Song338_Invader

This song came together quickly. I followed a similar process that I used yesterday, which has proven to work a few times in the past. There are about 8-12 tracks...a good variety of tones and textures that combine for a good final mix. I started by finding a tempo and chord progression on the electric guitar, layered a few drum rhythms, and then I recorded the main electric guitar part (Chorus=E-B-A, Verse=C#m-B-A-E, Transition=B7, Ending=Am-Em-C). Next, I added bass guitar, another electric guitar, and 2 synth tracks (the ghost-like sound was added to correlate with today's topic: secret drone attacks). I had about 3 hours invested in the song at this point, so I took a 30-minute break, ate some tuna, and I wrote a few lyrics.

The lyrics today are in response to a few recent news stories involving US drone attacks. (This one by David S. Cloud of the Chicago Tribune) "The escalating campaign of CIA drone strikes against suspected militants in Pakistan has made the United States 'the most prolific user of targeted killings' in the world today, according to a U.N. official who said the spy agency should not be in charge of the program." Philip Alston, the United Nations' special investigator "criticized the U.S. for asserting 'an ever-expanding entitlement for itself to target individuals across the globe.'" However, "the U.S. does not officially acknowledge the CIA drone strikes, much of the report (by the U.N.) was dismissed by Obama administration officials." CIA spokesman, Paul Gimigliano, said, "Without discussing or confirming any specific action, this agency's operations are, of course, designed to be lawful and are subject to close oversight within our government."

The other recent news story (taken from The New York Times) is in reference to an American-born citizen recently put on the CIA kill list by the Obama administration. "The notion that the government can, in affect, execute one of its own citizens far from a combat zone, with no judicial process and based on secret intelligence, makes some legal authorities deeply uneasy." Mr. Tierney, chairman of a House subcommittee on national security says that it "certainly raises the question of what rights a citizen has and what steps must be taken before he's put on the list." The same article also states that "Counter terrorism officials say the drone missile strikes have proved to be an extraordinarily successful weapon against militants in the tribal areas. By their count, the missiles have killed more than 500 militants since 2008, and a few dozen nearby civilians."

LYRICS: "Maybe it's best we don't know. Knowing makes us targets, more work for secret drones. Who's in control of the drones? What if the 'bad guys' hide places we can't go?"

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