Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Week 65 - "Elegy for Aaron"

This elegy is my tribute to Aaron Markarian.  Even though I only knew him for slightly more than a year (from the summer before to the summer after his freshman year in high school), his enthusiasm, talent, and work ethic in music and theatre left a lasting impression on me.  Even more importantly, he was a kind and gentle young man who treated people well.  He will be missed.


Friday, March 22, 2013

Week 64 - "Pretty Average Woman"

This is a parody of "Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison and Bill Dees.  It is a satire of how so much of popular music equates love almost entirely with physical attraction, putting good looks on a pedestal above personality, integrity, and other infinitely more important qualities in a person.  It is sung from a perspective of a pretty average man wooing a pretty average woman.


Lyrics:
Pretty average woman, walking down the street
Pretty average woman, the kind I often meet
Pretty average woman
Darling, do you know that it's true
So many girls are just like you
Meh

Pretty average woman, won't you pardon me
Pretty average woman, I couldn't help but see
Pretty average woman
That you're wearing the same sweats today
You were wearing just yesterday.
Eww

Pretty average woman, at the mall
Pretty average woman's not that tall
Pretty average woman, her clothes all come from The Gap.
Pretty average woman, has those days where.
Pretty average woman, doesn't do her hair.
Pretty average woman, so she wears a baseball cap.
But who am I to judge the things you do?
The truth is, baby. I'm pretty average, too.

Pretty average woman, I'm so intrigued
Pretty average woman, 'cause you're not out of my league.
Pretty average woman, I'm willing to settle for you...okay
If that's the best I can do, okay
I guess it's going to be my fate.
I'll get used to ball caps, but wait
What do I see?
She put her hair in a ponytail for me.
Yeah, she put her hair in a ponytail for me.
Oh, oh, Pretty average woman

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Week 62 - "Made in the Shade"

"Made in Shade" was created using several different sounds on the Roland RD-600 keyboard.  It is primarily instrumental with an improv line on the lead synth part.  There is a short vocal hook repeated at the end.


Lyrics:
You've got it made in the shade
For all the plans that you've made
You've got it made in the shade
For all you've hoped and prayed

Friday, March 1, 2013

Week 61 - "Pet Peeve Quartet"

"Pet Peeve Quartet" from the new musical project - lyrics by August Mergelman and music by Samuel Stokes.

Lyrics:
I hate the way he snaps his fingers.
i love the way her perfume lingers.
I hate the way that girl can get to me.
I can't wait until he grows up.
I hate the way she sticks her nose up.
Oh that ego, I might throw up.
I hate the way that boy/girl can get to me.

The feeling is so great
That I can't concentrate
On whatever it was that I was doing.

I'm helpless and it seems
He's even in my dreams.
My composition needs re-gluing.

I think he has a lot of nerve.
I hope he/she gets what he/she deserves.
I love the way that girl can get to me.
I hate the fact that she's so honest.
He thinks he is the next Adonis.
I wish love would smile upon us.
I hate the way that boy/girl can get to me.