How & Why

SmokeyVW

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Description

album: Beyond One's Control
track 1: 3:57 How And Why
track 2: 2:40 That's Progress
track 3: 6:56 Unwinding Time
track 4: 8:21 Quant
track 5: 3:37 Five on Seven
track 6: 2:46 New Amsterdam
track 7: 4:12 Vicki Kierkegaard
track 8: 6:56 Remember Petr Dumfrey
track 9: 9:01 Another DDT
track 10: 2:19 In The Mess
track 11: 5:21 Tempus
...more albums...

Album Description

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Song Description

Walter M. confided in me, "this was copied off a surveillance tape at the Happy Swallow. It's the next to the last song, so it must have been about 1:30." I'm never sure if I should believe him or not.

~~~~~~~~
This actually started out as a love song. Then it become a jazz-like thing, but it needed a solo in the middle. Then I added some ambient matrix reverb and it became a sort of late night lounge song. Then I added a restaurant background sound sample. The background added that extra touch of the audience not really listening to the band. But the background needed a laugh, so I found a laugh sample. But the laughs were so great, it took control of the mix. And it became the missing solo in the middle. Really - the laughing lady is the solo! Then the laugh sample itself boomeranged into a sarcastic response from the band who didn't like being ignored by the audience. Finally, the drummer started imitating the lady. I'm really glad she didn't notice we were making fun of her! Or, I could claim I carefully planned this thing as a self-deprecating, lounge-lizard smokey jazz tune... Nah.

~~~~~~~~
sound effects used in this song:
PoliteApplause.flac (http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/samplesViewSingle.php?id=24204)
By acclivity (http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/usersViewSingle.php?id=37876)
laughter.wav (http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/samplesViewSingle.php?id=33658)
and restaurant2.wav (http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/samplesViewSingle.php?id=28204)
By sagetyrtle (http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/usersViewSingle.php?id=43834)

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Lyrics

why would i think about you
day and night?

why would i think about you
at all?

why should i worry about
the future possibilities?

why should i ponder all these thoughts
late at night?
right now?

~ ~ ~

how could it be i've been with you
every night?

how could it be i've spent all of my life
with you?

how could it be my worries
fade away?

how do you make me feel that
life itself has been,
and will be, OK?

(c) 2007 Bill Grundmann

Song Stats

Hits: 2154
Comments: 25
Fans: 11
Plays: 379
Downloads: 112
Votes:
Uploaded: May 24, 2007 - 07:58:09 PM
Last Updated: Sep 14, 2008 - 10:48:52 AM Last Played: Jul 15, 2010 - 10:58:49 AM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NoDerivs

Song Actions

Keywords:

fantasy live (6)

Comments

jamorama	jamorama said 1162 days ago (May 24th, 2007)
	Cool tune Cool idea. wry. neat. Who sings on it? Check out my latest song called Longing - with SISTERS - from a SinJams solo

SmokeyVW	SmokeyVW said 1162 days ago (May 25th, 2007)
	. the following comment was meant to be a reply specifically to your note Check out my latest song called Transformer Altar (Live Wire)

SmokeyVW	SmokeyVW said 1162 days ago (May 25th, 2007)
	. that's just me singing on there. i generated the parallel octaves sung by the female vocal by using the vocal transformer. in the second verse, i added a second female voice following two octaves higher. i'll have a rye, neat. thanks! Check out my latest song called Transformer Altar (Live Wire)

jamorama	jamorama said 1161 days ago (May 26th, 2007)
	vocal transformer....? What software are you using? I'd love to be able to use such a feature.... Great Job. --- Vocal with harmony, piano, bass, drums at http://www.macjams.com/song/31847 Check out my latest song called Longing - with SISTERS - from a SinJams solo

SmokeyVW	SmokeyVW said 1161 days ago (May 26th, 2007)
	. the voice transformer came with GarageBand2. it's pretty flexible, but you need to use it carefully, or you will hear lots of artifacts in the results. using parallel octaves is a double cheat. they sound good under transformation, and it's a snap to write the vocal setting :-) Check out my latest song called Transformer Altar (Live Wire)

craft	craft said 1162 days ago (May 25th, 2007)
	smooth song nice singing and piano playing!!! I loooooove it!! Check out my latest song called Stargaze

SmokeyVW	SmokeyVW said 1161 days ago (May 26th, 2007)
	. thanks! although it went a bit silly in the mix, i think there's a potentially good serious version possible someday... Check out my latest song called Transformer Altar (Live Wire)

	said 1161 days ago (May 25th, 2007)
	impressed! This is great, it has the after hours feel to it I guess reading your description kinds of lends to that feeling, but I must say that the melody is beautiful and the background noises go so well with the sound of the piano, very nice man you should get a lot of praise for this amazing song.

SmokeyVW	SmokeyVW said 1161 days ago (May 26th, 2007)
	. why, thank you very much. your comments are much appreciated. Check out my latest song called Transformer Altar (Live Wire)

	said 1161 days ago (May 26th, 2007)
	Groovey! I haven't said THAT for awhile! Wow. I was once tempted to use the Vocal transformer to fake a female harmony vox but I chickened out. I applaud your courage and creativity man. I really enjoyed your singing in this. Be well!

SmokeyVW	SmokeyVW said 1161 days ago (May 26th, 2007)
	. yeah, groovy. that's the word i was trying to think of earlier. i was hung up on "cool cats" or something. i've used the vocal transformer before, it's fun, but you need to use it carefully or you get chipmunks. thanks! Check out my latest song called Transformer Altar (Live Wire)

peacepiano	peacepiano said 1161 days ago (May 26th, 2007)
	Lounge Your are kidding, wasn't this recorded live in a lounge with three voices? Nice piece and excellent atmosphere. Thanks for sharing. Check out my latest song called New Jam (MJRF 2010)

SmokeyVW	SmokeyVW said 1161 days ago (May 26th, 2007)
	. thank you very much i worked on the fake ambience quite a bit i guess it worked Check out my latest song called Transformer Altar (Live Wire)

timothy devine

timothy devine said 1160 days ago (May 26th, 2007)

Hey Smokie
This has a really cool sound. The restaurant, the laughing lady (funny the opening bass and the beat reminded me of Neil Young's...Old laughing lady) really check it out,... u got to check it out.

anyway...I really dig this tune. I love what you did with the vocal. the femal vocal and stuff. Just ffff@#kin happining.

any hints on the vocal transformer. I've used it successfuly but also have had trouble at times with the monks.

I am looking forward to checking out the web address you listed for fx's. Thanx.

I have some old recordings as does my brother, with people(real people and clinging bear bottles and talking etc.) in the loung not listening and I like the effect. It gives it a realizm. You really pulled this off. I just may have to post one or alk to my bro and see if he wants to post one and give you some credit for the kahoonas.
cool tune.
tim...smoking
( if u need neils laughing lady let me know.......)

Check out my latest song called Inside of You

SmokeyVW

SmokeyVW said 1160 days ago (May 27th, 2007)

.
there's a video of Neil busking in Scotland that has tons of ambience - including laughter. but he sings The Old Laughing Lady using a banjo for backup.

and there's another recording from the album Neil Young that has a Rhodes or something doing some interesting chords.

so, if we could mix these two versions together, i could see how there's a similar mood!

thanks

Check out my latest song called Transformer Altar (Live Wire)

timothy devine	timothy devine said 1160 days ago (May 27th, 2007)
	hey smoke where an i find these 'laughing Lady' versions you speak of...? --- "Sooner or latter it all gets real...Walk On" Check out my latest song called Inside of You

ktb	ktb said 1160 days ago (May 27th, 2007)
	brilliant what a cool concept. you did a fine job setting the tracks up and mixing. the ambient background noise is realistic as hell. awesome progression and performance. vocally and intrumentally. wow Check out my latest song called Radio Eyes (Gaylen/Tokai)

SmokeyVW	SmokeyVW said 1160 days ago (May 27th, 2007)
	. hey KTB, thanks this was a fun thing to put together. i almost feel like i was there myself. my clothes even smell that way. Check out my latest song called Transformer Altar (Live Wire)

said 1153 days ago (June 3rd, 2007)

Thank You, Word Man,
For the lovely evening out @ the Cyberspace Cafe. :-) What a beautiful song. And I'm sure that all the other women in the cafe were shooting withering glances at Ms. giggling Silicon Barbie to get her to Shush, so we could all hear your wonderful tribute to the woman (or) women in your life. Well done Smokey Shakespeare. What you can conjure up in women with poetry and music....:-)...well, suffice to say you leave most others in the dust of your VW! :-)

SmokeyVW	SmokeyVW said 1152 days ago (June 4th, 2007)
	. was that you sitting way at the back? i thought you looked familiar! many thanks Check out my latest song called Transformer Altar (Live Wire)

bud	bud said 901 days ago (February 10th, 2008)
	Where was I when this first hit? This is great Smokey - I really love the relaxed vibe and the vocals are fantastic - excellent use of the transformer. The ambience is perfect - and the way it evolves is wonderful. Check out my latest song called Eyes Open

SmokeyVW	SmokeyVW said 896 days ago (February 14th, 2008)
	i dunno Walter gave me the tape it's all a fantasy thanks Bud Check out my latest song called Transformer Altar (Live Wire)

	said 897 days ago (February 14th, 2008)
	Very nice. Hi what some good idea's i was reading above how this was all put together. I loved the mellow laid back feeling it gave me. yes i enjoyed listening to this a lot. I had to laugh also at the way you tried to fool them. ? it does show a lot of thought went in to the mixing of this, and it paid off. Thank you.

SmokeyVW	SmokeyVW said 896 days ago (February 14th, 2008)
	. i appreciate your thoughtful comments i haven't listened to this in a while myself, so it's playing right now. that laughing lady is cracking me up! freesound.org is a great resource for real life recordings of all kinds, including the ambient background on this... check it out thanks for listening and commenting, Bill Check out my latest song called Transformer Altar (Live Wire)

Char	Char said 660 days ago (October 8th, 2008)
	A one man band, literally. Your female voices are sexy and light. I was touched by the love song that was all but ignored by the beer guzzling lounge lizards. Thanks. Check out my latest song called Bound