Feb 2022 new-wave-adjacent chiptune-adjacent commitment-adjacent
in the arcade it's so mysterious
is that a new game waiting to be played
I get so curious
we're all online now
seen a lot of these games
I start to wonder, about the code
whether the code is always the same?
is there a free account I can log in with?
I'm in the records now
unhelpful help files
the button says save but nothing happens
they aren't working, my symbolic wiles
the free account that I log in with
I hear the music but I can't level up
these are the right commands but nothing happens
let me try again, cause I can't get enough
I know there is a paid account
I know I could commit to hack
and build my dream development team
sounds like when I was married
no thanks I won't be going back
the free account that I log in with
I hear the music but I can't level up
these are the right commands but nothing happens
let me try again, cause I can't get enough
the free account that I log in with
oh how I feel so free to muck it up
I can play the games, deconstruct the symbol names,
tame the mainframes
but I can't level up
the free account that I log in with
let's play again - can't get enough
these are the right commands, why it's nothing happens
I hear the music but I can't, I can't level up
@liz561 Mar 2022
Oh-don't we all know that there is no free account-if you really want to play youve got to pay! Great lyrics and love how the music sounds like an arcade. Love the harmonies on the chorus!! This is awesome.
@vomvorton Mar 2022
Such an intriguing title, I can see why this one is still pulling in the comments mid-March! Great song with some wonderful lyrics but it's the chiptune arpeggios that really send it over the top, so much fun!
@yarimurray Mar 2022
This is so catchy and the production is aces. Great match of theme and sounds. Love the arcade vibe and the build. It keeps getting more interesting and the synch solo is spot on. Well done and I'm looking forward to listening to some more.
@williamjames Mar 2022
What great lyrics! these can be interpreted in many ways, at least by me, don't really know the correct one.... really about just the frustration of video games? maybe about life, how no matter how hard you work just can't seem to level up... maybe about the effort to try coding the perfect game... Always a sign of great lyrical work to make the listener really think. I loved the chorus melody too very catchy and singable!
@audrey Mar 2022
Yeah, love the opening drums. Toe-tapping good drums throughout, in fact. Nice catchy chorus melody and fun lyrics. I especially like how you ramp up the last three closing choruses with that fabulous descant soaring above with its lovely counterpoint. Great song!
@zecoop Mar 2022
I love the retro vibe and the unusual chord changes. It all flows so wonderfully though and the theme fits perfectly. You've added so many wonderful little details. Wonderful playing, singing and lyrics that are completely relatable. A wonderful song throughout and what a great start to your FAWM! :)
@musicbymichelle Mar 2022
Querky and fun. Love the instrumental how you use sounds you'd hear in a video game. Love the chorus with all the layers.
@sherrycanary Mar 2022
This is wonderful.
What a clever theme you chose to work with. Such good writing. Love I can't level up and my symbolic wiles.
So easy to get addicted to these, and endure ads :-)
Love the music and your vocals and harmony
@downburst Mar 2022
Wow. This is so cool. The chorus sounds more like 1967 than 1977 but incredible either way. The lyrics are so clever!
@zeekle1998 Mar 2022
This is really cool. I used to love arcade games, not into online games. Musically it really brings back memories of new wave. And did you admit you’re a hacker??!
@gregwere Feb 2022
I love the choice of topic here, I'm still wanting to write a tune called Error 404 as I have no idea what it means. Computer says no maybe another topic, lovely write. Use of instrumentation really suits this.
@ductapeguy Feb 2022
Hello, It's Mr. McGaughey with my grade 2/3 music class. They thought the instrumental sounded like Mario.
Here are their comments:
A: I loved the beat in the background.
J: I liked the title. It was pretty funny.
z: I liked the beat.
@lenigmusx1 Feb 2022
I really like the intro guitar swells into the verse. The bass line “montuno line” in the verse interludes is super cool! Great chorus video game madness I love the 8 bit synth sound! Great stuff!
@feb21sundari Feb 2022
I like the driving, tense groove. And the bass slide at the beginning- is that handmade? Great song!
@elesimo Feb 2022
Love the 8-bit synth solo, and the song is so much fun! Love the line "unhelpful help files" and the whole concept... so good!
@blainev83 Feb 2022
This is such a fun and quirky tune. That chorus is super catchy. I’m still listening and I know when I move on, it’s going to continue in my head in a loop!
@isaacq Feb 2022
glorious harmonies! gosh i've missed you. nobody sounds like you Elaine, regardless what path you decide to venture on with each song. i didn't have you figured for a gamer but i suppose we've never discussed it! in the meantime, i think this might be a very clever metaphor for something i can only guess at.
@toms Feb 2022
Hey, this sounds like someone who has been programming free online games!
@circle Feb 2022
had to listen to this because the title is perhaps the best I've seen so far!
really into the wormy synth backing, paired with the drums it creates a great groove. but then there are those bursts of new chords and melody, which work brilliantly. the chiptune section also rules! and the arpeggios! this is brilliantly inventive and catchy
@gardeningangel1 Feb 2022
Hah, this is great! The keyboard solos work perfect with the nerd-core theme. It really does hook you in and then logs you out just as you're getting used to it. Commitment-adjacent is a mighty fine tag.
@mikedebenham Feb 2022
This is a delight. I love how any genre you tackle ends up sounding distinctively Elaine (not that I'd be able to define that easily). Careful with the free accounts though. It'll confuse the algorithm, and lord knows you don't want to piss off the algorithm.
@dzdandcunfsd Feb 2022
This is so delightfully fun and quirky, and just keeps getting better and better, and then all those vocal harmonies come in and I'm hooked and my trial period has expired :)
Excellent track!
@steer Feb 2022
VERY, very cool concept, Loved the music
@sml Feb 2022
The music fits perfectly with the theme here. Very original, music reminded me a bit of the 80's, maybe Dale Bozio. Cool!
@rickatfulcrum Feb 2022
@timfatchen alludes to the prosody of the piece getting more and more manic as the frustration about leveling up sets up shop in your head, and I think that's what I like best about this. That and the synth solo. The drums sound mint, too.
@beat Feb 2022
Luv the harmony vox‘s and all the rest o‘cos. And it’s getting wild and wilder. ;].
@timfatchen Feb 2022
What's the saying? If it's free, then it's you who is the product? and commitment-adjacent is such a lovely keyword. Still, the plaint of the song is all too real (love the marriage dig), If I had my moralist's hat on, I would say everything has its price but MY experience of paid accounts is that I STILL can't level up...
Technically this is a hit, especially as the backing vocals come in and frenzy up. A delight to listen to and laugh with (with not at, far toooo close to home!)
@pumpkinhead Feb 2022
Wonderful! I just laughed when I first read the title and it's such a great idea. I seem to be going for the free account all the time, especially in life. I ought to change but don't think I can. I loved the song and of course logged in with my free account. Peace
@thedutchwidows Feb 2022
This is great. The way you've built the music is great with the floaty synth over the top and everything sitting nicely in the mix; and then the backing vocals launch it for the big ending. Love it!
@jlampson Feb 2022
I am blown away. I was not expecting this at all. So here I was, thinking about sleep and I was like, "hey, why don't I listen to one more song before hitting the hay". Now my brain is like WTF, and I couldn't be happier about that.
The instrumentation and layering alone in this song is masterful. I am so eager to hear more from you. Please keep making whatever music makes you happy. Thank you for sharing this delight!
@robcrusade Feb 2022
Very fun!