tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75076422108859902912024-03-13T05:00:17.284-05:00Year of Song - Samuel StokesYear of Song began in 2012, with the task of composing and recording one song per week. It continues as free-form blog where I share my musical works.Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-20187310398085943492015-03-07T12:19:00.003-06:002015-03-07T12:19:52.585-06:00"What Does Spock Love? (The Women)" - on Dr. Demento's Leonard Nimoy Tribute<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Included on today's episode of the Dr. Demento Show was a tribute to the late, great Leonard Nimoy. I'm very proud that a song of mine was included in this tribute: "What Does Spock Love? (The Women)." We will all miss Leonard Nimoy very much.</div>
Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-25813222915589045252015-03-07T12:14:00.002-06:002015-03-07T12:14:53.212-06:00Natchtioches-Northwestern Horn Society at the Southeast Horn Workshop<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natchitoches-Northwestern Horn Society at the Southeast Horn Workshop at LSU</td></tr>
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The Natchitoches-Northwestern Horn Society performed this weekend at the Southeast Horn Workshop at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Included in the performance was my composition "Caer Cadarn." The video below is of the premiere performance in December 2014.<div>
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Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-17973542957342928662015-02-27T13:54:00.000-06:002015-02-27T13:54:07.690-06:00Farewell, Leonard Nimoy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have just heard the very sad news of the passing of Leonard Nimoy. His role as Mr. Spock has always been an inspiration to me. It was great to recently see him reprise that role in the latest two Star Trek films. I have lost a childhood hero, and we have all lost a wonderful human being.<br />
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Here are a few songs that I wrote, inspired by Leonard Nimoy's portrayal of Spock:<br />
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Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-56778356596982606692015-02-13T13:10:00.002-06:002015-02-25T18:48:02.534-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This blog has had a good run. I'm proud of what has come from the project. I will continue to post music here, but I will not be doing it according to any set schedule for the time being. I will also continue to post my new musical works on my YouTube channel, so please check out <a href="http://www.youtube.com/samstokes80">http://www.youtube.com/samstokes80</a> to hear my latest music.<br />
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Also, visit my website at <a href="http://www.samuelstokesmusic.com/">http://www.samuelstokesmusic.com</a></div>
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Thanks for listening!</div>
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Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-11659427150267208862014-12-01T22:50:00.002-06:002014-12-01T22:50:35.195-06:00#151 - "Scion of Eisenach"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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.<br />
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This is a video of Maksim Velichkin performing "Scion of Eisenach" by Samuel Stokes.<br />
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Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-53279439011207095642014-12-01T22:48:00.000-06:002014-12-01T22:48:42.567-06:00#150 - "Life's Vicissitudes"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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.<br />
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Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-21602174432359838212014-12-01T22:33:00.005-06:002014-12-01T22:33:40.821-06:00#149 - "The Relentless Stowaway"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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.</span></span><br />
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Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-48563736436320033512014-12-01T22:32:00.000-06:002014-12-01T22:32:07.665-06:00#148 - "Gauntlet Down"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A fixed media piece that I composed, c<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">horeographed 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.</span></span></div>
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Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-30262354886531262922014-12-01T22:27:00.002-06:002014-12-01T22:27:59.173-06:00#147 - "Stone Castles Burning Down and Being Blown into the Swamp"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is a humorous piece I composed for toy piano, loosely based on a Monty Python reference.<br />
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Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-74938350806464057152014-12-01T22:20:00.000-06:002014-12-01T22:20:54.912-06:00#146 - "Contronym"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is MIDI-generated recording of my solo piano piece "Contronym."<br />
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Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-53259313206473098882014-12-01T22:02:00.002-06:002014-12-01T22:02:59.056-06:00#145 - "Gradualism"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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.<br />
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Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-24483075130560235442014-12-01T21:43:00.001-06:002014-12-01T21:43:43.522-06:00#144 - "Zydeco World"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is a piece that I composed for a competition calling for one-minute record pieces to be choreographed.<br />
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Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-42960836306202901622014-12-01T21:28:00.000-06:002014-12-01T21:28:22.458-06:00#143 - "Homily"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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.<br />
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Lyrics:<br />
The Lord commands us, "give to the poor and thou shalt have treasures in heaven."</div>
Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-85071741391061677852014-11-11T20:49:00.001-06:002014-11-11T20:49:31.081-06:00#142 - "When I'm Grown"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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.<br />
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Lyrics:<br />
"When I'm Grown"<br />
By Samuel Stokes<br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">INTRO:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">B F#m | B F#m | B F#m | B F#m |</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">V. 1</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"> B F#m |B F#m |</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">They told me I would understand someday when I become a man.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"> B F#m | B F#m |</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">But the time has come and I still don't know the things I should know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">B F#m |B F#m |</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Someday if I really try, I'll understand the reasons why</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"> B F#m |B F#m |</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">We do the things we do and go the places we go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">G E7 |G E7 |</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"> Maybe I missed the boat, and now I'm trying to stay afloat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">G E7 | G F# |B F#m | B F#m | B F#m | B F#m |</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Maybe I won't be alone, someday when I'm grown.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">V. 2</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"> B F#m |B F#m |</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">I thought that things would be so clear if I just aged a few more years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">B F#m |B F#m |</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Now I know that no one knows the things they should know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">B F#m |B F#m |</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Lost at sea without a map, all a staggering mishap.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">B F#m |B F#m |</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Going where the winds of fate decided to blow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">G E7 |G E7 |</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"> Maybe I missed the boat, and now I'm trying to stay afloat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">G E7 | G F# |B F#m | B F#m | B F#m | B F#m |</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Maybe I won't be alone, someday when I'm grown. (begin improv solo)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">(continue improv solo - B Mixolydian)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">B F#m | B F#m | B F#m | B F#m |</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">G E7 |G E7 |</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"> Maybe I missed the boat, and now I'm trying to stay afloat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">G E7 | G F# |B F#m | B F#m | B F#m ||: B F#m :||(fade)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Maybe I won't be alone, someday when I'm grown.</span><br />
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Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-10483069130037449592014-11-11T19:58:00.000-06:002014-11-11T19:58:51.967-06:00#141 - "Goodbye, Mama"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Lyrics:<br />
Goodbye, Mama, don't you cry.<br />
Wipe the tears beneath your eyes.<br />
Mama, it's time to go away.<br />
And heaven knows how long you'll stay.<br />
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Mama never did no good.<br />
Never did the things a mother should.<br />
And now she gets her just desserts<br />
No matter just how much it hurts.<br />
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She said she never knew she was doing wrong.<br />
But I think she knew it all along.<br />
And now she's going away and she's going to have to stay real strong.<br />
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Goodbye, Mama, don't you fret.<br />
Don't go saying things you might regret.<br />
It'll only be a couple years.<br />
It won't be very hard to hold our tears.</div>
Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-19706407841678894142014-09-21T20:21:00.001-05:002014-09-21T20:21:15.925-05:00#140 "Crackly"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is the second audio-visual collaboration between myself and Matt DeFord. Matt created the video, and I created the audio.<br />
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Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-67755774473463208172014-09-06T10:59:00.003-05:002014-09-06T10:59:31.869-05:00Expansion of Format for the Year of Song Blog<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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To address these issues, I am making these changes to the format of the this blog:<br />
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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."<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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!</div>
Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-19348438091546127332014-08-24T17:34:00.004-05:002014-08-24T17:34:41.042-05:00Song 139 - Driving Jingle Demo 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is a demo for a second commercial jingle for an auto glass shop in Missouri.<br />
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Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-39628379207712584162014-08-20T22:51:00.003-05:002014-08-20T22:51:26.491-05:00Song 138 - "You Don't Need That Girl"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1wTM_zK4MF4/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/1wTM_zK4MF4?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/1wTM_zK4MF4?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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Lyrics: <br />
Sometimes you need a brand new pair of shoes,<br />Sometimes you need to sing and play the blues.<br />But listen friend - there's one thing you don't need.<br />That evil girl, she'll only make you bleed.<br /><br />You don't need that girl. You don't need that girl.<br />You don't need that girl and she ain't no good for you.<br />You don't need that girl. You don't need that girl.<br />You don't need that girl and she ain't no good for you.<br /><br />Sometimes you need to buy a brand new car,<br />Sometimes you need to find out where you are.<br />But there's one thing that you could do without.<br />You're better off there's certainly no doubt.<br /><br />You don't need that girl. You don't need that girl.<br />You don't need that girl and she ain't no good for you.<br />You don't need that girl. You don't need that girl.<br />You don't need that girl and she ain't no good for you.<br /><br />Sometimes you need to buy a new TV.<br />Sometimes you need to have a shopping spree.<br />And yes you need to finally turn your back.<br />Or you know that girl is gonna give you a heart attack.<br /><br />You don't need that girl. You don't need that girl.<br />You don't need that girl and she ain't no good for you.<br />You don't need that girl. You don't need that girl.<br />You don't need that girl and she ain't no good for you.</div>
Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-12311615045345595692014-08-11T22:38:00.001-05:002014-08-11T22:38:15.772-05:00Song 137 - "My Barbaric YAWP" - a tribute to Robin Williams<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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."<br />
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Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-26891732303898846602014-08-05T10:57:00.000-05:002014-08-05T10:57:05.569-05:00Song 136 - "Out of Here"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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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.</div>
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Lyrics:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sometimes I need to get out of here</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
To a place my mind can clear.</div>
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Sometimes I need to get out of here</div>
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Where no words can interfere.</div>
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Where can I go?:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Where thoughts freely flow.</div>
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Where can I go?:</div>
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I wish I could know.</div>
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Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-12751650059281930052014-07-26T23:39:00.001-05:002014-07-26T23:39:55.520-05:00Song 135 - "Hedonol"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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.<br />
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Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-74217024767836155922014-07-20T00:42:00.000-05:002014-07-20T00:42:26.281-05:00Song 134 - "All of Me Loves All Star Trek"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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.<br />
Check out the Samuel Stokes MP3 store at: <a href="http://www.samuelstokesmusic.com/amazon.html">http://www.samuelstokesmusic.com/amazon.html</a><br />
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Lyrics:<br />
What would I do without my Star Trek?<br />
TV today is such a train wreck.<br />
You've got me binge viewing,<br />
Reviewing each show on my blog.<br />
The best way to watch them is up for debate.<br />
Original order or by the stardate?<br />
And every different series has strange fan theories,<br />
Believe them or not.<br />
<br />
I argue on forums what's canon or not.<br />
Minutae I give way too much thought.<br />
<br />
'Cause all of me loves all Star Trek<br />
Over interstellar distance<br />
Through your three of five year missions.<br />
I've purchased all your shows.<br />
I give you all my dough.<br />
And I bought the movies also<br />
Although every other one is awful.<br />
'Cause I'm a trekkie or a trekker.<br />
Call me whichever one you prefer, oh oh.<br />
<br />
How many times do I have to tell you?<br />
I even love Voyager and Enterprise, too.<br />
The Animated Series is sort of dreary,<br />
But I guess it's okay.<br />
It's an addiction that I abuse.<br />
My worst distraction, my Andorian blues.<br />
I can't stop watching and rewatching<br />
Every single day.<br />
<br />
I've spent several years learning to speak Klingon.<br />
I impress my friends at Scificon.<br />
<br />
'Cause all of me loves all Star Trek.<br />
I buy all your action figures,<br />
All your collector's cards and stickers.<br />
Just keep producing stuff,<br />
'Cause I can't get enough.<br />
And I own several types of tricorders,<br />
And my room looks like Enterprise quarters.<br />
'Cause I give you all my cash<br />
To buy your souvenir trash, oh oh.<br />
Give me all your trash.<br />
<br />
Cards on the table, we're playing Fizzbin.<br />
Changing the rules, I can't win.<br />
<br />
'Cause all of me loves all Star Trek<br />
Over interstellar distance<br />
Through your three of five year missions.<br />
I've purchased all your shows.<br />
I give you all my dough.<br />
And I bought the movies also<br />
Although every other one is awful.<br />
'Cause I'm a trekkie or a trekker.<br />
Call me whichever one you prefer.<br />
'Cause I'm a trekkie or a trekker.<br />
Call me whichever one you prefer, oh oh.</div>
Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-1621283041855777752014-07-15T13:45:00.003-05:002014-07-15T13:45:51.286-05:00Song 133 - "The Laughing Vulcan and His Dog"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is a song based on a title suggested in the Star Trek: the Next Generation episode "Disaster."<br />
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Lyrics:<br />
V.1<br />
<br />
D A D<br />
I went planet Vulcan and what a sunny place<br />
<br />
D A7 D<br />
I met a Vulcan man with a smile upon his face<br />
<br />
G D G D<br />
He had a little doggy and he was smiling too<br />
<br />
G D E7 A7<br />
I never knew that smiling was a thing that Vulcans do.<br />
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CHORUS:<br />
D6 G D6<br />
The laughing Vulcan and his dog are the funniest sight to see.<br />
<br />
G D6 Bm7 Em A7 <br />
I'd like to tell you why he laughs, but I don't know honestly.<br />
<br />
D6 G D6<br />
Maybe he mind-melded with a giggle box one day,<br />
<br />
G D6 Bm7 Em<br />
But the laughing Vulcan and his dog keep grinning<br />
<br />
A7 D6<br />
As they go on their way.<br />
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<br />
V.2<br />
<br />
D A D<br />
I know you don't believe me. You think I'm telling lies.<br />
<br />
D A7 D<br />
I'm only telling you what I saw with my own eyes.<br />
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G D G D<br />
They say that dog is man's best friend, he's Vulcan's best friend too.<br />
<br />
G D E7 A7<br />
And some day you'll discover ev'ry word I've said is true.<br />
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CHORUS<br />
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Tag G D</div>
Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507642210885990291.post-18115690084665890292014-07-05T22:20:00.003-05:002014-07-05T22:20:35.583-05:00Song 132 - "Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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.<br />
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Text:<br />
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GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may,<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
Old Time is still a-flying:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
And this same flower that smiles to-day<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
To-morrow will be dying.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
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The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> 5<br />
The higher he 's a-getting,<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
The sooner will his race be run,<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
And nearer he 's to setting.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
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That age is best which is the first,<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
When youth and blood are warmer;<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> 10<br />
But being spent, the worse, and worst<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
Times still succeed the former.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
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Then be not coy, but use your time,<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
And while ye may, go marry:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
For having lost but once your prime,<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> 15<br />
You may for ever tarry.</div>
Samuel Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730052642153996noreply@blogger.com0