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Schrodinger's Cat by Peter Greenstone [Email]

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SONG STATS:
Hits: 2246
Comments: 38
Votes: 25
Plays: 584
Last Played: Jun 21, 2008 - 04:11:21 PM
Downloads: 78
Fans: 13
Uploaded: Jul 16, 2005 - 08:58:13 PM
Last Updated: Oct 25, 2006 - 06:01:55 PM
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Description:
THE FINAL MIXED AND MASTERED VERSION OF THIS TRACK IS AVAILABLE ON MY DEBUT ALBUM, "SOMETHING".

http://www.simig.com/records/artists/peter/peter.htm

THIS VERSION IS CLOSE TO FINAL BUT NOT THE FINAL.

This new version features vocals recorded using my new ART Tube Preamp/Compressor and M-Audio Firewire 410 interface. It sounds remarkably better. Worth every penny.

----
I wrote this song after back-to-back readings of Moby Dick, Gandhi's autobiography, several quantum physics books, and The Bhagvat Gita. Books seemingly chosen arbitrarily tuned out to be more interconnected than I would have expected. And so I was inspired to write this somewhat satirical song about defying the Universe to make one's own reality, manifesting Truth through a loophole in reason. That said, it's meant to be a fun song.

Our friendly neighborhood jammer, Billy "Bonka" Reid, contributed backup harmony vocals.

Lyrics:
It’s a long way to Saturn
Sometimes I think it will never end
And I'm the same old pattern
I gotta do it all over again

Sometimes the Truth is the ocean
Sometimes the Truth is a single crest
And if you live as an island
the Truth will evanesce

But the Truth of the matter
is sitting in my lap
And if I close my eyes and put it out of my mind
I can kill Schrodinger’s Cat
I can kill Schrodinger’s Cat

So on the long trip to Saturn
I read a copy of Moby Dick
'cause if I look out my window
I'm sure to go mad as Pip

Sometimes the Truth is a moment
Sometimes the Truth is a endless line
And to a desperate poet
the Truth is anything that rhymes

But the Truth of the matter
is sitting in my lap
and if I close my eyes and put it out my mind
I can kill Schrodinger’s Cat
I can kill Schrodinger’s Cat
I can kill Schrodinger’s Cat

Hardware:
G5, ART Tube Preamp/Compressor, M-Audio Firewire 410 interface, Taylor acoustic guitar, Westbury electric guitar, Audio Technica MB4000C mic

Software:
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Extra points... &mdash 07/16/05 - 10:31:41 PM
...for any one who uses 'evanesce" in a song...

I read Moby Dick in my twenties after seeing Bob Dylan on
the Rolling Thunder tour...I read an interview in which he
said that this is the book he was taking on tour with
him...Now a long-time favorite of mine...

This is the song version of The Dancing Wu-Li Masters...

Another one with shades of Bowie, and of that thing Bowie
does where you might not follow what he's drawing upon
for the song, but you become convinced that the song has
an inner consistency, an inner rightness, even if you don't
get it...

I always get into your vocals, Peter...

Ed

[ Reply to This ]
Extra points... &mdash 07/18/05 - 04:39:26 PM
Thanks Ejh. I remember learning the word "evanesce" years ago in a book about
quantum physics, and I just fell in love with it. It has meaning that could be
applied in many ways outside of just describing a behavior of wave energy and
also has such a nice aesthetic quality to it. I was happy to find a place when it fit
perfectly in my lyrics.

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Wonderful lyrics &mdash 07/17/05 - 07:43:12 AM
Great rhymes, as I said in your earlier version. Brilliant
rhymes. I really like how you juxtaposed the modern
absurdist notions, and how your stanza "Sometimes the
Truth is a moment... And to a desperate poet the Truth is
anything that rhymes" opens the meaning of the song in
wonderful ways. Your new vocals are much cleaner, pro
quality, and the low range you use is warm yet has just
the right edge, very compelling vocals (I love your voice);
but the backing vocals seem to be mixed a bit soft. The
tune has kind of an Indie Country shuffle feel that makes
the traveling to Saturn idea playful and fun (even tho the
guitar solo still sounds clunky, in my ears). Excellent
lyrics.

[ Reply to This ]
Wonderful lyrics &mdash 07/18/05 - 05:06:11 PM
Thanks, Tobin, for listening and commenting again. I brought up the backup
vocals a bit from the previous version and they feel about right to me, but then
again it may be because I am so aware of them from working on the mix so
long. The guitar solo is the first one like that I ever tried on a recording. I'm
relatively happy with it but I know it could be better and I probably should
double the length of that part and work it out more. I need to practice a lot
more.

[ Reply to This ]
impressive... &mdash 07/17/05 - 10:48:51 AM
Great production...

Love the line -

And to a desperate poet
the Truth is anything that rhymes

Downloaded.

[ Reply to This ]
impressive... &mdash 07/18/05 - 05:24:28 PM
Thanks, Listen. Yeah, a lot of people seem to particularly enjoy that line.

[ Reply to This ]
Excellent &mdash 07/17/05 - 11:00:38 AM
Loved this piece when it was first released, and I like this
version even better. The vocal does seem warmer in the
lower register (must be all your new toys?). I agree with
Tobin that the Bonka harmonies might come up a bit, but
you could mix this to death, too.

As for your reading material? Lighten up, man! You'll get a
headache. Happy to send this to the Rating Picks...

9-9-10-9

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Excellent &mdash 07/18/05 - 05:44:17 PM
Thanks, Tom. The new preamp really makes a huge difference.

After those books I went through Crime and Punishment and a few Kafka books.
I had to stop when my hair started falling out.

[ Reply to This ]
Like it &mdash 07/17/05 - 12:05:02 PM
Nice tune, has that pg feel to it.
Your great musical talents sure comes out in just about
everything you do.
Thanks for sharing

[ Reply to This ]
Like it &mdash 07/19/05 - 09:17:19 PM
Thanks you so much, Bill.

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Brilliant &mdash 07/17/05 - 02:41:59 PM
That's it. Everything about this....brilliant ;)



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Nice Pip reference &mdash 07/17/05 - 02:53:39 PM
In fact, Moby Dick seems to fit right in with those quantum physics books, given Melville's rather forward-thinking notions of meaning and reality. I like the lyrics and singing, and that foot-tappin groove. Great production too.

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Nice Pip reference &mdash 07/19/05 - 09:30:15 PM
Thanks for listening, PV. I was amazed how much what I'd been reading was
interconnected. The part about how Pip went mad still sticks with me. He sure
was no Zaphod Beeblebrox.

[ Reply to This ]
What a fun song on so many levels! &mdash 07/17/05 - 08:04:39 PM
You've been hitting a lot of home runs in your macjams
contributions, this is another.

[ Reply to This ]
What a fun song on so many levels! &mdash 07/20/05 - 01:15:39 AM
Thanks, Illuminati. Glad you liked it.

[ Reply to This ]
If you haven't already... &mdash 07/17/05 - 10:39:42 PM
...you need to read Cosmic Bandidtos by A.C. Weisbecker.

Very cool song.

[ Reply to This ]
If you haven't already... &mdash 07/20/05 - 01:21:04 AM
Thanks, jgurner. I haven't read that book but I'll check it out. The description
on Amazon.com sounds great.

Speaking of cosmic books, I highly recommend Cosmic Comics by Italo Calvino.

[ Reply to This ]
Love it! &mdash 07/17/05 - 10:41:00 PM
The new gear is obviously worth the money, although I suspect this would stand up pretty high without it. Loved the groove, the vocals and the lyrics - maybe the solo could have been more pro sounding, but that might not fit the feel of the song as well.
Kind of Bowie meets Dylan to my ears - must read Moby Dick, but might leave the quantum physics to you!
Keep em coming!

[ Reply to This ]
Love it! &mdash 07/20/05 - 01:29:17 AM
Thanks, jiguma. Glad you liked it. Yeah, the solo ain't Frampton but it works
for me. When I ge to be a better guitarist I may revisit it.

Definitely check out Moby Dick. Amazing book.

[ Reply to This ]
great song &mdash 07/18/05 - 12:16:35 AM
very original lyrics...i agree, your voice does sound a bit like Bowie...first song i heard on quantum physics...but are you sure you want to kill Schrodinger's cat? isn't it the constant pursuit of the unknown that makes the world go around?...the observer's paradox...i guess the truth is in the mind of the beholder....anyway, great song & very thought provoking lyrics...and that's the truth 100%

[ Reply to This ]
great song &mdash 07/20/05 - 01:34:35 AM
Thanks Mikki. Well, the song is in the perspective of a person who fears being
destroyed by Truth too overhwelming to cope with. Personally, I enjoy the
search and the dizzying view.

[ Reply to This ]
catchy &mdash 07/18/05 - 02:06:56 AM
I normally do not like this type of music, but I thought this
tune was kind of catchy. The lyrics are interesting, and the
production quality is very impressive. No offense, but you
kind of have a Tom Petty sound going -- don't worry, I like
Tom Petty sometimes.

Not the type of music I would listen to regularly, but it is
refreshing to hear at times. Thank you for sharing this.


[ Reply to This ]
catchy &mdash 07/21/05 - 06:40:15 PM
Thanks, Brett. I'm glad you liked it even though it's a bit out of your listening
taste. This place has been a great melting pot of styles and personalties. I've
learned to appreciate music in a different way myself.

[ Reply to This ]
Even better... &mdash 07/18/05 - 06:15:44 AM
And it was good the first time around. The vocals work
beautifully; all round this is a beautiful mix. It really plays
up all the extraordinary textures you have in there. The
best song ever written about Quantum Indeteriminacy.

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maybe ive never read Moby Dick &mdash 07/18/05 - 08:44:35 AM
well, the truth is I HAVENT.
so i may not be able to understand what this song is
about, but i at least enjoyed the sound of it! rock'n'roll!!

[ Reply to This ]
Awesome!! &mdash 07/19/05 - 04:37:51 AM
This is the first song I've put on my iPod from MacJams. Can't fault it. I especially like that beat - it pushes the whole song along with a sense of urgency and restlessness. On top of that, the lyrics are great. "to a desperate poet the Truth is anything that rhymes" is very quotable. I likes it a lot!!

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Awesome!! &mdash 07/21/05 - 06:42:57 PM
Thanks, Myshkin. I'm proud to be featured on your iPod.

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very catchy &mdash 07/19/05 - 06:56:33 PM
one of the great macjammers strikes again. My only
complaint....your vocal seems to be really low in the mix.
Everything else is tops. Length is perfect for a single.
Way to go.

[ Reply to This ]
Superb Vocals &mdash 07/21/05 - 09:29:22 AM
Great vocals, man! This song reminds me of my favorite
band called 'The Lost Dogs', in particular Terry Taylor's
stuff. Your recording technique is truly top-notch on this
song. What's your day job?

[ Reply to This ]
Superb Vocals &mdash 07/21/05 - 11:40:05 AM
Thanks, Schroter. I work as a 3d animator/visual fx artist/director.

[ Reply to This ]
you're very talented! &mdash 07/22/05 - 02:38:23 PM
There is much to chew on in this song: the in-depth,
multi-leveled lyrics; the various layers of sound which are
well-combined; and the subtle nuances that you use in
your vocals.

Good guitar playing too....which I do agree could be
brought out more.

You do so many kinds of music WELL! I am impressed with
the wide scope and variety of your talents.

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great stuff &mdash 07/22/05 - 05:03:04 PM
ok pg, i think you are slowly becoming one of my favorite
songwriters on macjams. this is just great.

the line about the poet is priceless. 9s straight through, and
10 for production. i love the radio noise to begin and end.

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Wonderful metaphors &mdash 07/22/05 - 07:42:24 PM
An excellent choice of metaphor. My only thing is that the
words or so clever, so distinct, yet you sing them (with a fine
voice) without making the vivid pictures actually come to life,
and many of the images fly by unnoticed. Also, the guitar
solo is very stilted, not well crafted. Very good song idea.

[ Reply to This ]
You are tearing it up on the reworks man &mdash 07/25/05 - 11:35:09 PM
I already dl'ed the previous version, but I need this one
now...

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Nice little tune &mdash 09/05/05 - 09:07:39 AM
dld'd & favourised.

I have written a song about Schrodinger's Cat, myself. But
the lyrix are in German, so I don't know whether I will ever
post it here.

Anyway, just for the coincidence (or is it?), you just received
a couple extra points :-)

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toe tappin' ... &mdash 12/21/05 - 12:29:51 PM
... this surely is!

First song of yours I've listened to, picked at random from the list, and it's great. I agree with the Petty/ Bowie comments, but take them as compliments (musical coathooks to hang our mental points of reference onto - the mind is a comparison engine)

The more I think about the lyrics to this, the more I like it (like, how can you kill it until you actaully observe it?). I also like the fact that the chorus REALLY sticks in your head, but isn't in your face, it kinda creeps up on you. Thanks for this, I'll be checking out more of your toons soon.

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anything that rhymes &mdash 04/28/06 - 07:17:35 PM
You can write for sure... absolutly enjoying your muse and music

thanx

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Wonderful! &mdash 06/21/08 - 04:13:38 PM
Nice piece... loved the intro and then how it became when the guitars and drums entered.. nice work my friend, enjoyed it!

Take Care
- Yeman A. Al-Rawi

[ Reply to This ]
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