Sci-Fi Song #23: NaNoWriMo

For the uninitiated, NaNoWriMo is the abbreviation for National Novel Writing Month. In a few short years, NaNoWriMo has turned into a national phenomenon, inspiring thousands of authors to write a 50,000 word piece of fiction in the 30 days of November.

I'm no writer, but I was inspired to participate in both 2006 and 2007. For the record, I made it to 50,000 words both years and both novels are steaming piles of turd that no one should ever have to read. The point of NaNoWriMo is to lock up your inner editor and just create. I'm still amazed that I was able to write that much in just 30 days. I've said it before, but the experience of completing NaNoWriMo almost certainly led me to start Sci-Fi Songs.

This song is really a gift to all of my Twitter and Facebook pals that are participating in NaNoWriMo this year. Good luck and may your coffee cup and daily word count runneth over.

I hope you enjoy the song. Please pass it on to all of your friends participating in NaNoWriMo this year.

John Anealio

http://twitter.com/JohnAnealio

NaNoWriMo

by John Anealio

This November I'm gonna write a novel in 30 days

and by December, I'll type "The End" on the last page

I've got some music. I've got my shiny new laptop

And now I'll use it as I sit down at the coffee shop

But everybody thinks I'm crazy

But I've only got 50,000 words to go

Before the end of NaNoWriMo

I thought that it'd be easy but its not

Yeah I've only got 50,000 words to go

Before the end of NaNoWriMo

I've got everything I need except the plot

I've got a trusty side-kick. I've got a strong protagonist.

There's a central conflict but a weak antagonist

I've got a cliched setting and at best my plot is trite

but at least I'm getting some time to myself at night

Refrain

Who decided to have Thanksgiving this time of year?

Don't they know I'm trying to launch my writing career.

Refrain

Here are some of the tools that I used to record this track

1. Les Paul Studio Electric Guitar in Open D tuning (DADF#AD) panned left

2. Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar in Standard Tuning panned right

3. Washburn Electric Bass Guitar

4. Trinity College Irish Bouzouki/Octave Mandolin

5. Pearl Bell Kit for the glockenspiel part

6. Rode NT-3 microphone

7. Apple Logic Pro 8 Recording Software

a. Logic's included EVB3 for the organ sound.

b. Ultrabeat for the drums

c. Logic's included Reverb, Compression, and EQ plug-ins.

Here are a few other songs that you may enjoy

1. George R.R. Martin is Not Your Bitch
2. Page 123

Video: Last Drink for Bird Head

Here is a video of me performing Sci-Fi Song #22: Last Drink for Bird Head. This is a song that I wrote and recorded for Jeff and Ann Vandermeer's Last Drink Bird Head Anthology. Click here to download the free MP3 of the song and to read more about the anthology.

The instrument that I am playing in this video can either be called an Irish Bouzouki or an Octave Mandolin. The Octave Mandolin is probably the more accurate name as it is essentially a mandolin tuned down an octave. I still prefer to call it an Irish Bouzouki because ... well ... Bouzouki is fun to say.

I hope you enjoy it,
John Anealio

http://twitter.com/JohnAnealio

Sci-Fi Song #22: Last Drink for Bird Head

Last Drink for Bird Head (rough demo).mp3

Sci-Fi Song #22 was written for Jeff & Ann Vandermeer's upcoming "Last Drink Bird Head" Anthology. The basic idea behind this anthology was that Jeff commissioned various authors to write a short piece of fiction about "Last Drink Bird Head" to see what they would come up. This song is my contribution to the project. The proceeds from this anthology are being donated to charity. For more information check out Jeff's site here.

When discussing this project with Jeff, he suggested that I envision Bird Head as a brigand folk hero. With that in mind, I came up with a Robin Hood-esque character named John Bird Head. Bird Head's antagonist is the wicked Queen Mary. To make things more interesting, I added a Sacred Stone and a Chosen One called the Crimson Child. It was a blast writing an original story like this into a song. Its not the most unique concept in the world, but I think it might make an interesting short story. Any of you authors out there interested in collaborating?

This recording is an extremely rough demo. I'm focused on releasing the Sci-Fi Songs album, so I didn't have time to do a normal full recording. I do plan on doing a more polished, orchestrated arrangement of Last Drink Bird Head, but for now, I'm happy with the rough version that appears here. I'm playing my Irish Bouzouki which is like a mandolin tuned down an octave.

I hope you enjoy it,
John Anealio
http://twitter.com/JohnAnealio

Last Drink for Bird Head
by John Anealio

John Bird Head and his band of men
roamed through the mountainside
they stole from the rich and affluent
armed with arrows and bowie knives

Queen Mary put a price on his head

10,000 coins of gold

He was guilty of stealing the sacred gem

A diamond that was 70 years old

It's the last drink for Bird Head
Nobody lives forever
The Wicked Queen will have their way
It's the last drink for Bird Head
before he's tarred and feathered
before he meets his final blade

John Bird Head took the sacred stone
and sent it off to the crimson child
The Queen fumed upon her Golden throne
and put Bird Head's life on trial

The Queen knew if the child obtained the gem
The kingdom would belong to him
She knew her reign of blood would come to an end
and then she'd have to answer for her sins

John Bird Head was bound in links of chain
and was sentenced to death by blade
Queen Mary reveled in his pain

while Bird Head's people prayed

The Crimson Child arrived at the palace gate
with the diamond in his hand

Queen Mary looked at him with disdain
as she was surrounded by Bird Head's band

Its another drink for bird head

He'll probably live forever

The wicked queen was sent away

It's another drink for bird head

His band will stay together

and now they'll raise the sacred blade

Here are some of the tools that I used to record this track:

1. Trinity College Irish Bouzouki/Octave Mandolin with a capo at the 4th fret.
2. Zoom H2 portable digital recorder.
3. I added some reverb and compression in Logic Pro 8.