music film life
I’m thankful for my family, the gift of music and every day above ground. Heatth is precious. Special thoughts to my cousin Richie who has recently suffered serious electrical burns on his hands. God bless him and his family.
We’re all a single moment away from mishap, so every second of non-disaster is the best that life can give us. Everything else is gravy. Love, Martin
This one got written just this evening. It’s been pretty hectic. But, I’d been thinking about electric vehicles since seeing the documentary Who Killed The Electric Car on Showtime. If everybody’s next car was electric, wouldn’t that dramaticaly change our dependence on oil. And if everyone had just one solar panel wouldn’t that do something? I’m probably too naive to understand how this can never be.
Electric Car
I’m going to drive my electric car into the future
I’m going to drive my electric car into the future
Into the future
Into the future
When my current car breaks down
And I’m looking for my next steed
I promise for sure I swear
I’ll switch to electricity
Watch me drive in style
I’ll be saving the world from global warming
Mile by mile by mile
I’m going to drive my electric car into the future
I’m going to drive my electric car into the future
Into the future
Into the future
It’s got a driving range of 400 miles
On a single charge
Push one little button and the top goes down
And then you’re living large
Sunshine and clear blue skies
It’s got a good sized trunk to carry my shit
Don’t want to compromise my ride
I’m going to drive my electric car into the future
I’m going to drive my electric car into the future
The sexy lines will let you know
That I’m a person on the go
I can hear my jams a whole lot better
Cause my engine noise is low
Music to my gears
My combustible engine is going to be dead
In about ten years
I’m going to drive my electric car into the future
I’m going to drive my electric car into the future
I’m going to drive my electric car into the future
I’m going to drive my electric car into the future
Into the future
Into the future
Into the future
Into the future
I do love working. But doesn’t it seem as though it comes in waves. I take on smaller projects when the bigger projects. Then when the bigger projects return I’m booked with some of the little ones. That’s freelance. You gots to do it all – head chef and dishwasher. That’s why I another all nighter on Sunday nite.
So my good one yesterday was doing 3 arrangements for Ugly Betty. A real session at Captiol Records Studio B. I got meet America Ferrera. Our brief work together consisted primarily of me cueing her in the the proper starts in the song. A charming performer with positve choices.
I’ve added a link in my blogroll to Thing A Week. That’s Jonathan Coulton’s blog and website. He’s the guy who inspired me to start this project. Give him a click if you’ve got a minute. He gets a lot of clicks already, but that’s because he’s talented and smart.
I’ve been getting busy with work lately, so that’s a good thing. I’m playing bass in a play this weekend. And I’m arranging some tunes for a session on Monday that will includes legendary bassist Abe Laborial. I’ll meet him at the session. It’s pretty exciting for an old muso like myself.
Looked at a few more possible locations for the studio. Kind of depressing because I like my current place so much. I’ve sent in a proposal to a realtor for me to rent my current space plus some more to be available to sublet. We’ll see what the mgmt co says. Not a musical way to spend one’s time.
These poets weren’t really writing with pop music in mind. There’s so many poems that don’t fit or are waaaay to looooong. But when I saw that first line “And what is love” it kind of jumped off of the page. He’s got some more romantic poems than this for sure. In fact it’s kind of caustic. He must have been recently kicked out of love on this one. Yep. That’s John Keats one of the great romantic poets.
‘AND WHAT IS LOVE? IT IS A DOLL DRESSED UP’
And what is love? It is a doll dressed up
For idleness to cosset, nurse, and dandle;
A thing of soft misnomers, so divine
That silly youth doth think to make itself
Divine by loving, and so goes on
Yawning and doting a whole summer long,Till Miss’s comb is made a pearl tiara,
And common Wellingtons turn Romeo boots;
Till Cleopatra lives a Number Seven,
And Antony resides in Brunswick Square.
Fools! if some passions high have warmed the world,
If queens and soldiers have played deep for hearts,
It is no reason why such agonies
Should be more common than the growth of weeds.
Fools! make me whole again that weighty pearl
The queen of Egypt melted, and I’ll say
That ye may love in spite of beaver hats.
It’s going to be another poetry setting for the upcoming WS. It’s already set to music. Lots of fun these Englsh poets. Early rock stars, I believe.
It’s a Monday. I was sure to catch up on all things undone. But then there was the voiceover session I forgot about. And getting a really cool job doing a Christmas song for a network. All the old stuff didn’t even get looked at. Time management is my Achilles Heel. 😳 Anyone else have that same kind of problem or are you all up to date on the details and sitting there at perfectly clean desks?
My rabbit tattoo is compliments of Natasha. She’s pretty darn good with an ink pen! And she’s also got an eye to make me look skinnier in pictures. Eh…what’s up doc?
My good buddy, Robert Oriol, surprised me with a remix of War & Peace. Way cool. He grabbed the split tracks and did as he please. What a pleasant feeling knowing someone cared enough to work on one of my tunes. Ahhh.
There’s a new page called From You where I’ll post contributions. Remixes, new tunes made with my split tracks, vids, graphics, et al.
I saw that movie Who Killed The Electric Car over the weekend. It’s got me thinking. Maybe a song in that?
I married my true love, Natasha, on Nov 7, 2002. She completes me. I was looking on the internet for gift ideas and found that wood is the traditional 5th anniversary gift. It reminded me that Natasha loves palm trees. I have my own idea about palm trees being a perfect symbol of marriage. They have to be strong enough to survive the worst storms but also be flexible enough not to break under the pressure. Bending is the sure thing in any long relationship that will be needed from time to time and marriage is forever so there’s all the more need for being a little flexible.
I wrote this song on Sunday night hoping that it captures something of the idea of loving the real person, not just the ideal. Wood Anniversary is available in the Listening Room.
Natasha is a fabulous human being and a great actress.
WOOD ANNIVERSARY
You’re selfish and lazy vindictive and cruel
I’m stupid and fat and totally the fool
I think I know you almost as well as you know me
You’ve seen the worst I’ve ever been
Through thick since I was thin
I’m yours totally
It’s our wood anniversary
Five years of harmony and bliss
It’s our wood anniversary
It still I do and seal it with a kiss
The moment I saw you I knew my life had changed
I fell so hard Cupid’s arrow gave me pain
When it’s real the truth is revealed in the emptiest cliches
The dumbest lyrics come alive
While looking in your eyes
A beautiful surprise
It’s our wood anniversary
Five years of harmony and bliss
It’s our wood anniversary
It still I do and seal it with a kiss
I would if I could
Buy you the house by the sea
White walls and the skylights
And a yacht floating right outside
So we could endlessly travel aimlessly
Bora Bora, Tahiti, Monte Carlo, Italy
I think you know me almost as well as I know you
I want to be your shining knight
My armor’s not so bright
Our love will pull us through
It’s our wood anniversary
Five years of harmony and bliss
It’s our wood anniversary
It still I do and seal it with a kiss
You’re beautiful and thoughtful and gracious and kind
I thank the heavens that you’ve been mine
I looked at a couple of potential new studios today. The current one is super comfy and I’m going to miss it when the lease is upat the end of Jan. So far everything looks like a step down. Prices are sky high here in Santa Monica so for all of you able to get a place for less than $4/sq foot count yourselves lucky. 8 years at this address went so fast.
I’ve got a song for Wed. Drums are down. I’ll squeak in some more tracks tomorrow before I do some more sidelining at the piano for a new HBO show.