Miss me? Yes, I promised an nonmusical update in January reflecting on 2008. Unfortunately, January turned out to be a very stressful and tumultuous month for me, so this site was sadly neglected. For that, I apologize, but let’s get onto happier things now.

It’s February, my favourite month of the year because as you all know by now it’s February Album Writing Month, where the goal is to write an album’s worth of songs (14) during the shortest month of the year. I’ve been a little slow getting into the swing of things because I’m still adjusting to being back in Toronto, but I figure, well, it’s Monday, and I’ve got a song so why not post it?

The music was sent to me about a month ago and it’s by George Slade, a fellow FAWMer, and his friend and frequent collaborator DJ Tezz. It sat in my Inbox through January, and then on Saturday I decided to listen again in case something clicked. It did, and so I wrote lyrics and recorded everything that day. I’ve got a confession to make: I am really proud of this one.

It’s also featured on yesterday’s edition of Charlie Cheney’s Music Exam (FAWM’s daily podcast), where George and I both called in.

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Echoes and Dust

Shadows cast long under a blood red sun
Dancing ‘round the same way we have always done
The old familiar steps that we’re pretending are new
The words that we’re inflicting ‘til we’re black and blue
I’m begging you, believe me when I try to say
That I never intended me to be this way
I just need you to listen but you just won’t hear
I’m shouting but you’re letting me slip through your ears

‘Cuz the pain in you is ringing and I can’t get through
It’s eating you so bad that all you see is you
Don’t matter that I threw my needs and wants aside
You say you love me but you still just let me slide
You always make it easy and I play my part
I try to save the pieces of your broken heart
I thought that being there with you would make you tough
But I learned you’ll just keep taking and you’ll never get enough

Now I’m screaming myself out into the cold night air
I’m begging for some mercy but you just don’t care
Don’t know if I can change or if I’ll just decay
But in the grand scheme what does it matter anyway?

In the end we’re just echoes and dust, echoes and dust
In the end we’re just echoes and dust, echoes and dust

Now I’m throwing myself out into the cold night air
A pin prick of existence but who really cares?
What’s another small voice screaming out its life
On a tiny rock filled with billions’ pain and strife
As all galaxies and stars above it and below
Are moving swiftly toward their own dead black holes
And in the aftermath there’s nothing real that remains
Just the reverb of the starlight and a few small grains

In the end it’s all just echoes and dust, echoes and dust
In the end it’s all just echoes and dust, echoes and dust

Comments (3) Feb 09 2009

Have you ever created something using the Exquisite Corpse Method? The basic idea is to create a group collaboration – each person adds to the growing work in sequence, seeing only the last snippet of what the last person added. I used to love creating stories with a group of friends this way when I was little, and that hasn’t changed much.

This week’s song is a cowrite between myself and four other songwriters who are also participating in the 50 Songs in 90 Days Challenge, using the Exquisite Corpse Method. The parameters were to record 30-40 seconds of music, and then send just the last lyrical phrase to the next person, who would repeat the process. It’s a fun and random way to write, and a great opportunity to join forces with some truly amazing artists.

Quite a few of these songs are now rattling around the 50/90 site, and calling them unique is an understatement. They also seem to be fraught with strange coincidences, and this one is no exception. It’s strange that it weaves in and out of the water, but even stranger, it begins by drawing from Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and ends in the death of a whale.

From the wondering minds of (in order) myself, Helen’s Evil Twin, Nancy Rost, Hoopshank and SwampJaw), here is Soggy Towel River.

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Soggy Towel River

Debs:
The number one rule of playing it cool when travelling abroad in the stars
Is to take the one the thing that both beggars and kings
rely on wherever they are
So always bring a towel when you’re hitchhiking
So always bring a towel wherever you go
So always bring a towel when you’re hitchhiking
Your destiny is yours to command
With a towel in your hand,

Helen’s Evil Twin:
You walked out of the shower
You’d been hogging the bathroom for over an hour
Playing with your rubber ducky making lots of mess
Splashing all about and you never would have guessed
That you’d slip on a soggy flannel and knock yourself out

Nancy Rost:
That you’d slip on a soggy flannel
And knock yourself out
Oh, I could spout off about cleaning up
After yourself I could try to make it your fault
But the fact is you can take care of yourself
And your bathroom habits are no-one’s business
But yours and yours alone
Besides, I know that my penchant for colognes
Scented to resemble tales from the Brothers Grimm
Is equally disturbing to you
So fair is fair

Hoopshank:
Unfair is unfair
An affair is an affair
Scarborough fair is Scarborough fair
All I hope is that the river washes us to the sea

Swampjaw:
All I hope is that the sea washes us away
We’re so tired of being stuck on this beach
There’s Anchorage in ship’s bow
Wasting away like a giant leech
I guess we’ll soon be Eskimo chow
Oh to be back in the ocean free
Oh for the ocean in just one day
Oh the krill would not agree
On the trip to this little bay

Comments (2) Sep 08 2008

Before I get to the music, I’d like to mention the new header image that my mother, Alina, drew, and that Chris (who is also my web host) photoshopped. It looks beautiful guys, and I’m so grateful!

Susie: You should write a song based on the fact that you have a Snow Day today!
Deb: Wow, that’s hilarious.  Because I’m in the middle of doing just that!

Last night, I was all disgruntled because I was going to get a late start on February Album Writing Month having to work not only on February 1st, but on February 2nd as well. As I was heading out to work, my boss called and voila, a Snow Day!! After going into work very briefly to make some phone calls and some excessive dancing around the house, I sat down and did this all today, in celebration and commemoration! One day is a speed record for me, but everything is easier with FAWM because I know that music is my main priority this month.

This week’s song (or rather, a stand -in for last Monday’s) is called Snow Day (bet you didn’t see that one coming) and features my friend and fellow NaNo participant Errol singing the roll of my boss! Errol was the one who wrote the parody version of A Whole New World that we recorded in December.

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Comments (15) Feb 01 2008