UNOFFICIAL: Hopes and Dreams - Songs from the Attic: Track-3, Loft-Music (original)
When it comes to making music, one might say that I’m somewhat of a “Jack of all Trades” however, it is abundantly obvious that I am clearly the master of none – nothing more than a mere half-assed “handyman” if you will.
As such, I rely upon my well-known antics, inherent passion, and a multitude of my own pre-recorded tracks to add what I hope is a meaningful level of entertainment value to the community.
The balance of this post explains everything you need to know about my latest “Amateur-Hour” contribution to the Open-Mic venue.
This particular “Song from the Attic” was dusted off and re-written because of a comment thread beneath @melavie's entry for week #59.
The last line in the first verse in my song that triggered my inspiration was “Was it just an illusion – or the power of well-tested time? ” So yeah, thanks for reminding me of this old piece of dusty attic-trash @melavie! I sure hope it cleans up well.
I used to call the song “Tell Me” but I’ve decided to re-title it “Hopes and Dreams” instead. To give you an idea of just how much of an amateur I am – it took me over two-weeks to re-write a song I had already written 25-years ago! Now compare that level of composition skills to our current field of “Songwriters” who are knocking out brilliant songs and melodies in a matter of days, and sometimes hours – and you can totally get where I’m coming from.
Yeah, so in this song, I play all of the recorded instruments. There’s a bass track, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, electric guitar, tambourines, shakers, vocals, and a drum track. I threw everything at this but the kitchen sink! (little inside joke there, ha!) The song forks into a kind of free-form jam at the end – and I had a great deal of difficulty with my timing amid this transition.
I simply didn’t have the luxury of time to do more than one or two takes for each track. In fact, almost all of the recorded tracks were single takes, and I believe therein lies all of the timing problems strewn throughout the song – especially at the end.
Insofar as the video goes, it’s really somewhat of a “sing-a-long” with my pre-recorded tracks – and I’m more or less just using the acoustic guitar as a prop. In the past, I would labor through videotaping myself playing each instrument and then edit all the parts together to create my infamous “one-man-band” theatricals. Ha-ha…
As it was, I had to spend several extra hours just editing out all of my cuss words! Ha-ha! Yeah, I know it’s been somewhat of a trademark-antic of mine – but sometimes it just gets too out of hand. I don’t know what it is… Mix some rock and roll with a few glasses of wine and bingo – my vocabulary goes full “Andrew-Dice-Clay” retard – or at the very least, various shades of a Quentin Tarantino film or Soprano-esk if you will.
When I woke up today, I thought, gee, you know, kids might be nearby when someone hits that play button, or I may just really be offending someone without any intention to do so.
With that, I rolled up my sleeves and did my best to edit out most all of my cussing. I’m sure a few gems still remain here and there - so just know that - or make believe you’re watching an R-rated film with some cussing parts. Ha!
The result of all that editing is evident in spots – so please excuse those portions of video transitions that do not make any sense. I will do my best in the future in refraining from using such language as I cannot afford the time it would take to constantly edit them all out. So – sorry for that.
_Verse - 1_
...
Let me tell you about a time when it used to be.
- When you were saved a place – safe, honored, and free…
You knew your own place, - and order in line.
- Was it just an illusion, - or the power - of well-tested time, yeah.
…
_Chorus_
...
Hopes and Dreams, yeah, tell me the things.
- How the things you believed in – were somehow in reach.
As much as you live for, - as much as you learned -
- As much as you’d die for, - as such you would teach.
...
_Verse-2_
…
You had one true friend, at your left -
And one true lover, at your right -
Marking time like true heroes, -
You shared the glory - and you shared the light, yeah.
Whatcha say - Whatcha say - Whatcha say...
…
_Verse - 3_
...
But something happened along the way.
- Said you wanna talk about it.
Uh, said you got somethin’ -
- You said - you got somethin’ to say, yeah.
…
_Chorus_
…
We’re wrecking ourselves - can’t you see it?
We’re bleeding ourselves, can’t you see?
We built a machine, and it’s turning our race -
Into a place that’s no place to be – oh, nope, nope, no.
…
_Free-Form / Jam-Out to End_
...
Uhh – ain’t no place to be…
Tell me what I got to live for.
- Tell me what I’m proud to be.
Tell me what it is that I’m gonna get,
- Tell me bout the Merican – bout the Merican dream.
Yeah, bout the Merican dream…
...
...
Tell me how I’m gonna make it.
- Tell me bout my ticket to ride.
Yeah, bout my ticket to ride…
Tell me you don’t really believe this –
Tell me just another - Uhh
Just another -
Uhh - Just another lie… Just another lie… Just another lie…
...
Until next time, to all my fellow Steemian Musicians who labor tirelessly in the name of love for music – thank you for doing what you do! I so appreciate all of your artistic efforts and talent!
PEACE, LOVE, & JUSTICE for ALL…
WOW I love that sir., this made me think of axl rose cover next time..
Thanks so much for checking this out @g10a. I appreciate your support, brother! I believe that you are a far better songwriter than I. I am also of the opinion that your genre strength lies more in the realm of deep expressive emotion i.e. "Scars" and "At Sana." Try and take advantage of that strength, and leave the simple gritty rock & roll to the half-assed handymen like me. Haha.... Good luck, brother, and thanks again!
hahaha what I can do sir, you brought me to loving your style and also sir @lk666's metal style., but still I can't copy I really can't hehehe. thanks for that encouragement sir I'll focus on my previous style. If I can not make it till 8 weeks in songwriters challenge at least I share my little skills in music to steemit musical community.
Haha, your antics always crack me up. Nice preface btw.
You singing along with your vocals kinda reminded me of "phish" vocals a bit. Not sure if that's a compliment or not hahaha.. I think it is.
Ha! Thanks, @jaybird… Glad you get a kick out of my antics, bro! And, yeah, now that you mention it, I can sorta see how one could draw that parallel with Phish. A compliment for sure! I wish I sounded that good…
I kinda hear my free-form jam from "Hopes & Dreams" vibing with Phish’s "Tweezer" here (timing anomalies and all, ha!) Though they've resolved theirs far better than I resolved mine. I think theirs was intended.
"Farmhouse" is another track where I can now hear some slight vocal similarities… Again, I only wish I sounded this good!
Thanks again for your support and comment, brother – it means a lot!
I love this! Our inspiration Loop is a great one! You rock!
Thank you, @melavie! You are too kind... x
I love the breakdown in the intro after the quick preview of how the same came up lol "Anyway that is how sh** happens lol"
We respect and appreciate your talents bro, keep doing the best you can because you are only getting better with time, and that is because your passion grounds you in a place of love and creativity.
With that said bro, the entire song was a nice rock flavour, and it's always a joy to see you perform and have fun, which is inspiring in itself. Your raw honesty also adds to the experience. And the fact that you play all the instruments is impressively commendable, a rare thing for many performers these days.
Just a few things I noticed if you want some critiques. The intro of the song was off to an okay start, I enjoyed the lyrics but how you sang it, the energy was missing, you kept your pedal off the conviction of how you normally power through singing lyrics.
It could have been an artistic decision to take a lighter approach on the verses, but the energy you used for the chorus can be for the verses and then on the chorus, you could elevate up one or two more notches.
Yeah there were some timing issues, but that's fixable, it's the feeling, message and resounding conveyance of the song that makes the impact. The more you grooved and played, the better the song became, just the energy of your singing is what would have made the song more alive and your overall control of how you express your powerfully obvious emotions that bring all your entries to a pinnacle of captivation.
It has a lot of potential and I have had songs I needed to revive and revamp into something more refined and new so keep your hope and dreams alive, I only want my comment to improve your outlook on what you can do with this song the next time you perform it live or apply these ideas to the next masterpiece waiting to be written and sung/played by you.
Dang, D - I can't begin to tell you just how much this comment and all of your input means to me, brother! Thank you, @verbal-d, and much love always...
You're welcome bro, some might be scared to give constructive criticism because of the backlash it might cause but my intentions are positive, glad to help bro, much love