Urge to Filk...Rising! · 5:57am Jun 18th, 2018
So there's this musical group:
That goes by the name of Old Man Markley. They released one album about five years ago with a couple OK songs on it and one that I just love to pieces.
It's got everything I look for in a song: a nice lead vocal with a little harmony here and there, slightly sardonic lyrics, banjo accompaniment, some light glockenspiel, and when the melodica and tuba come in during the solo break, well, it pretty much sends me beyond the moon, if I might quote the song's title.
I've been playing the song regularly on my Sunday afternoon radio program since the album came out, and it just today occurred to me that changing the reference to Gary Busey in the chorus to Princess Luna leads one inescapably along the road toward constructing a My Little Pony filk song. Now, I play 12-string guitar rather than banjo, but still, the song could be Twilight singing her concerns to Cadance about her fears of someday following in Nightmare Moon's hoofsteps...
More bulletins as events warrant.
Mike
That fits perfectly. Hit me up if you are need some vocals for that.
I play melodica and live near you.
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Well:
As usual, the page at Chordify was of almost no help, but I think I've figured out the song's actual chords. There's a couple weird spots in the verses--I mean, who holds the same chord over from the last two beats of a measure into the first two beats of the next measure? And there seems to be a quick back-and-forth flurry between Am and Em there in the middle that might have a C in it somewhere. And why do all these lead singers need to be tenors? Going up to a high E there in the chorus? Shocking!
Anyway, that's step one. Now I need to look over the lyrics so I can keep the rhyme pattern during the Ponyfication process. So much to do!
Mike
If you need a bass/baritone, hit me up. I could use a reason to buy a Snowball or something similar and play around with stuff like this.
Color me intrigued.
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I barely had time to sit down yesterday, but I've got a first draft first verse and chorus at least:
Dear Cadance: hope this letter finds you well.
The world's been quiet here, not much to tell:
A couple sleepless nights;
Some arguments with Starlight, but not really fights.
I hardly even swore
When I picked her up and pitched her out the door.
But I vowed there'd be no more.
'Cause I don't wanna lose my mind like Princess Luna did,
Heart all filled with wounded pride, with rage and jealousy.
But if I lose my mind like Princess Luna did,
Promise me you'll be around to keep me company.
As for recording, the only equipment I have at home is an ancient 4-track that uses cassette tapes. The radio station's production studio, though, is all digital, so maybe Super Trampoline and I can meet out at UCI at some point to lay down a guitar, vocal, and melodica track.
Gotta finish the lyrics first though...
Mike