The Freshman Experiment

Hey -

So today I wanted to start writing a song about dresses and I started but it took a kind of weird turn… instead of lamenting on the behalf of all us “normal” gals out there (which turned out to be a little self-pitying or cheesy), I wrote a song for those ridiculously perfect girls instead. It’s kind of ironic and silly and, obviously, a little bluesy.

I look so fine that no one likes to walk with me.
My hair’s so poker straight I go to clubs for free.
But when I get inside there’s not a girl as pretty.
No one understands my plight in this whole damn city.
I got a new haircut, new dress, a pair new shoes.
I got an attitude that might be rude but that’s how I cruise.
I got a palpitating heart in my itty bitty chest
So I’m the best dressed whose got the pretty girl blues.
I’m not complaining bout the fringe benefits
I’m stuck with this dilemma cuz the Prada shoe fits.
I know I know I know I got a good thing going.
But up here on my pedestal it’s not so easy knowing.
I got a new haircut, new dress, a pair new shoes.
I got an attitude that might be rude but that’s how I cruise.
I got a palpitating heart in my itty bitty chest
So I’m the one who’s getting lonely feeling she’s the only one
whose got the pretty girl blues.
Should I accept my fate?
Should return the hate?
Dare I associate with all the common people?
Accept a normal date
Find someone second-rate?
Just so that I can eat a sausage pizza, see a really stupid movie and make out with a guy until I realize – surprise – he’s not my soul mate?
Is that state of things for a new haircut, new dress, a pair new shoes.
For an attitude that might be rude but that’s how I cruise.
For the palpitating heart in my size-C breast.
Is that the way to treat the lady best dressed and
whose got the pretty girl blues?
Oh no. I got the pretty girl blues.

Let me know what you think!

So I’m just going to type in my little lyrics to “How to Return Home”. Blame Brian, please. He sang me high low and everywhere in between and my little voice box is sleepier than even my heavy eyelids. But I was dogged this evening and the result is a finished lyric.

There are still a few things that I have questions about. I don’t know how I feel about my double rhyme… but it’s pretty somehow. I normally hate that kind of stuff. It feels so overdone but this song’s character is more flowery than my usual tone… I just can’t tell. My other question regards changing lyrics in the chorus and whether or not (if I should change them at all) I’m changing the correct ones. There is a part of me that thinks it must mean my lyrics for the chorus just aren’t good enough yet. But the other part reminds me that I genuinely like some of the lyrics that I wouldn’t want to repeat.

Brian and I get together on Tuesday for more recording (Tales from the Bad Years), so perhaps I’ll sing this for you then.

The LYRICS:
Your bare feet sliding on the old wooden floorboards,
Home at last and silent but still you’re shaken,
like walking into a museum, somehow out of time.
It’s all the same except the girl in the hallway,
Where she’s been and who she will ripen into,
Your childhood’s on the other side of a gulf to damn wide to climb. (more…)

My virgin voyage into the a capella world of making my own music video. It’s not good. For one thing, I don’t have a mac and have yet to figure out how to edit the video down from its original length. This leaves me in a frustratingly imperfect place in an e-world of spliced perfection.

Here are the lyrics to at least the first draft of the beginning of “How to Return Home”:

Your bare feet sliding on the old wooden floorboards,
Home at last and silent but still you’re shaken,
like walking into a museum, somehow out of time.
It’s all the same except the girl in the hallway,
Where she’s been and who she will ripen into,
Your childhood’s on the other side of a gulf to damn wide to climb.

Take silent breath.
Hold in the change.
Tell yourself you still live here.
It’s the only way
you’ll get through this holiday.
Count the hours.
Pick some flowers.
Make a nice bouquet.

Clearly, the dumby lyrics come at the end, but I’m still not sure about the entire chorus. I’m kind of thinking that it probably changes based on whatever happens at the end of the chorus. Plus, it has to work throughout the song, right Bri? This probably doesn’t change each time since it’s such a pop chorus. Perhaps 2 lines change - the “it’s the only way to get through…” which I would assume will change too. And I’m pretty sold that we want something more like “get through this day” with the three notes on day.

Anyway, this is where the song is at currently. Updates to arrive throughout the weekend. I think I’ll have the whole thing done by Sunday or Monday at the latest.

So, apparently, I forgot to post this a thousand years ago in October. I remember writing it on the subway as I went downtown from Brian’s apartment to see a play called Spain. I walked down Christopher Street, still writing down the last words, practically bumping into people.

The new part is:

Some widgets crash, some titans clash, some gadgets never take.
Some singles using dating sites are destined for heartbreak.
This is no exception, no one’s ever written songs this way.
We’re paving the road for future musicals today…
unless the whole thing explodes in our face.

The freshman experiment (the freshman experiment)…

I know it’s not much, just a verse… but I wanted to post it before I forgot again. I’ll probably change up this 2nd chorus with an alternate rhyme and then we’ll probably go back to the first chorus rhyme later in the song - after the bridge. Oh, Brian promised to write us a rap for this song’s bridge. I think it’s going to be really exciting. His raps remind me a little of LMNO.

Hey -

So I spent some time over my hiatus working on “Get Out” and now I’m caught up on the lyrics. I changed up the 1st and 2nd verses because I think this is stronger for getting into the chorus… plus I think the new first verse gives us a better understanding of the song’s context and where we’re going.

1: Dear freshman roommate,
I mean you no offense
But if you wake me up again at 3AM,
Your life will end.

2: Dear next-door neighbor,
I’ve got some news for you.
When you have sex with your boyfriend on speakerphone,
You’re not alone.

1: This is my final plea.
2: Rent a hotel room on me..
1: I’m getting desperate.
2: It’s on me.
1: Just pack your bags and…

Both: Get out of my college experience.
I didn’t invite you.
Get out.
I don’t want to have to fight
your loud,
2: early bird,
1: your drunk
2: your nerdy, horny ass.
1: your horny ass.
Both: You weren’t part of my college brochure.
Get out.
Get out.
I’m slamming the door.

I think Brian might take issue with “but if you wake me up again at 3AM” but I must say that this is because of the super-syncopated way he set “when you have sex with your boyfriend on speakerphone”. Another option - if we don’t want this line to scan is “but if you ever wake me up at 3AM again” - this adds 2 syllables, though so we might not want this… I have a rhythm for it that I think works within the structure, however, so if you want it, let me know and I’ll get it to you.

Let me know what you guys think!