Feb 2022 circus accordion songskirmish skirmish s020922 takeaway
The topic was "take away" and I was just having a conversation about how Americans want to be entertained at all costs. The quickest analogy I could come up with was a circus you could never leave, that keeps raising the bar of how much they can throw at you to keep you engaged, including locking the doors so you can't leave. As soon as someone tries to convince you about how much FUN YOU'RE HAVING, you start to feel like something is seriously wrong.
I was very proud of the fact that, for the first time ever in my life, I nailed the accordion in the first take!
Behold a 3-ring spectacle
To dazzle and delight
We’ll perform our tricks for you
Every single night
Jó estét, bonsoir, good evening
Pleased to meet you, enchanté
We know you came to be entertained
So now please, take it away
Take it away
Take it away
Eyes up, settle in
It’s time to begin
So get ready, let’s take it away
Forget about all your troubles
We’ll take them away from your mind
And fill up your head with laughter instead
And leave the real world behind
Just in case you felt inclined to leave
We’ve shackled your feet to the floor
And just when you’ve felt like you’ve had enough
We’re here at the ready with more
Take it away
Take it away
Your mind will explode
Sensory overload
So get ready, let’s take it away
Bears on balloons and trapezing baboons
And a cephalopod bell choir
Fireworks, kaleidoscopes, and elephants on tightropes
To distract from a world that’s on fire
Clown cars and freak shows and pie cream from a firehose
And the show horses, see how they gleam?
We’ll fill your head til you wish you were dead
But no one will hear you scream
Take it away
Please take it away
Show me the door
I can’t take anymore
Please take it away
@coolparadiso Mar 2022
@tit4tat3 Oo i love the fairground feel! Great harmonies. Great build and such good holding accordion. Class harmonies! Incredible for a skirmish, all those little touches. This is a really cool song
@cblack Feb 2022
Super dystopian vibe. Extolling the virtues of a horrible scenario without breaking character. Definitely a cool effect.
This kind of reminds me of Emilie Autumn. Very enjoyable listen. :)
@whispermouse Feb 2022
Ah, the Circus California. I love all the layers. The whole "Bears on balloons..." section is awesome. Great skirmish!
@jdschramm Feb 2022
Love the accordion, wish I could play one. Sounds great. Has a very spooky circus feel the way you have done this. It is fun and theatrical and paints a wonderful picture.
@jramonewi Feb 2022
This American is highly entertained. Eww.. did I just call myself an American?
@mandolinda Feb 2022
Love this. Fantastical and amazing.
@jwhanberry Feb 2022
Outstanding! What a wonderful creation. Words and music right to the point. Amazing skirmish.
@berni1954 Feb 2022
Amazing arrangement for a skirmish! I am always amazed at how so many FAWMers can come up with a multi tracked arrangement in such a short time. Love all the detailed circus images. On top of it all it's a perfect evocation of circus music. Frankly my dear... I am impressed!
@porrectus Feb 2022
I’ve worked with circus folk and you’ve captured the mood. Fantastic job. Well done!
@keithcuts Feb 2022
Wow. Really ? Is this how we gon skirmish from now on?!?!
That was spectacular. I’ve never seen quite a production and cohesive product emerge this close to “radio ready” in a Fawm skirmish before.
So many good words too
Celaphods
Horses that gleam
Firehouse of cream
It all works and sends your message loud and clear in a most entertaining way.
Kudos for days on this
@hmstreetteam Feb 2022
I love the circus vibe and showbiz character. This contains the attitude we all have to take in planning a show, but turns it on it’s head, or something.
@cabinmonster Feb 2022
Fab take on the prompt. The accordion is fab! Would you believe I've never been to a circus - and I'm glad I'm not at this one lol! It's kinda dark and gives me the shivers. Really well done! :-)
@jtsteam Feb 2022
Love that accordion! Great sound overall. I'm constantly amazed at what people can come up with in an hour in these skirmishes. The lyrics are wonderful.
@scruffyblues Feb 2022
Oh this is just amazing! Listening through earphones I feel like I'm actually at some circus of horrors the way the production has been done. Utterly stunning!
@thedutchwidows Feb 2022
This is so nicely done. I'm with @prsongsmith - that is incredible work in an hour! Everything about it is spot on - lyrically great, beautifully sung and played, and a super-interesting sound. Wow, Then we get to the plinky sounds (I have no idea what they are), but they are perfection. So subtle, so clever. This is excellent. I might be gushing now.
@prsongsmith Feb 2022
Oh. My. God. In an HOUR????! Not only is this brilliantly written top to toe, the *production* (cephalopod bell choir??!) and your performance are so extraordinary. I feel like this could be the opening number for a twisted Cabaret-meets-Greatest-Showman musical. I’d buy a ticket to that.
@misterdemp Feb 2022
Awesome everything! Wow, lovely harmonizing, swirling effects, and background music. Impressive speed for this production!
@kevinmason Feb 2022
Oh wow, you really set the scene and the mood here. The harmonies, accordion, reverb. It all comes together so well. And what a dark circus. A fantastic and poignant analogy for our obsession with distraction.
@wylddandelyon Feb 2022
Oooh, a lovely surrealistic circus! So much fun. And I love the high bit in the background.
@tunecat Feb 2022
You had me from as soon as o realised it was 34 and Accordian! Love the delivery. Amazing brilliant orchestration esp on the time . Wow.
@kenmattsson Feb 2022
You had me immediately with the accordion tag.
This is so tightly written and I love all the visuals, and how you make it sort of creepy with the relentless beat, and your singing is just perfect for this. Tremendous!
@liz561 Feb 2022
OMG! You really did an accordion!! Fantastic. And the vocal quality was so Cabaret, but quite creepy. Like the creepy carnival in Something Wicked This Way Comes!! I am dumbstruck you did this in an hour!!!