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Keywords:
dead (19), old (26), dick langford (1), musical (22), dramatic (24), knickers (2)
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Description:
It's another exercise in orchestral excess.
I'm not happy with the vocals (perhaps a little too dramatic??) and parts of the arrangement but it's nearly there.
The waster who sang Well Fair State ( http://www.macjams.com/song/28754 ) is nearing the end of his life. He's alone in his council flat never having given or received love. Unfortunately it's not regret he feels but resentment and bitterness. The middle section is a brief glimpse into his childhood where, for some reason, it all went wrong.
The message is simple - All You Need is Love :)
Cheers
Dick
Lyrics:
Nobody Loves You When You're Old (Hobbs/Langford) © AmokOpera 2007
Nobody loves you when you're old
Let's talk about the good old days
Before the bluebirds flew away
And left the sky so flat and grey
Endless summer, wasted youth
Endless summer, what's the use?
The world just loves to eat its young
Chews them up and spits them out
Flying high sweet bird of youth
Up above the cold hard ground
Here comes the winter
Here comes the cold
Nobody loves you when you get old
When the children come to call
Love's in such short supply
Hardly talk to you at all
How long before you die?
How did you get here
You'll never know
Wasted youth
So long ago
You feel so young inside your head
But your body lets you down
It won't be long before you're dead
Down in that cold hard ground
You could have loved them
If truth be told
Nobody loves you when you get old
(©Hobbs/Langford)
Hardware:
iMac 17" - Intel duo core
Yamaha midi keyboard
Software:
Garageband and orchestral jam pack
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extraodinary piece &mdash 04/07/07 - 10:57:05 PM
big production plus big ideas = big sound! great composition. i kinda see what you mean about the vocals. the softer vocal section is good though. totally enjoyed this! [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Vic, pleased you enjoyed it &mdash 04/08/07 - 11:26:55 AM
The more I hear it the more I don't like the vocals. They were done in a bit of a rush with idea of Al Jolson in my head. Sometimes I shouldn't be allowed to have things in my head......
Cheers
Dick
[ Reply to This ]
AL &mdash 04/09/07 - 05:11:31 AM
Al Jolson is cool - and so is your vocal, aw the best.
---
johnny crawford [ Reply to This ]
Thanks John &mdash 04/09/07 - 04:33:51 PM
I love Al Jolson but I'm not sure I did him (or me) any favours here ;-)
Cheers
Dick
[ Reply to This ]
Another great piece! &mdash 04/09/07 - 09:50:51 AM
This is great, Dick, this is really coming along as a whole, isn't it? I'm on the fence about the vocals - in a way, the OTT treatment works and the mellow parts are almost too mellow, on the other hand, there is probably another way to approach the OTT style, but I'm just not sure what it is. It'll come to you.
The arrangement is very rich, with enough change-ups throughout to keep things interesting. Just after the first refrain of "nobody loves you when you get old", there is a bright horn part that sounds a little stilted, like it wants to be free to leap about and play some triplets and such. Other than that - this sounds great - I can't wait until the whole thing begins to piece together in my brain and I can get a read on the tone - it really is quite something, and I'm excited to hear the finished production! [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Bing &mdash 04/09/07 - 04:40:40 PM
I really appreciate you listening to this. I thought it was getting near to be completed but my wife has pointed out there are no songs for the women and so we've written two new ones so it's going to take a little longer than we thought.
I've been thinking about what you said with the horns and you have a point. I just have to work out how I might do it.
Vocals really need some work. They were rushed and not my best.
Cheers
Dick [ Reply to This ]
Amok &mdash 04/09/07 - 03:19:43 PM
Another excellent chapter. I like the orchestration. Keep up the work. I'm listening for the rest!
[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Bill &mdash 04/12/07 - 02:54:55 AM
much appreciated but still lots to do. This business of working for a living has a lot to answer for ;-)
Cheers
Dick [ Reply to This ]
Kurt Weill would approve &mdash 04/09/07 - 07:35:14 PM
I thought I heard a little "Cannon Song" in here, no? Personally I really enjoyed the counterpart of the harsh vocals and the softer, despairing ones. Maybe I'm the only one...but it seemed very dramatic and rock-opera-y to me. [ Reply to This ]
Cannon Song I don't remember &mdash 04/12/07 - 03:10:31 AM
but spent a fruitless hour last night searching the internet for a version and going through my old vinyls in the basement looking my copy of Threepenny Opera that hasn't seen the light of day for 20 years. Still, if it's sounding at all like Kurt Weil then I guess I'm doing OK so thanks :-)
You're right, it is part of a musical/opera. Check my bio ;-)
Cheers
Dick
[ Reply to This ]
In front of dirty mirror with naked lightbulb swinging soliloquy &mdash 04/10/07 - 09:43:59 AM
Like something from Sweeney Todd, letting frustration carry you thru anger into cleansing violence. You can't be too much of a character with this sort of piece. Love the reversed echo in the end, too. Maybe too much reverb all around, but I really dig this. And maybe too many repetitions of the slow section (I wanted more variations that would go slightly off topic and reveal more details of the guys lost chances). I like the music box interlude a lot. You sing "dead" really well! Chilling effect, the end. Really good. [ Reply to This ]
The idea of a naked light &mdash 04/13/07 - 03:00:48 AM
would be too exciting !
Interesting that I haven't added any reverb to the instruments I used. I guess it might be added during the mastering process. I'll check out if that's the case.
I can see your point about explaining his situation a little more and I'd agree if this was a standalone song but in our defence I have to say it's the penultimate song of a musical where his character has been developed through dialogue, action and other songs (Well Fair State http://www.macjams.com/song/28754). I rest my case ;-)
I really appreciate the comments Tobin.
Thanks
Cheers
Dick
[ Reply to This ]
Great &mdash 04/11/07 - 05:03:51 AM
I think you're being unfair on yourself, this is great for the genre it fits with and beats the pant of most material in the genre. When I listen I visualize a big epic piece, a musical extravaganza: "Life is ALL" or whatever like Lional Bart's Oliver, this is around where Fagin sings'I'm Reviewing the Situation" kind of thing. I'm thinking "Life " The Musical with all these power struggles, young and old ugly and beatiful, hot and cold, peace and war, birth and death. Eat your heart out LLoyd Webber. This is Brilliant, waiting for more. [ Reply to This ]
Ha &mdash 04/11/07 - 05:08:03 AM
Ha indeed! &mdash 04/13/07 - 10:13:07 AM
Pleased you enjoyed it!
I like the idea that you imagined it as part of a bigger whole.
Thanks for listening.
Cheers
Dick
[ Reply to This ]
I just don't think &mdash 04/13/07 - 06:43:19 PM
I just don't think the vocals hold up to the scope and quality of the music. The ideas are grand. Love the keys. [ Reply to This ]
I wasn't happy with them either &mdash 04/16/07 - 01:58:03 AM
they were rushed and I should have taken more time with them but in my defence they won't be mine on the final version :-)
Thanks for listening.
Cheers
Dick
[ Reply to This ]
We love ya &mdash 04/15/07 - 01:37:33 AM
Another great arrangement Dick - it's such a tease being shown your vision piece by piece. I love the soft interlude vocals - really nicely sung, but both sets of vocals sound a bit dull (may be the EQ-ing). I do think the main verse vocals could be improved upon.
Other than that, another wonderful step down your musical alley (er, if you get my drift!).
Steve [ Reply to This ]
It's not just you &mdash 04/18/07 - 04:13:49 PM
who is being shown it a bit at a time :-)
I've no idea what's coming next either.
Thanks for your support !
Cheers
Dick [ Reply to This ]
Also &mdash 04/18/07 - 04:15:32 PM
I think the vocals could be better and they will be when Graeme sings this song ;-)
Cheers
Dick [ Reply to This ]
It's coming along! &mdash 04/27/07 - 11:45:40 PM
I would like to hear this tune as a counter-punch to something more positive; perhaps one of those woman-tunes, and then have the two outlooks trade the space on stage. Ah, what do I know? They would only give me mime-parts in highschool. This is an interesting look at a curmudgeon; good writing. Thanks for including us in your process; this is really cool. [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Joe &mdash 05/19/07 - 08:34:43 AM
You are exactly right. It follows a positive song and is followed by a very positive song.
Cheers
Dick
[ Reply to This ]
This one is really cool! &mdash 05/08/07 - 01:25:54 AM
another wonderful piece....The voice is in tune with the suspense of the melody and changes to a sad voice following the music....Thank you for sharing! [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Enrique &mdash 05/20/07 - 06:13:38 AM
vocals &mdash 05/18/07 - 08:52:23 AM
are great - what is everybody talking about? ; )
I personally think they are dramatic, which is perfect for a dramatic show, as I understand this is for. It will be a dream for the actor/singer who is performing this.
But your vocals in particular I like! I imagine the villain of a Disney movie (a compliment, as the villains get the greatest songs). You sound like the singer of "Be Prepared" in *The Lion King* I'll have to watch again to see if my memory is playing tricks on me : ) [ Reply to This ]
You like the vocals? &mdash 05/20/07 - 06:28:35 AM
OK, I'm still not happy with them but I really appreciate a positive comment like that especially from someone who can sing :-)
Cheers
Dick [ Reply to This ]
Getting old... &mdash 05/20/07 - 05:35:59 PM
Another stunning number, Dick. I haven't been following the progress of your big project, but now you have sucked me in. The general idea is really compelling and I hope you will pursue it to the end. I don't have any idea how you'd stage this collection, but you have powerful things to say and have created powerful music to convey them... Yeh. Don't diss your vocals. They are great. I only wish they were a little more up-front. ... This is wonderful stuff and very ambitious. I want to buy a ticket when it hits West End.
Peace.
Paul [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Paul, &mdash 05/22/07 - 12:11:36 PM
Vocals will be redone in September then it's a matter of getting the whole thing professionally mastered and CDs made.
I see it as film project now but it's all pie in the sky. I'm about as likely to get a film made as I am to get a recording contract :-)
Cheers
Dick [ Reply to This ]
This is great.. &mdash 05/22/07 - 04:04:18 PM
and I'm very impressed. Sounds like I'm listening to an excerpt from a show or musical and I think your voice and the expression are wonderful. It really does sound like a big production, M [ Reply to This ]
Big production? :-) &mdash 05/23/07 - 12:55:59 PM
Actually I'm really pleased with that comment. I like to feel this is on a grand scale even though I'm putting it together in my basement so it's nice to hear that.
Many thanks :-)
Cheers
Dick [ Reply to This ]
pie in the sky &mdash 05/31/07 - 10:26:10 AM
dont give up hope - you could still make the film - there are loads of enthusiastic upcoming moviemakers around looking for projects to work on.You could post an advert on the student noticeboards erm theres one in st peters library on grand parade opposite st peters chrch or that veggie cafe near kensington gardens i think - or at least there always was.Just an idea - great song by the way - the strings/vocals are excellent [ Reply to This ]
Love the vocals &mdash 08/19/07 - 03:41:39 PM
I downloaded this and put it on a CD so I could listen to it properly through the hi-fi. It's quickly become one of my favourites from Amokopera. It's a brilliant piece of songwriting and arrangement.
Now, we're going to have to agree to disagree about the vocals. I think they're fantastic and suit the song perfectly. There's a kind of grimness and latent aggression in the main vocal which really brings the character and his sad situation to life. I don't think they're too dramatic ... or at least they're dramatic in the sense of being theatrical, which is good. And the contrasting sweetness of the "endless summer" vocals makes for a powerful combination. Those softer lines are real heartstring tuggers, with a murmur of Jeff Buckley in the quivering notes at the ends of the lines. Sounds exquisite to me.
This is seriously good stuff, Dick. I look forward to hearing the whole thing when it's finally complete!
I will probably have worn out my CD-R by then anyway. [ Reply to This ]
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