(WEEK V) In Which the Author Finally Finishes the Second Song

I WOULD CONTINUE THE INCOHERENT SCREAMING except my vlog basically covered that. So yeah. Here's some tips before you do anything:

(1) Don't be me.
(2) Listen to my first song at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq0qyuIyqzE or in my previous blog post.
(3) Listen to my second song, which I shall reveal soon enough.
(4) Now watch my vlog, if you haven't already.

If you've already gone out of order, then whatever. That's probably my fault, because I posted this so late. It would be ideal for you to at least listen to the two songs, which are the only things that actually matter on this blog. Like, aside from the stuff being graded. I mean, I'm hoping I've intrigued you enough to want to listen to both songs, but I understand if you have much better things to do.

Alright. Without further ado:

(Lyrics are in the YouTube description)

LET'S SEE.

(1) Sorry my voice range is like two and a half notes
(2) The beginning sounded a lot like Fall Out Boy, especially before I finalized the piano
(3) The weird bassline thing sounds like "Seven Nation Army." I mean....welp
(4) I was definitely trying to be a lot more adventurous with the instrumental this time. I think it was less repetitive than "Hans," but I can't really tell if that's a good thing or a bad thing right now
(5) Yeah, occasionally there were verbal talking interjections. I got bored. Those were great quotes and I didn't want to put a tune to them. Also...singing "AUFMACHEN!" (open up)??
(6) I liked the first song better, but that might be a personal stylistic taste choice thing
(7) This song is lowkey trash
(8) Someone's gonna tell me I'm being hard on myself
(9) It's gonna be Olivia
(10) I'm sorry this is so late
(11) I did a thing near the end which I ~kind of~ mashed up Max and Hans's songs! I guess that's a precursor to the Ultimate Mashup which is my final product
(12) I'm not entirely sure either as to what the ending is. What are endings tbh

Cool. Remember to bike, lament, and describe.

See you on the other side of the war~

(VLOG and WEEK IV) In Which the Author Becomes Self Aware

What up, Mein Dudes. Since I have already posted a video and a few audio recordings of my playing, I think that it won't be entirely necessary to base my vlog around actually listening to my songs. Let's have a nice chat instead.

Gotta love that lighting. I mention in the video a currently nonexistent second song being on my blog. It is not on my blog. I have the instrumental I just need to record the vocals. I wonder if I can do that during the workday somehow.....
I mainly talk about my issues, especially the lyrics and instrumental order thing. That was supposed to be the main point of my project in the first place: finding the best method. Except that goal was problematic in itself. Whoops.
I also explain the reasoning behind my procrastination, because a few of you (if at all) might wonder why I wasn't able to upload a song this week. Or last week. It's kind of inexcusable, like most procrastinating, but I do think there's a backstory to it.

ALSO, if you are watching this vlog, please then also take a moment to listen to my first song, on my YouTube channel and on a previous blog post. You might wonder "but what does your second song sound like?" All you need to know is that it's a mess.

See you on the other side of the war~
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Commented on Jasmine, Justin, and Alex's blogs

(INTERVIEW) In Which the Author....Interviewed

YEAH, IN CASE YOU COULDN'T TELL, I conducted my interview. I mean, it's kind of three weeks overdue, but, uh, actually I don't have a good excuse why it's late except

or rather just BEHIND now HAH

I interviewed Mr. Hood, our very own band teacher, and I think I kept putting it off partially because he's literally right there, so I was like "Hey it's okay I could interview him anytime." I'm really good with plans. But hey, I got two of his CDs through that encounter!

The experience was probably around 20 minutes. I didn't take a video, mostly because I hate myself and also because I had anticipated a lot of movement (from the piano to the laptop and such). Since Mr. Hood wasn't a complete stranger to me and because he's really chill, the interview ended up pretty informal and more like a conversation, so I'll refrain from posting a Q&A format because it got a bit confusing when I tried. So I'll organize the conversation by topic:

♭ ♮ ♯

On Inspiration
- From your head. Your brain (triggered) can surprise you sometimes. Just a small tune or bassline can start an entire song. Or you might revisit a "little kernel" you once started but then abandoned.
- From other pieces. He talked about this groove/bassline from another song that he incorporated into his own song. This is not illegal. The police do not need to be called. The song he ended up writing was completely different from his inspiration. (It's really cool!)
- From noodling around. He came up with an entire song that ended up on his CD that started out with playing around on the piano. Sometimes songs write themselves. This also happens on the guitar, finding a cool chord progression and strumming pattern. Except that's irrelevant to me, because I've never played a stringed instrument in my life other than a bit of ukulele while Armageddon was happening at Ellie's house (long story).
- From emotion. One time he was very much wrath, and he came home and immediately started writing a song. It's called "Crash!" and crash(!) it is. I listened to an excerpt, and the chords and rhythm and everything are so aggressive I love it. It's definitely inspiration to me as I write Max's angry song!

On Theory
- When I asked him how much he considers music theory and how much he just goes by ear, he gave a rightfully vague answer because music is confusing. Again, sometimes songs write themselves. However, there are times when you need to think a lot, especially when writing for multiple instruments. It also does help to know chords, because chords are gr8. If you want to hear a song that's written with nothing but theory in mind, check this out:

I KNOW IT'S A MEME BUT IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD. (Sound warning at the end.)

- About chord progressions, he wrote a song that only used three chords. Other times, his songs are pretty complex. It doesn't make either better than the other. One of them just takes three hours to write and the other takes more than three hours to write. Definitely do consider the style, though.

On Writing
- He does use some online writing platforms, but that may mostly be to hear the other instruments he can't hear right then and there. It's good to get an idea. But most of the composing is just done right at the instrument.
- Since he primarily writes the instrumental, the lyrical examples he showed me were all writing lyrics after the instrumental. Interesting.

♭ ♮ ♯

It probably would have been more helpful for me to have conducted this interview before writing my first song, but too bad I have social anxiety. I did learn a lot and had some of my previous notions confirmed, so that's good! I have to take into consideration the fact that I'm only writing on piano and lyrics are probably a bigger part (considering this is for a book), and this makes my job both easier and harder.

Hopefully I haven't peaked in my first song! Knowing myself, I probably have. Oh dear.

See you on the other side of the war~

(WEEK III) In Which the Author is 24601% Done with Life and Her First Song

*INCOHERENT SCREAMING*
Let me tell you a story.

I ~spiced up~ the instrumental in maybe 1.5 hours. That was Pretty Good, in my opinion (like, speed-wise. The song is still trash.) And then it took me three hours to successfully record it and layer the singing on top of it and I AM GOING TO COMMIT SEPPUKU. 

That was BY FAR the most frustrating thing I've ever done in my life. Oh, and I made a YouTube channel (in other words, I uploaded a video to my preexisting YouTube account) because Blogger is not sufficient. I just made it off of this account, and I don't even care anymore because this Google account can burn next year so I can start anew. Or I'll just take down those videos once the Genius Project is over because honestly why.

Let's see. Okay, this is why I play three instruments instead of joining Chorus. The piano was too loud. Also, dynamics were lowkey just Not There, mostly because I was ready to break something at that point just to successfully record it. There's a weird part where the word "heart" lasts for three years because I had to Traverse Down The Keyboard and it gives me nightmares. Also, I'm a soprano. Well, I like to think I am, but my voice has changed a lot since 6th grade, so honestly who am I. But the point is that I should not be trying to sing a middle aged man's song. If Hans were to actually sing this, let's assume it would maybe be an octave lower because honestly he'd be a baritone. 

The instrumental continues to be pretty repetitive. I definitely need to work on instrumental more for future. Speaking of instrumental, the best part of this entire thing (in my opinion) is probably the countermelodies in the second half. And ;) you'll ;) probably ;) hear ;) that ;) countermelody ;) again ;) in ;) Max's ;) song ;) because ;) it ;) may ;) or ;) may ;) not ;) be ;) his ;) theme (or something similar). I mean, notice that it shows up around the words "He never told me he had a son." Oh yes, I'm a Genius. It was 18% a coincidence and then I realized it was brilliant. 

Also, in case you couldn't tell, I did Not get Jasmine's microphone because the apocalypse happened outside today and I didn't have any other time to use it. And it really wasn't worth her PROFESSIONAL microphone....

It doesn't sound like John Williams, it doesn't sound like 40s music, German music is pretty Diverse I guess, but I honestly don't even care at this point because oh my god I finished writing a song in its entirety this has never happened before. 

What a start.

Also, I'm trying to get my interview with Mr. Hood in tomorrow or anytime this week. That should be the next post. So much for doing the interview before writing my songs. 

See you on the other side of the war~
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Commented on Ellie (A), Bobby, and Joel's blogs

(UPDATE THE SEQUEL) In Which the Author Establishes Chords

YEAH, SORRY THERE'S NO CREATIVE POST TITLE.

I have the chords and everything figured out for the song!

Here's a recording of the chords in a simple waltz rhythm (aka all I've got right now) and the singing part played by my right hand (the notes an octave higher are just the theme and not sung):



Okay, I messed up at least 24601 times in that, but you get the point. The syllables might not match up exactly with the lyrics right now, and at some points I seemed to forget how to play the piano.

I need to make the instrumental a Lot More Interesting, but I'd say this is a start. Yeah, I essentially repeat the same 4~5 chords over and over again, but in my defense......it sounds decent? (I'd say that 40s music is pretty repetitive in chord progression as well, which is true, but my song doesn't really sound like a 40s song. It doesn't sound like a pop song either. It's just. There.) And they're not the really stereotypical Four Chords found in a lot of pop songs, which you should totally check out at this video.

Alright, that was definitely a time, and the Complete Song with Everything shall be up as soon as I finish ~spicing up~ the instrumental and get my hands on Jasmine's microphone...

See you on the other side of the war~

(SLIGHTLY OVERDUE UPDATE) In Which the Author Wrote Lyrics

IN THE TIME THAT I WAS INACTIVE, I have done a great deal. By a great deal, I mean that I have suffered through a symposium, worked on an infographic, and - oh wait, Genius Project is a thing! Actually, I've worked on that this whole week by rereading the scene I chose over and over, and then writing the lyrics!

I was going to just post the complete song with its instrumental when all was said and done, but since a big portion of my project is also experimenting whether writing lyrics or instrumental first is better, I might as well post the lyrics to show that Yes, I wrote the lyrics first because I'm an Honest Man. I came up with that decision seven minutes ago. It's very late, I know.

So, yes. Here:

♭ ♮ ♯

i'm glad someone on the internet made this edit for me

THE ACCORDIONIST (The Secret Life of Hans Hubermann)
[Hans Hubermann? Do you still play the accordion?]
[Of course I do.]

They're strange, those wars
They were eager, but I wasn't too sure
Bullets, resting men
And the best dirty jokes in the world.

Music, always the music
Maybe card games, maybe chess
His eyes were open, his wedding ring was stolen
The accordion breathes, not him anymore.

Life or pride
The intelligence to pick life
He is the only reason I was able to survive
No one likes a coward but no one wants to die
He volunteered me to stay inside
Everyone else went out to fight.

No one came back that night.

I found his wife
I told her he saved my life
I played his song
He never told me he had a son.

Music, always the music
Not perfection, just warmth
I could never join the Party, their victim had once saved me
"Jewish Filth" sprayed on all their doors.

Heart or head
The country or my friend
I would have no worth if not for the accordion
No one could play like me, thanks to him
I was put on the waiting list
They came to search my house for this.

I was allowed to stay.

Would I be Hans Hubermann?
Any chance an accordionist?
Am I a man to keep a promise?

He was Erik Vandenburg
And I am here to save his son

You.

♭ ♮ ♯

Alright, here's some explanation for those with no idea what's going on, likely because they haven't read the book.

So we got Hans Hubermann, who fought in World War I as a young man. He was not a big fan of that. He made a good friend, Erik Vandenburg, and they bonded during the war over not liking the war. Erik was a Jew. That wasn't as much of a big deal back then, but it would be. He taught Hans the accordion.
Sometimes the Sergeant gave chores to people without them knowing, by asking innocent questions like "Who comes from Pasing?" and then making that person clean the toilets. This time, he asked "Who's got neat handwriting?" and that person would be writing letters instead of being out there fighting. No one volunteered themselves, so Erik volunteered his friend Hans to write letters and not go off to battle. Hans ended up being the only one of them to survive.
Erik's accordion became Hans's. Hans found Erik's widow and gave her his name/address if she ever needed his help. That also became important later on.
Now, back at home, Hans refused to join the Nazi Party, because a Jew had saved his life. Unfortunately, it was not really in your best interests at the time to not join the Nazi Party. His business dried up, He had just put his name down when he witnessed Nazis vandalizing one of his Jewish customers' shop. He repainted the door and was then regarded with suspicion. The Gestapo searched his house but found nothing. Hans's only saving grace was his accordion skill.
Remember how he gave Erik's widow his information? Well, that was now useful. Erik had a son who was now grown up, and he needed somewhere to hide. Hans owed their family that much.
Why is this important? Hans is now hiding a Jew in his basement.

THIS BOOK. AH.

That was a lovely attempt. Now off to finish the instrumental.

See you on the other side of the war (suddenly has a MUCH darker connotation oh my GOD)~

(SNEAK PEEK) In Which the Author Reveals a Bit of Her Work in Progress

ALRIGHT, YOU'VE ALL SUFFERED through my two weeks of research, so I think we're long overdue for some Actual Music. Actually, if we're going by my revised schedule, we're not really long overdue. Because I just realized that by counting the Project Pitch Week as Week 1, I technically have seven weeks before the TED talk? So this is, like, Week 2 of 6? And/or Week 3 of 7? I'm not entirely sure. Counting past four is difficult. But no one cares. SO.

This will be Hans' theme. It sounds sad, but there's also some major chords in there (B♭ and D) for maximum effect, and because these are some non-diatonic chords up a third like our good man Ryan Leach suggested. It's short and simple, and will probably be scattered in the other songs whenever I want to remind you of Hans or when either Max or Liesel is thinking of him.

This is more like a melody or an interlude in Hans' song alone. I doubt it will show up in some other song. It's interesting, because I put in some G major chords even though the theme was mostly G minor. It kind of changed the tone a lot, and I added in C minor, which I think will be the key the song will end up in. It's a lower key, which is good, because Hans is a middle-aged man, and I can probably sing down to a low D on a good day, or at least a low E♭ (which would be more prevalent in C minor, anyway).

I plan on literally ending on a high note. This fully establishes the song as to be in C minor, although the theme might have made you think otherwise. Speaking of the theme, this was largely based off the theme (no really), except I changed the B♭ major chord into a.... G♭ augmented triad. (Don't ask me why; I just moved the bottom note down and then "Whoa it sounds good" and here we are now.) And then everything kind of changed from there. I go straight to G major and then just end off with a C. I'll think about that ending more, especially as I come up with the actual melody to be sung.

Alright, now more character analysis. Here's a quote:

To most people, Hans Hubermann [is] barely visible. An un-special person. […] Somehow […] and I'm sure you've met people like this, he was able to appear as merely part of the background […]. He was always just there. Not noticeable." (1.22)

So I'm trying to go for a calm, almost elevator-music-like melody here, which might not sound very believable right now. But, I plan on a Very Aggressive piece for Max, our fist-fighter. That will definitely contrast Hans' song. Hans is quietly rebelling against Hitler, while Max just dreams of punching him in the face. So, yes, Contrast is good.

Also, you will notice that the only left hand accompaniment here is a simple waltz rhythm. It sounds nice for these parts, but there will be casualties if the entire song is just that. Worry not, I will be changing it up. I'll just have to figure out how and when...

As to what scene this song will be pertaining to, these are my ideas, in no particular order:
(1) Teaching Liesel how to read
(2) The fight with Hans Jr.
(3) Flashbacks of him as a young man in the war and how he came to hide Max 

I can think of pros and cons for all of them. We'll see.

See you on the other side of the war ~