Do you think Batman will notice I replaced his bust?
I wanted to share a few Alfred Hitchcock Christmas Tips with you as the holidays approach. Hopefully they’ll cheer you up in this crazy time during the last shopping days.
Enjoy!
There’s something about Alfred and Christmas…
December 24, 2010Christmas Songs you probably won’t hear on the radio – Part 3 ‘Ewoks’ by Lex Vader
December 12, 2010
Lex Vader seems to like Star Wars. That's just a guess.
I met Lex Vader during the ‘Masters of Song Fu‘ contest, and always thought he was a little off. He also has a way with songs, like this ditty about the little ruffians from Endor. It was the result from writing a winter holiday song that is not about the holidays. How you get furry beasts trying to eat you out of that, I’m not sure, but the song made me laugh. Here’s Lex’s tune from his self titled evil emotronic alternapop band.
Enjoy!
[E, A, Gbm, A]
We all know that Life Day is a special day for celebration
You can go and show the Wookiees how much you appreciate them
[B, A, Dbm, B]
[Abm, A, Abm, B]
But there is another creature that you really shouldn’t visit
Don’t go to the forest moon of Endor if you’re fond of living
[E, A, B, A]
[E, A, Abm, B]
Ewoks will eat you even if it is the holidays
Ewoks will eat you, they don’t really care at all
(They’re crazy and hungry)
If you go out looking for a little of that cheerful spirit
And you’re walking past an Ewok village, trust me, don’t go near it
The only spirits that you’ll find are… your dead loved ones stood behind you
Watching from an awkward line as teddy bear cooks tenderize you
Ewoks will eat you even if it is the holidays
Ewoks will eat you, they don’t really care at all
(They’re crazy and hungry)
Should the forest tempt you
Charter a flight up to see Chewbacca
May the Force be with you
If you end up on an Ewok’s wok, yeah
You can tell them you’re a god, but you will likely be rejected
Unless you’ve got a golden body or a skirt, you’ll be ingested
There’s a possibility that… you will end up slowly turning
Tied to a rotisserie as fuzzy short freaks watch you burning
Ewoks will eat you even if it is the holidays
Ewoks will eat you, they don’t really care at all
(They’re crazy)
Ewoks will eat you even if it is the holidays
Ewoks will eat you, they don’t really care at all
(They’re crazy and hungry)
Christmas Songs you probably won’t hear on the radio – Part 2 – ‘The Ballad of Big Red’ by Pop Machine
December 9, 2010Another song that hasn’t received the accolades it should – this ditty by Pop Machine entitled ‘Big Red’. I thought crossing the country CB genre with the holidays would be an interesting mix. Scott Mercer belts out the vocals better than C.W. McCall, and the theme of saving Christmas reverberates for all to enjoy, with Al, Scott and Dave providing the melodic symphony behind him.
Pop Machine doing their best Shields & Yarnell Impression
Click HERE to reach Allan Morgan’s amazing 365 Music Project – and
Click HERE to listen to ‘Ballad of Big Red’
Enjoy.
Christmas Songs you probably won’t hear on the radio – Part 1 ‘Twangles, the Christmas Squid’ by Jason Morris
December 5, 2010I’ve noticed a bunch of songs about the holidays my friends have accumulated over the years, and thought it might be the time to start sharing the wealth. So I’m going to try and blog a bunch of them until Christmas, in the hope you get a chuckle, snicker, or feel good about yourself in the holiday spirit.
If you also want to purchase the (where available) spreading the cheer to the original artist, which is a bonus.
First up – Jason Morris with his Masters of Song Fu favorite ‘Twangles, The Christmas Squid’
It’s an upbeat ditty about a cephalopod that brings toys to kids where Santa can’t quite reach. The chorus keeps bouncing around in my brain, and makes me happy. Enjoy!
SpinTunes Round 4 song reviews
November 23, 2010
Did you know there was an LP cover contest as well? (Thanks Dave)
I’m writing this review before coordinating my vote with Allan Morgan – since we together only get one vote, I’m only 50% of the official tally. But here goes my quick impressions of the 4th Round songs. The first 4 are in the running to win, the rest are shadows by previous contestants. Boffo Yux Dudes did three shadows this round – I’ll post them up later.
Zarni De Wet – The Bleeding Effect ( Assassin’s Creed)
Zarni takes this piano ballad about a schizophrenic killer and shoots out a mood of death and destruction. It’s not quite clear if the song is from the unstable Desmond’s point of view or Subject 16′s – perhaps both – but it’s still powerful stuff.
Mitchell Adam Johnson – In Another Castle (Super Mario Bros)
Mitchell writes from the view of a princess that keeps putting herself in danger, so she’ll feel the thrill of being rescued. Good use of video sound fx and samples of the game. Nice touch with ‘If you didn’t show, I’d die’ literally and figuratively.
Rebecca Brickley – Where I Am (Carmen SanDiego)
Rebecca turned this jazzy number into a humorous tweak on the game ‘Where in the World is Carmen SanDiego’. I can almost see Rockapella doing backup for her on this one. Witty lyrics make this one a winner. Enjoyed the Get/Silhouette rhymes and the baiting of the Chief to find her. Teasing or a challenge there? Actually, Both.
Chris Cogott – In Bright Falls (Alan Wake)
Chris brings a Surf guitar and 60′s beat to the tale of A. Wake and his quest to find sanity and his lost wife in Bright Falls. I had to research the game – he did a great job with the details. Enjoyed the musical tags and Beatles hooks to the song, including the Paperback Writer homage at the end.
Charlie McCarron – The Pac-Man Duet
A fun romp where Pac and Ms. Pac Man sing about meeting together. I like how Charlie and Nicole’s voices work well together in this one. Wish it was a little longer, but the ghosts had other plans.
Mark Humble – I’m Q*Bert, Babe
Mark slipped into a soulful vibe with his one. I expected Barry White to sneak up on the speakers. Loved the SFX mixed in to the storyline, as well as rhyming Pizza with Nietzsche. Total win.
Brian Gray – Hard To Get (Shadow) (Donkey Kong)
Upbeat, bouncy and fun. I liked the swing feel and harmonies, along with the witty wordplay. Having the large simian use the princess as bait to catch the Mario of his dreams was a clever hook. Turning it into a homoerotic Shakespeare themed love story was a level above the rest.
JoAnn Abbott – Go For The Eyes (Boo from Baldur’s Gate)
Joann (and Caleb) waltz into this song about Baldur’s Gate and Minsc’s Miniature Giant Space Hampster (™), Boo. The title refers to the favorite attack of said rodent. I liked the witty storyline and baroque feel.
David Ritter – Pitfall! (Shadow) (Pitfall)
David brings up the original Atari 2600 game Pitfall and runs with it through dangers and swinging vines. Turning it into a slow ballad with guitar and piano was an interesting choice for an action game.
Caleb Hines – The Writing On The Wall (Portal)
Caleb’s take on Portal with Joann singing lead . Interesting take on the game, with lots of insider hints and a nod to JoCo. I’d have my cake and eat it too… if it wasn’t a lie to begin with. Nice job on this one.
Governing Dynamics – One Four One (Roach) (Shadow) Gary “Roach” Sanderson from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
Travis sets a mood for this song with droning grunge guitar and drums about a black ops team that deals with the struggle of war, and relentless killing all around him. He hit the right notes in getting the tone of the game across. War is hell, but this is magic.
Inverse T. Clown – I’m Tops (Shadow) (TopMan from MegaMan)
ITC takes the wimpiest boss from the classic game and imbues him with an ego the size of New Jersey. Bouncy synth and 8 Bit Drums keep the tune rolling until it’s inevitable demise. I liked the fact he refuses to admit ‘Top Man’ is for his weapons instead of an elite status in his own mind.
I saw a lot of thought and planning in this round of songs – didn’t expect the depth and levels in such simple games, but people found them and brought them out. I’ll post the BYD songs here later this week, but you can listen to them and vote at the Spintunes site. Enjoy!
Anyone with a Syracuse Connection – we need your thoughts.
October 3, 2010
Who knew Spielberg started this way?
Old and current Syracuse folks – We need your input. Al and I are doing a BYD song about my homewown, and need some background info on the Salt City that only the locals can dream up.
So go past the Dino BBQ and Heidi’s. Past the Syracuse Walk of Fame, and the 1500 versions of the Hotel Syracuse.
What makes CNY special to you? Blue Potatoes? Salt Potatoes? The old MONY building? Luigi’s? Harry Chapin at the Landmark? And why is it special?
I’m hoping to actually create a upbeat theme song for the city that’s not too sarcastic, if not nostalgic.
The song is due Midnight Sunday 10/10 and I’ll post links to it the next evening. Drop me a link, or comment here. Everyone has a great Syracuse story – from the Eggplant to seeing U2 at the City Limits or The Police at the Firehouse. What’s yours?
I Went Back. Though I’m not really sure why.
August 16, 2010
Not the actual bird, but it's pretty close
I Went Back.
I’m not sure why I did, but I went back. And I hope it made a difference.
I wasn’t in the best of a mood. Long day at work, where little got finished. Schedules kept changing, I’d get part of one project done, and another demanded attention… so it ended up being a not quite satisfying day.
On the way home, I was stopped at a busy intersection. Two birds were flying, and one didn’t make it across. It fluttered like it was injured, but could still move, then dropped to the pavement, flopping while trying to avoid the passing traffic.
I thought about getting out of the car. There was traffic. There were people behind me. I rationalized I couldn’t do anything, and took a right, and headed home.
But it bothered me.
In the past I’d tried to save a bird, but it didn’t make it. They’re fragile creatures, and once they have a damaged wing, its hard for them to recover.
I got up to my driveway, and didn’t drive in. I turned around to go back.
I figured in the few minutes I was gone, the bird had either flown away or was hit by a car. I drove through the intersection, but didn’t see anything. But something made me check. I pulled over, emptied a soda cup, and walked over to the road.
There on the road was a very small speck. It couldn’t have been an inch or two long. Cars continued to pass it, but none had hit it. Traffic stopped as I approached. It was a small bird. Just sitting there as tight as could be. I scooped it into the soda cup and headed home.
It was in total shock. Blinked its tiny eyes a little. It hardly moved at all, but didn’t look like it was hit.
I drove home.
I got in the driveway, parked, and set the bird on the front step I still haven’t repaired. There was some liquid that came out of the cup – probably soda, but I wouldn’t doubt it was more than that from what the bird had been through.
As I set it down, a small rabbit jumped from the front bush, and headed off into the woods.
The bird sat. It stared out, blinking, but not really moving.
I stepped inside to take the dog out to do its business. I came back to the bird.
The bird still sat. It’s legs looked fine, but since it still hadn’t really moved much, I couldn’t tell.
I went in and started dinner.
I came out a few minutes later, and the bird was in the same place. It seemed to have a bit of a slower heartbeat, and seemed content to just sit on the brick stairs.
After dinner, I went out to check. The bird was gone. Looks like it flew off.
That’s a good thing.
The Ballad of Henry Pym – in HD!
August 12, 2010The Boffo Yux Dudes have been writing music for the new SpinTunes songwriting contest – our first song was this little ditty about our favorite SuperHero, Ant-Man.
We made a little video for it in HD – it’s 1080p if you really want to blow the sucker up on You Tube.
Hey! Don't forget about me! I Helped!
Special thanks to Bully, the Little Stuffed Bull, for help in acquiring the scans and also perusing the lyrics so we have the true essence of who ‘Hank Pym’ really is.
Spintunes Round 2 Reviews
July 16, 2010
Juggling time signatures is hard work!
My thoughts on the songs for the Spintunes Round 2 challenge -
The songs can be heard HERE
The Offhand Band – Another Universe
This track surprised me. The off key presentation of the vocals distracted me at first, but as I stuck with it, the song grew into a very complex opus. I liked the interplay between the 2/4 and 3/4 time sig. The Piano coming back in at 3:00 to the end brings it full circle. As Dave Leigh mentioned previously, I’d love to hear how this would turn out with a vocal track.
Jenny Katz – Miss You
Jenny’s scatting’ to a Jazzy tune about missing a partner. A happy bouncy tune that sneaks in 3 different time sigs.
JoAnn Abbot – Life
JoAnn was another pleasant surprise this round. I know she’s just starting to create songs, and she’s progressed to playing her own instruments this track. The song about the passage of life flowed well.
Edric Haleen – Love
You can say a lot about Edric, and boring isn’t the E. Man. This one he’s channeling Mike Lombardo’s piano, with all the emotion and feigns of love and the trademark Edric sustained note. Very well done. Got my vote.
Sara Parsons – A Little Time
Sara has a velvet voice and a soft demeanor that sneaks up on you, and before you know it, you’re sucked into her songs. This is a lament about wanting to make a connection, and self worth issues keeping connection at bay. A Solid entry.
Caleb Hines – Insomniac Lullaby
Caleb has been pushing the envelope with his latest songs. The use of Time Sig. between the sleepy and non sleepy voice worked well. The edginess came out in the 5/8ths segments.
Governing Dynamics – Eleyna Dreams
Travis brings out the guitars for this dreamy grunge tune with lots of imagery. The time sig worked well to draw the parts together.
Emperor Gum – Smoulder
Another song that takes a while to build into something interesting. I give points for trying to do a song about a 17th century pyromaniac in love, but I couldn’t quite get into the music.
Gorbzilla – Than Infinity
Gorby is joined in this tune with his family members sining an ode to Mom. Upbeat, happy, and genuine fun. You can tell they had a hoot making this one. Got my vote.
Ross Durand – Waltz with the Devil
Dylan meets Consumerism. Some cleaver lyrics in a protest song format.
Steve Durand – Rara Avis
Very offbeat Jazz song with a 60′s flair. When the Zabba Zabbas came in, I started looking for the GoGo dancers. Another that didn’t quite hit the mark, but points for pushing the theme.
Charlie McCarron – Sleep On It
You hit all the technical requirements, but the song didn’t really say anything or move me. It had a Loudon Wainwright III feel, but needed more oomph to it.
Kevin Savino-Riker – Here At The Door
Progressive Rock at it’s best. A Rush feel with an art house beat.
Heather Miller – Bullseye
A love song about pool, finding love playing pool, and how fate move us in different ways.
Godz Poodlz – Identities Assumed
The Poodlz work the spy scene with this little Peter Gunn themed ditty on two stealthy agents.
Denise Hudson – Flex Time
Funky beatnik poet song. This cries out for a bass to join the sexual tension.
“BucketHat” Bobby Matheson – Space Pirates
Bobby creates a space sea chanty about technological pirates. Fun and jaunty. The accordion builds the Time sig perfectly to a pirate crescendo. Got my vote.
Dr. Lindyke – Minutes And Hours
Dave take the time sig theme to a logical conclusion, with time itself being the focus of the song. Very interesting that he took the same melody and played with how it sounds via the different time sigs. Would have gotten a vote if not a shadow.
