Topo's Revenge (remix)

michael2

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Description

This was the first song I ever recorded on computer, decided to see if I could remix it and make it sound any better. It was very confusing looking at that track again, made absolutely no sense whatsoever. Sounds different, don't know about better. I wrote it about my old drummer Scott (AKA Topo). He always wanted to be called Topo but no one would ever call him that. One night while talking to some cute drunk girls at a gig, he said his name was Topo, and she was like: "tugboat?" This led to him being called tugboat, mr. T, lil' T, and endless variations on a theme. He's a great guy, teaches handicapped kids and plays like a demon. That's him in the picture.

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Lyrics

none, just the wailing sad moog.

Song Stats

Hits: 530
Comments: 31
Fans: 25
Plays: 90
Downloads: 26
Votes: 3
Uploaded: Jul 15, 2009 - 07:14:13 PM
Last Updated: Jul 15, 2009 - 07:14:13 PM Last Played: Nov 23, 2009 - 12:50:35 PM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Song Actions

Keywords:

still thinking this could be better (1)

Hardware:

m-audio 49e

Software:

originally GB but remixed in Logic

Comments

sloparts	sloparts said 133 days ago (July 15th, 2009)
	Delightful song Michael Topo would be proud, assuming he's heard the new version. Haven't ever heard the original, but this is a happy little song that works. Yeah, that's it, "Topo, the song that could" Great work Michael, Ed Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

michael2	michael2 said 132 days ago (July 15th, 2009)
	hey thanks Ed, glad you liked. I think I'm going to work on it some more. Check out my latest song called Behind Enemy Lines (w/Bud and Particle Dots)

Feter	Feter said 132 days ago (July 15th, 2009)
	Topo's Revenge Man .... what amazed me is that floating thoughts those never ending with the swirl music you ve done here ...a tight job and arrangement ..really liked this ...kuods ...thnx alot for sharin ! Check out my latest song called A Night With Feter feat'(Roxylee sloparts crissew johnwhitehead and Yamin AL Yamani )

michael2	michael2 said 132 days ago (July 15th, 2009)
	feter thanks man. i added some sonic texture to it that weren't in the original. really glad you liked this version. Check out my latest song called Behind Enemy Lines (w/Bud and Particle Dots)

Go_Turtle_Go

Go_Turtle_Go said 132 days ago (July 15th, 2009)

delicious
as it travels along like a gentle boatride, really! not tugboat, but i'll take it ;-)
awesome picture, btw.
What I really like about this song is its lightness, melancholic but from a positive perspective. Those little arps on guitar, the swelling and decaying synthpads that taste like butterscotch. I genuinely ad an excellent track/ ride after hearing all of my own heavy duty stuff. Since you posted some reservations on the final mix, maybe a two cent advise. The track sounds very balanced and gentle, the drums (brushes I think) are a tad soft in the mix, but what i wanted to say to you is that your final mix sounds like the material i end up with before using compression, on any instrument for that matter. There is enough room for it, just too add a somefin somefin to it, BUT the price, when poorly executed, could end up killing the character and gentleness of the song.

In any case a truly magical boatride you took me on

love, Marc

Check out my latest song called Booga Sugar (ft. Beans) final mix

johnwhitehead	johnwhitehead said 132 days ago (July 15th, 2009)
	Lovely ..lyrical interlude. Shades of Nina Rota. Very deft musical touches. It needs the right animated short subject. Really enjoyed this. Check out my latest song called Dreams

michael2

michael2 said 132 days ago (July 15th, 2009)

marc
thanks. i think it still needs a lot of work (the synths briefly get a little loud at some points), and I am going to change the drum beat I think (and maybe add a real bass while I'm at it). I have decided I hate that beat. So as far as compression goes, would you add it on bus for the overall mix, or on the individual tracks? I have been doing a little research and some believe that a touch of compression on the master output will "glue" a track together. Trying to learn more about that end of things (this the remixes). Thanks for listening and giving tips.

Check out my latest song called Behind Enemy Lines (w/Bud and Particle Dots)

michael2	michael2 said 132 days ago (July 15th, 2009)
	John thanks a bunch. will be checking out Nina Rota as I am unfamiliar. thanks so much for the listen and the kind words. Check out my latest song called Behind Enemy Lines (w/Bud and Particle Dots)

Go_Turtle_Go

Go_Turtle_Go said 132 days ago (July 16th, 2009)

bus or glue
tough one, i used to do compression on the entire track, but what i noticed when doing it just on the indiv. busses is that i can use indiv settings, suiting the instrument instead of my "idea" of what sounds good for the entire track. in my latest it worked, in others..mmmm...i think so too. i guess it is all in "the not too much" approach and understanding the parameters.

Check out my latest song called Booga Sugar (ft. Beans) final mix

bud	bud said 132 days ago (July 15th, 2009)
	That old upright piano sounds so great Is it the same one you have now? Hope you never tuned it. This is so wonderful Michael - you were way ahead of Jon Brion with this piece - could have been on the Huckabees soundtrack for sure. Check out my latest song called try not to think

michael2

michael2 said 132 days ago (July 15th, 2009)

thanks kevin
it's actually not a real piano. i used a sampled upright piano i bought not long ago. good deal, i paid like $20 for the set when it was on sale. i really prefer it to the Logic/GB pianos. it is a little out of tune and crappy sounding, so it sounds more like when i write the songs on my piano. Thanks for the kudos, I like Jon Brions soundtrack stuff a lot. Just recently discovered it all and it was a treat as I don't really love his solo stuff. thanks for the listen.

Check out my latest song called Behind Enemy Lines (w/Bud and Particle Dots)

Vic Holman	Vic Holman said 132 days ago (July 15th, 2009)
	tugboat..... what a name been a long time since i listened to the original. the mix sounds great Michael. ya did it justice. One of those types of tunes that could fit easily on Something/Anything by Todd Rundgren Check out my latest song called November

michael2	michael2 said 132 days ago (July 15th, 2009)
	thanks Vic think i'm going to mess with it some more. i keep hearing a drum beat in my head that's more like "take 5" by dave brubeck instead of that rat trap snare waltz I'm doing now. that's a great Rundgren album by the way. Thanks for the visit and the kind words. Check out my latest song called Behind Enemy Lines (w/Bud and Particle Dots)

particledots_collab_box	particledots_collab_box said 132 days ago (July 16th, 2009)
	Absolutely Brill !!! Check out my latest song called This box can only be a reflection of 10 minutes inside of my head

tempie

tempie said 132 days ago (July 16th, 2009)

that story
is hilarious and human, i dig it. and the song is wow...instantly reminded me of my favorite movie of all time, Vigo's L'Atalante, there's a scene where the provincial young wife of the barge captain is being entertained by the grizzled old first mate playing an accordion, and its like he's opened a box that contains the wide world in it...this should be playing behind that scene.

Check out my latest song called Get Away with Murder Eyes (5XArms Cover)

lavalamp	lavalamp said 132 days ago (July 16th, 2009)
	Sounds like... ...it's from Curb your Enthusiasm. Really, really liked this. Can't believe it was the first thing your recorded on a computer. Great job Dave Check out my latest song called Googolplex Times Zero

Lennon714

Lennon714 said 132 days ago (July 16th, 2009)

Full circle
This version is great! More dynamic. I see people have been making the soundtrack comparison a lot, and I agree. If'n I were a director I would use this piece in the scene where Topo finds all the girls that dogged him from kindergarten through college and planted a big sloppy smooch on 'em. Thus getting his revenge. And the girl that called him "tugboat" would get... something. I haven't thought this through enough. Anyway, love the song. Loved the original, but this tops it, imho.

Check out my latest song called Anarchy, Inc.

ShadowofNine	ShadowofNine said 132 days ago (July 16th, 2009)
	Dang Charming piece yaaa enjoyed this one a lot.... Check out my latest song called Brothers and Sisters

daibhre	daibhre said 132 days ago (July 16th, 2009)
	Excellent Sort of an instrumental Harry Nilsson feel to it. I like it! (the tee hee hee hees are perfect.) Check out my latest song called Give me a Natural Woman

rsorensen	rsorensen said 132 days ago (July 16th, 2009)
	topo sounds good michael. a real sweet tribute to what looks like a pretty fun guy. love the bounces and the way it just ends. i'd have to do an ab comparison to hear if this sounds better than the original, but this sounds pretty loud and clear to me. nice work Check out my latest song called Keep Your Chin Up

LunaTrick	LunaTrick said 132 days ago (July 16th, 2009)
	Nice Waltz Michael Well done! Check out my latest song called Luna Gypsy Heart II (Eternal Firelight)

mikkinylund	mikkinylund said 132 days ago (July 16th, 2009)
	Viva La Topo! Love it. Love you. Love Topo. Love Circus (pre 1940ish). Peace/Mikki Check out my latest song called Fairyland (Satumaa)

Roxylee	Roxylee said 131 days ago (July 17th, 2009)
	tugboat, heehee Michael, I think this song should be in the soundtrack of a movie about a misunderstood man, a Mr. Magoo type guy who happily bumbles his way through life, always smiling. I really enjoyed this. Check out my latest song called Sweet Grace

ktb	ktb said 130 days ago (July 17th, 2009)
	just for the story I would have fav'd. :-) A delight. Melodic and wonderfully upbeat. Lil things that happen in the band of close knit friends can provide years of smiles like this one Check out my latest song called Texas stump

mowguy3	mowguy3 said 130 days ago (July 18th, 2009)
	A joy Fine track sir and fits the description well. Never heard the origional but this is a clean crisp recording. Enjoyed!!! Check out my latest song called A Different Shade Of Moonlight

Daugrin	Daugrin said 130 days ago (July 18th, 2009)
	Topo's Tugboat Maybe some bells and sticks would make a good additions. IMHO this needs to toughen up a bit, it just floats along, tugboats have attitude... Daug Check out my latest song called Daphne w/ Andy Wigzell

egobandit	egobandit said 130 days ago (July 18th, 2009)
	What a cool Story about your friend, funny how one incident can lead into something not expected. I love this kind of happy circus spinning in a circle daydreaming and floating through the day music! excellent! Check out my latest song called when its love

egobandit	egobandit said 130 days ago (July 18th, 2009)
	What a cool Story about your friend, funny how one incident can lead into something not expected. I love this kind of happy circus spinning in a circle daydreaming and floating through the day music! excellent! Check out my latest song called when its love

lengold	lengold said 128 days ago (July 20th, 2009)
	Fantastic Picture That would fit perfectly on a circus ringmaster. Loving this beautifully light and dancing tune. Really conjures up sunny days and fun. Cheers Len Check out my latest song called Dodgy Doughnut

Re-al	Re-al said 128 days ago (July 20th, 2009)
	waltzing around Hi Micheldeux, I'm happily lost in French movies listening to this little joyous gem; Gabriel Yared or Yann Tierson, for starters. I'm off to check out some more ! Thanks ! Check out my latest song called Bordertown (LIVE)

Ed Hannifin	Ed Hannifin said 126 days ago (July 22nd, 2009)
	Neat. You could almost read... ...your description over the music and send it to NPR... Has some of that nice, quirky, "Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite" vibe... Check out my latest song called Next Time Around (w/jiguma)

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Artist Info

Name: michael2

I'm a guy who never wanted to do anything but play music. I grew up with classic rock and prog rock before discovering punk and the new york dolls once I got to high school. As i got a little older (and less angry), I developed a love o... [see more]

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