The Sausage Factory of Fame by DWL
Genre: Electropop
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Keywords:
Fame (12), money (35), wealth (1), factory (3), ()
Description:
Graeme, who wrote most of the lyrics and the melodies for the first AmokOpera project, was over from Spain last week. He brought 11 songs for a new rock opera "Celebrity Torture" and we set about recording the basic melodies.
This was a song where he had no ideas for melodies but thought it might be a bit like Ace of Spades (!) so working from scratch we came up with this on Sunday.
Tracked in GB and tweaked in Logic.
All a bit of a rough mix at the moment.
Comments and suggestions welcome.
Garageband, Logic Pro, iMac, Strat, Boss GT8
Graeme sings this. A lot of the weird effects are simply too much reverb :) (although there are those who say you can never have too much reverb)
It's a rant from a pop star's manager.The idea is that this is the "star's" manager. He gets more excited as the song goes on and there's no let up as he won't even let a chorus get in the way of his rants :)
Cheers
Dick
This was a song where he had no ideas for melodies but thought it might be a bit like Ace of Spades (!) so working from scratch we came up with this on Sunday.
Tracked in GB and tweaked in Logic.
All a bit of a rough mix at the moment.
Comments and suggestions welcome.
Garageband, Logic Pro, iMac, Strat, Boss GT8
Graeme sings this. A lot of the weird effects are simply too much reverb :) (although there are those who say you can never have too much reverb)
It's a rant from a pop star's manager.The idea is that this is the "star's" manager. He gets more excited as the song goes on and there's no let up as he won't even let a chorus get in the way of his rants :)
Cheers
Dick
Lyrics:
The Sausage Factory of Fame © 2008 Graeme Hobbs I know it's hard to believe
That you're living your dream
As we open the doors
And we welcome you in
Forget everything, forget all you knew
It's out with the old and in with the new
As we shape you and mould you
As if you were clay
It's part of the process
The games that we play
As we teach you to sing, and teach you to breathe
What you should write and what you should read
You're eager to learn, you're eager to please
Just do what you're told, stay down on your kness
All of the laughter and all of the tears
All that you've wanted for all of these of these years
Those steps that we taught you, you'll dance to our our tune
on everyone's box in each living room
The roar of the greasepaint, the smell of the crowd
Your parents are beaming and feeling so proud
The investment we made, well it's time to collect
This was not out of kindness, what did you expect?
You're just a showbiz monkey you'll do what you're told
And like any slave you were born to be sold
A painted puppet and we pull the strings
And it's not really over til the fat lady sings
An album and tour and shows all lined up
We're controlling your life, and we're taking a cut
You're working the treadmill just like any good pet
We'll make you or break you so don't you forget
There's no time to rest , this is no time to stop
We've got to strike now while the iron is still hot
So we'll brand you and mark you just like any product
And when you wake from this dream you'll know you've been fucked
The public will eat you till they tire of your taste
Then we'll drop you and leave you and that is your fate
You're nothing special, lots more fish in the sea
Hungry for fame and just waiting for me
So turn on the lights, please give a big hand
Wish 'em good luck and strike up the band
One size fits all, you can wear the same clothes
We proudly present Food For The Crows
And the best of it is, we never close
Hardware:
Strat, Boss GT8, iMac Software:
GB4, Koblo Vibra200 synth, Logic You must be registered and logged-in to comment.
dirigent
What a great song, enjoyed the witty concept :-)
DWL
I hadn't even finished the lyrics.
Thanks for the listen. As the rock opera is called Celebrity Torture you can probably guess how the concept came about :)
Cheers
Dick
Feter
This is Excellent track ...basic rock'n roll
a superb rockin though ..but you applied interesting
enviroment around the theme ...impressive singing
for sure ..this is great theatrical song indeed ..
thnx alot for sharin !!!!
DWL
And thanks for noticing the "other" atmospheres I tried to get in to give it some more interest.
Cheers
Dick
sloparts
but because of the reverb and my bad hearing, I couldn't understand the lyrics at all. Mostly it's my hearing that is the problem here though.
I'll be interested in hearing this again when you get the mix sorted out. Sound like it's gonna be another great on for you guys.
Be well and be cool my friend. Be well and be cool,
Ed
DWL
One of the most respected members of this board (I can't reveal his name) once told me "you can't have too much reverb" and I sort of used it on this one.
The lyrics are posted now which may help.
In some ways the manager doesn't actually want you to quite hear his rant anyway :-)
Thanks for taking the time to stop and comment Ed.
Cheers
Dick
Moviz
performance all round Dick.... great backing, lyrics and arrangement and that's showbiz for ya' LOL. Great stuff, cheers M
DWL
An old old story.
Thanks for the comments.
Cheers
Dick
five_extra_arms
Very clever, dramatic and rich with sound. It's a fantastic composition. How do you do it?
I think the reverb works fine for 97% of the vocals. I'm 100% content with the rant vs everything else and I especially love the thumb piano sounds, the chirping birds and your scorching guitar solo.
The mix of extra voices in the ending is a nice ending (or is it the transition to the next song?)
Great work Dick. You always impress me with your ideas and your production.
Bob
DWL
about the reverb either but I tried to take it off in Logic and despite removing the all plug-ins on that track it was still there.....
I'm pleased you enjoyed it though. It's been quite a while since I got so involved in a song and it was of course great to have Graeme actually singing (I ended up doing most of the first "rock opera").
Cheers
Dick
Bob Rodgers
don't know how you manage to find the time Dick!
The Sausage Factory of Fame is such a great title for this song, very apt, so true and they are great lyrics! I really enjoyed this and I love yours and Graeme's witty humour!
Great concept and I'm lookig forward to hearing this when it's completed!
Bob
DWL
was pretty much non-stop with Graeme and everything else I was doing had to take a back seat so we could get the basics down.
Thanks for the kind words.
Cheers
Dick
Vic Holman
another Amok opera in the works. dang, you two are glutons for punishment.
very cool song! and Dick, your singing!..... wow! you let 'em rip. the solo was ripping as well.
was that a thumb piano in there as well?
I also like hash browns with sausage.
DWL
Mostly for sausages though.
Thanks for listening Vic.
Hopefully this one won't take so long....
Cheers
Dick
lengold
...nasty evil manager.
Love the drums when they come in, some great sounds going on in the background too, fantastic guitar solo. Wonderful vocal performance.
I would actually ease back a bit on the reverb on the vocal - it seems to be drowning out some of the accompaniment to my ears, might just be a earphone thing though.
On my third listen now - this really is something special - would work perfectly both in a theatre and on a album. Great listen.
Cheers
Len
DWL
REVERB - I should have given you a call. I tried to take it off in Logic but despite removing all the plugins it was still there. It wasn't recorded with reverb and should have only been added later.
Ne'er mind, I'll sort it out before the final mix.
Mr Hobbs has a way with lyrics and there's some choice ones to come.
Glad you enjoyed it and watch out for those managers...
Cheers
Dick
dolby
...successor to Welcome To The Machine! Has a similar feel to it - like a cross between Pink Floyd and Joy Division (in the vocal and the reverb!)
It's a big, creeping evil beast of a thing at the end - really grabs your attention and holds it.
Great stuff - I really enjoyed yhis one!
Phil
DWL
Someone else on another site said Floyd and although it's very flattering it wasn't what I thought it would be like :-)
Yes, it does get a bit out of hand. One day I'l llearn restraint.
Thanks for the comments
Cheers
Dick
guitapick
...and then "WHAM!"...the solo slams on in there...
Enjoyed very much, Dick.
Cheers,
Bob
DWL
to spring a few surprises!
Thanks for listening.
Cheers
Dick
davisamerica
and this track is a killer Mr. Langford. What great lyrics and vocals. The instruments and selections are great and then there is that screaming guitar solo ..... man! Absolutely and outstanding work here my friend ... and extremely cool ... can download ... and did!
DWL
A killer eh? Yeah that works for me :-)
Lyrics and vocals are down to Mr Hobbs but I'll pass on the message. I' msure he'll appreciate it.
I'm still a little undecided about the reverb as I think it rather obscures the lyrics. I'l ldo another mix at some point when I can listen without the same ears.
Thanks again.
Cheers
Dick
damiengh
A better "brick-in-the-wall" message, ya might say.
Liked the lyrics and ominous voice-of-doom delivery.
Liked the use of that thumb-piano sound and powerful use of your screaming guitar as an exclamation point, of the despair at hand.
I'd bring up that kettle drum a bit more as well as some of the other orchestration. But, as you said this was sort of a rough cut. This is another feather in your rock-operatic hat.
Somewhere down the road we are going to see the next Andrew Lloyd Rice/Tim Rice. The "New Lights on Broadway" :Hobb/Langford. Ta-da!
DWL
Te nearest we would get would be busking outside Fulham Broadway station.
Thanks for the comments. I was struggling not to overpower the vocals with the orchestra or the tympani and I'm not quite there yet. Some reverb off the voice would help as it's being lost in a morass of mid at the moment.
Cheers
Dick
guygrooves
Then I will be back for the finished version for sure. Great song you guys. I think you'll have to come up with a few more to finish telling the story. It has a great potential for a rock opera. I hope we can hear some of "Celebrity Torture" soon.
Peace
Guy
DWL
You'll probably get sick of hearing songs from this over the next year :-)
I really appreciate the support and kind wirds.
Cheers
Dick
dajama
This is a really great lyric and the performance is brilliantly rant-like! Dark and almost ominous in its buildup, and filled with terrific sounds. Since everyone else has mentioned the reverb, I'll add my two cents - I think it works, but may be just a tad too much. I like dolby's Joy Division reference. This is a cool track, and I'm looking forward to hearing what other stuff you guys have come up with. Nicely done. Peace.
DWL
It started as just a rant but somehow got dark.....
I am now firmly of the opinion that there is too much reverb and it's a pity I can't just replace the existing version but I'm not going to make a new post.
It's been very useful getting the feedback from you guys and I really appreciate it :-)
Thanks!!!!
Cheers
Dick
kristyjo
Very clever lyrics - I'm glad you posted them, because I needed them to understand the singing. Yeah- a bit much on the reverb -as if you haven't heard that before:) but I think it fits. Too bad you can't increase the reverb as the singing goes on. As if the manager starts out as a confidant, and slowly reveals his more sinister side. Definitely theatrical!
DWL
of increasing the reverb. I like the idea of it getting more and more out of hand. I do get fed up that we can't post remixed versions without making a new post :-(
Ah well....
Thanks for the comments and the idea :-)
Cheers
Dick
...But HUGE fun!
Absolutely LOVE the vocals on this. They fit the music like a tight velvet glove.
Enjoyed very much!
Be well!
DWL
That'll do me!
Thnaks Mike, much appreciated.
Cheers
Dick
bud
I love the growing swirl of the production and who can resist circuit dialog anything. Nice use of congas and kalimbas - but an that guitar is massive. Peter Gabriel should go hide behind Pink Floyd who are hiding in the closet.
DWL
I really appreciate the comments.
Massive? Yeah, I'll do that
Cheers
Dick
segiperkasa
I am not really a rock and roll.. but this song is really inovative.. good musical arrangement...
DWL
you are more rock and roll than you realise
I am in awe of your guitar work and so pleased you enjoyed this little offering of mine.
Cheers
Dick
Rik_Berryere
...love the big, ominous build that gets bigger and bigger as the guy gets smaller and smaller until the music pushes down the walls and the hammers walk threateningly across the countryside.....
DWL
I rather saw them as reciprocating saws but hammers work as well ;)
Many thanks for stopping by.
Cheers
Dick
Bob6stringer
The lyrics, later. First, I have to acknowledge the wonders of a mix that obviously benefits from the artist's fraction-of-a second attention to detail to pacing, dynamics and drama. Nice work on those little volume "dots," Dick, you da man.
Vox is great for the subject. Lyrics are good dark poetry. To my 70's ears, they fit right in with Pink Floyd's "Welcome to the Machine," ELP's Brain Salad Surgery and master showman Alice Cooper's "Hello, Hooray" (Let the show begin / I am ready") or Billion Dollar Babies." Pop this in a mix "tape" with those and more classic rips on the tawdry business of music-making.
That's an excellent marimba break before that final burst of killer-attitude lead. Makes me wonder what your GT-8 has that my GT-6 doesn't! (Actually I'd love to know that.)
DWL
I'll msg you the GT8 patch I used. It might well be on the GT6!
I'll also reply in full to your wonderful post!
Cheers
Dick
The Infinites
Do I get Motorhead?!
Totally worth the wait as it build and builds - great poetry set to a manic atmosphere. That guitar directly after the seagulls is immense!
Did I actually say that? Well that just shows how avant garde this is. Great Dark Side of THe Moon type voice in my ear at the very end!
Good work overall! Beefy!
Jim