Monday, December 1, 2014

#151 - "Scion of Eisenach"

Composer's Voice presents Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame: Homage to BACH, Maksim Velichkin, cello performed at the Brand Library & Arts Center in Glendale, California, May 4, 2014.

This is a video of Maksim Velichkin performing "Scion of Eisenach" by Samuel Stokes.


#150 - "Life's Vicissitudes"

This solo bassoon piece depicts a personal journey through a rapidly changing course of events in the pursuit of a solace in which peace and tranquility allow for the contemplation of life's vicissitudes.


#149 - "The Relentless Stowaway"

A piece I composed, choreographed by Justin Barron and performed by University of Central Missouri Dance Department on their spring performance "Still/Moving" - April 2014.


#148 - "Gauntlet Down"

A fixed media piece that I composed, choreographed by Ashley Miller and performed by University of Central Missouri Dance Department on their spring performance "Still/Moving" - April 2014. The lighting design and video were created by Jeff Peltz.


#147 - "Stone Castles Burning Down and Being Blown into the Swamp"

This is a humorous piece I composed for toy piano, loosely based on a Monty Python reference.


#146 - "Contronym"

This is MIDI-generated recording of my solo piano piece "Contronym."

#145 - "Gradualism"

This is a MIDI-generated recording of a minimalist experiment piece I composed for oboe, bassoon, viola, and cello.  The opening chord is gradually changed in terms of pitch and rhythm from beginning to end.


#144 - "Zydeco World"

This is a piece that I composed for a competition calling for one-minute record pieces to be choreographed.


#143 - "Homily"

This is another piece for my video collaboration project with Matt DeFord to create 6 second looping videos based on words randomly selected from the dictionary. The video is yet to come.  The idea behind this one is that it fits both the first definition as it is a short talk, and it fits the second definition as it is advice that most people don't want to hear.


Lyrics:
The Lord commands us, "give to the poor and thou shalt have treasures in heaven."

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

#142 - "When I'm Grown"

This is a rough demo for a song that I wrote for the music students of my friend Michael Durham at the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired to use for a recording project.  I'm excited to hear what they do with this piece. When I get the recording, I will post it here for comparison.



Lyrics:
"When I'm Grown"
By Samuel Stokes

INTRO:
B  F#m | B F#m | B  F#m | B F#m |


V. 1
     B                    F#m      |B            F#m        |
They told me I would understand someday when I become a man.
        B                   F#m                | B                   F#m |
But the time has come and I still don't know the things I should know.
B            F#m             |B              F#m          |
Someday if I really try, I'll understand the reasons why
   B                F#m          |B         F#m  |
We do the things we do and go the places we go.

G        E7                  |G                 E7         |
 Maybe I missed the boat, and now I'm trying to stay afloat.
G             E7      | G       F#      |B  F#m | B F#m | B  F#m | B F#m |
Maybe I won't be alone, someday when I'm grown.


V. 2
  B                         F#m           |B             F#m            |
I thought that things would be so clear if I just aged a few more years.
B               F#m             |B                  F#m  |
Now I know that no one knows the things they should know.
B           F#m           |B            F#m        |
Lost at sea without a map, all a staggering mishap.
B               F#m            |B             F#m  |
Going where the winds of fate decided to blow.

G        E7                  |G                 E7         |
 Maybe I missed the boat, and now I'm trying to stay afloat.
G             E7      | G       F#      |B  F#m | B F#m | B  F#m | B F#m |
Maybe I won't be alone, someday when I'm grown. (begin improv solo)

(continue improv solo - B Mixolydian)
B  F#m | B F#m | B  F#m | B F#m |

G        E7                  |G                 E7         |
 Maybe I missed the boat, and now I'm trying to stay afloat.
G             E7      | G       F#      |B  F#m | B F#m | B  F#m ||: B F#m :||(fade)
Maybe I won't be alone, someday when I'm grown.

#141 - "Goodbye, Mama"


Lyrics:
Goodbye, Mama, don't you cry.
Wipe the tears beneath your eyes.
Mama, it's time to go away.
And heaven knows how long you'll stay.

Mama never did no good.
Never did the things a mother should.
And now she gets her just desserts
No matter just how much it hurts.

She said she never knew she was doing wrong.
But I think she knew it all along.
And now she's going away and she's going to have to stay real strong.

Goodbye, Mama, don't you fret.
Don't go saying things you might regret.
It'll only be a couple years.
It won't be very hard to hold our tears.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

#140 "Crackly"

This is the second audio-visual collaboration between myself and Matt DeFord.  Matt created the video, and I created the audio.


Saturday, September 6, 2014

Expansion of Format for the Year of Song Blog

I've been giving this some thought, and I have decided to expand the format of the Year of Song Blog.  The project began when I was in the middle of the second year of my Ph.D. program at LSU majoring in music theory and minoring in composition.  I began to realize how much I missed writing music as I wasn't making the time to work on the many ideas that would pop into my head.  I focused on "songs" with the blog, which I defined as any musical work including voice.  Since musical theatre is a huge area of interest for me, the idea of writing and recording songs was very appealing to me.

All in all, I have found the project to have achieved many successes.  It rekindled my passion for composition, prompting me to switch composition from my minor to my major.  It has led me to compose more experimental pieces.  It has led to having songs performed by several great performers including Gracie Stean, The Solution, Kelly Riely, Shannon Roberts, Yumi Suehiro, and Viola Yip.  It has also led to me composing pieces in a variety of instrumentation and styles, performed by such artists as the LSU Symphony, the Hong Kong New Music Ensemble, the Vine Orchestra, Thomas Piercy, Vilian Ivantchev, Maksim Velichkin, the West Winds, Juan Maria Solare, Robert Botti, and upcoming performances by Suzanne Mueller, Pamela Sklar, Susan Mendel, and Kenji Haba.  Additionally, it has rekindled my interest in musical comedy, and although I first achieved my childhood goal of having a song played on the Dr. Demento Show in 2007, I have appeared on the show an additional 20 times since the beginning of the Year of Song project in 2012.  Finally, the chain of events that began in January 2012 with the beginning of this project has led to me becoming the music composition instructor at Northwestern State University of Louisiana.

In the past month, however, I have found that I'm having much more difficulty keeping up with the one song per week goal (I have to record two today to catch up with the original goal), and I've spent some time in introspection to understand why.  Ultimately, I believe that the success of the project itself has contributed to the mental stress the project's format is now causing me.  I chose to compose and record one piece of vocal music per week, because my love of composition began with sitting down at the piano and writing songs, inspired by my love of musical theatre, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones (primarily).  However, since I have felt the emotional uplift of writing and enjoying the success of the project, I have written a number of other pieces, instrumental, experimental, sound art, and so forth, in addition to the weekly song recording.  Since I have expanded in so many different directions with composition, I feel much more pressed for time in writing and recording a (vocal) song every single week.  Whereas I feel that I have learned something from writing and recording each week's song, I have sometimes felt that I didn't produce the quality product of which I am capable, and for which I am striving.

On the other hand, I look back at the 139 songs in the project and am thrilled and gratified that I have such a diverse portfolio of recorded works of my own, which are available to share with anyone at anytime.  It is such a wonderful thing for a composer to have.  And although I feel as if I'm tiring somewhat of the grind of the project, I really don't want my portfolio to slow in its growth.

To address these issues, I am making these changes to the format of the this blog:

1) Although the name will still be "Year of Song," I will expand this to include instrumental works and other types of "sound art."  This will diversify my composition portfolio and allow me more time to focus on works that don't necessarily fit the definition of "song."

2) Instead of strictly requiring myself to compose and record one work per week, I will make the goal to compose and record 52 weeks per year.  The ultimate result is the same, but this will (at least psychologically) give me the leeway to expand and contract a bit without feeling like I've not lived up to the standards of the project itself.   I might post three recordings in one week, for example, or occasionally take a week off.

3) I will be putting more effort into collaborating with other wonderful musicians, allowing them the freedom to interpret and record my pieces as they are inspired.  I have no doubt that I can learn a great deal from relinquishing some of the control of the final product, and it will also take some of the pressure off of me.  Of course, I'm going to do the best to return the artistic favor, by recording their works, or providing some sort of creative service.

I believe these changes will ultimately be a positive thing for me and the project.  I still plan to write plenty of songs, but now I will be free to write other types of music as well.  And I will be able to do this without feeling guilty about "giving up" on a project, which has already far exceeded my original expectations.  Thank you all so much for listening and supporting my music!

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Song 139 - Driving Jingle Demo 2

This is a demo for a second commercial jingle for an auto glass shop in Missouri.


Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Song 138 - "You Don't Need That Girl"


Lyrics:
Sometimes you need a brand new pair of shoes,
Sometimes you need to sing and play the blues.
But listen friend - there's one thing you don't need.
That evil girl, she'll only make you bleed.

You don't need that girl. You don't need that girl.
You don't need that girl and she ain't no good for you.
You don't need that girl. You don't need that girl.
You don't need that girl and she ain't no good for you.

Sometimes you need to buy a brand new car,
Sometimes you need to find out where you are.
But there's one thing that you could do without.
You're better off there's certainly no doubt.

You don't need that girl. You don't need that girl.
You don't need that girl and she ain't no good for you.
You don't need that girl. You don't need that girl.
You don't need that girl and she ain't no good for you.

Sometimes you need to buy a new TV.
Sometimes you need to have a shopping spree.
And yes you need to finally turn your back.
Or you know that girl is gonna give you a heart attack.

You don't need that girl. You don't need that girl.
You don't need that girl and she ain't no good for you.
You don't need that girl. You don't need that girl.
You don't need that girl and she ain't no good for you.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Song 137 - "My Barbaric YAWP" - a tribute to Robin Williams

Robin Williams died today August 11, 2014.  This piece is a tribute to his role as Mr. Keating in one of my favorite films, "Dead Poets Society."


Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Song 136 - "Out of Here"

I did some strange effects on this one.  I played the piano chords forward and backwards and reversed the backwards track so each chord strikes and fades in at the same time.  The higher piano lines were performed backwards and reversed.  I also did some simple echo effects with the voice.



Lyrics:
Sometimes I need to get out of here
To a place my mind can clear.
Sometimes I need to get out of here
Where no words can interfere.
Where can I go?:
Where thoughts freely flow.
Where can I go?:
I wish I could know.

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Song 135 - "Hedonol"

Here is a preview of things to come: I'm going to write a suite of miniature fixed media works for which artist Matt DeFord (art department coordinator, Northwestern State University of Louisiana) will be creating videos.  Each work will be based on a word randomly selected from the dictionary and will be a loop of a maximum of six seconds in duration.  Here is the first piece (with just the definition shown, video will come later).  This is best heard in stereo headphones (or other good stereo sound setup), as you will miss things if you don't hear it in stereo.


Sunday, July 20, 2014

Song 134 - "All of Me Loves All Star Trek"

This is a parody of "All of Me" by John Legend called "All of Me Loves All Star Trek."  I did my best to emulate as precisely as possible the sound of the original recording.  I began by transcribing the piano part as exactly as I could hear it.  I recorded the piano part and cut out the highs and lows in the EQ for the first four measures to make it sound more tinny. I then added the light pad sound in the second half of the song.  After recording the main vocal, I recorded vocal harmonies for the last two choruses and set a delay effect on the them twenty times over to get the robotic voice effect.  Then I copied the higher voice and doubled it up an octave electronically.
Check out the Samuel Stokes MP3 store at: http://www.samuelstokesmusic.com/amazon.html


Lyrics:
What would I do without my Star Trek?
TV today is such a train wreck.
You've got me binge viewing,
Reviewing each show on my blog.
The best way to watch them is up for debate.
Original order or by the stardate?
And every different series has strange fan theories,
Believe them or not.

I argue on forums what's canon or not.
Minutae I give way too much thought.

'Cause all of me loves all Star Trek
Over interstellar distance
Through your three of five year missions.
I've purchased all your shows.
I give you all my dough.
And I bought the movies also
Although every other one is awful.
'Cause I'm a trekkie or a trekker.
Call me whichever one you prefer, oh oh.

How many times do I have to tell you?
I even love Voyager and Enterprise, too.
The Animated Series is sort of dreary,
But I guess it's okay.
It's an addiction that I abuse.
My worst distraction, my Andorian blues.
I can't stop watching and rewatching
Every single day.

I've spent several years learning to speak Klingon.
I impress my friends at Scificon.

'Cause all of me loves all Star Trek.
I buy all your action figures,
All your collector's cards and stickers.
Just keep producing stuff,
'Cause I can't get enough.
And I own several types of tricorders,
And my room looks like Enterprise quarters.
'Cause I give you all my cash
To buy your souvenir trash, oh oh.
Give me all your trash.

Cards on the table, we're playing Fizzbin.
Changing the rules, I can't win.

'Cause all of me loves all Star Trek
Over interstellar distance
Through your three of five year missions.
I've purchased all your shows.
I give you all my dough.
And I bought the movies also
Although every other one is awful.
'Cause I'm a trekkie or a trekker.
Call me whichever one you prefer.
'Cause I'm a trekkie or a trekker.
Call me whichever one you prefer, oh oh.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Song 133 - "The Laughing Vulcan and His Dog"

This is a song based on a title suggested in the Star Trek: the Next Generation episode "Disaster."


Lyrics:
V.1

  D                      A            D
I went planet Vulcan and what a sunny place

D                         A7             D
I met a Vulcan man with a smile upon his face

G               D         G              D
He had a little doggy and he was smiling too

  G               D             E7                 A7
I never knew that smiling was a thing that Vulcans do.



CHORUS:
    D6                                  G                 D6
The laughing Vulcan and his dog are the funniest sight to see.

    G                D6     Bm7           Em               A7    
I'd like to tell you why he laughs, but I don't know honestly.

D6                          G              D6
Maybe he mind-melded with a giggle box one day,

        G               D6      Bm7      Em
But the laughing Vulcan and his dog keep grinning

   A7               D6
As they go on their way.


V.2

  D                              A                 D
I know you don't believe me. You think I'm telling lies.

D                           A7              D
I'm only telling you what I saw with my own eyes.

G                    D                       G                    D
They say that dog is man's best friend, he's Vulcan's best friend too.

    G                  D           E7                A7
And some day you'll discover ev'ry word I've said is true.

CHORUS

Tag G D

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Song 132 - "Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May"

This is my setting of Robert Herrick's "To the Virgins, To Make Much of Time."  The painting is called "Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May" and is by John William Waterhouse.


Text:

GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may,
  Old Time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles to-day
  To-morrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,         5
  The higher he 's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
  And nearer he 's to setting.

That age is best which is the first,
  When youth and blood are warmer;  10
But being spent, the worse, and worst
  Times still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time,
  And while ye may, go marry:
For having lost but once your prime,  15
  You may for ever tarry.

Samuel Stokes MP3s available at Amazon.com

I now have several MP3s available to purchase online at Amazon.com.  Some of these are songs of mine that have been played on the Dr. Demento Show. Check out the Amazon MP3 store I put on my website at http://www.samuelstokesmusic.com/amazon.html or search for "Samuel Stokes" under the category "Digitial Music" on Amazon.com.

Purchase "Kittens Wearing Funny Hats" on MP3!

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Week 131 - Driving Ad

I composed this for a radio ad for an auto glass shop in Missouri.  If you would like to hire me to compose for your ad, contact me through my website: http://www.samuelstokesmusic.com




Lyrics:
Driving: the fantasy

Driving in the fast lane.
Driving like I'm insane.
Flying like a bat out of heck.
Still ain't never been in a wreck.
Driving in the fast lane.

The reality.

Driving in the slow lane.
Going to get my oil changed.

Look out!

Monday, June 23, 2014

Week 130 - "The QWERTY Rag"

I wrote this one to help my daughter remember where the letters are on the QWERTY keyboard.  Teachers and parents feel free to use this video to help train your children!


Saturday, June 14, 2014

"Whales Weep Not!" performed by Shannon Roberts and Yumi Suehiro

Back in week 100 of the project, I composed a song entitled "Whales Weep Not!" and submitted it to a Vox Novus Fifteen Minutes of Fame competition in which fifteen one-minute works by different composers are selected for performance.  I am happy to say that my song was among those to be selected for performance by Shannon Roberts and Yumi Suehiro in NYC on March 30, 2014.


Text (by D. H. Lawrence):
They say the sea is cold, but the sea contains
the hottest blood of all, and the wildest, the most urgent.

All the whales in the wider deeps, hot are they, as they urge
on and on, and dive beneath the icebergs.
There they blow, there they blow, hot wild white breath out of the sea!

Week 129 - "Wrecking Ball"

This is a parody of Miley Cyrus's "Wrecking Ball" about ALF.  This is another request of ALFTV.com.


Lyrics:
I've always been an awful klutz.
I guess that's just how I am.
I'm always breaking everything,
Getting myself in a jam.

Don't be mad at me.  I don't mean to be
Causing so much trouble.
I know your concern is that I will turn
Your house into rubble.

I came in like a wrecking ball.
I didn't mean to wreck the car.
Didn't mean to blow the kitchen up.
All I ever did was wreck your house.
Yeah I, I wrecked your house.

Week 128 - "Party in the Melmac Way"

This is a parody of "Party in the U.S.A." by Miley Cyrus, entitled "Party in the Melmac Way."  Featuring clips from the TV show ALF.  This was a special request from the administrator of ALFTV.com, the unofficial fan club for ALF.


Lyrics:
I came here to Earth in my spaceship, soon after Melmac was blown away.
I crash-landed in the garage of a typical family in L.A.
I left Melmac feelin' sort of young and able.
Now I'm waking up on a human coffee table.

Now I'm feeling smaller, everybody here's much taller.
Eight stomachs turning and I'm feeling kinda of homesick.
I'm really hungry and I know it.
That's when I finally asked if I could have a snack.

And I saw they had a cat.
And I saw they had a cat.
And I saw they had a cat.

I'll have stay in hiding from the government now,
At least they're gonna let me stay.
Clearing the fridge, like yeah.
Chasing the cat, like yeah.

Cost 'em lots of money from the things that I break,
To the Tanner family's dismay.
Yeah, it's a party in the Melmac Way.
Yeah, it's a party in the Melmac Way.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Week 127 - "The Gospel According to Mammon"

This is a "spoken word" piece that employs speaking and sprechstimme (half-spoken/half-sung).  It was performed by Viola Yip in New York City on May 11, 2014.


Lyrics:
The Lord has surely blessed me with all material blessings,
Because he knew my soul was righteous while I was yet in the womb.
But woe to those who were born into poverty, t-t-t-t-ty t-t-t-t-ty.
For they were conceived by the seeds of poverty, t-t-t-t-ty t-t-t-t-ty ty.
And were not blessed in the sight of the Lord.
Lord, have I not toiled and struggled?
This is why you Sssssatisfy my needsssss and desiressssss.
But you have condemned those who dare to live in poverty,
Who dare not to receive your material blessings,
Who dare to starve.





Friday, May 30, 2014

Week 126 - "Taking a Dip in the Adjunct Pool"

Lyrics:
Takin' a dip, dip.
Takin' a dip, dip.
Takin' a dip, dip.
Takin' a dip, dip.
Woo-oo-oo-oo
Woo-oo-oo-oo

I've always been the leader of my class.
There was no test in college I could not pass.
I always knew for certain I'd get an A.
You want some proof just check out my GPA.
I've always been good, did everything the guidance counselor said I should.

I graduated with a 4.0
Cum laude stamped on my diploma to show.
I went right on to get my PhD
I knew employers would be begging for me.
But now I'm done with school, and taking a dip in the adjunct pool.

The guy in high school that made straight Cs and Ds
Has done quite well, he makes more money than me.
I'm living in my car and eating fast food.
Sometimes I wonder if I really got screwed.
They played me for a fool, I'm taking a dip in the adjunct pool.

Well there's one nice thing about having no home.
They can't mail me my bills for my student loan.
What will I do come winter's chilly breeze?
Burn my diplomas so that I do not freeze.
They're paying me in gruel, I'm taking a dip in the adjunct pool.

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Week 125 - "Fun in the Sun"

Yeah!  Summer is here!


Lyrics:
The last day of school has come
And summertime has just begun.
I just want to shut off my brain
And pray that it won't start to rain.

I want some fun in the sun.
Let's have some fun in the sun.
Fun in the sun.
Oh yeah

I've been stuck behind my desk for so long.
Would breathing fresh air be so wrong?
I feel like the walls are closing in.
Why should going outside be a sin?

I want some fun in the sun.
Let's have some fun in the sun.
Fun in the sun.
Oh yeah


Saturday, May 17, 2014

Week 124 - "Zydeco Zebra"

A silly song inspired by family trips to the Audubon Zoo.






Lyrics:
It happened one fine day down in old New Orleans,
It was the strangest thing those folks ever seen.
And if you've ever been there you know that's a feat.
You'd think they'd seen it all down on old Bourbon street.
But then out of the blue, there's an escapee from the zoo.

From his habitat at the Audobon,
He hopped the closest streetcar to the Cafe du Monde.
Down at the old French Market he was trying to hide,
By pulling carriages, so that the people could ride.
'Til the folks heard the news that there's a zebra on the loose.

Oh what a crazy sight!
Those stripes of black and white.

That old zebra left the place in a daze,
But all he really wanted was a plate of beignets.
'Cause as a zebra that loves the rhythm of zydeco,
You've got to get your fill, as every Cajun should know.
And if you'd like to do better, you can feed him a muffaletta!

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Week 123 - The "Want Some Rye?" Rag

This song is based on the Boos Myller scene at the old mill from the 1993 Infocom game "Return to Zork."  Probably the most memorable scene of this long, difficult game.



Lyrics:

BOOS MYLLER:
Who're you?
Don't matter.
Want some rye?
Course you do!

WIZARD TREMBYLE:
That guy drinks so much, even his plants are potted.

BOOS MYLLER:
Here's to us.
Who's like us?
Damn few...
And they're all dead!

Want some rye?
Course you do!

Here's to us.
Who's like us?
Damn few...
And they're all dead!

Want some rye?
Course you do!

My, my keys?
Oh, oh, oh, sure, yeah, yeah.
I, I, I'm too drive to drunk.
Oh, would you pick up a six pack while you're out?
I'd be much obliged.

Here's to us.
Who's like us?
Damn few...
And they're all dead!

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Week 122 - "Join Our March"

This song is my contribution to Virginia's Family Foundation who have recently announced a planned 40-day fast as a spiritual stance against same-sex marriage.  Please note, this should not be mistaken for a hunger strike, as there are many types of abstentions that qualify under the definition of a fast.  In fact, there are rumors that this may actually be what has become known as a "Chik-Fil-A" fast, meaning that the Family Foundation will only be participating in a full fast on Sundays.




Lyrics:
Join our march as Biblical intellectuals
To fight our war against the homosexuals.
We'll starve ourselves for forty days,
Yes, that'll show those lousy gays.

We think the things they do are really gross,
And so we'll fast until they go away.
But the thing I'm sure we'll miss the most
Is Friday afternoons at Chik-Fil-A.

Join our march as Biblical intellectuals
To fight our war against the homosexuals.
We'll starve ourselves for forty days,
Yes, that'll show those lousy gays.

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Week 121 - "E.T., Your Game Sucked for Atari"

This song is in response to the excavation of the Atari E.T. cartridges, which were dumped in a landfill in Alamogordo, New Mexico in 1983.



Lyrics:
E.T., your game sucked for Atari and we're really very sorry.
E.T., they buried you underground, but finally you were found.
E.T.
E.T., they made five million cartridges or so,
But sales of them were really very slow,
And now the public really wants to know,
Where did they all go.
E.T., your film was a blockbuster, but your game did not pass muster.
E.T., Just to make a quick buck, they released a game that sucked,
E.T.
E.T., wherever in the galaxy you roam,
I think you'll really want to phone home,
To tell them how these cockeyed humans comb,
Through piles of trash to find a game that no one even really wants to own.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Week 120 - "Mordecai"



Lyrics:
It could take forever Mordecai
For you and me to start seeing eye to eye.
It could take forever Mordecai
For you and me to start seeing eye to eye.
The way you think could make an angel cry, Mordecai.
I can't agree know matter how I try, Mordecai.
Never in a million years, Mordecai.
Nor the shedding of a million tears, Mordecai.

That's how it all ends now, Mordecai.
Doesn't seem like either of us bends now, Mordecai.
That's how it all ends now, Mordecai.
Doesn't seem like either of us bends now, Mordecai.
You go to the left and I'll go right now, Mordecai.
One of us is heading toward light now, Mordecai.
Who will end up where he wants to go now, Mordecai.
I guess there's only one way we can know now, Mordecai.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Week 119 - "Angry Whopper"

This is a tribute to one of my favorite burgers.  I experimented with duplicating the piano track and applying reverb to one and wah-wah to the other.

Lyrics:
Angry Whopper, what makes you so angry?
Angry Whopper, always feeling cranky.

Angry Whopper, why're you always giving people sass?
Maybe you should go enroll in anger management class, Angry Whopper.

Angry Whopper, what makes you so surly.
Angry Whopper, you're always in a fury.

Angry Whopper, although you're as tasty as can be.
Maybe you should go and seek some clinical therapy, Angry Whopper.

Angry Whopper, raging like a thunder.
Angry Whopper, yet you fill my hunger.
Angry Whopper.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Week 118 - "Finicky, Fidgety, Fickle Easter Day"

This is a parody of Gene Autry's "Here Comes Peter Cottontail."  It comments on the wide variability of dates upon which Easter may fall.


Lyrics:
Easter comes just once a year
What a day of joy and cheer
But there is one thing I must confess

Knowing just when it will fall
Is confusing to us all
Truthfully it's such a crazy mess.

It's the Sunday that comes after
The very first full moon,
That follows the vernal equinox.
So it never falls in June.

No, it usually comes April, yet
It sometimes comes in March, you bet.
Finicky fidgety fickle Easter Day.
Finicky fidgety fickle Easter Day.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Week 117 - "Manwich from Heaven"

I wrote this Manwich commercial to serve humanity by proving my worth as a jingle writer.


Sunday, March 23, 2014

Week 116 - "He's a Douche"

This song is not about anyone in particular, but about several ones in particular.






Lyrics:
How many times can I say it?
How many ways can I make my feelings known.
Many times I prayed it.
That you would leave that guy alone.

He's a douche, douche.
He's a douche, douche.
He's a douche, a douche, douche.
He's a douche, douche.
He's a douche, a douche, douche.
He's a douche, douche.
He's a douche, a douche, douche.
He's a douche, douche.
He's a douche.

Anyone can see it.
He's been a bad one all along.
Why don't you believe it?
That he will only treat you wrong.

What's going through your mind girl?
It's clear that he's not right for you.
You choose to be blind girl.
It may just be that you're a douche, too.

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Week 115 - "Life-Forms"

This song is based on Data's "Life-Forms" song from Star Trek: Generations.  I took what was given and expanded it, adding original verses.  This recording also features me playing my beautiful rosewood xylophone.



Lyrics:
Life-forms
You tiny little life-forms
You precious little life-forms
Where are you?

I Was trav'ling through space at the helm of the Enterprise one day.
I approached a new planet and turned on my full sensor array.
Now I know there's nothing in the galaxy I'd rather do.
Than explore the cosmos scanning them for life-forms just with you.

Life-forms
You tiny little life-forms
You precious little life-forms
Where are you?

Alpha quadrant is crawling with life that is known to me and you.
But Delta quadrant is chock-full of wonderful species strange and new.
It could be the standard carbon-based kind that we've always known
Or it could be some strange form of life that's based on silicone.

Life-forms
You tiny little life-forms
You precious little life-forms
Where are you?

------------------------------
UPDATE:
Brent Spiner (Data himself) retweeted this song via Twitter.  Thanks, Commander!

 

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Week 114 - "Collage"

This piece is a collage of three previous songs in the Year of Song project with various electronic effects applied.

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Week 113 - "Deckard Cain"

This is a song in honor of Deckard Cain from the Diablo games.





Lyrics:
One day I was walking through Tristam and I met a man named Deckard Cain.
Once that old man gets to telling a story, it's like he'll never shut up again.
Then he'll send me on a quest against the forces of evil.
Through a strange kind of world that is kind of medieval.
And his name is Deckard Cain.

One day Deckard Cain wasn't there, and I found out that he was missing.
And so I had to go to King Leoric's Tomb and go to battle with the skeleton king.
But the one strange thing about Deckard Cain,
Is every time I start a new quest, got to save him again!
That's how it is with Deckard Cain.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Week 112 - "The Ballad of Romiette and Julio"

This is a song written for the Shakespeare adaptation "A Midsummer Night's Western," with lyrics by the playwright August Mergelman and music by Samuel Stokes.  This will be used for an upcoming production near Colorado Springs.




Lyrics:

Pete:
Now you got your French folks, and they like their sparkin’,
And you got your Irish, and they like to brawl,
But down in the land that is shaped like my left boot,
You got Eye-talians, and they like it all.

Tom:
There was a ranch half a mile from Verona
With extended family, ranch hands, and hens,
And over the draw was a spread just as handsome,
But there was no love creepin’ over the fence.

Pete:
Till one day a fella was out treein’ coons.
He suddenly lowered his head, and he smiled,
When he locked his eyes with a purty young filly,
And she got to blushin’ ‘cause she was beguiled.

So Romiette told all of this to her nana.
Ole Nana ‘tweren’t  happy, but she didn’t scold,
And Julio told all of this to the parson.
The parson was skittish ‘bout what he’d been told.

Then Romiette’s daddy decided his daughter
Would marry the fella he’d picked out for her.
Oh, he was a dude from around Paris, Texas.
A real drugstore cowboy with gold-plated spurs.

Robin:
On Saturday night all the boys came to town,
A-cussin’ and gamblin’ and fightin’ and drunk.
When Romiette’s cousin crossed Julio’s buddy,
They fought, and their final grave was the bunk.

Pete:
Well, as you can guess, there was plenty hard feelin’s.
It looked like the lovers should get hitched and fast.
So that moonlit night, when their folks was asleep,
They snuck out their winders and met up at last.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Week 111 - "What Does Spock Love? (The Women)"

This is a song using clips from the original Star Trek and the 2009 film.  This song was played on the March 1, 2014 episode of the Dr. Demento Show.


Saturday, February 8, 2014

Week 110 - "I Love Lamp"

This song is inspired by a scene from the movie Anchorman.


Lyrics:
I love carpet.  I love carpet.
I love desk.  I love desk.
I love carpet.  I love desk.
I love carpet.  I love desk.
I love lamp.  I love lamp.

In this office, I learned to love.
It has the things that I've been dreaming of.

I love carpet.  I love carpet.
I love desk.  I love desk.
I love carpet.  I love desk.
I love carpet.  I love desk.
I love lamp.  I love lamp.
I love lamp.  I love lamp.
I love lamp.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Coca-Cola's "America the Beautiful" Super Bowl Commercial - a Question of Musical Sincerity

Last night, Coca-Cola aired a commercial during the Super Bowl, which aroused some controversy.  The commercial begins with "America, the Beautiful" being sung by a solo voice, with a simple sustained-note string accompaniment, which continues throughout.  After the first line of the song was sung in English, different vocal soloists enter, singing various phrases of the song.  The same texture of solo voice over sustained string accompaniment continues through the entire song, until the end of the song - on the word "sea," several background vocalists enter with the five-note Coca-Cola "chime" (which I believe began with the "Open Happiness" ad campaign).


First, a word about the "controversy" – I'm actually going to go out on a limb here (a very secure limb, in fact, of which I feel no danger of collapse) and say that this is not even a legitimate issue.  It seems that some people are offended by the fact that an American song would be sung in any other language than English (which is immediately ironic in that English didn't even originate on our continent).  I'm not even going to embark on the argument that America's true language is any number of Native American languages, which actually did spring forth in this land.  As I said, it's a non-issue, and the only reason people make it an issue is because of their own ignorance, racism, bigotry, xenophobia, or any number of other unpleasant reasons.

The issue that I am pondering right now is one of musical sincerity.  Jean Giraudox once said, "The secret of success is sincerity. Once you can fake that you've got it made."  Most music makers and consumers agree that sincerity is an important part of music.  Some music consumers get up in arms about Auto-tune because we are no longer hearing the singer's "true" voice.  Some get bent out of shape from dynamic range compression, because we feel that the reduction of dynamic range is directly proportional to a reduction in emotional depth.

Well, when listening to this admittedly very emotionally-stirring commercial, I couldn't help but temper my response to the musical arrangement based on the fact that I know it was designed to sell a product.  Coca-Cola has used this same sales technique before in offering us the 1971 commercial "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing," a simple but effective song that promoted a loving multicultural community.  However, even though the obvious aim was to sell Coke, people felt so strongly about the message (and the catchy tune) that the song itself eventually appeared on the Billboard charts.

Now, admittedly, just because something is created for a commercial doesn't necessarily mean that it is not a legitimate work of art.  Companies might be about selling products, and ad agencies are about selling ads to those companies, but that doesn't mean that the creators of the ads aren't creating sincere works.  In fact, I believe there was sincerity in the "America, the Beautiful" arrangement, and I believe that many Americans were moved by the beauty of the song's performance and message, but as a composer, I feel that one thing ruined it for me.  Why did they have to force that "Open Happiness" chime onto the end of the arrangement?!  I feel that the musical arranger that set forth to scoring and recording this piece was probably screaming that in his mind the whole time, as Coca-Cola executives demanded that this musical blight was necessary for tying the sentiment to the product (of course, the scenario could have been quite different, this is  just what I imagine).  Oh, how I wish they had not added that ridiculous chime to the end.  It would have removed that iota of doubt that I have about the sincerity of the music.

I have a feeling that musical groups all over the country will begin using the idea from this commercial.  I imagine that we will hear many versions of patriotic American songs sung by alternating soloists in their native languages by school choirs, church choirs, and other community choirs.  I look forward to it.  It will be a beautiful thing that will emphasize the connection that we all have as members of the human race, and maybe it will even move the hearts of those that were originally offended by the concept.  And I believe these performances will largely be sincere.  I am also quite sure that none of them will end with the "Open Happiness" chime.