written my next poem in honor of my cat.  I call it, "Ode to Spot."

Felis catus is your taxonomic nomenclature,
An endothermic quadruped, carnivorous by nature;
Your visual, olfactory, and auditory senses
Contribute to your hunting skills and natural defenses, yeah.

I find myself intrigued by your subvocal oscillations,
A singular development of cat communications
That obviates your basic hedonistic predilection
For a rhythmic stroking of your fur to demonstrate affection, yeah.

A tail is quite essential for your acrobatic talents;
You would not be so agile if you lacked its counterbalance.
And when not being utilized to aid in locomotion,
It often serves to illustrate the state of your emotion.

Data: Commander, you have anticipated my denouement.  However, the sentiment is appreciated.  I will continue.

O Spot, the complex levels of behavior you display
Connote a fairly well-developed cognitive array.
And though you are not sentient, Spot, and do not comprehend,
I nonetheless consider you a true and valued friend.

O spot, you're a true and valued friend.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Week 35 - "Into the Blue"

This week is similar to last week in that it is an experiment with using an accompaniment pattern that repeats verbatim.  The challenge is in varying the vocal melody enough to define the formal sections.


Lyrics:

I think I've come undone
While you were having fun.
What did you think you'd see
When you disconnected me?
When you disowned your life
And waited for the knife
That would remove your wings,
Were you confusing things?

And you knew I'd never sleep at night.
And you knew I wouldn't put up a fight.
It's overdue.
And you knew it never felt so right
As the moment that I held you tight.
I wish I knew
Where it is you flew.

Into the blue
Is where you're going to.
Can I follow you
Into the blue?

It's very hard to fly
With wings you did not buy.
Where can you go from here?
Your way is so unclear?
Don't you give me a sign.
Don't want to hear that line.
Why can't I see your face
Reflected in your sword and mace?

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Week 34 - "Sins of Youth"


I wrote this song originally for a girl to sing in first person ("I'm a snake, I'm a temptress...").  I'm still working on getting a recording of that version.  In the meantime, I've created this version sung from the perspective of the man.  I think it works okay either way.



Lyrics:
My heart had flown away to greet the brand new day.
My mind cannot be swayed to heal the pain of yesterday.
The wind blows through my hair as I walk in the evening air.
But I cannot pretend I've overcome what happened then.

Your life has so been built to bear the weight of crushing guilt.
You take your dagger by the hilt and watch the flowers as they wilt.
Destined to break my heart, I think I knew it from the start.
But I am not alone.  No one can melt your heart of stone.

You're a snake, you're a temptress, you're a devil in a black dress.
Your lips never spoke a word of truth.
Do you feel so restricted from the pain that you inflicted?
Should I forgive your sins of youth?

You warned me that I must never bestow you with my trust.
You'll leave me in the dust.  You'll leave me soul to rot and rust.
You'll leave me standing there.  You wouldn't even really care.
While I real from the sting, you will not feel a single thing.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Week 33 - "Crocoturtle Cove"

This song is the first of the Year of Song that was written for an advertisement.  This is a short version, which may be extended later for longer ads.  It is for my wife's business - Crocoturtle Cove.


Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Week 32 - "Chuck Norris"


This song is dedicated to my friend Kevin in Missouri.  He is, by far, the biggest Chuck Norris fan I have ever met.

Lyrics:
The day that Chuck was born
The doctor slapped him on the back
Then Chuck knocked him to the floor
When he countered with a spin attack.  Oh yeah.

He grew to be a karate star
So you better watch what you do.
Rest assured he knows who you are
And any second he'll be coming for you. Oh yeah.

That man gives me such a fright
It makes it hard for me to sleep at night.
When you see him coming, what you gonna do? He's a-
He's a one man wrecking crew.
That's Chuck! Chuck Norris! That's Chuck! Chuck Norris! Look out!

You can joke about his mustache,
But you shouldn't do it to his face.
The last one who did - Chuck kicked his ash,
And smacked his head into outer space, oh yeah.

That man gives me such a fright
It makes it hard for me to sleep at night.
When you see him coming, what you gonna do? He's a-
He's a one man wrecking crew.
That's Chuck! Chuck Norris! That's Chuck! Chuck Norris! That's "Mr. Norris" to you!

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Week 31 -"Caffeine"


This is my parody of the song "Cocaine" by J.J. Cale (which was covered by Eric Clapton).



Lyrics:
When you're feeling kind of squirrelly
'cause the alarm woke you too early -- caffeine.
When you arrive late to work
And you could really use a perk -- caffeine.
Time for work, time for work, time for work, caffeine.

When you stayed up late last night
And you ain't feeling very bright -- caffeine.
When you're moving pretty slow
And you need a cup of Joe -- caffeine.
Fill it up, fill it up, fill it up, caffeine.

Don't you drink it too much,
Or it will become a crutch -- caffeine.
You think you're doing yourself a service
But it'll make you mighty nervous -- caffeine.
Take it slow, take it slow, take it slow -- caffeine.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Week 30 - "Let Your Spirit Descend on Me"


Let Your Spirit Descend on Me
By Samuel Stokes

Quarter note = 168 BPM.  Time signature = 4/4.

Intro:  D     | A/C#    | Bm    | G     | D      | A      | Dm/F    | G7    |

Verse 1:
D                      | A/C#                      | Bm           | G                  |
Poor wandering souls lost in sorrow, we seek to bring to You.
D                    | A                        | Dm/F             | G7                |
Lord, let Your Spirit descend on me.
D                  | A/C#                     | Bm                | G                  |
To give them hope for tomorrow, to show them what is true.
D                    | A                        | Dm/F             | G7              A (on beat 4) |
Lord, let Your Spirit descend on me.

Chorus:
C                     | G                         | D (3-2-3-4-|3-2-3)      |
Lord, let Your Spirit descend on me.
C                     | G                         | D (3-2-3-4-|3-2-3)      |
You have the power to set hearts free.
C                     | G                         | D (3-2-3-4-|3-2-3)      |
Lord, let Your Spirit descend on me.
Bm                   | C                            | G                     | Asus4                |
And may Your light always lead us as we teach the Gospel of Jesus.
D                     | C                        | Dm/F            |  G7                 |
Lord, let Your Spirit descend on me.

Verse 2:
D            | A/C#                   | Bm                | G                       |
I want to tell them the story of Your great sacrifice.
D                     | A                       | Dm/F            | G7              |
Lord, let Your Spirit descend on me.
D                 | A/C#                   | Bm                     | G             |
So they can give You the glory and meet You in paradise.
D                     | A                       | Dm/F            | G7              A (on beat 4) |
Lord, let Your Spirit descend on me.

Chorus:
C                     | G                         | D (3-2-3-4-|3-2-3)      |
Lord, let Your Spirit descend on me.
C                     | G                         | D (3-2-3-4-|3-2-3)      |
You have the power to set hearts free.
C                     | G                         | D (3-2-3-4-|3-2-3)      |
Lord, let Your Spirit descend on me.
Bm                   | C                            | G                     | Asus4                |
And may Your light always lead us as we teach the Gospel of Jesus.
D                     | C                        | Dm/F            |  G7                 |
Lord, let Your Spirit descend on me.



Interlude:
(instrumental)
D                     | C                       | Dm/F                |  G7                 |
D                     | C                       | Dm/F                |  G7                 |

D                            | C             | Dm/F            | G7                  |
(softly) There is no other name by which we must be saved.
D               | C             | Dm/F            | G7                  |
There is no other name by which we must be saved.
D                                   | C             | Dm/F            | G7                  |
(Full band) There is no other name by which we must be saved.
D               | C             | Dm/F            | G7                  | G7              A (on beat 4) |
There is no other name by which we must be saved.

Chorus:
C                     | G                         | D (3-2-3-4-|3-2-3)      |
Lord, let Your Spirit descend on me.
C                     | G                         | D (3-2-3-4-|3-2-3)      |
You have the power to set hearts free.
C                     | G                         | D (3-2-3-4-|3-2-3)      |
Lord, let Your Spirit descend on me.
Bm                   | C                            | G                     | Asus4                |
And may Your light always lead us as we teach the Gospel of Jesus.
D                     | C                        | Dm/F            |  G7                 |
Lord, let Your Spirit descend on me.

Link:  D     | A/C#    | Bm    | G     | D      | A      | Dm/F    | G7         A (on beat 4) |

Chorus:
C                     | G                         | D (3-2-3-4-|3-2-3)      |
Lord, let Your Spirit descend on me.
C                     | G                         | D (3-2-3-4-|3-2-3)      |
You have the power to set hearts free.
C                     | G                         | D (3-2-3-4-|3-2-3)      |
Lord, let Your Spirit descend on me.
Bm                   | C                            | G                     | Asus4                |
And may Your light always lead us as we teach the Gospel of Jesus.
D                     | C                        | Dm/F            | G7                 |
Lord, let Your Spirit descend on me.
D                     | C                        | Dm/F            | G7                 |
Lord, let Your Spirit descend on me.
D                     | C                        | Dm/F            | G7 (rit.)         | D                  ||
Lord, let Your Spirit descend on me.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Week 29 - "I Hate Being Right All the TIme"

Lyrics:

One thing always gets me feeling blue
When my colleagues seem to have no clue.
The thing that makes difficult to acccept
Is that everyone else so inept.

But of everything at all that I hate
Of all the things in the world I berate
One thing puts me out at the drop of a dime.
I hate being right all the time.

I hate it when someone throws me a curve
Or gets on my last nerve.
I can’t take these lackeys that get in my way,
The incompetence I deal with everyday.

There’s so much that drives me crazy, for heaven’s sake.
There’s only so much stupidity I’m able to take.
One thing ticks me off at the drop of a dime.
I hate being right all the time.

All the mistakes in the world that I see
Could all be avoided if people would listen to me.
Everyone really ought to follow my rules
Or they’ll keep wandering around like a bunch of bumbling fools.
Ignoring my advice should be a crime.
I hate being right all the time.

One huge thing that I really hate
Is letting other’s control my fate.
Having to bow to the director’s demand
Is something I can’t stand.

But of everything that I cannot bear
Of all annoying things that get stuck in my hair.
One thing hacks me off at the drop of a dime.
I hate being right all the time.


This song was written for the Online Musical Workship at http://onlinemusicalworkshop.blogspot.com - it will either be sung by the aging starlet or the director - both characters that believe they know everything and aren't afraid to share it.