This is a place for people who have something to say about what they read or hear about in the news. Check out the different ways to participate, via the Submit page. You don’t have to fit the typical description of a lead singer. You don’t even have to sing. If you won’t sing, write lyrics. If you won’t write, play an instrument. If you don’t play a “proper” instrument, bang on pots and pans. Whatever it takes to get the word out. What’s YOUR spin?
Inspired by:
http://www.cnn.com/2008
Sold Into Suicide
living in a cramped apartment
while penniless and suffering
this isn’t right,
this can’t be right,
separated and suicidal
not a little bit miserable
this isn’t right,
this can’t be right,
this isn’t right,
this can’t be right,
in this state, in this battle:
one life revealed
sold into suicide
and now I can’t grow up
this isn’t right,
this can’t be right,
this isn’t right,
this can’t be right.
When asked about the significance of this song in 2008, Mitch said “it’s in a teenage goth MySpace style.”
Inspired by: http://www.reuters.com/article
Getaway Car
You said we could get away with murder
You said we should rob a store for fun
You said we’d be heroes back on campus
We’d buy drinks for everyone
We should’ve gotten a car
We should’ve gotten a car
We would’ve gotten far
If we had gotten a car
You said it was fine to show up walking
All we’d have to do was show a gun
You said we’d be heroes back on campus
We’d buy drinks for everyone
We should’ve gotten a car
We should’ve gotten a car
We would’ve gotten far
If we had gotten a car
You said it’d be cool to call a taxi
Now that we had the money to pay for one
You said we’d be heroes back on campus
We’d buy drinks for everyone
We should’ve gotten a car
We should’ve gotten a car
We would’ve gotten far
If we had gotten a car
The cab showed up and cops jumped out to ‘cuff us
They said our little criminal spree was done
But you said we’d be heroes back on campus
We’d buy drinks for everyone
We should’ve gotten a car
We should’ve gotten a car
We would’ve gotten far
If we had gotten a car
Now we’re here in jail awaiting trial
We never get a visit from anyone
We could’ve been heroes back on campus
But now we’re just a joke to everyone
When asked about the significance of “Getaway Car” in 2008, Meredith had this to say: “It’s like a folk or country song, with really simple predictable rhymes. I never thought it would get to the top of the charts.”
Inspired by: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03
erupt,
block the sun that no longer shines on you.
doused in black,
they have won you are gone don’t you see.
a furious roar,
not heard resonate a mechanic drone.
control,
watch you fly the cage is low you soon will find its floor.
dumped outside.
set afire.
thick gray smoke darkened the midday sky.
cover the blood, cover the blood, cover the blood and smile.
close your eyes,
dangerous calm they fear you most right now.
stay asleep,
find me where no gunshots fill the afternoon.
dumped outside.
set afire.
thick gray smoke darkened the midday sky.
cover the blood, cover the blood, cover the blood and smile.
Notes on Ameya’s process in writing this song:
“Verses were created by selecting single words from the article that generated the most vivid personal responses to the article. I would then extrapolate the context in which the words were used to generate my own assumptions of the situation in question.
This song is about political tyranny and oppression and tries to comment on the tragic futility of the response from those who are being oppressed. Although based upon the recent protests across China and Tibet, the sentiments expressed are not exclusive to this event.” -Ameya Mhatre, 2008
Inspired by “Beijing’s Olympic Makeover”, William Langewiesche. Vanity Fair, April 2008.
Clear Evidence
[verse]
I’ve been flying around ChinaFlying the Olympic torch
Much of the fun is gone
Why, I cannot fathom
[verse]
Altogether the display is vast
Very important persons
Are singing the wrong lines
Pretty young things kowtowin’
[chorus]
With every sunrise
Raise the flag anew
This is clear evidence
That I am not Chinese
[verse]
They will be hyped on television
And soon enough forgotten
So what do you think of
Kentucky Fried Chicken?
[chorus]
With every sunrise
Raise the flag anew
This is clear evidence
That I am not Chinese
[bridge]
Arouse passions, carry dreams
Spread hopes and happiness to the whole world
People tidy up their houses before parties, too
[chorus]
With every sunrise
Raise the flag anew
This is clear evidence
That I am not Chinese
With every sunrise
Raise the flag anew
This is clear evidence
That I am not Chinese
[outro]
a few days of sailing on the far side of the world
a few days of sailing on the far side of the world
“It’s about disillusionment and the cynicism that it creates. That deflation that we can often feel without necessarily recognizing it–a weariness about the world that we carry around with us. I think we’ve all wished for more for ourselves, for the world we live in–we want to keep trying, keep “raising the flag anew”, but sometimes we find ourselves on the sidelines–we’re defeated–and we realize we are no longer part of the collective that strives for change. And not just that realization, but we start feeling a kind of a dismissive, hostile disdain for anyone who thinks things can get better. Things start looking like a sham, all that optimism just a lot of window dressing. But as dark as that all seems, there’s a kind of lonely hope at the end–like the hope of getting to a different world on the other side, maybe to clear our thoughts or re-inspire us.” -James Kolstad
Notes on process: That was fun! I added a word or two, or truncated a word or two, to get the lines to “fit” a certain syllabic rhythm. I also tried to make the verses cohere somehow, make some sort of crazy sense. The process was sort of like putting a puzzle together–pieces have to fit, and they resolve into an understandable whole. But there was still a sense of randomness during the process, which was good. I chose my words/phrases/sentences on two bases: what I found interesting/quirky, and what “fit” with things that had preceded it.
Inspired by this article: http://environment.newscientist.com/article/dn13517-major-food-source-threatened-by-climate-change.html
Heather even recorded herself singing her song!
Need More Rice
experiments
experiments
experiments in greenhouses
experiments
experiments
experiments in greenhouses
here’s a little grain
important for all life
it’s white and likes the rain
oh how will we? how will we?
a drop in yield is coming
it can’t be counteracted
we thought it could, but it can’t
oh how will we? how will we?
solution! solution!
a new variety a new variety
solution! solution!
a new variety a new variety
please just make it stronger
so it can tolerate
high ozone and higher
temperatures
please producer another
so that we can replace
the feeble work of god
or whatever you believe
it’s urgent
so urgent
the need
it’s urgent
so urgent
the need
“I’m into science lately — specifically, GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and natural mutations — so I dug around a few science resources for this proj. I was most intrigued by a piece on rice from The New Scientist. The gist is that a scientist has announced that we will soon face a rice shortage due to the global increase in temperatures, and has requested that we speed up the process of creating new kinds of rice that will withstand the change.
I just had a text editor open in one window and the article in another. ‘Experiments in greenhouses’ was something that jumped out at me first, so I went with that to start. I make silly songs fairly often, so the rest came easy from there. Generally was interested in the idea of this being like a call to scientists to get moving on this new strain. The undertone is that what we really need is a change that will reverse the effects of global warming. But maybe we’re beyond that. ” -Heather Rasley, 2008
Marianne saw this article on CNN and because of its title, “Looking for love?
Keep an eye on your wallet,” I immediately sang it to the tune of
Waylon Jennings’ “Lookin’ for Love.” So, I set the article to the tune.
Lyrics inspired by this story: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/04/21/romance.fraud/index.html
Lookin’ for Love (Keep an eye on your wallet)
Julie spent hours cleaning her house
Heading to the airport, to check him out
Six hours later, she was standing alone
He never took that plane, all her dreams were blown
If you’re looking for love, keep an eye on your wallet
They’ll take your money, take your heart, they are a real threat
They’re searching on sites, for love like a bomb
Like Lava Life and Match dot com
Broken hearts aside, frauds cost millions of dollars
They text you. They will email. They are frequent callers.
Because you’re online, and looking for love.
Barbara Sluppick hunts scammers abroad,
With her website that fights romance fraud.
Site visitors learn of love’s disguise.
HIs picture is there … its all been lies.
If you’re looking for love, keep an eye on your wallet
They’ll prey on your emotions, take your money, leave you in debt
Searching on sites, for love like a bomb
Like Lava Life and Match dot com
Broken hearts aside, frauds cost millions of dollars
They text you. They will email. They are frequent callers.
Because you’re online, and looking for love.
