SEVENTEEN by five_extra_arms
Genre: Indie Rock

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Attribution-NonCommercial

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Keywords:
17 (1), Scream (15), 2 chords (1)
Description:
After egobandit's birthday, my mind became fixated with numbers, robots and thoughts of my troubled youth. I wondered if my musical ideas could ever make a connection with a teenager? I used to be a teenager, and I often act like one, but how valid could my music be to a teenager?
Anyway, I'm infatuated by the messages of youth, especially with guys like our very own Death Arrow. His songs really hit me hard and square in the chops. Sometimes a little bit explicit, but there's an intensity about his music that wreaks honesty and seems to be tapped straight from his young, desperate soul.
Yak yak yak.
By the way, only two chords were injured in this song.
Anyway, I'm infatuated by the messages of youth, especially with guys like our very own Death Arrow. His songs really hit me hard and square in the chops. Sometimes a little bit explicit, but there's an intensity about his music that wreaks honesty and seems to be tapped straight from his young, desperate soul.
Yak yak yak.
By the way, only two chords were injured in this song.
Lyrics:
SING A SONG ABOUT 17SING A SONG
THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN
OOOOHHH!
THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND
YOU’RE NOT A BOY
YOU’RE NOT A MAN
SING A SONG ABOUT 17
SING A SONG
THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN
BREAK
SCREAM A SONG ABOUT 17
SCREAM A SONG
THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU SCREAM
NOOO!
THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND
OUT OF THE FIRE
INTO THE FRYING PAN
SCREAM A SONG ABOUT 17
SCREAM A SONG
THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU SCREAM
BREAK
DON’T SING A SONG ABOUT 17
DON’T SING A SONG
THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN
ETC.
Hardware:
Raven Electric Guitar (clean, green and mean), Ratt Pedal, Hondo II Electric Bass (black and scratchy), Credit Card Picks (pictured above), Samson Mic, Wireless Mouse and keyboardSoftware:
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Vic Holman
when i was seventeen. i would sing along to "I'm Eighteen" by alice cooper on the 8 track in my '55 plymouth belvedere, that i got for my grandmother. and yes she is the one who only drove it to church on sundays.
you did wonders with just two chords Bob. a very cool tune.
But, isn't Tuesday suppose to be music night?
five_extra_arms
I forgot to mention, I kinda borrowed a lyrical idea - didn't try to hide it, obviously. It impacted my youth as well, but I drove a Pinto Station Wagon to school. Luckily Alice Cooper was popular on AM radio, otherwise I couldn't rock out on my mono speaker in the dash.
I take my music nights when I can get 'em!
bud
inspirational. I got a gig with Splinter on Saturday night and our centerpiece song has only one chord. Hope we can sound as cool as this. Love your vocal treatment BTW.
five_extra_arms
Good luck with the show, bud. I'd love to see Splinter live. I can only imagine your one chord song. I bet it is a masterpiece. Maybe you'll post a version?
Thanks for the comments. I tried to slow down the vox and not get too hyper on the synths tonight. You know, give the kids a chance to catch their breath.
Take care,
Bob
Feter
now this is cool rockin song really ...enjoyin the
rockin set ..with good vocal work my friend ..your
style will always reminds me of that event we had
for punk rock and its always work so fine here ...
Rock on !!!!
five_extra_arms
I have to admit, it was my dream challenge, since I didn't have to do anything different than normal!
Thanks feter
get30inc
I like it. It's cool.
five_extra_arms
Thanks!
racerat
Bob,
Cool 80's guit, bass and synth sounds on this lil gem. Teen angst, gotta love it. Dig it when the lyrics start to layer at the end. Nice harmonies!
PV
five_extra_arms
Thanks PVD
I thought I'd try to do something a little different with my vocal approach since the song structure was so simple.
dolby
Love the synths, and the backing vocals work really well. Straight outta the 80's and sounding good -
five_extra_arms
Looks like I have a potential album name. It's unescapable (the 80's).
Thanks Dolby
five_extra_arms
...and Fizzy!
cjdaley
I really agree with you on Death Arrow (except what he does is more refined than what I could do) and , as far as lucidity is involved, I'd take teenage angst instead of midlife crisis anytime !
Cool, well balanced tune, the perfect match of electricity ad electronics, but I don't hink I'll lend you my credit cards anymore.
five_extra_arms
You're the oldest teenager I know. No one has a tighter grip on teen angst than you.
Thanks man.
PaddyNavinCaryatid
.. back to 1980. This could be a lost Gary Numan track. Fantastic vocal and just enough minimal electro rock to make this a memorable and really rather splendid little piece.
five_extra_arms
Thanks Paddy. I've been struggling with my Lost Songs Project entry and it seems I can't intentionally manufacture a song that sounds like the band that I sound like! No what I mean? I need michael2 to help me.
I appreciate your comments.
lengold
infectious Bob - carries you along with it. Like the minimal instrumentation. Works well.
Cheers
Len
five_extra_arms
Thanks len.
Funny, I started itching when I saw your post!
Buzzzzz!
egobandit
and no turntable but maybe a microphone! Alice Cooper would be proud not a boy or man... I still feel that way. Now its" not a man just an old man". Just kiddin. Amazing what can be done with just 2 chords excellent!
five_extra_arms
The secret is chosing the right 2 chords! Had I picked the wrong one, it would've been disastrous. Good thing age has educated me.
Thanks again, my young friend.
DWL
or so I'm told. Although I've seen no photos to prove it so I reckon it was made up like those moon landings.
Loved the song though (even if I have no idea what it's about)
Cheers
Dick
five_extra_arms
LOL!
It was probably such a new technology when you were 17 that only the elite could afford it.
Thanks Dick, you're still a 25 year old rock star trapped inside some wooden box at the bottom of the sea, to me.
DWL
...........
lavalamp
I didn't know you were from Indiana.
Wild, and madcap sound, brother.
LL
danmurrell
Like it yes I do...I said I like it.
Nice one. Great feel to it, you should be proud.
Dan.
five_extra_arms
Thanks Dan,
I'm really glad I discovered your music today. You do some crazy cool stuff.
The fungus is among us.
five_extra_arms
I guess until they come up with some better genres I'm kinda lost.
Wild and madcap sounds like a good one for me.
Thanks Dave.
lavalamp
You replied to someone else. I guess I'm making it on the MJ's most unrespected list.
Dave
five_extra_arms
David Extra Armbursters, now you know better than that!
You're tops on my list!
I just think that danmurrell replied to your comment to me before I did. It looks like he likes you better than me AND isn't afraid to let everyone know it!
Who's on what list?
TG
I enjoy the fact that you are actually successful in relating to teenagers in this, " youre not a boy youre not a man"- great line
This is like modern beach boys to me, has a fantastic surf music quality to it, Excellent recording!
five_extra_arms
I get my west coast surf influences by way of the Ramones east coast appreciation for the Beach Boys. Tommy, it's great to see you here after so long away.
Thanks for listening
michael2
you know i'm all for the simple chord progressions. this is awesome, love all the sounds and the vox/harmonies. i have a couple of credit card picks myself. when that stuff comes in the mail i try to recycle what I can. be careful if you play a gig with them: some eagle eyed opportunist could get a glimpse of your info and steal your identity.
five_extra_arms
"...some eagle eyed opportunist could get a glimpse of your info and steal your identity." LOL!
Thanks M2 - I've sent you a link to the GB file - it's there for 7 days
Thanks for listening to all my new songs today. Now go wash your hands.
guygrooves
that was soooooooo long ago lol. This is one of the best 2 chord songs I have heard. I will have to check out more of your catalogue as you have a truly unique sound.
Peace
Guy
five_extra_arms
Thanks Guy,
I have less chance of screwing up if there are only 2 chords!
Rocha Malhada
I've 4 kids from 14 - 28 yrs of age... My two older ones pretty much prefered music a bit different than dad, but my 16 yr old is always asking to borrow my CD's, from Beatles, Zep to Floyd, U2 and Toadies & more, and enjoys playing the violin & viola in orchestra at school ? I guess I was pretty much like that, too - I even liked my dad's popular and classical music; he'd always wait til mom went to the store and cranked up his music :) - he was always interested in mine as well (even Deep Purple), and asked for copies of Cat Stevens and CSN&Y....
. - Harold
tempie
You are truly the creative offspring of Johnny Lydon and Vince Clarke.
I love teen angst because i've really never grown out of it so the tune resonates. Once again dig the keys but aren't you showing off a bit with the TWO chords? I mean Bob Mould used to play a 45 minute solo on the E string. The fewer notes you use the more there are to go around.
five_extra_arms
The creative offspring of Johnny Lydon and Vince Clarke? Wow, that explains a whole heck of a lot! I knew those two were a coupla weirdos!
Honestly, that makes perfect sense to me. Thanks tempie.
Speaking of Bob Mould, he has done his share of song writing. I wonder if he has a profile on our site yet?
The Infinites
It's what we wanna do, we don't care about long hair, I don't wear flares... No? Oh, ummm, I thought it was the Pistols cover...
...However, it's not. It's a half-speed 5EA, with a spaced-punkoid, teen related, brilliant 2 chord piece of nostalgia. A new departure, I think, from your renowned output.
Very clever, very subtle Bob. Still loving your work...
Nice new keyboard beside them there pix, man!
Jim
five_extra_arms
Is that a sign of aging?
Thanks for putting it in perspective with the Pistols tune. If I would've remembered they had a 17 song I might've stripped some content from it and really made a mess, but... I'm a lazy sod!!!!!!
The Infinites
i'm so lazy, I can't even be bothered!
Ha ha!! If you stripped out the bits relating to 17 you would have had a Dickies length song!
Growing old disgracefully, I might add...
Axgrinder
I remember being eleventeen, once! I really dig this and your production is solid, I can here what needs to be heard...... Tight. You just need an ass rippin lead to burn just where it needs to! Nice mix and a long overdue visit, I might add.... Tip Top my good fellow!
Your bro,
Alvin
five_extra_arms
Thanks for the offer Ax.
I'll send the GB file via yousendit and you can lay that rippin' lead where it needs to be.
Watch for it!
Bob
Rocha Malhada
that I like your song, too.
. - Harold
LunaTrick
Gary Numanish - cool stuff!
estellie
It's weird, but I think this is one of your best songs! It's special because you didn't just scream and try to be 17, you wrote this detached, cool, song. The lyrics had to be a generalization, but you made them clever and compassionate. I LOVE it.
I wrote a 2-chord song once. It was one of MY favorites. Wrote it when I was in college, and pretty angsty. I think you'd love it. It's on analog though, so I'd have to figure out how to get that on here, or else re-record it.
Peace,
*E
DeathArrow
i like these synths in the background they fit perfectly to the song.
cheers, luke