A proposed opening theme for an internet radio show, to be all rocked-out like.
The first music player below uses the listed lyrics. The second player is a digitally created version, with no lyrics, trying to find a style they wanted for the music (I guess a ukulele does not always put folks in mind of ranting).
The show folded, but was fun while it lasted (they never were around long enough to hear the theme song, much less use it).
Lyrics:
Is it impossible when under pressure To describe specifically Nuances of seemingly divine measure that do take hold?
Could it be that no matter whether You have attempted scientifically By launching a major endeavor To relieve your soul?
Is it the shaking of your hands The sweat on your lip The fever in your brain That makes your body itch?
Could it be love could it be hate It doesn’t matter at this rate…
You need some place to rant and rave! I know the perfect space
Bostin and Doctor Bear Rantertainment radio!!!
- Mark Otis
Music and Lyrics Copyright 2009 Mark Allen Johnson
As of late, my co-workers and I have been plagued with a league of nutcases, screwballs, and ranters exclaiming bizarre family histories, intruding on our typically otherwise fine work situation. Whether the local Kinko's is kicking all of the nutters out or the finally-arrived heat of summer is causing some mass brain fever, I don't know. All I know is that I am slowly turning into one.
This morning, as I was brewing tea and cooking up some fresh grain oatmeal, this song popped into my head (strange enough I was contemplating a dooowop version of Deep Purple's "Sweet Child of Time" - tha twill come later perhaps).
All right! Two recordings online in two days. Different microphones yielding different results, but nonetheless fun for me.
Today I loaned out my AKG C1000S to my pal Deependra (a fine musician) for some overdubbing he is conducting this week, and found myself wanting to produce another platinum-selling, top-of-the-charts hit for online perusal. What to record with? The only viable option at this time was an old J.C. Penny intercom microphone I picked up a few years back at some junkstore for just a nickel (a nickel?? SHH - that's right). Sorry, I have nary a model number to provide to any techophiles out there, I scrapped the base containing all of that info after my buddy Kieran re-wired it. He hoped to create a gritty sounding harp mic, but alas and alack, he created a crisp and clean little bullet, which I used for this recording.
As with yesterday's post, I recorded the uke first, and overdubbed the vocals. However I did not have the optimum buffer settings plugged in and received some snaps, crackles and pops in the vocal track. Oh well, good to have some filters to play around with to help alleviate, or at least disguise it somewhat. A little distortion here, some resonance added there, and "Al-la Peanut Butter Sandwiches"...! Good enough for me. For now. I will probably play around more later and re-record the vocals, though I am pretty happy with the scat solo - it is easier to do the mess-around vocally when you are not madly whackin' at your ukulele.
Lyrics: I recall the morning at the reunion hotel We were up and yawning Some coffee could help Descending the stairs came a Guy with a Uke "Nice Uke" - You observed (he did not rebuke)
he said: "A larger guitar once had a home in my hands Til I found this honey in the the Hawaiian Islands Compact design and only four strings the Ukulele Goddess has got me singing:
once you get one you never go back once you get one you never go back cut me some uke strings and tighten the slack Once you get one oh oh oh"
I thought not much of it in fact it all left my mind when on Maui in Hawaii what does lucky-I find with a case and a chord chart (The tuner I've got) I decided to get it and give it a shot
once you get one you never go back once you get one you never go back cut me some uke strings and tighten the slack once you get one you will never go
Practice time increases abilities grow I'm knocking off socks like so much so-and-so A larger guitar Is not a place I wanna go I don’t acknowledge knowledge But there’s one thing I know:
once you get one you never go back once you get one you never go back cut me some uke strings and tighten the slack once you get one you never go back
Music and Lyrics Copyright 2009 Mark Allen Johnson
