Song166_Medieval Gangsters

Today's song is your typical Reggae-style song about Medieval hoodlums. This song evolved (from scratch) in a unique way, so the final product was somewhat of a surprise to me. I recorded the drum rhythms and the bass before taking a lunch break (Joe's Pizza in Euless), then I added a few guitars and keyboards before taking another long break. The guitars (both electric, one distorted and one clean) completely changed the overall style and sound of the song. The clean guitar plays the down-beats during the 'verse' sections, and then it switches to a syncopated, reggae-style rhythm during the 'chorus' sections. There are two additional electric guitars that pick single notes during the 'verse.' They fit in a dissonant and eerie way...I like how it seems to start on the wrong note, but it resolves as it goes on. The 'Bridge' section is unique in that it continues the 'chorus' only 1/2 step higher.

During the second long break in recording I played guitar for a gospel quartet. Brandon's mom has been singing in groups her entire life, and tonight they performed at her church's Christmas event. It was a casual, no-pressure situation where Brandon and I both played guitar while the 4-piece vocal section did their thing (and they do it well). For the final song that we played ("Walking In a Winter Wonderland") they passed out bells to all the kids, and the played along in perfect rhythm...sort of. It was fun.

I had written down some lyrics after lunch, but I didn't finalize the vocals until I got back from the performance. There are a few quality lines...the rest is ridiculous.

LYRICS: "The dangers these days are getting harder and harder to detect. The enemy, it seems, keeps changing outfits. Medieval gangsta-itis, oh yes. Targeting the village youngsters, oh yes. Life used to fit like a glove. Now fitting-in feels like a toothache. And the enemy, it seems, keeps changing outfits. Medieval gangsta-itis, oh yes. Targeting the village youngsters, oh yes. Keeping cool in times like these is harder than you might suspect. The enemy, it seems, keeps changing outfits. Medieval gangsta-itis, oh yes. Targeting the village youngsters, oh yes."

The reference to "the enemy changing outfits" reminds me of a few things. One, evil and deception can take on many forms. Our emotional, spiritual, and mental wars aren't as simplistic as the US Civil War (where the only two groups participating wore a particular color to identify themselves). Two, it reminds me of an episode of "The Family Guy" where Peter, dressed like a clown, is standing in the Vietnam jungle next to US soldiers in full camo gear. He turns to the other soldiers and says, "You guys are stupid, they'll be looking for people dressed as soldiers."

-Matthew
http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com