Song233_Soulless

I woke up around 0400 today, started recording around 0500, took a break for coffee and the morning paper, and then kept working on today's song until almost noon. Brandon is producing an album for his mom's band (a gospel quartet), and he's close to completing the 20-song project. He brought his hard-drive over today and we worked on a few of the songs until 1700. I have a few tools (keyboard sounds, guitar effects, plug-ins, etc) that he doesn't have on his system, so it's convenient to be able to share computers. I took a break for a workout and dinner, and then I worked on this song until 2230. It's been a long day, and I have ear-fatigue, which is not a fungus but rather just slang for "reduced listening-sensitivity due to excessive sound-pressure-levels."

I wrote today's song in response to a recent article that I read in Business Week magazine. An entrepreneur (and atheist), Bart Centre, has created a company that provides care for the pets that will be left behind when their owners are "raptured" by the Second-Coming. He admits that he's "trying to figure out how to cash in on this hysteria," and he's succeeding (he currently has over 100 customers that paid $110/each for a 10-year contract). I have multiple feelings about this story. One, as an entrepreneur I admire his creativity in a similar way that I admire the company that sells the rights to stars in space. It's a mild form of genius to be able to identify a need (no matter how strange) and turn it into cash. Two, I think it's hilarious that the method of care he created for these pets revolves around a network of other atheists that have signed contracts agreeing to gather and care for the pets that are left behind. They get paid upfront, and they admit to not believing that they'll ever have to follow-through with the service they're being paid for because...well, they're atheists. Three, it reveals an interesting insecurity that some Christians possess. I personally think that God, having made animals, probably has a better plan for what happens to them than Bart Centre. And, I bet Bart Centre will have bigger concerns than feeding animals if he finds himself "left behind."

The music for this song took many shapes and unexpected turns. There are about 5-7 tracks of instruments that you're not hearing in this mix, but I'm pleased with how it finally turned out. I like the unpredictable guitar solo at the beginning. The first half of the progression is purposefully odd so that it can resolve into the comforting melody that you hear in the second half of that section. The music is probably too serious for this ridiculous topic, but...

LYRICS: "An outline of history written before time? Was there a Creator, or did matter just collide? Will there be a rapture? Will the pets be okay? Will they 'stay with the godless,' or beg at the tables of saints? Maybe the Creator has plans for the animals. Yes, even the animals."

-Matthew
www.anewsongeveryday.com
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com