I Don't Wanna Be a Rock Star by rsorensen
Genre: Indie Rock
Fan List
Description:
Another Indie rocker in G with heavy guitars and harmonica. AND I finally got to use a whistle a few times in one of my songs!
This song is my response to some of my friends trying to convince me to move to California. Note the irony at the very end...
This song is my response to some of my friends trying to convince me to move to California. Note the irony at the very end...
Lyrics:
I don't need to think it overCuz I know just where I stand
I ain't feeling California
And I ain't leavin my homeland
I will never make my way
To LA
I don't wanna be a rockstar
I never wanna to be famous
Sure I got some money problems
But nothin I can't deal with
I ain't goin to California
I'd never dream of leavin this
I don't wanna record deal
I will do this on my own
I ain't gonna sell my soul
Cuz I don't wanna call Hell home
Don't want my music on TV
I'd never win a grammy
I don't wanna go on tour
I don't need to see the world
I ain't interested in groupies
Already got myself a girl
No 'California Here I Come'
Will be sung
I don't wanna be a rockstar
I never wanna to be famous
Sure I got some money problems
But nothin I can't deal with
I ain't goin to California
I'd never dream of leavin this
Nice girls and fine wine,
Sunshine all the time.
Caviar and fast cars on Sunset boulevard,
Hangin out with movie stars
All these things don't mean nothin to me,
Cuz I got everything I need
I don't wanna relocate
I am happy where I am
I don't want a fancy car
I'm satisfied with my Trans Am
Don't want no drugs or alcohol
To make me stumble and fall
California
I ain't goin to California
I ain't goin to California
Hardware:
Gibson Firebird VII, Fender P-Lyte Bass, Lee Oskar Harmonica in the key of C, a variety of whistlesSoftware:
GarageBandYou must be registered and logged-in to comment.
Very car-driving feel... Could be a great intro for a movie! I love it, really carries a lot of energy and some fine performance. Great work my pal!
Take Care
- Yeman A. Al-Rawi
rsorensen
Thanks, Yeman. Yeah you're right this probably could work well in a movie. Definitely a good driving song too. Thanks for the comment.
gail60
You make it so dang hard to hate you!! Geez Ridd!
Well this is certainly another great one. You are so talented and you put all those californians to shame! :) Excellent lyrics and great sound throughout. Cute irony too. I guess I cannot hate you anymore, you are just too good! That just kills me. Perfect revenge. Great job!
rsorensen
hah sorry gail. I'm sure I'll tick you off enough again somehow to bring back the hate. Glad you like.
Peter Bauckham
and production are alway classy - great lyrics and playing - excellent!
Peter
rsorensen
thanks for always checking out my tunes, Peter. really appreciate your comments. Those lyrics are all true - except for the Trans Am. I WISH I had one hehe.
lavalamp
You just keep coming up with some great ones. Being from California, I have to say, all I ever saw were movie stars, all I ever drank was fine wine, and all I ever dated were nice girls.
California, here I leave!
LL
rsorensen
hah thanks dave. I actually really like California the state. This is more of a rip on the cliched Hollywood rockstar/moviestar lifestyle. It'd probably be fun for a while but ultimately I think it'd kill me
lavalamp
Burt Reynolds may have had a Trans-Am, but he'll never rock as hard as you..........even in a 79' Toyota Corolla. (my first car)
LL
12parsecs
what's wrong with cali?? c'mon, you like raisins, don't you? smog? earthquakes?
good tune. very presidents of the usa. (there's one more reason to move to cali... your love of american politics!)
rsorensen
thanks. hah! That was a great band. 2 guitars, 5 strings, and a huge sound!
SystematicFailure
Love This! Those guitars sounds amaZING! really like the distorted harp too. the jolson sample at the end is hilarious. another great tune from you!
rsorensen
thanks SF! I wasnt sure about that sample but I'm glad you think it works.
MarkHolbrook
but this song is great!!!
rsorensen
thanks mark; off to check out your latest now.
VicDiesel
The LA classic rock station :-)
Great song.
rsorensen
thanks vic. glad you like it
Vic Holman
....you want to be a little bit of a rock star, just a little. even if it's performing in front of the mirror, huh?
Anyway great ripping rocker! cool lyrics as well and their ain't nothing wrong at all living in the northwest. good laugh at the ending,ha
rsorensen
yeah, you got me. maybe just a little.
J.A.Stewart
Joe Hollywood stoops, er, stands for. LOL
Check out his appearance in * Star-Bound (MJ Live Aid) * to see what I mean.
This started off sounding a little bit like a Rick Springfield tune, which is pretty ironic in itself. But it quickly settled into its own sound... a pretty damn good one at that. Even some old rock boogie lead in there.
Nicely crafted, performed and produced. ;)
--- Joe
rsorensen
thanks joe i'll check that out. and you're right! maybe a little Jessie's Girl? haha! thanks a lot for listening and commenting.
racerat
I moved out to NorCal after 15 years in the Big Apple and I gotta tell ya, I ain't never comin back.........
Nice tune, cranked it!
Philip
rsorensen
hey philip thanks. im sure cali is an amazing place to live. probably a lot like vancouver actually. i'm a big fan of NY though i gotta say. really want to go there one day. thanks for checking this out.
Lennon714
This should be my theme song. I hate rockstars and I don't care much for California. How do you get this crystal clear sound? Do you master your tracks? What with? Ozone3? Not that it's the product that's making these songs so great. You can't polish a turd. But I want sound as clear as you're getting. Tell me your secrets and I could be the Ratt to your Van Halen.
rsorensen
hey eric - this is all garageband, though I did download a 'W-1' plugin limiter I use sometimes for drums and vocals. I'll try to find the link for you. other than that I just mess around with the preset compression until it sounds right. glad you like this. if you're the ratt to my van halen, who's the mr.big to your ratt? don't answer that.
aclarke
Great sound... massive cross appeal song here. You'd have to be a music hater to not love this song. Big hooks, huge riffs and seriously cool vocals.
If I could do better I could probably find something to nitpick.... but I can't so I'll just take my free copy and go.
rsorensen
thanks man. take it and run! free music rules!
jiguma
Great groove - great lyrics, really good performance too. Your best yet!
Totally love it.
Neil
rsorensen
hey neil. thanks for the rave review. really glad you like this. your stuff is always so good.
Moviz
Great song and lyrics, love your musicality and the way you make it sound as though there's a full group there, very listen-able. Love your vocals too, cheers M
rsorensen
yeah i've been 'cheating' lately in my songs to make it sounds like a live band rehearsing (drumstick hits, banter, count ins). i'm happy you noticed!
Very rootsy with lot's of attitude! Love these lyrics. Even find myself in agreement with them! Ha ha...
The total package here simply ROCKS! My fave by you so far my friend!
Be well!
rsorensen
wow a couple people have said this is their fave of mine now. i would have never predicted it but it's very cool. thanks for the comments. i tried to make it full of attitude so i'm glad you picked up on that.
guygrooves
Great tune! It had a very slight Barney Bentall feel to it. I hope thats not an insult. I enjoyed it very much and it's in the itunes now. 10's across the board.
rsorensen
hah! i forgot about barney, but i remember liking his stuff. i can hear the similarities. only a fellow canadian would make the comparison methinks :) i'm honored to be a part of your itunes library. thanks!
Ibstrat
is what I call rock n roll.Like Weezer only better.Incredible production.Guitar sounds amazing. Nice solo!
rsorensen
that comparison doesnt surprise me at all. i think along with AC/DC, Weezer was one of my biggest musical influences growing up. so much so that any similarities you might hear are totally unintentional. they're just ingrained into my brain and come out instinctually! thanks dude
magnatone
This is GREAT! Love the sentiment of this song, and what a fabulous rocker to boot! Way to go Ridd (you tell 'em!)
rsorensen
thanks karen! secretly I do wanna be a rockstar, but a stay-at-home one
peacepiano
Song writing lives! Catchy memorable lyrics. Fun guitar licks. Very much enjoyed this one.
Thanks
Bill
rsorensen
thanks bill. this one was a lot of fun for me. gald you dug it
Relic67
you're a great musician and producer!
this could be an answer song to Matthew Sweet's awesome tune "come to california"
rsorensen
thanks! i'll have to check that one out. i like his stuff
Heightened
Sorry bud, but you already are a rock star!!!!!
rsorensen
well thanks, but i aint goin to cali!
eleveneyes
Love the BIG guitar sound in the choruses. The high vocal is very cool too.
Fun tune! Love it!
rsorensen
thanks 11. i'm a big fan of big guitars and falsetto so I try to use em when I can. thanks for listening
michael2
another classic. do you really have a trans am? watch me turn green with envy.
this is a great rocker. so many nice touches (like when the drums drop out for a second right before the solo). you know I live in LA, maybe i need to do an answer song. although the LA i know is all gangs, smog, homeless people and the rich folks flying by in their SUV's. nice sample at the end. can't wait to hear the next.
rsorensen
thanks michael. haha no i actually have a mini-van, and that was the real lyric, but when i sang it it came out 'trans am'. wishful thinking i guess! glad a cali resident like yourself 'gets' this!
guitapick
...don't wanna be a rock star...
...but...
...it is your DESTINY!!!....
;)
Great tune, man...really great!
rsorensen
hah we shall see. thanks man
mikkinylund
And what a great, fat, killer guitar sound you got here, awesome! Love it! Kudos for the surprising ending!
rsorensen
thanks. yeah totally blues! I don't usually right songs that have such a common progression but nothing else felt right for this one. thanks for listening
Alannah
.. the Californians all wanna live in VANCOUVER !!! hahahaha Great Energy in this one Ridd ! Makes me wanna go out and listen to a live band now .... (actually I heard one last weekend .. and well um ... let's just say they were too young .. and lacked the energy that comes from experience) ..... you rawk ... keep on rawking right here !
MusicManVA
You made best best out of a standard blues/rock riff. Love the lyrics as well
Dragonas
on an awesome song!
You just keep churning out really catchy tunes.
You are one of the most prolific songwriter here.
Great vocals and amazing production quality.
btw, I find this song really ironic since I actually live in L.A.
;-)
Ed Hannifin
Slammingly multitracked left and right, and then that cool solo...
Lyrics are like Lou Reed and Iggy meet Loudon Wainwright III...
You've got like six flavors of distortion going here, and they're all tasty...
At some points I thought the vocal could be a dB or two higher, but that may be my headphones... This is a wonderful, tight mix...The production's great...
Ed
lengold
...You are very lucky to have the choice. Yes, you could be a rockstar.
Cheers
Len
thekurtisproject
I love pretty much everything in this song. The vocals remind me of Weezer bunches! very good sound quality! I love the chorus too :D
timothy devine
great stop
cool tune
nicely played
great tones
love the hi hat near the end
just all real tasty
peace
tm
maxjsl37
A little weezer influence? Another hit! love the chunky guitar and the drums fit perfect.