Who's Online
Invisible Members: 7 Visitors: 60
Past 7 Days
Song Uploads: 156
Song Votes: 426
Song Comments: 2415
Forum Posts: 593
New Members: 73
Participation Points: 9582.55
|
Get Flash to see this player.
Having playback trouble, try the Quicktime player:
  
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial
|
|
|
|
|
Keywords:
collaboration (102), alt rock (8), ballad (127), inspirational (76), strings (246), uplifting (16), ez rock (3), neil diamond : ) (1)
|
|
Description:
Jim sent me the music and the muses gave me the words! Inspired by the Myth of Sisyphus by albert camus.
A total collaboration!
The myth of sisyphus is discussed here, the .gif was "borrowed" from this page:
http://english.uindy.edu/english_331_docs/camus.htm
Lyrics:
These are the days
and these are the nights
these are the ones
they warned us about
all our lives.
Day in, Day out
all according to plan
whatever you get
is never more than
you can stand
you get a rock
and you push it hard
to get a start
you push it hard
chorus
You keep pushing
you keep pushing
you keep pushing
with all your will
you keep pushing
you keep pushing
you keep pushing
rocks up a hill
and when they fall back down
you can smile.
Once upon a time
in greek myths we're told
of a man condemned
to push a rolling stone
He loved life
and bound death in chains
though he was wise
it was all in vain.
He got a rock
and he pushed it hard
to get to the top
he pushed it hard
chorus
bridge:
You can say
it doesn't matter
you can say it'll never end
you say it's meaningless
that 's absurd, my friend
I only listen
I only listen
when you say
climber
c'mon up clilmber
that's no hill.
Scorned by the gods
and scorned by fate
can you dig it, baby
can you relate?
It's tragic and it's funny
and the minute you know
sometimes you see
and sometimes you don't
You get a rock
and you push it hard
to get to the top
you push it hard
chorus
We get a rock
what are you gonna do
when you get to the top?
are you going to push that rock?
with all you've got?
© kking & jbouchard 2005
Hardware:
hers: garageband, akgc1000s
his: full bag-o-musical-goodies
Software:
gb
|
my bag: &mdash 12/05/05 - 10:20:00 AM
2 tracks of acoustic Guild G37, 2 tracks of Strat, 1 track of Tele wha-wha, Kurzweil KME-61 synth pads, Jam Pack 4 orchestral strings, Michael Blair loops, Drums on Demand and Sonic Boombox drum loops, Peavey bass. Electric guitars recorded through DD-20 delay and Peavey Delta Blues amp, SM-57 mic, acoustic with Rode NT-1000 mic, all going through ART Tube PAC, Tascam US122
I also sing on this though just barely... and I contributed a word or two!
I send Kelli this instrumental track and she came up with the perfect lyrics for it, so I really rolled up my sleeves and re-worked it as much as I could. It was a total joy to see this develop. We're turning into quite the macguy&macgalver! I've been enjoying our collaborations quite abit, and this one has been the most satisfying yet! [ Reply to This ]
Absurd... &mdash 12/05/05 - 01:13:49 PM
...but in a good way. It seems like you two have come out of nowhere.
Or maybe it's that I have just discovered you. Well, I knew about Jim,
but somehow adding Kelli to the mix has created something really
wonderful. I feel like I have been to the "record store," flipping through
albums, and have found a new group that I really like -and no one
knows about it. Only, there aren't any records anymore are there?
Ok, this is a great piece. I love the lyrics, love the vocals, and I really
like the unusual percussion thing Jim has going on in this.
Back in my agnostic days, Camus was my hero. Myth of Sisyphus: say
that 5 times real fast.
10-10-10-10 [ Reply to This ]
Excellent! &mdash 12/05/05 - 03:06:23 PM
So smooth and calm, yet so alive.
I particularly dug the percussion, but the other performances weren't too
shabby either :)
Great vocals and I loved the subtle touches on the piano.
Very pro and clean production.
This one's a keeper! [ Reply to This ]
Isn't this the way life is? &mdash 12/05/05 - 03:34:06 PM
You work to achieve your highest highs. Doesn't matter to other people but it does to you. Like me and my music...some people don't understand. Nice tune...love everything about it.
Regards
John [ Reply to This ]
poor old sisyphus &mdash 12/05/05 - 04:56:22 PM
--bet he never knew he'd have so many friends!
: ) glad you're listening--thank you for taking time to comment.
love, kelli [ Reply to This ]
NICE PUPPY CHOPS! &mdash 12/05/05 - 06:02:29 PM
NICE PUPPY CHOPS! &mdash 12/05/05 - 07:50:57 PM
You're RIGHT! It is sooooo neil diamond! Couldn't you hear him? Oh, man...
and to think of him doing the refrain, "you keep pushing..." ha. Thanks, Mr.
Biz. [ Reply to This ]
Sweet &mdash 12/05/05 - 08:19:32 PM
This is sweet. I love the vocal performance, the lyrics are intriguing, and
the instrumentation is spot on. Like the percussion, and the guitar sounds
all througout. Nicely done. [ Reply to This ]
What a pair! &mdash 12/05/05 - 10:15:31 PM
Fabulous song--and a most excellent collaboration!
Glad Tom Atwood pointed me to your song page here.
Will check out more of your songs.
Congratulations on this one--very, very nice! :)
[ Reply to This ]
What a pair! &mdash 12/06/05 - 09:06:56 AM
Thanks! What I have learned in collaborating with various people is how rare it is when things just click, and how satisfying that is. This song is just over a week old in total, which is rather remarkable to me. I'd been playing around with this chord progression on my acoustic over thanksgiving weekend at my sister's house, and when I got home I tracked that with some drum and string loops and sent it to Kelli. She came up with words pretty quickly and a sent a scratch vocal to me while I continued to work on adding stuff and writing the actual string parts, after which she re-recorded her vocals. The other songs we've done have been more finished conceptually by the time I got to them, so that's why this is a real collaboration this time. That we should be so sympatico in the way we work strikes me as wonderful and rare... Thanks for the nice comment!
---
It's almost unforgivable [telling a band their music is wrong],
it's like telling you how to make love to your wife - Steve Albini. [ Reply to This ]
Top stuff... &mdash 12/06/05 - 04:21:12 AM
This is really incredible. A beautiful mixture of textures, and a really
beautiful song. One of the best things I've heard in a long while.
Maybe I would have liked the vocals to be a touch higher in the mix in
one or two places and just a little bit more power in the phrase "you
keep pushing"... but maybe I don't care because this is so good. [ Reply to This ]
When did... &mdash 12/06/05 - 06:02:54 AM
Carly Simon join MacJams? Great production. Professional and
polished. This is a real treasure. I think the balance of everything
sounds spot on when listening on my acoustic research monitors here
at work. On my home computer, I thought the vox could have been a
touch higher but that was my cheapo set up. I love her voice. At first,
she reminded me of Carly, then Edi Brickel(Sp?). Very cool song. Thx
for sharing. [ Reply to This ]
When did... &mdash 12/06/05 - 09:46:17 AM
a lot of the time Shawn Colvin's music is my sonic model. We both love "a few small repairs" and I'd be happy to play John Leventhal to Kelli's Shawn. I did play a gig with Mark Shulman back in October, the guitar player on those early Suzanne Vega records. They went to the same high school, Schulman and Leventhal, and it's a style of playing that I really dig, atmospheric washes and understatement. I try to listen over different systems, mixing on my Monsoon speakers and Sennheiser phones and then putting rough mixes on the iPod and listening to that through my car speakers and the iPod phones (actually I use Sony MDE-71 in-ear phones because I can't stand the earbuds) before I arrive at the final mix.
---
It's almost unforgivable [telling a band their music is wrong],
it's like telling you how to make love to your wife - Steve Albini. [ Reply to This ]
Great flow &mdash 12/06/05 - 02:18:18 PM
Really nice! &mdash 12/06/05 - 05:10:56 PM
I love the easy-going vocals. It sounds like it comes easy to you. I love
that. You and Jim sound great on this song. Great collab. I have not
heard your songs before. What a find! I will be sure to listen in the
future! [ Reply to This ]
Inspiring &mdash 12/06/05 - 05:54:40 PM
Great lyrics! great vocals. I love this. I want to move a mountain!
[ Reply to This ]
adam, emily, and alley!! &mdash 12/07/05 - 07:55:35 AM
Thank you so much for listening. I've listened to all three of you and your
music is very good so your comments mean a lot to me! Thank you for the
encouragement. [ Reply to This ]
I was just checking in &mdash 12/07/05 - 01:31:23 AM
It's really late & way past my bed time. I just popped in to see who it was
commenting on my song... (thanks to both you and jim by the way for
stopping by) And low and behold...wow. Your styles coalesce so well. I
actually don't hear edie brickell or shawn colvin in your tone I really only
vaguely hear natalie merchant and even then only at certain moments.
There are so many beautiful layers here as well as a few change ups that
keep it interesting. its a really well done, professional sounding song... I
gave it my highest that I've given anything so far on this forum. OH yes
and I downloaded it to play for my girlfriend later... Wonderful work you
two I will be checking back to see what you do next.
[ Reply to This ]
I was just checking in &mdash 12/07/05 - 07:45:16 AM
Oh thank you so much! I must admit I was very very inspired by your "bio of aphids" song to create an ambient background of synths and chirpy rhythms peaking in and out underneath the more conventional aspects of this song. I hope that anyone who listens to this song will go to your song and see what I mean...it's an excellent sound bed. This little bit of inspiration helps to make the song a lot more interesting, I think. So thanks!
---
It's almost unforgivable [telling a band their music is wrong],
it's like telling you how to make love to your wife - Steve Albini. [ Reply to This ]
cool band &mdash 12/07/05 - 04:25:36 AM
wow! i love the acoustic plug, its bring out the texture so clear & smooth. looking forward to listen your new music soon. [ Reply to This ]
cool band &mdash 12/07/05 - 04:26:59 AM
wow! i love the acoustic plug, its bring out the texture so clear & smooth. looking forward to listen your new music soon. [ Reply to This ]
Mild &mdash 12/07/05 - 05:50:27 AM
When you have heard, heart becomes calm, don't you think? it is such a
music.
Already a little based expression should have been visible kana and,
thinks.
In any case, being mild, when it closes the eye, it is the good tune
where scene spreads. [ Reply to This ]
thx &mdash 12/07/05 - 08:03:45 AM
DJFU and hotsea, thank you for listening! Hotsea, I really enjoyed your tune!!!
Nice to meet you!!!
VIVA MACJAMMERS OF THE WORLD. : ) [ Reply to This ]
Glad I found this tune! &mdash 12/07/05 - 04:27:55 PM
Great job on the song writing and production/instrument composition. I really, really like this tune! [ Reply to This ]
It all works &mdash 12/07/05 - 07:06:11 PM
What a continual flow of magical music and glorious vocals. Wonderful [ Reply to This ]
Yup &mdash 12/07/05 - 10:47:08 PM
Fantastic! &mdash 12/10/05 - 10:31:55 AM
Man, this is such a great song! Jim, you know I adore you, but I hadn't
heard Kelli before. What a marvelous combo! Kelli, I love your lyrics.
Well written, poignant, and meaningful to all of our lives at some time.
And your voice is amazing -- you've got a wonderful, warm quality
with a slightly ironic edge that is just really endearing. With the master
behind you, this song just works on every level. Bravo and brava! [ Reply to This ]
Fantastic! &mdash 12/11/05 - 09:58:07 PM
thanks, Joanna! I'm glad you have got a chance to hear Kelli sing here, as
seeing as you are such an accomplished vocalist yourself, your opinion is
quite valued and I'm sure Kelli is thrilled to get such words of praise from
you. We have been fortunate to come upon one another, since our styles are
so complimentary, and it's all due to MacJams, to give credit where credit is
due. Something about this place encourages collaboration! Thanks a lot!
---
It's almost unforgivable [telling a band their music is wrong],
it's like telling you how to make love to your wife - Steve Albini. [ Reply to This ]
simply, outstanding &mdash 12/11/05 - 12:24:05 AM
sweet and hopeful &mdash 12/12/05 - 09:26:49 AM
Now I'm going to have trouble 'pushing' this one out of my head. I love
the vocals/lyrics/melody. The eclectic percussion adds a great
contrast to the "Diamond" feel. This is the reason that I am beginning
to love macjams. Where else can you hear so much original talent? [ Reply to This ]
sweet and hopeful &mdash 12/12/05 - 10:47:37 AM
Thanks for the comment, fatastro!
---
It's almost unforgivable [telling a band their music is wrong],
it's like telling you how to make love to your wife - Steve Albini. [ Reply to This ]
nice song &mdash 12/12/05 - 08:39:39 PM
Wow, great song, you two. &mdash 12/14/05 - 06:57:37 PM
Top-notch all around! Terrific singing, intricate arranging and instrumentation.
The hard work was well worth it.
10s/fav/keeper [ Reply to This ]
Sisyphus meets Orpheus &mdash 01/10/06 - 11:17:43 AM
Camus' Myth of Sisyphus was one of the most influential things I read and
integrated in my late teens. I used to teach an existential course and it
was the centerpiece. So great to hear it woven into song. Love the
winding piano line. Really nice. [ Reply to This ]
Sisyphus meets Orpheus &mdash 01/18/06 - 10:34:04 AM
I had no idea the myth of sisyhus was so loved! I'm thrilled. I wonder
though..can we really be existential if everyone's doing it? ; ) [ Reply to This ]
|
|
Friends
iLounge - All things iPod, iTunes and beyond
|
Dish Network - the dish
network limited time bonus offers - get all three
|
|
I also sing on this though just barely... and I contributed a word or two!
I send Kelli this instrumental track and she came up with the perfect lyrics for it, so I really rolled up my sleeves and re-worked it as much as I could. It was a total joy to see this develop. We're turning into quite the macguy&macgalver! I've been enjoying our collaborations quite abit, and this one has been the most satisfying yet!
[ Reply to This ]