Feb 2022 political topical rock baritone protest collapsechallenge
Ok, I've done some things about getting older, about mind v body, and more,.... time for a big political in-your-face big production, and here it is. This is a more elaborate recording then I usually do- started with a baritone resonator National tricone guitar, added vocal, djembe drums and percussion, acoustic guitar (capoed way up the neck so it'd be a full octave above the baritone), harmonica, and my old Strat electric guitar. Had alot of fun doing this, and wondering if it'll resonate.
Yes, it's a little harsh, and no, I don't think that way 24-7, but with all that 's going on, it is, obviously, on my mind somewhat. Sometimes points of view get stretched a bit in a song for effect, but it does come from something real, of course.
As always with more specific political things, this is just not the forum to start discussing all the political details in general, its a songwriting site, so let's keep it to discussions of the song rather then just go back-and-forth on alot of hot button US politics- Democrats vs Republicans, etc. (I think it'll be a better fawm for everyone that way) And as always, I write this stuff to collate, codify, explore, etc my own feelings- if you share them, great, if not, no worries. (and if this inspires you to check some of the facts out for yourself, that'd be great).
One last q- how's the mix? I know this one is a little vocal-forward, but this kind of thing is so much about the lyric for me. I know others like to bury the vocals alot more, I've always been a vocals-up-front person.
If you’re not worried about what’s going on, you’ve got yer head in the sand
Jan 6th was the Reichstag fire, a dry run for the stuff that is planned
Its not just suppressing votes, It’s who counts them and who’s in the room
Democracy is leaving, it may not come back soon
Our government’s tilted to the right, here’s some facts to prove that’s true
50 Senate Democrats represent 41 million more, then the 50 Republicans do
While the House is Gerrymandered, who rigs the rules calls the tune
Democracy is leaving, it may not come back soon
Low information voters, pandered to with easy solutions
Frustrated and fed up with our every institution
When the polio vaccine arrived, no one was anti-vax
Nobody spent their time writing websites, pushing fake alternate facts
Apolitical is amoral today, yeah the reality is that stark
Apathy is a burning flame, and its only gonna take a little spark
Dismiss this at your peril, go ahead think that America’s immune
Democracy is leaving it may not come back soon
(c) M. Skliar 2022
@elainedimasi Mar 2022
Went for this one because of the tags esp. the baritone guitar. I knew this one would have a fire in its belly and that seems like the perfect instrument for it. Liking the lines of the various voices coming and going, and the space for them left around the vocals - which are primary, as you say.
I'm listening at night in my headphones, which are on the bright side. How's the mix? If I'm being super critical, maybe it's a touch crowded, like some EQ shelving might open it up a bit. And yet, that crowded sound may be what you're going for with this mood. I mean, we're not supposed to hear your message and feel relaxed!
"Apathy is a burning flame" really interesting metaphor that makes you stop and think because it's a bit counterintuitive. But yeah, inaction is action, and it gets to be too late.
@bfwaite Feb 2022
Oh GAWD, this says it all. Thank you for taking on such a behemoth of a topic. It seems like all this awfulness set in so quickly that in 2022, I STILL am have trouble processing where our country is at and what's happening. Thank you for giving me a song that helps me process that--and in your singing about it I feel less alone.
Also:
"Dismiss this at your peril" is exactly what I want to scream at the top of my lungs to all my friends who have their heads in the sand.
I feel like this should be pressed into a record and saved in a time capsule, because you've captured the moment so well.
@audrey Feb 2022
Very well said sir! Love this melody too. Great song!
@jtsteam Feb 2022
Oof, yes, this doesn't mess about. Very well written. I like the mix - it's really about the lyrics and the vocals are very clear.
@eargoggle Feb 2022
Good job getting all this info in there and still making it a song somehow, which is not easy…
@jonmeta Feb 2022
This rocks! I read through the words first, and though I agree with the sentiments, I thought they were a bit preachy and pedantic in text form. Now, I say that only to add that I then listened to them sung to the music and they are perfect. Powerful, punchy, rhythmic, hammering their points in a persuasive and seductive way. That’s the power of music. I love that loping rhythm and the layers of guitars, and the solo is pretty cool. Excellent.
@eric Feb 2022
Love the recording on this one. A bit of a departure (musically, not lyrically) from what I remember from last year but I like it a lot. Lou Reed style vocals give this a nice feel.
@sapient Feb 2022
Ah the sound of the 60s but with a bang-up-to-date story.
This is so well made, both lyrically and musically.
Big thumbs up from me for both the sound and the message...
@blindkiwi Feb 2022
Wow, very heavy but definitely worth saying. Misinformation driven by his enablers has spread around the world faster than..well.. the plague, and we still aint rid of that either. Love the instrumentation on this.
Excellent song Mike.
@n24 Feb 2022
Awesome stuff! I absolutely love the string parts on this one, and a really informative political song. It kind of reminds me of a more psychedelic Bob Dylan! The tag is also perfect ‘Democracy is leaving and it may not come back soon’ it’s both very accurate and a terrifyingly good summation, I’m British but honestly There’s a similar feeling here in terms of right wing power having a grip on the country.
@popmythology Feb 2022
Kickass song!!! Thank you for writing a song about such an urgent crisis. The impending fall of democracy, in my opinion, is one of the single biggest threats to our society right now, in some ways even more so than the climate crisis - the reason being that if we don't save democracy it's also game over for climate action. For the past two years I've been screaming at my representatives to stop tweeting about "democracy in danger" and actually do what's necessary to save it, but they only seem interested in is using this as as rhetoric to try to win more votes. But more votes alone won't suffice. What they need to be doing is reforming the filibuster and addressing things like gerrymandering, dark money, and voter suppression. I fear that unless we have another record voter turnout for this year's midterms (which I doubt because that never happens for midterms and also because people aren't feeling the dire threat of a Trump reelection), the GOP *will* retake Congress this year, even if they only get a minority of the votes, thanks to their bag of undemocratic tricks. If that happens, they'll finish what they started with redistricting, voter suppression, etc., and then we'll be screwed. So, yes, democracy is leaving and it may not come back soon. Rock on, Mike!! (Oh, and the death of democracy is very much a part of overall societal breakdown and collapse, so I think you should tag this one #collapsechallenge too!!)
@tseaver Feb 2022
Nice write: the pandering is definitely an issue, and in many different channels (some on the left, too). The parallel with polio is dead on. Love the jangle of the solos, both guitar and harp.
@angelinapowersuit Feb 2022
Oooh, beautiful intro, and appreciate all your choices of instruments, so well balanced, melodic and catchy. Nice electric guitar weaving throughout. Though I don't think my head is completely in the sand, I do think I learn something new from every song of yours. And I always enjoy the comedic lines you include despite the seriousness of your subject - "Nobody spent their time. . . fake alternative facts." Haha, so true.
@kenficara Feb 2022
Hey Mike — another great torn-from-the-headlines piece. Well said all, and I don’t think it’s harsh. If anything it’s optimistic — I think the Beer Hall Putsch would be a better comparison, in the sense that it didn’t work but set the stage for what would come. Although people were charged with treason and sent to prison after that, so……..
Also up-front vocals are entirely appropriate for a complex song with a lot of words.
@billwhite51 Feb 2022
i always believe vocals should be upfront although i liked some of the swirling melodies with incomprehensible lyrics mixed way down that were popular in the late 80s. your vocals sound just right but i would bring the harmonica solo. forward. i like your refrain and how it sums up and tops off each verse,
@mightyq Feb 2022
Agree with the sentiments and for some reason I am hearing Dire Straits. Or a little Neil Young. Good one!
@onceandfuturegabi Feb 2022
Listening to this while walking my dog, and the “Democracy is leaving” hook is really sticking with me - I find myself humming/singing it absentmindedly to myself, so you definitely hit on a nice ear worm there!
@cindyrella Feb 2022
Pow! Spot on and what a production! Bravo
@fuzzy Feb 2022
I like your political tunes cos you pull no punches.
It's even getting difficult up here in Canada; have you heard about the "Freedom Convoy"?
Your tune here is really catchy.
Nice geetar break with some nice effects on there.
I like how you did not make an angry song, more observational.
Yeah, well done!
@kenmattsson Feb 2022
Great clear writing, powerful message, and really cool production. This is a standard Skliar winner and I'm totally behind this. Great job Mike!