Home Community Music Blog Old MJ More...      
Up In the Sky by ledebutant [Email]
Genre: Lo-fi

Get Flash to see this player.


Having playback trouble, try the Quicktime player:

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
SONG STATS:
Hits: 2534
Comments: 54
Votes: 28
Plays: 570
Last Played: Sep 23, 2008 - 07:52:45 AM
Downloads: 135
Fans: 11
Uploaded: Jun 29, 2005 - 01:39:53 PM
Last Updated: Jan 20, 2006 - 11:29:34 AM
Fan List
Keywords:
lo-fi (34), zoo (1), tamborine (2), cowbell (13), whirly (2), orangutans (1), monkeys (8), dead mice (1), crickets (4)
Description:
After featuring murder and extramarital affairs in my last two songs, I just wanted to write something silly, where I could try out a few things, like using electric guitar and having a chorus that contrasts strongly with the verse. I also listened to way too much Howard Jones as a teen, which the chorus sets out to prove.

I also put a little something special in there for Mungo.

Since the chorus and verse contrast so much, I had a lot of trouble with volume levels and know I need to work on that. I'd appreciate feedback on the spots where people feel the levels are a problem. I also just got GB 2 and probably went a little too crazy with the key changes (but it was fun, anyway).

As usual, I had hiss trouble because of my mic set-up. A pre-amp is in my future, I swear. If not, I'm going to start naming my songs Ultimate Hiss I, Ultimate Hiss II, etc.

Lyrics:
Up In the Sky

You may never understand why,
I need to go up in the sky.
You may never understand
what I see when I look at you.
Brown hair, brown eyes,
brown shirt, brown pants.
Have you ever been to the zoo?
I want to live in a world full of color,
magenta, cerulean and puce.
I want to live in a world full of noise
and monkeys, too.
Including tamborine.

There's just so much more
than any one guy can know.
I know something, you know something.
Everybody has something they know.
Stop listening to other voices,
start making original choices.
You already know what you need to know.

I'll meet you at the zoo.

If you never understand why
I need to go up in the sky,
then we'll have to pass by each other,
you go to the penguins,
I'll go to the reptile house,
where they feed them
dead mice and crickets.
I don't really like it in there.
Come with me to see the orangutans
We will have a lovely time.

There's just so much more
than any one girl can know.
I know something, you know something.
Everybody has something they know.
Stop listening to other voices.
Stop listening to other voices.
We already know where we want to go.

They may never understand why
we need to go up in the sky.
They may never understand why...

Don't forget your tamborine.



Hardware:
eMac G4, 700MHZ, internal mic, dog tags (courtesy of Poppy the Beagle)

Software:
GB2, License to abuse key changes.

The cover image comes from IanL's Flickr photostream. Which can be viewed here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/99093144@N00/887393
You must be registered and logged-in to comment.

great singing! &mdash 06/29/05 - 04:00:39 PM
I like the concept behind this. It's fun, and unique. I think
the key changes work okay. The guitar sound in the
chorus is a little too abrasive to my ear and could maybe
use some EQ to take down some of the higher
frequencies. You've got a great voice!

[ Reply to This ]
great singing! &mdash 06/29/05 - 04:00:50 PM
I like the concept behind this. It's fun, and unique. I think
the key changes work okay. The guitar sound in the
chorus is a little too abrasive to my ear and could maybe
use some EQ to take down some of the higher
frequencies. You've got a great voice!

[ Reply to This ]
great singing! &mdash 06/29/05 - 04:51:57 PM
Thanks so much, Jim. I worked and worked and worked on that cursed chorus
guitar because I absolutely agree with you about it being too abrasive. It was
much worse at one point. I did so many things to try to fix it, I can't even
remember what I tried. Do you have any advice for de-abraisiveafying it? I'd be
really grateful for any tips.

[ Reply to This ]
great singing! &mdash 06/29/05 - 05:17:08 PM
Try adding some delay and a little mid and bass to the guitar but not tonight
cause I'll be by at 7:30! Or were you coming over? Hhahahahaha!
Bibble again!

[ Reply to This ]
Please speak clearly. &mdash 06/29/05 - 09:36:50 PM
Huh, what? I don't understand what you're saying...oh, bibble? Okay, you should have said so in the first place. Could you just fix my guitar for me at 7:30? There's an extra jellied eel in it for you

Thanks, B. I'll give it a go.

[ Reply to This ]
Please speak clearly. &mdash 06/30/05 - 11:39:05 AM
I will string that guitar anyday as long as you wear your hair curly and wear
that cod liver oil dress with the twinkie fllavored mini skirt and the pickle juice
tube top! 7:30 it is Valenciia P Honeysuckle!

[ Reply to This ]
SNIGGLES &mdash 06/29/05 - 05:14:03 PM
Hey sweety you left something for Mungo and not me? I don't understand after all the time we spent in the garden naked and under the sheets eating smores and ear lobe stew how you could forget about me! Well anyways nice song and your voice still sounds cute and I love your monkey! Hope your not offended by that comment but we did spend alot of time under the sheets! Hhahahahahaha! Bibble mcsnibbles worth! I'll swing by at 7:30 after my break dancin class! Be ready!

[ Reply to This ]
SNIGGLES &mdash 06/29/05 - 09:40:15 PM
What I left for you is subliminal. I suggest you listen to the song seven to ten thousand times and then you may understand what I'm trying to tell you with my song. It's deep, man. Deep.

My monkey sends fond regards back to you.

[ Reply to This ]
SNIGGLES &mdash 06/30/05 - 11:33:56 AM
Damn your monkey talks? That's a little kinky! Did you enjoy yourself last
night? That whip cream and eel juice got all over everything! I hope your
computer still works fine? Are you cumming over tionight for some fandago
and tata tupiloos? I will be free at 6:00 tonight! BJ HUMPINSTEIN!

[ Reply to This ]
SNIGGLES &mdash 06/30/05 - 02:28:32 PM
I KNEW IT!!!! YOU ARE CHEATING ON ME! THAT'S IT BUDDY- I AM COOKING THE DOG FOR SUPPER TONIGHT!
I WILL BE HOME BY 9- IF YOU DON'T HAVE THIS HOME-WRECKING HUSSY OUT OF THE HOUSE BY THAT TIME- THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME MAJOR SHIT-STORMS BREWING!!! GRAB YOUR UMBRELLA CAUSE THE FECIES WILL BE OF HAIL-LIKE PROPORTIONS!!!
I CANT BELIEVE THIS- JUST WHEN I THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO GET OFF MY MEDS!!!!

[ Reply to This ]
SNIGGLES &mdash 06/30/05 - 10:07:26 PM
Kat, you can have Bizarre, if I can have your meds. :)

And I swear, he never told me he was cyber-married! You cad, Bizarre!

[ Reply to This ]
SNIGGLES &mdash 07/01/05 - 07:46:09 AM
ARRGGGH well about the MEDS me wench, sounds like a plan for the 'ol pirate ship- maybe Bizarre and I can take advantage of ya! ROOFIES anyone?? Cyber-threesome action?!?!

[ Reply to This ]
BIZARRE IS HURT! &mdash 07/03/05 - 04:38:32 PM
Now you are giving me up? I will take on both of you feathered wenches
in one horned long tongue pirate fashion! I guess you didn't enjoy the whip
cream and smore jubille with pickle juice and pigeon feathers! Peaschlock
bududi mcslappin dill potato!

[ Reply to This ]
You're an original &mdash 06/29/05 - 05:14:33 PM
You have such cool sound! Great voice. You know what it
is? You and your voice and your song have CHARACTER!
Lyrically, it's just so much fun. You create an aura with
this song. It's that unique combination of voice, music and
words that makes a song memorable. It's all there and it
jumps out right away.
The guitar is raspy, the only distraction. But a minor thing
in another wise cool tune.

[ Reply to This ]
You're an original &mdash 06/29/05 - 07:21:05 PM
..in an otherwise....not ...another wise

[ Reply to This ]
You're an original &mdash 06/29/05 - 09:43:55 PM
Don't worry about the typo. I often think the letter r is optional. :)

Thanks, Alley. I'm really glad you liked the song, for obvious reasons. Thanks for being such a wonderful, supportive macjammer.

[ Reply to This ]
You can NEVER... &mdash 06/29/05 - 06:13:50 PM
...listen to too much Howard Jones as a teenager! Very fun.
Full of good monkiness.

[ Reply to This ]
You can NEVER... &mdash 06/29/05 - 09:47:32 PM
Something tells me we need to compare record collections. HoJo was the first concert I ever went to and it was in the middle of a heat wave and he had to take off his shirt and I screamed like an idiot with all the other girls over his pasty white caved-in chest. In the '80's it was really all about the hair though.

I'm glad you enjoyed the monkiness.

[ Reply to This ]
You can NEVER... &mdash 06/30/05 - 09:15:54 AM
Speaking of hair, I got a chance to meet and interview the lead singer of A Flock of Seagulls in the early 90s. By that time, of course, he didn't have any hair left, really. But still, it was pretty cool.

---
Some people are like big children, harming others without even seeing it. Staying angry with these fools is like being mad at fire because it burns.

[ Reply to This ]
You can NEVER... &mdash 06/30/05 - 09:48:51 AM
Mr. Flock of Seagulls has been all over the place recently, but I'm awed that you met 80's music royalty. He has a ponytail now, right?

[ Reply to This ]
You can NEVER... &mdash 06/30/05 - 11:42:47 AM
Flock of Seagulls was just on a show called "Hit me baby one more time"
They sounded pretty bad! I have their greatest hits along with "Strange
triangle of pink love"! I run so far awaaaay! Just to see your monkey!

[ Reply to This ]
Something tells me it's all happening &mdash 06/29/05 - 08:48:26 PM
at the...oh, you know. Fun piece. Engaging vocals. Brave
key changes. Exotic colors.

7-7-8-7

[ Reply to This ]
Something tells me it's all happening &mdash 06/29/05 - 09:51:34 PM
Thanks so much for voting and commenting Mr. A and also for stopping by the Ladies Room. You made the point I couldn't.

I'm still not too sure about those key changes. I think I abused the power at my fingertips...or reveled in it, or was just too lazy to re-record the vocal once I realized that the last key change was excessive. It was one of those three, definitely.


[ Reply to This ]
It's almost like you peeked in my house &mdash 06/30/05 - 05:21:16 AM
I have a collection of stuffed monkeys and penguins - toys,
of course. And I love going to the zoo.
Very playful, very well sung.
Nice cowbell. Thanks. :) I may undelete my cowbell opus this
holiday weekend.
I very much enjoy when I listen to a song and it's quite
obvious the singer has a love of music.
I agree w/ comments about the guitar, but it doesn't really
take away from enjoying the tune.

[ Reply to This ]
It's almost like you peeked in my house &mdash 06/30/05 - 09:44:14 AM
Yay! I left more than one thing in the song for you then. I put the cowbell in initially, just for fun and because I know you like the cowbell (which is why I go so nutso on the second cowbell part) but I actually liked how it sounded and will probably use it again. I'd love to hear your cowbell opus.



[ Reply to This ]
It's almost like you peeked in my house &mdash 07/01/05 - 05:49:43 PM
My infamous cowbell performance will, once approved, reappear here - http://
www.macjams.com/song/song_profile.php?lid=7202

---
Mungo

[ Reply to This ]
Go Go Girl &mdash 06/30/05 - 07:42:33 AM
Reminds me of The Go Go's....that's a good thing...

WM

[ Reply to This ]
Go Go Girl &mdash 06/30/05 - 09:46:52 AM
Thanks a lot. I love early Go-Go's. I'd love to get my hands on their drummer and force her to play on my songs.

Thanks so much for saying hi, winniemae.

[ Reply to This ]
winsome! &mdash 06/30/05 - 01:07:20 PM
This is really lovely...good indie style production, I like the
keyboards and guitars a lot. You have a very nice,
winsome vocal style. Great track - thanks for sharing
S

[ Reply to This ]
winsome! &mdash 07/03/05 - 04:31:02 PM
Thanks, Steve. The word "winsome" is highly enjoyable.

[ Reply to This ]
Truly a &mdash 07/01/05 - 12:01:48 PM
Funny song , love those lyrics, the production could use
some work but the vocal is pretty good! Thanks for this witty
song!

[ Reply to This ]
Nice singing &mdash 07/01/05 - 12:54:19 PM
and somewhat off the wall lyrics. That's my favorite part, but the whole mix is nice and pro sounding.

[ Reply to This ]
strangely cool &mdash 07/01/05 - 11:35:02 PM
fun tune & lyrics. that funky guitar thing early in the song
rawked! how can you go wrong with monkeys, dead mice &
crickets? DL'd

[ Reply to This ]
nice vocals & lyrics &mdash 07/03/05 - 08:23:18 PM
Your voice has a light, silvery quality which is very
pleasant on the ears. It fits the whimsical lyrics very well.

The beat and chords drive forward with energy and subtle
insistence. As the song progressed, the tamborine got a
bit much and the guitar was buzzy (to my ears anyway),
but overall this song was enjoyable to listen to.

There are some nice harmony changes and the melody is
good, almost hypnotic in its rhythm. Very effective.

[ Reply to This ]
good track. &mdash 07/04/05 - 02:52:58 PM
Like Jim said, that guitar is a bit hard on the ears, but that aside, this tune is really good.

[ Reply to This ]
Fantastic... &mdash 07/05/05 - 04:31:04 AM
The Go Gos... is definitely in there. And Mungo's cowbell.
Lovely and light-headed. Of course I prefer murder and
affairs as song subject matter, but if you're going to sing
about monkeys this is as good as it gets. Love Poppy the
Beagle's tambourine, too.

[ Reply to This ]
My Ears My Ears! &mdash 07/05/05 - 09:06:42 PM
Just kidding. Isn't Garageband great! Kudos to Apple for
finally putting an easy to use program in our hands. Now we
can make that music inside of us we never had the tools for
before.
I like monkeys a lot, and the song too. Expecially at the zoo.

[ Reply to This ]
Dreamy &mdash 07/06/05 - 06:27:38 AM
I like this a lot. It reminds me of an Australian band called Frent. The guitar bits are great - they add some meat (?) to the track and lift it to another level.
Just on mics - I've just read about a new desktop condenser from MXL. Check it out here:
http://www.etcetera.co.uk/products/YAM500.shtml


[ Reply to This ]
Cool &mdash 07/07/05 - 03:55:33 PM
Have you ever heard the Moldy Peaches? That's the first thing
that sprung to mind when I listened to this - it's the lo-fi
sound coupled with wistful lyrics - also reminded me of
Nico. Cool. Like the way your voice seems to crack when you
say "reptile house".

Very nice indeed. Sweet and fun.

[ Reply to This ]
&mdash 07/20/05 - 02:45:29 PM
i honestly really enjoyed this! it's fun and goofy and
unabashed in it's delicate, innocent feel. it's not cool
at all, and revels in that fact- awesome.
truly unique.

[ Reply to This ]
wow . . . &mdash 09/05/05 - 07:48:22 AM
what a lovely song . . .

this is the first track i've listened to of yours . . .

wonderfully put together . . .

and what a great voice !

i'll go check out your other stuff now . . .

safe

cj

[ Reply to This ]
Hell yeah! &mdash 02/03/06 - 11:29:27 PM
Spank that monkey; spank it! That's a compliment.

[ Reply to This ]
rattle-clankety but smooth &mdash 02/19/06 - 04:50:28 PM
love the melody, you've got a very soothing voice. Nifty production
touches, keeping things spare with the tambourine & cowbell. Really
intriguing stuff, I'll be lending an ear to your future projects.

[ Reply to This ]
Cool... &mdash 02/26/06 - 12:11:50 AM
and imaginative. Love the lyrics; the gradual build-up, and the way your
voice wafts over the electric guitar. Good stuff!

[ Reply to This ]
Howard Jones! &mdash 10/26/06 - 09:18:51 PM
There is nothing wrong with that at all. This is such a cute charming song and I love it when the electric guitar comes in hard after the first verse. I'm reminded a little of "Coin-Operated Boy" by the Dresden Dolls, but your sound is definitely unique.

[ Reply to This ]
great lyrics! &mdash 01/07/07 - 11:31:38 AM
I don't mind the chorus guitar at all, it creates a diversion which is good. I like the lyrics especially here.

[ Reply to This ]
i could &mdash 01/07/07 - 07:26:54 PM
get used to this! :-)
it takes me back to 94. i have no idea why it takes me to 94. it just does.
JM67

[ Reply to This ]
Actually... &mdash 02/09/07 - 06:25:05 PM
...I like the key changes and the way you change the timbre of your voice/ instrumentation with them. Very effective.


[ Reply to This ]
just &mdash 05/19/07 - 04:14:20 PM
discovered this one. so cool, i love the instrumention. so sparse and fitting for the song. i usually hate the cowbell (unless it's in that old saturday night live skit). i always mean to say if you ever want me to play anything for you, just give me a shout. there, now i've said it. :)

[ Reply to This ]
Great Offer &mdash 05/19/07 - 04:46:05 PM
Thanks, Michael. After all this time, this song is still one of my favorites of everything I've done. I'm not really sure why, because it has so many issues, like the fact that I'd apparently never heard of having a bassline in a song, and the production is wacky, to say the least. At the heart of it, though, I like the sweet, silliness of this song and would actually like to do more songs along these lines.

I've got a re-do of this in the works and am excited to do it. I'm also VERY excited to hear that you'd play something for me. I REALLY love your music. I'll definitely keep that offer in my pocket until I have time to play together.


[ Reply to This ]
put &mdash 05/19/07 - 06:20:49 PM
that in your pocket, and pull it out whenever. i've got a lot of wierd instruments floating around that i've picked up over the years (lots of cheap wacky keyboards, melodica, theremin, old effects pedals, a bunch of guitars, organs, the stylophone, tongue drums, thumb piano, wierd crappy guitars that are good for 1 or 2 things, backup vocals, ...).

[ Reply to This ]
Do you know what I think.... &mdash 06/12/07 - 08:27:15 AM
I think that you sound really great without the "big production".
You've got a very good pure voice.
Don't think it's a silly as you think(The lyrics)
I'd do something different with the production, but that's just me.
Really like your pure stuff. Think it's a perfect style for you.
Keep it up because I know you have something special.
LL

[ Reply to This ]
wonderful &mdash 06/22/07 - 10:26:44 AM
i find this entirely delightful! i actually like the jangly guitar at the chorus.
lyrics are outrageously cool. your innocent vocal is the perfect thing here.
this absolutely works. enjoyed! anne

[ Reply to This ]
A great quirky track &mdash 04/10/08 - 10:58:05 AM
Love the way all the sections work against each other but just roll along like a family. Loopy mix and who cares about abrasive and hiss? It's got edge and it's fun and i can play it over and over and thats great pop music - ask Howard.

[ Reply to This ]
Copyright 2008 Simig Media, Inc.