VEGANGELICA

Thank you, Plankton, for your feedback. I am glad the violin section was most memorable because that was the part I thought my dad would like!

I am pleased and somewhat surprised to hear that my vocal quality sounded sincere, because I wasn't sure how much emotion would be conveyed through the vocals since I was intentionally using no vibrato. I was shooting for the vibrato-free sound of an English boys choir or of some pop artists who have a simple, clear, direct sound. I'm glad the sincerity came through to you.

Liz, thank you for listening so thoughtfully to the piece and for telling me the strings-piano portion from 2:31 - 3:15 brought tears to your eyes several times!

Knowing I made music that moved you really gives me a sense of accomplishment with this song. The strings-piano section *did* evoke the character of my dad to me. I'm really touched that it created a sense in you of what my dad's character was like.

My dad used to say that sometimes in his sleep, he would dream of the most beautiful compositions, the most moving he had ever heard, but he could never completely remember his dreamed creations when he awoke. I wanted the piano-strings section of this song to evoke the music that I imagined my dad heard in his dreams.

You commented that the middle section is (let me read it again) "stunning" (Ooo!!) and "is one of the best strings-piano compositions" you've ever heard (Double Ooo!). Now I will be strutting around all day while thinking, "I made one of the best strings-piano compositions that ribbons has ever heard!!" Strut, strut, strut.

Finally, I'm really pleased you thought the electric guitar evokes a sort of frustrating undertow throughout the piece, because that was what I hoped it would do. My dad hated distorted guitar. He liked the smoothness of clear sounds. But gosh, the dying process as I've observed it feels like the sound of unrelenting distorted electric guitar: uncontrolled, gritty, raw, but also somehow very pure.

Thank you for listening so closely to "Mayday" and telling me how it affected you, Liz.

__________________

VEGANGELICA

“Out of the Blue” by Erica

People can live a lifetime
yearning for someone to fill up their mind
and take the edge off their loneliness
by walking their path so one becomes two.
I had lost hope this hope might come true

then out of the blue, I met you

and I let down my guard,
I let down defenses,
trusting you cared
for my happiness,
and you carried me close
with your love in your heart
and you never let me down.

We can live a lifetime
yearning for someone to fill up our mind
and take the edge off our loneliness
by walking our path so one becomes two.
I had lost hope this hope might come true

then out of the blue, I met you

and I let down my guard,
I let down defenses,
letting you touch me
through all of my senses.
You carried me close
with your love in your heart
and you never let me down.
You never let me down.

We knew someday
there would be no tomorrow.
No present joy
can prevent future sorrow.
Yet life with you
was worth every tear
and the constant fear
since we couldn’t know
when would darkness descend.
Then suddenly, it was your when...

...and I walked your path right to the end...

when you lay yourself down,
your mind unaware,
defenses all gone,
never knowing I’m there,
and I carried you close
in my thoughts and my arms
and I never let you down,
I never let you down,
I never let you down.

__________________

VEGANGELICA

I wrote the lyrics for "Free" in 2009 (http://www.musicbanter.com/song-writ...tml#post682341) and recorded the violin, electric guitar, drum, and vocal tracks in 2011.

Then the song sat in its unfinished state until last month, when I finally re-recorded portions of the vocals and remixed and mastered the song.

Here is the finished product, only five years after its inception!

"Free" - by Erica

__________________

VEGANGELICA

When I first conceived of the song "Free," I planned only to play the electric guitar, violin, and drums to accompany my vocals, which resulted in the song I posted earlier this month.

However, after mixing the song last year, I decided to create a new version, a cello version, because one of the deep life truths I have discovered is "Everything is better with cello." (I just made that up, but I think it is probably true.)

I also decided to soften the song slightly by singing some background vocal "ahhs" and adding the tiniest bit of a chorus effect to the lead vocals. Finally, I decided to add pep with a few bell-like tones because my second deep truth gleaned from life is "Everything is better with bells."

Here is my revised version of the song with those additions:

VEGANGELICA - Free (Cello Version)

__________________

ribbons

Erica, I love how you’ve added the cello and random bell flourishes to “Free”. The cello really fills out the sound, especially in that short space between verses where there were light snare taps originally. The ascending line that follows “Stand wingless with me” really works as it suggests flight without wings (without drugs or other addictive substances). The cello throughout is like a strong moving structure that bears up the sweetness and clarity of your voice. I also like how the bell chimes in without a set pattern, like gentle encouragement once in a while. That’s very “you”.

The images you selected for the video are beautiful and inspiring, especially the first one of the very pretty and studious songwriter.

Plankton

Great work VEG's.

__________________
See location...

VEGANGELICA

Thank you, Liz, for your review and feedback!

I'm impressed that you thought of a deeper, uplifting meaning behind my cello runs. I'll have to say from now on that I intended them to represent flight without wings, because that sounds good! But seriously, I really did want the song to show how "high" on life people can get without using addictive substances, in the hopes of luring people away from them. (Ding!) <-- That was an encouraging bell-like tone.

And yes, wasn't that a beautiful and inspiring image of a very pretty and studious songwriter?

Thanks, Plank. As I know you know from your own music, when you make a song it feels good to share it, so thank you for listening.

__________________

VEGANGELICA

I wrote the following lyrics back in September of 2013 for the new man in my life, and I intended to post them on Valentine's Day, but here they are, at last!

By the way, "rub" refers to a backrub, of course.

"Better Than The Movies" - by Erica

My life with you
is better than the movies.
You know just what to do to move me.
You chase my face to tease me.
You love to rub and please me.
You get to me so deeply.
You get all of me.

Oh I love living with you in the moment.
Every second is a special event.
You know what makes me tick.
You're better than my favorite flick.
Breaking through my screens,
you know me behind the scenes,
all my nightmares and dreams.

So we're taking life slow
in our red jewel tintcoat Camaro,
driving down the road,
so many places still to go.

I'll be your Princess Charming.
I'll rescue you as you're rescuing me.
Oh we're taking life slowly,
turning dreams into reality.

Being with you is an adventure.
You're so silly yet mature.
You make me laugh,
you gain my trust,
each facet of ourselves discussed.

I know your deepest secrets.
I know your greatest regrets.
You know my love and longings,
and when I'm fearing endings,
you help me live frame by frame,
and I help you do the same.

So we're taking life slow
picnicking on our earth home
on our grass roof underneath the sky,
clouds above us floating by

and you're my Prince Charming.
I rescue you as you're rescuing me.
Oh we're taking life slowly,
turning dreams into reality.

You were afraid that your best years were in your past.
I was afraid to love again since I know nothing can last.
I offered you a reborn world of new experiences.
You offered me a chance to learn
how good lasting romance is
due to the synergy of you and me.

My life with you
is better than the movies.

Oh we're taking life slow
in our red jewel tintcoat Camaro
driving down the road,
so many places still to go

and you're my Prince Charming.
I rescue you as you're rescuing me.
Oh we're taking life slowly
and it's better than the movies,
my life with you is
better than the movies,
my life with you is
better than the movies,
better than the movies,
better than the movies,
better than the movies.

__________________

VEGANGELICA

I was inspired by this MusicBanter thread ( http://www.musicbanter.com/general-m...ml#post1559119 ) to write the following song about the policeman's shooting of Michael Brown and the riots that followed in Ferguson, Missouri, as people assumed the killing was unprovoked and completely unjust.

Now all I have to do is become a mainstream pop star and Soulflower's concerns about apathy will be allayed!

* * *

Don't Jump The Gun by Erica

Are you trigger happy?
Are you judge and jury?
Do you see the worst, expecting a fight?

What justifies blood spilling?
What justifies a killing?
Does it matter if someone is dark or light?

Do you use ethnicity to gauge innocence?
Do you form conclusions without full evidence?
Do you jerk your knees deciding who is wrong or right?
Do you create a case of black or Brown or white?

Well, don't jump the gun, don't jump the gun.
Don't think a race should be over before it's run.
Don't jump the gun, don't jump the gun.
Don't try to win a battle before it's begun.

Do you believe a man is guilty
'til he's proven innocent?
Do you shoot first and ask questions
only when he's dead on the pavement?

Do you believe an officer should let
someone steal his gun,
when he could kill the law
and go on a rampage while on the run?

Do you see murder in an act of self-defense?
Do you feel riots are a reasonable consequence?
Do you jerk your knees deciding who is wrong or right?
Do you create a case of black or Brown or white?

Well don't jump the gun, don't jump the gun.
Don't think a race should be over before it's run.
Don't jump the gun, don't jump the gun.
Don't take actions that can never be undone.

Democracy defiling racial profiling
makes the melting pot simmer.
If you turn up the flame,
who is to blame if the kettle boils over?
When peacekeepers packing heat
meet black men walking in the street,
they should treat them with respect,
a part of the public to protect.
Yet that street goes both ways
and violence rarely pays.
If you lunge at the police,
you are a danger to the peace.

So don't jump the gun, don't jump the gun.
Don't think a race should be over before it's run.
Don't jump the gun, don't jump the gun.
Don't try to win a battle before it's begun.

Don't jump the gun, don't jump the gun.
Don't think a race should be over before it's run.
Don't jump the gun, don't jump the gun.
Don't take actions that can never be undone.

Don't jump the...
Do you think a race should be over before it's...
Don't jump the...
Do you try to win a battle before it's...
Don't jump the...
Do you take actions that can never be...
Don't jump the...
Do you set to kill instead of stun?

Well, don't jump the...
Do you think a race should be over before it's...
Don't jump the...
Do you try to win a battle before it's...
Don't jump the...
Do you take actions that can never be...
Don't jump the...
Do you set to kill instead of stun?

Well, don't jump the . . . [snare rimshot]

__________________

Pet_Sounds

Very cool, VEGANGELICA. I like how you addressed both sides of the issue--something a lot of people don't.

__________________
Everybody's dying just to get the disease