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Attribution-NoDerivs
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Keywords:
Manhattan (7), mother (35), guilt (3), creator (1)
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Description:
Well ... odd one this. I got the idea for the vocal line for this on Monday about 6.15 a.m., and finished mastering Saturday 9.05 p.m., so it's the fastest I've ever done a track ... whether or not that's a good thing, I don't know.
Thanks go to Mr. Bob Dorsey for lyrical inspiration, and Racerat for mastering tips.
I mixed this on my new Tapco S5 monitors, which were a big help.
I wasn't sure about the title, as I thought that it may be misinterpreted ... NY is my favourite city .... anyway, fedback on the mix and overall sound of this would be appreciated.
After the last track being so lyrically clear, normal service is resumed ...
Steve
Lyrics:
My heart was born in a dying star
My eyes were gems, cut from nebulae
You turned your back on the god you knew
But your creator didn't forsake you.
Awake - when there's no return
These golden miles, this sky so blunt
The cities that your mother built.
She bore your guilt and washed your hair
Manhattan hangs like Xmas bells.
Awake - when there's no return
Awake - let your city burn
Let your bridges burn
My heart was born in a dying star
My eyes were gems, cut from nebulae
The oceans swell and steal your youth
Manhattan hangs like rotten fruit.
Hardware:
iMac, Shure S57, Aria geetar, Keystation 49e
Software:
GB3, Logic Pro, Addictive Drums
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Rotten? &mdash 06/09/07 - 04:09:45 PM
There is absolutely nothing rotten about this and I am in total awe and admiration of it. [ Reply to This ]
Rotten in Denmark &mdash 06/10/07 - 02:00:23 AM
Hi Len - -ta, and I really enjoyed your new track this morning, bud - -great vocals. Luckily, I had a small spat with my wife, which meant we didn't speak Saturday, so I got this finished - don't worry, we've now made up, but every cloud ...
Thanks for stopping by!
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Where do I start? &mdash 06/09/07 - 04:45:03 PM
How about with the vocal - it's an outstanding performance. The tone and emotiveness (?) of your singing is terrific - great feeling and power. Masterful stuff. Can't think who it reminds me of (apart from you, of course!) - maybe Bowie? The instrumentation hits the mark throughout the song - almost minimalist at times, and perfectly in keeping with the mood and tenor of the lyrics. Great imagery and sweep to the words - "My eyes were gems, cut from nebula", love it. The sound of the whole track is beautiful - great mix and production. I can't believe you did this in such a short space of time! This is one of the best I've heard in a long time. Very nice work. Peace. [ Reply to This ]
Bowie follows me.. &mdash 06/10/07 - 02:10:51 AM
...Everywhere , David, he's stalking my voice box. I actually was looking forward to singing this, 'cause it's a pretty good register for me. Time wise, I was really sick of every track taking months, and I just wanted to blast something out. Some of my stuff is a bit busy, so it was nice to just pare it back - I liked the drums, and wanted to give them space rather than clutter things up. I'll probably re-listen to this (its sunday morning now) and think the mix is rubbish.... we'll see.
Thanks for stopping by - really appreciate it.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Clear as a... &mdash 06/09/07 - 04:58:18 PM
It's interesting how some of the best music seems to come together so quickly. Maybe it's because it just has that certain magic something, inspiration or genius or choco-freak goodness.
I'm not 100% sure about the "Manhattan hangs like rotten fruit," lyric. It feels a bit like a reach to me and I think it doesn't mesh with the overall feeling of the rest of the lyrics. It's a very organic image in a song filled with images of cities and stars and gems and metal bells. Hard stuff, not soft, rotting things. I'm not sure you need the image, anyway. Singing Manhattan hangs, twice would scan the same way and you'd get double benefit of the alliteration and assonance in those two words.
Random comments: That last "buuuuuuuurrrrrn" is an absolutely FANTASTIC bit of vibrato. I'm eating my heart out over that as well as the overall wonderfully indirect lyrics. Every time I write something, I swear I think of you and want to bash my head on a hard surface because of how subtle and evocative you're able to be.
The vibe is fantastic, very groovy and dark and the music is much more understated than you usually do. This may be my favorite of all of yours in the music department, actually. I love everything you do, but this has something very special about it.
The mixing! Oy! I'm thanking racerat, too, though I know you're a star in that department, too. This is the best mix you've ever done.
Thanks for giving this to us, Steve.
[ Reply to This ]
Obscure?Moi? &mdash 06/10/07 - 02:24:34 AM
Hey Lisa - really appreciate you commenting, I know it's a busy time for you. This is , as Djarma notes, quite an understated song, partially through intent and partially due to not spending the time to fill it with stuff.
Lyrically ... Inspired by The Fountain (love and death again), conversations with Bob about religion, and my relationship with my mother (paging Dr. Freud). The 'rotten fruit' line came about halfway in (so wednesday, then) ... started as 'ripened', then got played with - I liked it, but yeah, it does pop, although that was partially the intent ... god, what'll it be like when we write together??!! Paralysis by analysis!? But in hindsight, you're right about how it sticks out from he rest of the lyric - it's actually quite an unpleasant line.
The killer for me is 'She bore your guilt and washed your hair' ... some really odd things got dredged up saturday morning as I finished the lyric over my rice krispies.
If the mix is good, then its down to the new speakers - sound was really clear, and I just blasted through it ... it was a joy in that respect.
This is so new, I'm not even sure what to make of it myself ... it could be longer, but it's done now ... i should let it be (in many respects).
As always, really appreciate your feedback - thanks Lisa.
Take Care
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Cool song &mdash 06/09/07 - 06:07:31 PM
great production and vocals, catchy melodies Bob is doing a lot inspiring lately! I like the tinny to dry vocals effect, its put to good use hear, cool piano to synth metamorphosis, digging it. [ Reply to This ]
Mr Dorsey... &mdash 06/10/07 - 02:31:51 AM
...is like a little muse, flitting about the good people of this site. The telephone voice at the start really reminds me of Portishead (I described this song to Bob as a kinda bluesy Portishead) ... I was gonna do the whole song with that effect, but thought it might be too much.
Thanks Tom - this is a little darkness after the light of your recent track!
Steve [ Reply to This ]
cheese and rice &mdash 06/09/07 - 06:20:03 PM
friggin cool orchestration. a lot of drama as you manually (no automatic here) shift from each section. Someday you have to do a crappy tune so I can even suggest anything. Funny how uplifting a sound for a dark overtone.
Steve, you just do great stuff and you better not stop....like ever. even when we're in our eighties [ Reply to This ]
frank and beans &mdash 06/10/07 - 02:47:10 AM
I can see us both still putting out angsty records in our 80's, Vic - "this one's about when i lost me false teeth!".
Thanks though ... you know i listen to your works thee mighty and weep, 'cause the production is so good ... i'm ashamed to say i didn't even double track the guitars here! Thanks as always Vic!
Your drama queen buddy
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Damn Steve! &mdash 06/10/07 - 02:54:37 AM
Where do you get your ideas man? All your stuff is so unique, it's insane! Ah ha, that's it. Your a lunatic! Lol. I'm teasing. This is really good and I will definitely favorite it for sure. Keep em coming bro, your tapped in! [ Reply to This ]
In the air &mdash 06/10/07 - 03:19:53 AM
Actyally, the initial inspiration for this Alvin came from the first track on Keren Anns new album - just a strummed guitar and vocals, but then it kinda took another direction. I think writing is therapy for me, actually ... lots of odd things in this one.
Thanks for the support bud.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
All rounder! &mdash 06/10/07 - 02:56:00 AM
Love the vox Steve! harmony works really well. This is a bloody good song - without too much detail, all the instrumentation is just right, and you have a level of production amongst the best here at MJ. Slight nit at the end (just after "Lisa's vibrato") where there's some leftover editing noise - always happens on a quick work through! Quickly finished songs always seem to have a fresher sound.
VERY good stuff Steve - an all round winner.
Neil [ Reply to This ]
Hissy fit &mdash 06/10/07 - 03:30:45 AM
Yeah, I noticed the noise at mastering stage, and chopped a bit out, but it's still there ... never mind. Mastered this in Logic .. i was going to download Ozone for this, but figured I'd add about a week getting my head around it. Thanks Neil - I appreciate the comments, but I've a way to go 'til I hit your levels of production, but it gives me something to aspire to.
i'm a bit ... i dunno, Across the Water is such a wonderful track, I'm still thinking about it, and the memories it brings to me. That song is a gift.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Feck me this is good &mdash 06/10/07 - 04:12:42 AM
One of the best songs I've heard on MJ.
Just superb in every department. Production is excellent, plenty going on but everything is sitting just right.
I am truly stunned and when I sort out how to get stuff on my new ipod it's being downloaded.
Cheers
Dick
[ Reply to This ]
Wow &mdash 06/10/07 - 10:34:00 AM
Praise indeed - thanks Dick - there's a lot to be said for simplicity, rather than overtkinking everything, which i usually do ... your new posting 'Stay' being a case in point.
Thanks for listening ... by the way, usually when you download a song, it opens automatically in itunes - my Mac and pc (urgh) both do this.
Ta
steve [ Reply to This ]
Yet another &mdash 06/10/07 - 08:02:44 AM
excellent song. Love the vocals on the introduction - your vocal performance is great throughout. The mix sounds pretty good through my computer set-up. The little bits of piano and strings work really well. The effect is very atmospheric. And, like all your songs, when I get to the end I want to listen all over again and again...!
Love it!
Peter [ Reply to This ]
Real guitar &mdash 06/10/07 - 10:36:42 AM
Thanks Pete - this was based on a basic 4 chord sequence, which is looped and treated throughout to give some variation - i can't play guitar, so cover it with effects. Its nice writing a song with just textures, rather than worrying about hooklines too much!
Ta very much
steve [ Reply to This ]
my jaw hangs. &mdash 06/10/07 - 08:21:18 AM
I hear some Portishead texture here, from the Great "Dummy" Album (or the N.Y concert). You really know of to give weight and grandeur to a song. I'm no expert but I think the mix is perfect. [ Reply to This ]
Bristolian &mdash 06/10/07 - 02:25:15 PM
hi JC - yeah, there are definite shades of Dummy, especially the intro ... I've been waiting to use that vocal effect! Glad you liked it - this was fast for me, but not as fast as you post 'em!
steve [ Reply to This ]
Holy Cow Steve! &mdash 06/10/07 - 08:48:53 AM
Now I'M the one who's "speechless"! I love everything about this: lyrics, vocal delivery, arrangement, choice of instruments...all dead on. But I really have to give you a double thumbs-up on this mix. An instant fave my man!
Be well! [ Reply to This ]
Mixed up &mdash 06/10/07 - 02:29:40 PM
thanks mike - I mixed this, and then played it back on a hire car stereo (a lexus), which had loads of bass, and made all the hi-hats and cymbols seem really loud, so the mix took a bit of to-ing and fro-ing ... so i appreciate your vote of confidence .... my lyrics are as indirect on this one as yours are direct on Inside this Skin!
Always a pleasure to hear from you
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Man! &mdash 06/10/07 - 10:34:05 AM
Hey cow boy .. &mdash 06/10/07 - 02:32:21 PM
Inspiration &mdash 06/10/07 - 03:18:23 PM
Jeepers Steve!
This is beyond what I thought it'd be. The Portishead intro is dynamite (exactly what I was thinking when I was trying to inspire you...huh?). So glad you went with your crispy clean and rich voice, as it added significance to the intro. I was listening hard for your sinus sounds, but it sounds to me like your old schnozzola is back in tune. That's terrific!
Your mastering on it is superb. Now everyone's gonna hire racerat and buy new monitors.
Great stuff Steve. You're an inspiration to us all. [ Reply to This ]
Spooky ... &mdash 06/10/07 - 03:32:53 PM
..I was just gonna e-mail you! Well, you seem to strike a rich vein doing your tuesday night music club thang, so i thought I'd try and get a song done in under the 2 months it usually takes! It's weird how songs evolve, isn't it - I used the vocal effect on the intro, thought portishead, and was gonna do the whole song in a similar style - drums were gonna be beat box, but then it kinda went its own way.
Hope you like the lyrics ... make up for the last set!
I aim to be an inspiration for everyone on the planet ... not sure what exactly I'll inspire them to do though ...
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
"Manhattan hangs... &mdash 06/10/07 - 03:49:37 PM
...like Christmas bells..."
Indeed it does...
"Manhattan hangs like rotten fruit..."
Ohhh yes...it can definitely do that, as well.
I love the distorted guitar and melotron/synth (not sure which) in and out of the tune. Very powerful when in..nice and smooth when out. Great dynamic shift.
Vox are really fine...throughout...
Got that "tag" at the very, very end...is that for effect?
I love it, Steve...great piece.
[ Reply to This ]
tagged1 &mdash 06/11/07 - 11:32:25 AM
Hey bob - the tag at the end ... not sure what you mean, probably some aural junk that i didn't clear out. aside from the logic odd organ at the start, all other spooky noises are treated guitars - treated to cover my crap playing!
thanks for the kind words
steve [ Reply to This ]
I wish I had some crit - but I got nothin &mdash 06/10/07 - 04:32:06 PM
but praise. I got the sense that you built the music around the vocals - yopu mentioned as much - and as a result the music supports the turns of your voice really well. Great full throated singing - lotso confidence. Likewise - excellent production. [ Reply to This ]
No Choice! &mdash 06/11/07 - 11:39:38 AM
thanks Bud - i have no choice but to build the music around my voice as i can't really play anything (all guitar chords recorded seperately and joined)! Actually, the vocal line came first on this, as it usually does for me, then a sort out the (very) basic cgord structure. Still, nice to keep it simple, huh?
Thanks for checking this out bud, and thanks for opening up your cassette collection to us!
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Hot Blues! &mdash 06/10/07 - 06:01:28 PM
Steve:
Man you outdid yourself on this one...so much soul, rolled into one tune. Excellently performed....Was a definite download for me....Thanks, Norman [ Reply to This ]
Blooo &mdash 06/11/07 - 11:42:59 AM
thanks Norman - I thought this was sorta bluesy, and wasn't comfortable with the style originally, but managed to push it back into my arena. i gotta say, after working on this for a week, i really need to get out and do something else!
Cheers for the kind words - we're well overdue a song from you, you know!
Steve [ Reply to This ]
the produce section &mdash 06/10/07 - 06:55:31 PM
of your supermarket has amazing stuff. Love the way your music fits electronic bits with all the vocals, guitars, and acoustic lines. You've got a great sound to all your work.
I'm not sure I understand this tune so well as your other tracks. The metaphors are a bit less connected and more abstract. I'm not sure about them, but you make them sound so fine.
-g [ Reply to This ]
Obscurity &mdash 06/11/07 - 12:26:10 AM
hi Greg - i must admit, i realy like trying to mix 'real' instruments with electronica ... and i find it easier to play the keyboard stuff!
I did think that this lyric was waaay to vague, and may just put people off ... my take on it is as follows:
Its basically about the end of naivity (is that how you spell it) or innocence. You're born as this special being (everyone thinks there kids are the most special, right?), and the creator figure here is the mother. The 'washed your hair' is a very strong image I have from childhood, and at that age, everything is wonderful, hence the city hangs 'like Xmas bells'.
But as you grow up, things get twisted, and you understand differently, or re-interpret, things that happened when you were a kid .. so the things that seemed good at the time may becone tainited ... hence 'steals your youth' and the shiny city hangs 'like rotten fruit'.
The chorus ... well, you can't go back and change your past, so you have to let these things go. There's a lot of train of thought stuff going on here ... bits and pieces came out, and i put them on paper without too much intent of making the themes obvious.
The Doctor will see me now!
Thanks for stopping by
Steve [ Reply to This ]
obscure &mdash 06/11/07 - 06:54:56 AM
I don't think a obscurity is a bad point as long as the lines have a certain depth to them. Some dead englishman named Burke once explained that the expression "Angels of the Lord" really produced a tremendous effect on the listener/reader because there was something indefinite and literally awesome about it. He called this "sublime". Some of these lines have this ring to it because you're using "big words" to that effect :stars, ocean, nebulae, manhattan as the myriad-lit city. And I like this effect combined with drops to very concrete perceptions (of childhood, then): the washed hair, the rotten fruit etc.., as a return to reality. There's also a text by Wordsworth I just read where he comments on the word "hangs" as a sublime metaphor " for the gratification of the mind". The eerie synchronicity, sir.
Maybe you're a romantic poet, after all.
Sorry if this is too long and boring.
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No redeeming qualities [ Reply to This ]
Indeed &mdash 06/11/07 - 07:24:42 AM
CJ,
You took the words right out of my mouth!
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she'll love five extra arms. [ Reply to This ]
which words ? &mdash 06/11/07 - 07:27:21 AM
Long and boring &mdash 06/11/07 - 07:32:14 AM
well, since you mentioned it, yes, I too am worried that Steve's songs are becoming "long and boring" as you said.
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she'll love five extra arms. [ Reply to This ]
but ... &mdash 06/11/07 - 11:49:18 AM
hey Bob . . this one's under three and a half minutes, so at least it ain't long (as rachel also said ...)
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Three And A Half Minutes? &mdash 06/12/07 - 07:55:39 AM
Are you crazy?! Who has that kind of time?!
Great song Steve.
I've been singing it since moments after I inspired you to write it!
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she'll love five extra arms. [ Reply to This ]
Hey Bob &mdash 06/12/07 - 02:25:22 PM
If you inspired it, does that mean I have to give you 50% (of nothing)?? [ Reply to This ]
50% is really fair &mdash 06/12/07 - 02:46:54 PM
Hey, I'd rather have 50% of nothing than 100% of a load of junk. Actually, I think I owe you on this one, as I've tried to make this song all about me in an effort to steal your spotlight. A spotlight where my inspiration stood patiently waiting for you.
You're a handful of Aces, Steve. 5 Aces, in fact.
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she'll love five extra arms. [ Reply to This ]
Thanks JC &mdash 06/11/07 - 11:54:26 AM
.. really appreciate your comments on this.
I was listening to this track in the car today, and realised that it can also be read as the corruption of the singer/ narrator himself, rather than the corruption of their memories.
I like quite vague lyrics (Bowie, Bunnymen) - not so vague that you haven't a bloody clue what they are on about, but enough that you can read your own meaning into them.
This may sound like a cop-out, but I like writing some stuff that even I don't fully understand, because you get to re-interpret your own songs, and find new meanings - this one is a case in point.
Appreciate your take on this - thank you.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Thanks JC &mdash 06/11/07 - 11:55:41 AM
. really appreciate your comments on this.
I was listening to this track in the car today, and realised that it can also be read as the corruption of the singer/ narrator himself, rather than the corruption of their memories.
I like quite vague lyrics (Bowie, Bunnymen) - not so vague that you haven't a bloody clue what they are on about, but enough that you can read your own meaning into them.
This may sound like a cop-out, but I like writing some stuff that even I don't fully understand, because you get to re-interpret your own songs, and find new meanings - this one is a case in point.
Appreciate your take on this - thank you.
Steve
[ Reply to This ]
Where there's smoke... &mdash 06/11/07 - 08:21:20 AM
Aside from the opinion that I think Manhattan is a great city, I totally dig the track. Could use even more slow blues feel, but I dig the mainstream feel of the song, the edge, the mix and performance. It ends kind of abruptly. I heard a long extended fade out vamp with a searing guitar lead... [ Reply to This ]
Too blue &mdash 06/11/07 - 12:04:43 PM
Hey Tobin - yeah, i bottled the full blues fell for my alt. rock comfort balnket, but even the bit that sneaked thru was a big jump for me. In some respects, this song feels a little like it hasn't reached it's full potential ... i agree about the guitar at the end. ANY GUITARISTS OUT THERE WITH LOGIC PRO WANNA PLAY (PHIL, YOU LISTENING~?_).
Thanks for checking this out
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Simply Stunning Stuff Steve &mdash 06/11/07 - 11:58:23 AM
Waooooar, jeeeeeze, man this is stunning. Your voice sounds great, really great. I love the, almost, Tom Waits vox at the begining, then the whole thing just funks up. The percussion sound and arrangement is brilliant. You say the word 'blunt' exactle as Mr Bowie would. Your voice has a great richness that is fully expressed here. I disagree with Lisa on the 'rotten fruit' metaphor I think it fits in really well.
If this song happened to be on an album of anybody's I would be impressed. Thou probably unfair to say this is, I think your best vocal performance to date on MJ, tho, 'Jesus' is probably one of my favourite songs, I've listened to it alot, it's damn infectious.
This is brilliant and shiny. Great stuff Steve
Willie [ Reply to This ]
tricky vox &mdash 06/11/07 - 12:13:05 PM
Hey Willie - I have good and bad days with the voice - this one was ok, and i blasted this out in about an hour. Sounds a bit flat at the start, but , I'm never happy anyway.
Difficult word to rhyme blunt ....
The drums etc were Addictive Drums, which are about £150 and worth every penny. Its odd listening to this back to back with Sweet J., as there is such a big mood swing between them ... it still makes me smile that song .. I can't wait to play it to Alex!
Great to hear from you - thanks for checking this out
Steve [ Reply to This ]
this is awesome! &mdash 06/11/07 - 12:34:40 PM
i agree to some of the previous speaker: this is one of best i've ever heard on macjams. congratulations, steve! [ Reply to This ]
Guilty! &mdash 06/11/07 - 12:45:31 PM
Thanks Alex really appreciate your kind words. Now, if I can just do an even better job on 'Converging'. I'll be happy!
Cheers bud
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Guilty! &mdash 06/11/07 - 12:45:38 PM
Thanks Alex really appreciate your kind words. Now, if I can just do an even better job on 'Converging'. I'll be happy!
Cheers bud
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Not guilty! &mdash 06/13/07 - 07:14:14 AM
Dramatic! &mdash 06/11/07 - 01:22:53 PM
Cool &mdash 06/11/07 - 02:32:11 PM
Thanks Doug - not as experimental as your last one, but I'm trying ...
Thanks man
Steve [ Reply to This ]
I'm jealous &mdash 06/11/07 - 05:08:36 PM
which is always a good sign that I like something. Nice work. 'Specially the sound effects stuff and the strings. [ Reply to This ]
Green eyed! &mdash 06/12/07 - 01:42:57 AM
thanks Henry - that's my barometer as well! Glad you liked it ... good luck with the next book, by the way ... let me know when it's done.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
hrnnsdspf &mdash 06/11/07 - 07:36:32 PM
my jaw has dropped and is lying on the floor...
can....not...speak.....
P.S. Yes, I'm listening. Tobin is right, what this track needs is a BL. (blistering lead...;-) ) [ Reply to This ]
Hey Phil ... &mdash 06/12/07 - 01:45:57 AM
...it needs a BL, and a DG (Decent guitarist) ... all the guitar on here could be improved ... the file is yours for the asking. Thanks for the mastering set-up .... i used what you've sent me, but am also getting my head around the article you sent ... wish i'd payed more attention during physics at School!
Thanks man
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Not Often &mdash 06/11/07 - 07:43:59 PM
I don't say this often, but from the sound of your voice on this one, you might consider giving up your day job. Not many people with a better sounding voice. Thanks for sharing. [ Reply to This ]
I'm blusing &mdash 06/12/07 - 01:49:24 AM
... thanks Bill ... ironically, my work-life looks like its going to rachet-up significantly .... less time for music! My voice is still a bitt iffy due to recent surgery, but I prepped for this by smoking and drinking whiskey (but not in excess!) the night before to get it a bit gravelly.
Thanks for the kind words
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Another .. &mdash 06/12/07 - 02:44:56 PM
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