I've blended two challenges here. Thank you @ZeCoop for the BPM 128 4/4 #Zecoopdrums! Thank you @Fearlessflight2014 for the #Poemoftheday Challenge. I chose Mark Strand's Lines for Winter. I incorporated lines from his poem into my chorus.
Know Nothing
demo by Kate Stanton 2/13/2022
There's a storm brewing and
It's been coming for some time
seen it on my horizon
head's in the sand
I've been buried alive
tell myself when I'm older
and gray I won't sing the same tune
well now I'm getting older
denial talks me out of playing peek a boo
It says,
"Tonight as it gets cold
Tell yourself what you know
which is nothing"
which is nothing?
which is?
"Tonight as it gets cold
Tell yourself what you know"
Tell yourself what you know.
Thought if I kept it busy
my mind would clear itself
in good due time
even went to my doctor
did what I am told
like a good girl of lies
she promised me a change
"says are you gonna stay now?
Hey now! Have you hit your bottom pain now?"
Follow everyones' orders
teach an old dog but it's still the same bone
It says,
"Tonight as it gets cold
Tell yourself what you know
which is nothing"
which is nothing?
Which is?
"Tonight as it gets cold
Tell yourself what you know"
Tell yourself what you know. (x2)
What do I know? Is nothing now.
"the tune your bones play as you keep going" out...
It says,
"Tonight as it gets cold
Tell yourself what you know
which is nothing"
which is nothing?
Which is?
"Tonight as it gets cold
Tell yourself what you know"
Tell yourself what you know. (x2)
@ambroise May 2022
Love the lyrics. It's both deep and very relatable.
Especially love thess verses "well now I'm getting older / denial talks me out of playing peek a boo". The image is fun because "peek a boo" is a game for children and you wouldn't pair it with age. But it's acurate because you don't keep knowing you are ageing. It get back to you sometimes by surprise.
Music is a nice balance between bouncing/dancing in one hand and soft/comforting in the other.
@berni1954 Mar 2022
Great vocal and a catchy number. Some really clever lyrics too. I could see this as a hit song in its own right or as featured song on some TV show (which is where the cash is apparently today - a friend of mine had a song of theirs on a very popular TV series and bought a house in Nashville on the proceeds).
@crisp1 Mar 2022
Very contemporary sound with some great lines and a great rhythm. I love "teach an old dog but it's still the same bone." Beautiful singing, as always.
@stephenwordsmith Mar 2022
A very astute reworking of one piece of art - something that stood as beautiful and meaningful on its own - into another. You've made it contemporary without losing any of its significance.
A gorgeous song, with astute composition and vocals that tell every chapter of a complex story with authenticity and tenderness. The pace, volume and similar elements all bring us on the emotional journey as if it were our own. Packed with brilliant lines, but you should be especially proud of 'did what i am told like a good girl of lies' and 'teach and old dog but it's still the same bone'.
Outstanding.
#tit4tat.
@sherrylynnlee Mar 2022
I love your use of phrasing repetition to create movement. Very catchy song. Well done!
@bigstarlet Mar 2022
I love how hooky the chorus is, which contrasts with the introspective lyrics in the verses. As I am approaching old age, I appreciate this sentiment. Great job with this!
@fearlessflight2014 Mar 2022
This is a beautiful lyric. Just so raw and open and desolate. Harmonically beautifully structure and that chorus is so hooky! Great work!
@headfirstonly Mar 2022
That subtle electric piano really works well here to temper the drums, which are driving things along; the pace gives the vocals a slightly frantic air that fits the lyrics really well.
@yewnorker Mar 2022
Wonderful crystal clear voice and interesting lyric.
@wolfkier Mar 2022
NIce. and 2 kates in 2 ears is more than a poor soul like me can handle.:) You roll off those lines and instinctively slip in the hooks which makes for a compelling listen of a very internal conversation. Nice, clean clear production.
and there's your #tit4tat returned, btw, as if I needed an excuse. :)
@dzdandcunfsd Mar 2022
I know I've probably heard it before, but I can't recall hearing you sing much in a lower register. This is really fantastic! I love the soulful melody and the range you're showing off here. The "simple" arrangement really lets this shine as well. Do let me know if you ever do another version of this. I can also hear this done up big and fancy as well. I wish I was a competent bass player, I'd offer my services LOL.
@danvaillancourt Mar 2022
Great vocal melody and nice contrasts in the vocal treatments. Nice use of Zecoop's drums!
@hmorg Mar 2022
I'm loving the hell out of your voice, the vocal melodies and the lyrics. And the soft reverberations in the background. Lovely!
@seppo Feb 2022
Ahhhhh. So soft that I sink here like in quicksand.
Bit Tori Amoshis which is lovely.
I must listen again to find out what the song was about, this time I was just drooling and listening your voice.
#tit4tat
@sapient Feb 2022
I immediatly love what you've done with @zecoop's drums. They are there in a way that is much more subtle than I hear many people use them.
That's a really strong vocal meloday pulling the song along. It's really powerful. I love the way you bring these beautiful words to life.
#tit4tat
@bjunker Feb 2022
This is lovely and sad... but so listenable! I really like the doubling of the voice in the 2nd verse to create some build. The whole thing is just a really well-created moment...
@wylddandelyon Feb 2022
Oh, these vocals are so lovely. Nice use of @Zecoop's drum track. The lyrics are lovely, too. #tit4tat
@nahlej381 Feb 2022
This is wonderful. Nice work all around. Your voice is wonderful dude! And the song has such life
@mandolinda Feb 2022
Great multitasking here. This moves right along, love the change ups. Beautiful voice. Always true. Great lines, dog and bone lyric priceless. #tit4tat
@cleanshoes Feb 2022
I love these lyrics, especially the chorus! I can see how you've taken inspiration from the poem, but also turned it a bit on its head. There's a wonderful rhythm to your delivery, and the arrangement is both simple and full. Nice one!
@tseaver Feb 2022
Nice write! The repetitions underline the insistent and anxious question. The sparse arrangement, with @zecoop's wonderful drums, give the vocal room to carry the lyric.
@chipwithrow Feb 2022
What a cool, compelling song - and a great job incorporating various challenges!
Fantastic vocal- lovely and melodic, with lots of soul, too.
I saw your post in the meditation thread - these lyrics have some meditation philosophy to them.
@arthurrossi Feb 2022
Beautiful and unique lyrics. The repetitions work perfectly. Such a gorgeous melody and what a wonderful vocal delivery! This is sooooooooo beautiful in so many ways!
@williamjames Feb 2022
Nice ethereal vocals. The lyrics flow nicely the chorus hook gets in my head straight away. Cool song!
@chrismyth02 Feb 2022
Love the phrasing in the verses; the doubles in the second verse are effective and trippy; "teach an old dog but it's still the same bone" what a great line. The repetition of line in the chorus drives it home. And of course you sing it perfectly. Cool stuff!
@richaaaay Feb 2022
So nice to hear you sing, as usual. Your melodies here are outstanding. I feel as though you mixed things up with some panning and maybe doubling of some vocals. Not sure exactly what you did but it sounded great. I like the simple production, which allows your vocals to shine. Good job taking on the challenges…
@jerrypettit Feb 2022
Every time I hear a "simply" arranged piece of music like this, I bang my head against the wall and tell myself, "Jerry, will you EVER learn?" I tend to "overdo" my arrangments--simple is almost always better, and especially when you are wanting to feature a vocal such as yours.
Great job on this one, Kate!
@n24 Feb 2022
Really creative piece here! I love the rhythm and structure of the verses. They have a really pleasing melody, very punchy and catchy! Reminds me quite a bit of Tennis actually if you’ve heard of them? Great work as always!
@jibbidy34 Feb 2022
Well done blending two challenges in one. Incorporating lines of the poem was a good choice!
@heliosonorous Feb 2022
Great vocal expressions and bounce to them, very good chorus!
@nadine Feb 2022
Good choice of key. I like the contrast of the lower and higher register. The phrasing is cool. You should turn this demo into a full production later. This is great stuff.
@coolparadiso Feb 2022
Smacks you right out the blocks. They are good drums! I love those vocal gymnastics sneaking out in there! Nice song
@oswlek Feb 2022
Sounds like you are pushing some boundaries. Some really cool melody lines. I like particularly like the melody on the first verse lines and the "nothing" parts in the chorus.
@zecoop Feb 2022
By FAR the most popular drums this year (I even used them, haha). This is just wonderful and completely different from anything I have heard so far. The song had a quiet intensity already, but then when you split the vocals, it doubled that too. I got shivers. So good, musically and lyrically. That story flows really well. Nice!!
@gm7 Feb 2022
Kate ..Wow a great soft but powerful vocal. Catchy refrain...great job as usual
@speed0doyle Feb 2022
This is really good. Like, the quality is really high, from the lyrics, the vocal performance, the actual music... its really not far from being a publishable song, which is always quite an achievement in FAWM!
@djevans53 Feb 2022
Love the variations in the melody. Very contemplative lyrics.
@davidtaro Feb 2022
So the first thing I did was read the Mark Strand poem - blimey, so good btw - and I really like how the main line you’ve used has a slightly different meaning and feel in this context. The melodies throughout are super strong, really catchy. I think it could be one to develop out post-FAWM if you fancied? But I guess the point is it stands up so well as a demo too, precisely because the melodies are brilliant :)
@musicsongwriter Feb 2022
Every song I hear from you, your voice sounds so beautifully connected with the song and it is such a pleasure to listen to your singing and playing. Your songs are always meaningful and special. Very nice use of the drums from John, they organically connected with your song. I love every part and the contrast between the verses and the chorus.
@improvyssey Feb 2022
Neat, catchy song. The cheerful, upbeat music makes a nice contrast with the foreboding lyrics.
@billwhite51 Feb 2022
your voice is so rich in the lower range. lots pf power and emotion in the dynamic repititions of the refrain.