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WeAreStars (MJ Live Aid) w/michael2 and echoroom by bud [Email]

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SONG STATS:
Hits: 468
Comments: 26
Votes:
Plays: 70
Last Played: Oct 06, 2008 - 05:47:01 PM
Downloads: 25
Fans: 26
Uploaded: Jun 12, 2008 - 10:34:18 PM
Last Updated: Jun 12, 2008 - 10:47:02 PM
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Keywords:
a flash of hope in the stain of night (2), MJ Live Aid (3), The Lodgers (2)
Description:
This song has a bit of a history. Back around Christmas michael2 asked me for a rhythm track to play with so I built a bed with some DOD drums and laid in some sitar drones for a bit of atmosphere. Shortly after he posted The Berlin Years which blew my mind and sounded like the perfect vehicle for the vocal talents of echoroom. Well, Steve has been busy and the project was shelved until now.

I went back to Michael’s track and adjusted the structure a little to give Steve a bit more room to work and then laid in some guitar and bass to rock it up a little and another synth line for good measure. Then came Steve’s amazing vocals followed by a few perfectly angular guitar tracks from Michael. It’s an honor to work with these guys – they’re tremendous musicians and real gentlemen too. It's my pleasure to bring you - The Lodgers

The mix is a bit dense coming from GB3 – no doubt another producer might have done this justice – but in the spirit of 1985 - dig the vibe. Thanks to Vic Holmn for burning the mp3 at a suitably loud level.

Special thanks to Lisa and Joseph for organizing this event. Why not join me and make a donation to your local food bank? You can locate one here: http://www.secondharvest.org/

Lyrics:
We Are Stars

Where they walked, we dreamed to fly
We don't subscribe to their gravity.
They tried to pin our feathers down
As if our beauty was a crime.
I got high, caught in your wake
We got high, hearts are racing
A flash of hope in the stain of night
Defeat forever, defeat forever.

I'll meet you there, in the rain and scars
And we'll burn in heaven like we are stars

And the faces they designed
Pinned to walls and spun on screens.
They tried to sing our sorrows low
They tried to break our cool machine.
Where they sleep, we dream of leaving
Don't believe their charity

And the rocks will shift, though we're skies apart
And we'll burn the heavens like we are stars

Fingers in manna and your faith on the ground
We'll be together from the second we close our eyes
Fingers in manna and your faith knows no bounds
We'll be together in time ....

I'll meet you there, in the rain and scars
And we'll burn in heaven like we are stars


© Steve Craig 2008

Hardware:
Computers, guitars, keyboards, microphones and more

Software:
GB3
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Wow &mdash 06/12/08 - 10:46:23 PM
This is outstanding - what a combination of talent! The vocals are perfect - emotional and stirring, and tinged with attitude! Love the lyrics, really filled with stunning imagery and priceless lines ("And the faces they designed/ Pinned to walls and spun on screens" - need I say more...?) Then you have the rich, almost ominous beats pushing the whole track forward, and some stunning instrumentation (the droning sitar is very effective), and the swirling, free guitar is perfect (love that guitar sound - makes me think of Psychedelic Furs...) Magnificent. A terrific track, and an excellent merging of three truly creative minds. Nicely done, gents. Kudos. Peace.

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excellent and beyond the stars &mdash 06/12/08 - 10:55:25 PM
great team work guys. this is totally knocked out of the park.

Very Bowie-esque and a true headphone experience.

I dig the band name, very tongue-in-cheek to a certain D.B. album.

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stars &mdash 06/12/08 - 11:08:49 PM
WOW. this is outstanding. love that little lick that comes forward at 3:00. So dark. Great performances, all of you. LOVE IT

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Hee-Hee &mdash 06/12/08 - 11:44:36 PM
This must be the *dark* version. I've seen the light, Kevin... you'll see what I mean shortly.

Nice job creating a spooky and somewhat strange 80s Bowie mood in this piece. All parts of the trio come together quite nicely in here. I can imagine a bizarre video for this one. ;)


--- Joe

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Wow! &mdash 06/13/08 - 12:14:23 AM
This is amazing! It almost knocked me out of my Blue Jean. Such interesting Changes. You Young Americans are sure to find plenty of Fame with this one. You guys are real Heroes. I knew you'd Never Let Me Down. I feel Under Pressure to make my contribution even better, because I don't want to feel like an Absolute Beginner.

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This is a &mdash 06/13/08 - 01:30:24 AM
fantastic collaboration - everything just sounds so perfect. I am just full of admiration for the way this has been achieved.
I usually avoid the Bowie comparisons with Steve but this really does sound like a Scary Monsters track, one of my favourite albums.
Cheers
Len



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I must admit &mdash 06/13/08 - 02:01:13 AM
to not being sure what a Live Aid song would/should sound like? The mid-eighties are all a bit of a blur. Well, this is great - reminds me of Bauhaus more than Bowie (have I said that before Steve!) - very dark - very intense - just excellent really.

Peter

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What a bunch of Heroes! &mdash 06/13/08 - 02:06:28 AM
As always, its a pleaseure working on such great material, and you can't get much better company than Bud or M2! When bud suggested we do a Live Aid song, I wondered who I could sing as.... and as i always get a lot of Bowie comparisons, this seemed like an obviuos way to go.

Great fun working on this, and bud did an ace job pulling us all together and mixing this.

I won't be around for a few months now, so have fun guys!

steve

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Yeah? &mdash 06/13/08 - 05:21:24 AM
Well I still say you sound more like Gregory Darling of Daring Cruel but if folks want to go with the more mainstream sound of Ziggy I guess that's okay with me.

Extremely cool song, fellas. Tight, hypnotic groove. Very nice.... very nice.

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right then..... &mdash 06/13/08 - 07:47:43 AM
well this just soars .... you guys are indeed stars! :-]

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ZOWIE! &mdash 06/13/08 - 01:39:35 PM
The combined talent of you guys is sonically lethal!

Awesome mix! Definitely a dark 80's vibe. Love the arrangement and the eeirie guitars...Lead soloing and basic riffage are stellar, yet appropriately understated. Well done!

My standing conviction that Steve Craig is the best damn male vocalist at MJ remains unshaken. Powerful delivery!

This one will surely remain LODGED in my memory! Ha ha...

Be well gents!

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WeAreStars &mdash 06/13/08 - 02:43:17 PM
what an opening to the Live Aid fest ...!! ...
great great rockin song my friend ..perfect colab
what singin great vocals work ..the sound bed just
amazin ..all so perfect ... Hats of to you all freind !
real super stars indeed !!!

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nice mix Kevin &mdash 06/13/08 - 02:49:53 PM
sounds great. this must have been a bear. you did a great job with getting the guitars all sorted out and settled in (especially since you started off with an mp3). nice editing.

steves vox sound amazing. i used to play in a goth band Christian Death and our singer Roz wished he sounded this good when doing the Bowie thing. you guys are both a dream.

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Bud &mdash 06/13/08 - 03:34:52 PM
You really pulled together a fine group of musicians here. Heavy 80s at its best.

Thanks
Bill

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Killer! &mdash 06/13/08 - 04:59:50 PM
Great work here, loved the amazing music work and for sure the killer vocals... Fine fine fine.. what a great work means!

Take Care
- Yeman A. Al-Rawi

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About those stars... &mdash 06/13/08 - 06:28:37 PM
...Bud, you just loaded this one right on up with them and every bit of the talent is shinning through quite brilliantly, if may add. It is thick, but with whole lot of goodness.

Pretty impressive posse ya got traveling w/ you. Ya got me star gazing.

According to my itunes counter, I've just listened to this tune five times already.

Nice job, gents! Macca




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Yikes! &mdash 06/13/08 - 11:17:51 PM
Talk about time travel! You just put David Bowie to shame. Awesome collab guys. Somehow 'awesome' falls short. Insanely brilliant is more like it.

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From my hotel lobby (no kidding) &mdash 06/14/08 - 12:01:04 AM
On behalf of The Lodgers - thanks for all the generous comments. I wish I had more time to participate in the festivities but I'm working all weekend here in LA.
It's easy to appreciate Steve's contribution to this tune - just listen and read along. He's a genius. But to really appreciate Michael's work be sure to check out The Berlin Years linked above. Without his amazing ability to capture the essence of a style this never would have come together. I look forward to hearing the rest of the Live Aid tunes as I get time.

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Outstanding &mdash 06/14/08 - 07:35:03 AM
Steve, excellent singing. Hook me in right at the intro. Dark and cool.

Loved it.

LL

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Every bit... &mdash 06/14/08 - 11:24:22 AM
...just every bit... is very cool...

Yep, it's Bowie-esque, and it's Fripp-esque, and it's got some Eno-esque-ness in there, too, but it's also GOOD... THOSE guys would be happy if they did THIS...

Like the outgoing bits of jagged lead guitar... Mostly, I like it all...

Ed

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Shooting Stars &mdash 06/14/08 - 05:05:11 PM
...right out of the stadium! I figured with the superstar talent coming together here it would be a trip, and I wasn't wrong. Wow! Very angular, glass-sharp edges to this sound paired with the smooth knife of Steve's always-incredible vocals... love the dark, relentless machine hammering beneath the glittering picture.

Excellent! Way ta go Bud, Michael and Steve!

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some great music &mdash 06/14/08 - 06:08:14 PM
happening here... I realy think I dont need CD when I got MJ Wheres the foodbank.. Excellent hats off!!!!!!

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Well worth the wait &mdash 06/14/08 - 07:38:50 PM
What a perfectly executed track. I love it. I'll be back from my little trip in a little while after listening to it again and again.

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Filled with... &mdash 06/15/08 - 07:46:26 AM
...energy, a poignant message, and outstanding performances all around. I esp. enjoyed the opening deep sonics. Wonderful mix (in spite of your own reservations). Congratulations.
Paul

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GUYS! &mdash 06/15/08 - 12:55:22 PM
Great song altogether - big, bold and Bowie (Steve this is your most Bowie yet)

Love the band name - this song could have easily been on that album.

Guitar is manic in places and so crunkin' on the brain. I love it!

Jim

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Yes... &mdash 06/16/08 - 02:54:46 PM
...says it all...

"And we'll burn in heaven like we are stars"

Classic line...



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