Article Index
The DVD Age
I learned a lot from the first album, not just about software but about songwriting and 3D animation. I had some songs left over from the first album and bought a real Digital Audio Workstation and upgraded Poser to Version 5, and set about to bring Nellie into the next century with a DVD of music videos. |
|
Dandi, look in my eyes Dandi, pull yourself together Dandi, look in my eyes Dandi... This lousy alley’s like a lousy maze And we be runnin thru a cocaine haze Next time they shoot at us they will not miss How could you leave me at a time like this? Dandi.. You never listen to me when i say They’re gonna catch up with you any day You better wake up and i don’t care how You ever listened, you should listen now Dandi... There’s blood all over you and you look bad I can’t remember now the fights we had Do this one thing for me and i’ll be glad Don’t take away the only love i’ve had Dandi... Don’t you die on me baby... I love you Dandi... When we get out of this we’re getting hitched You’re gonna get a kiss for every stitch I love you Dandi i won’t be a witch Just don’t you die on me you son of a bitch Dandi... I love you baby... |
Traditional Pop
The 60s wasn't all about rock and roll. It was also the heyday of Vegas style -- Sinatra, Bobby Darin and Barbra Streisand, and the last hurrah of the Big Bands. |
|
Of all the things that I do tonight Of all the things that i feel so right I’m gonna ask you to hold me tight To save for that rainy day. I’m gonna keep every happy thought I’m gonna keep all the things I bought I’m gonna save what our love has wrought Remember that rainy day. I never want to feel so bad I can’t remember what I had I’m gonna store it all away So I can still remember how I felt today. So kiss me once, and kiss me twice So you’ll remember the kiss was nice And you’ll be glad you took my advice And saved for that rainy day. I’m gonna take this perfect day I’m gonna stash it all away So I can take it back out someday When I see a rainy day. And when you bring me to ecstasy I’m gonna file it under “E” And I can always have you close to me Whenever there’s a rainy day. Don’t have to cry when you are gone I won’t be dancin all alone I won’t be standin in the aisles Cause I’ll be keepin happy with my rainy day files. I’m gonna keep all the things we do I’m gonna keep them just like new And I’ll remember how it was with you On every rainy day. |
Women's Music the 90s Way
Character Songs, they call them. When you use a pop tune in the way of a show tune, to bring life to a character. |
|
Up in the mountains so high and alone And there's no way to escape from the cold of my home And in the city it's happy and friendly and gay And how I wish I could just get away Mama says, you don't know what you wanna be I just know I could go where I can be free I just wanna be a bird in the sunshine Above the mountains I would fly I wanna be a bird in the sunshine I don't wanna be lonely, don't wanna be poor And I don't wanna be here for the rest of my life And I don't wanna be lost in the mountains forever And be only a countryman's wife Mama says, you can't choose what you're meant to be What have I got to lose, I just wanna see That's why I wanna be a bird in the sunshine Above the world so very high I wanna be a bird in the sunshine I wanna go so far away that no one ever will find me Wanna put it all behind me in the shadows of dawn I wanna fly up in the sky to where nobody can see me And the sunshine will free me from harm I wanna spread my wings and wander to the morning sun I wanna watch all the animals run I wanna fly just for fun And then I'll fly till I'm clear up to Heaven And sing till I'm done I wanna be a bird in the sunshine Above the mountains I would fly I wanna be a bird in the sunshine There are acres and acres of pain and despair Between the mountains and all that I want for my own But if I try really hard and I wish on a star I can go up to the sky on my own Mama says, foolish girl, you must learn your place Someday I'll trade this old world in for outer space And then I'll be a bird in the sunshine Above the world so very high I wanna be a bird in the sunshine |
The Kiss-off Song
Every good singer has to have one. I assembled elements of 70s rock, Chicago Blues and a John Mayall church organ to back Nellie up belting a strong message to That Man. I don't know where the title came from, but once I had it, the song wrote itself. |
|
You used my dog to get my attention You used my attention to get in my bed. You used my bed, too much to mention. When you find nothing left for you to use, Don’t lose your head. Connect the Dots And you’ll remember All the ugly details of what you’ve done. It’s the connection of things That make the pattern, The collection of things That you use to hurt someone. You used your looks You used your money You used your influence You used your charm You used my heart You used my body All the things that you used, And you say, “Baby, what went wrong?” Connect the Dots And you’ll remember All the ugly details of what you’ve done. It’s the connection of things That make the pattern, The collection of things That you use to hurt someone. The little things you used to give me The things of mine you used to take All the things that we shared You never wanted All the things that we had, That you promised not to break. Connect the Dots And you’ll remember All the ugly details of what you’ve done. It’s the connection of things That make the pattern, The collection of things That you use to hurt someone. |
The Good Old DaysEverybody enjoys musicals that take place in the Good Old Days. Nellie, I thought, should have a fun period song that wouldn't be out of place in a WWII Western and be sung by Alice Faye, but still should have some up-to-date humor in it. I created an ensemble of musicians who might be sitting in the pit of a music hall in the 1890s -- or at least Hollywood's idea of the 1890s. This was certainly meant to be a video. See if you can imagine the little dance routine Nellie and her snappy-dressed suitors might do for the instrumental. |
|
I guess I'll never have an extraordinary love The kind to make me sigh and say 'I do.' But even if I never find just what I'm looking for I've got a little somethiing that will do... I've got a kind of love for you, it's not the usual kind. It's not the thing I want to do, I must be losing my mind. There's nothing in your eyes that I can recognize To be appealing to me. When I'm alone with you, I can't help wondering who I'd rather be alone with In the light of day, I can say I'm just wasting time. I should go out and find the best man I can find. But no matter how I think it through, I always change my mind. I got a kind of love for you, it's not the usual kind. I got a kind of love today, it's not the usual love. It's not exactly what I prayed for to the heavens above. The things I'm longing for you'd rather just ignore They're just a nuisance to you. But when I get you close, You know exactly what you're S'posed to do to me You could be miles away, and never say Whatever's on your mind. But when you touch me I can leave it all behind. And you know nobody else can do Whatever it is you do. So, I got a kind of love for you, it's not the usual kind. Babe, you don't know how to wear your clothes Or wipe your nose, You can't even tie a tie. But when I think of life without you I could die. I'll never know just what I see in you But they say that love is blind I got a kind of love for you, it''s not the usual kind. |
Nellie in the BistroIf Nellie was to be an all-round chanteuse, she needed a real heartbreaker of a cabaret song. I did my best. Nellie's voice got a lot of extra tweaking to get a natural looseness and Piaf type lilt to her delivery. The orchestra is just what you see in the picture -- concertina, tuba, guitar and violin. The violin was a lot of work. Al Standish helped me with the tuba part. I think Nellie looks good in her Apache outfit, too. |
|
I'm still here, among the things I love, And the heavens overhead, still blue.... I still wander at night, and the moon's still as bright And I still can see all the stars that were there with you. I still lead the life I used to live, And the days still go on much too long. Everything's the same with me It's just like it used to be And you're still gone ...you're still gone. I still keep a mirror by the door. And I still look pretty good somehow. When I walk through the town, all the boys turn around And they still will thrill ... and they'll give me a smile and bow. I still sing the songs I used to sing And I still believe in every song. Everything is still the same Nothing's ever going to change. And you're still gone ...you're still gone. I still sleep on my side of the bed And I still reach out for you at night. I still want you to call, I still hurt from it all But I still would fight ... and I still would believe I'm right. I still keep my best face for the crowd I still won't admit it when I'm wrong. I still don't know what to do, I still love no one but you, And you're still gone ...you're still gone. |
The Video
I actually tried to make a video of this. Perhaps in a while i'll reconstruct enough of the first rough draft of it to place it here. |
|
I'm coming over the wire I'm coming close to the ground, I'm coming faster than sound I'm coming over the line You're gonna have to receive, you're gonna have to believe in me now Yeah, you can pull your telephone out of the wall Yeah, you can throw your TV set out in the hall Yeah, but there's no way to escape when I call Yeah, you know you can't get away from me. I'm taking over your network I'm on your microwave like, where your appliances think I'm on your satellite beam I'm everywhere you can go You can't pretend you don't know what I mean Yeah, and there's no way to ignore me again Yeah, and it's no use if yo utry to pretend Yeah, you're gonna hear me whenever I send Yeah, and you can't get away from me I'm coming after you Yeah, I'm coming after you There ain't no way you can jam me There ain't no way you can jam me I'm coming after you There ain't no way you can jam me I'm on the wire, I'm everywhere. I'm coming out of your speakers I'm out on every band, broadcast from every land. I'm in the lights of your sneakers I'm flashing fit to explode In International Code Yeah, you can pull your shoes off and throw them away, Yeah, you can toss your vacuum cleaner into the Bay, Yeah, but I can always get to you someway Yeah, you know you can't get away from me. I'm dominating your system I'm on your system hard disk Where all your software exists I'm on your old VCR I'm on your oven's readout I'm on the radio out in your car. Yeah, I'm taking over your electrical world Yeah, and you'll be sorry you messed with this girl Yeah, I'm gonna hammer your ears till they curl Yeah, and you can't get away from me I'm coming after you... I'm on the wire, I'm everywhere. I'm coming over the wire I'm coming close to the ground, I'm coming faster than sound I'm coming over the line You're gonna have to receive, you're gonna have to believe in me now Yeah, you can throw your Walkman out onto the street Yeah, you can smash your radio under your feet Yeah, but you're gonna have to admit your defeat Yeah, you know you can't get away from me. |
The New SwingThe duet. There has to be a duet. We'll use Minotaur, he has an ugly voice. This is an unapologetic rip-off of Lyle Lovett and his Large Band, another act who makes antique style music palatable to todays audience. Making Nellie "talk" inside the singing software was tricky. Did you ever try to notate the pitch and timbre changes of speech? Not easy. Anyway, this was a lot of fun to write and produce. |
|
HIM: I got my head in my hands and I’m all alone I been a’sittin’all night by the telephone Cause I’ve been fantasizing about you And going crazy But I can’t call you up because I’m too darn lazy! HER: We all live in our fantasies It’s just too hard to get by with just lonely realities,but I don’t wanna be stuck in my dreams forever I wanna get with you and be together! BOTH: You’re the heart of my fantasies You’re the part that I always see I can’t eat a bite I can’t sleep at night I’m lonely tonight without you What can I do? All I want from my fantasies is you. HIM: (now you know) No one can compare To your fantasies That’s what they always say And everyone agrees. But you know it’s funny, I just can’t believe them Cause when I close my eyes there’s someone real beneath them. HER: (Listen to me honey) In the world that I keep down inside I got a wonderful dream boy,who makes me feel satisfied,and If I ever break down and do something about it You know that you’re the one to whom I’ll shout it! BOTH: You’re the heart of my fantasies You’re the part that I always see I can’t eat a bite I can’t sleep at night I’m crying tonight without you What can I do? All I want from my fantasies is you. HIM: I got a fantasy about you and me HER: (you’re such a bad boy!) HIM: I got a feeling I know how it will be HER: (Tell me all about it!) HIM: Cause you and me are gonna be so good BOTH: They’ll think we’re burning down the neighborhood HIM: You’re gonna wear your little satin sheath HER: Oh yeah,the one I wear with nothing underneath (how’d you know about that?) HIM: We’ll dance and look into each other’s eyes BOTH: What happens next... won’t be no surprise, Baby.... BOTH: You’re the heart of my fantasies You’re the part that I always see I can’t eat a bite I can’t sleep at night It just isn’t right without you What can I do? All I want from my fantasies is you. |
American CabaretIf "A Kind of Love" is Nellie's Alice Faye song, then this is her Peggy Lee song. Another good use for a computer voice -- Peggy Lee always sang like she was half-unconscious, and the results were always great. Again, this was a song that wrote itself. As for the arrangement, I cheated on this one, i fattened it up with some very conspicuously synthesized brass, but who cares? It's got a stand-up bass, and thats all Peggy Lee ever needed. |
|
You say you don't want a love with strings You say you wanna buy me pretty things You say you only wanna make me happy You just wanna be my sugar daddy. You say you'll dress me in the finest style Like Cleopatra on the River Nile You're gonna keep me sleek and snazzy You just wanna be my Sugar Daddy. I'll never want for a thing We're gonna live like a queen and her king Although you might not be so handsome You're gonna bring me over a king's ransom You say you never were a ladies' man But now you're gonna do the best you can With all your money you can make me classy You just wanna be my Sugar Daddy. You know it sounds like a wonderful deal But I should wonder how I really feel If there's no real manwho wants to have me Do I just wanna settle for you, Sugar Daddy? You never wanna make it real You like the game and the way feels You wanna keep it sweet and sassy You just wanna be my Sugar Daddy. I got a feeling deep inside You're gonna put me on the side You only want to keep me handy For when you want a piece of sugar candy You wanna buy me for yourself You're gonna put me on the shelf You'll never care if I'm really happy You just wanna be my Sugar Daddy. |
Surveillance RockThis is a truckin' road-show type song that goes all over the place. It's a far more complex structure than Nellie's usual ballads, having a long B-part in a different key, and it was a bear to get it to rock properly. But here it is. Paranoia runs rampant as Nellie sings about her stalker ex-boyfriend. Or is it all in her mind? |
|
You pulled up to me at a traffic light You said “I know the man you’re with tonight. “You think he belongs to you alone.” Then you smiled and you were gone. Who’s telling you what I’m feeling? Who’s tellling you who I’m seeing? Who’s telling you what I’m needing? Who’s telling you? You leave messages on my machine Telling me the things you’ve heard and seen Things about me no one else could know Where am I to go? Who’s telling you? I know you’ve got somebody watching me A gang of people from Security I’m being followed everywhere I go So you can learn the things that You’re not supposed to know. Those little cameras and microphones In every corner of my Home Sweet Home But I’d rather think you have a screen to display me Than have to think my best friends would betray me And spill my secrets to you I can’t talk to anyone I know All my secrets are a public show Any friend could be your secret spy There to watch me cry. Who’s telling you? (Who’s telling you?) The way I cut my hair What time I go to bed The book I read last week The music in my head The guy that I’ve been seeing The way he holds me tight The pain that I’ve been feeling The way I cry at night Who’s telling you? I dpn’t want to spend my life in fear Wondering what you will overhear Wondering what you are gonna do If I escape from you. Who’s telling you what I’m feeling? Who’s tellling you who I’m seeing? Who’s telling you what I’m needing? Who’s telling you? |
Sound of the 20sYes, a fox trot! Was this just an excuse to put Nellie in a cloche hat? Probably. But I had all kinds of problems trying to get this 1920s style arrangement to work. |
|
Won’t you be kind When you say goodnight to me? I’ve had a wonderful time. Tonight was so magic And it would be tragic If all of this wonder were rendered asunder. So often we find That our dreams are not to be. I want to keep what I find. So be careful what you say Before you take my heart away... Won’t you please be kind? Won’t you be kind When you say goodbye to me? I’m not as strong as I seem. Farewells can be breezy But don’t leave me queasy By acting like parting’s a little too easy. Don’t leave me behind With no passing thought for me. Remember that once you were mine. And be careful what you say The day you throw my heart away... Won’t you please be kind? |
The Singer Songwriter
The early 1970s were a time of singer-songwriters. Men with folk guitars and women with pianos cranked out beautiful ballads, and had a mellow, warm unplugged sound that was very addictive. I wanted to end the album with something really mellow and feel-good, like so many of the tunes of that period. James Taylor and Carly Simon were two good examples (even married for a while) and there's quite a bit of both of them in this arrangement of someone philosophizing herself into having hope for the future. |
|
I think it’s time I tried something new... You wouldn’t be the first to call me skeptical I don’t expect perfection cause I realize The good things in this life don’t happen by themselves. You take the bitter with the sweet And even though you know the good things do not last You got to try and forget the past Go through the doorway ready for it all New challenges and new tears that will fall New pleasures and new pain Or just more of the same ... But it could be ... Just plain wonderful A miracle from its inception Just plain marvelous A dream come true without deception And all the things that used to make me cry I won’t remember why And I’ll stand until the tears have gone away Cause at last I got to spend a day With something wonderful. I think it’s time I found someone new... You wouldn’t be the first to call me terrified. You can’t expect perfection in a human soul And no one on this earth can answer all my prayers I have to take you as you are And though Iknow you might not be quite what you seem I can’t keep living in a dream Go out and take my chances like the rest And if you break my heart, I’ll know I tried my best You could be my final blow Or just use me and go ... Or you could be ... Just plain wonderful A miracle from your conception Just plain fabulous A dream come true without deception And all the things that used to make us cry We’ll laugh and wonder why And you’ll hold me till my tears have all run dry Cause at last I got to spend my life With someone wonderful. |
