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Sci-Fi Song #19: The Transformers Theme





Sci-Fi Song #19 is my cover of "The Transformers Theme" from the 1980's animated show. The metal band Lion and the indie-rock band Mute Math have both done excellent renderings of this tune. I tried to incorporate elements of both versions into my interpretation. In the end, I think that my version sounds like a mixture of folk singer/songwriter, electronica, and progressive rock. I had a great deal of fun putting this together and I hope you enjoy it.


John Anealio
twitter.com/JohnAnealio


Related Posts:
  1. Sci-Fi Song #18: Cylon #6
  2. Sci-Fi Song #16: Mr. Roboto (Styx Cover)

Here are some of the tools that I used to record this track.
  1. Yamaha Acoustic Guitar in Drop-D Tuning
  2. Rode NT-3 microphone for the vocals, acoustic guitar, and xylophone
  3. Apple Logic Pro 8 recording software
    1. Logic's included compressor, delay, distortion, EQ, pitch-shifting, and reverb plug-ins
    2. The sounds of the violin and cello parts come from Logic's EXS24 Sampler
    3. The synthesizer sounds were created using Logic's ES2 & EFM1 software synthesizers.
    4. The percussion parts were created using Logic's Ultrabeat Drum Synthesizer and Jam Pack drum loops

Sci-Fi Songs Podcast #11


In the podcast this week I babble on about "Cylon #6", putting a "Sci-Fi Songs" CD together, booking gigs, putting together a live set list, live looping, searching for a Sci-Fi Songs Podcast Co-Host, and recording a folk version of the "Transformers" theme song.

If you have any ideas for the podcast contact me at 27summers@gmail.com or via Facebook or Twitter .

http://twitter.com/JohnAnealio

http://www.facebook.com/john.anealio

I hope you enjoy it,

John Anealio

Sci-Fi Song #18: Cylon #6



Sci-Fi Song #18 was inspired by the Battestar Galactica reboot. I was late to the party on this series, as I didn't begin watching the DVD's until this past December. I was immediately sucked into the series and I watched the entire run in a few months culminating in the recent series finale.

The basic lyrical idea for this song came to me after I had watched the first few episodes of season 1. I had held off on writing the rest of the song until I finished watching the entire series. Even though there are no spoilers in this song, I feel like watching the complete series had a subtle yet significant impact on how the song turned out.

I found the relationship between Baltar and Number Six to be so compelling that I knew it would make excellent material for a Sci-Fi Song. This song is sung from Baltar's point of view.

I hope you enjoy it,
John Anealio
Follow me on Twitter

Cylon #6
by John Anealio

She's six foot tall and platinum blond
and saunters with her red dress on
She has powers of seduction

We had to flee from Caprica
on the Battlestar Galactica
Is she the source of our destruction?

There's 50,000 survivors
racing through the stars

She is Cylon #6 and she is always in my head
they think that I'm a lunatic but they don't seem to understand
That I'm only human and she is only a machine
and they don't seem to realize that she's the angel that we need

She says that she is one of twelve
but how are we supposed to tell
just who's a cylon or a human

We're searching for the 13th tribe
if we can make it there alive
on the journey to their solar system

There's 50,000 survivors
racing through the stars

She is Cylon #6 and she is always in my head
they think that I'm a lunatic but they don't seem to understand
That I'm only human and she is only a machine
and they don't seem to realize that she's the angel that we need




Here are some of the tools that I used to record this track.
  1. Yamaha Acoustic Guitar in Standard tuning
  2. Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar for the power chords and the first guitar solo
  3. Gibson Les Paul Studio Electric Guitar in Open A tuning (EAEAC#E) for the slide guitar solo in the outro
  4. Washburn Electric Bass Guitar
  5. Pearl Bell Kit Xylophone
  6. Rode NT-3 microphone for the vocals, acoustic guitar, and xylophone
  7. Apple Logic Pro 8 recording software
    1. Logic's included compressor, delay, and reverb plug-ins
    2. The electric guitar parts were recorded through Logic's Guitar Amp Pro plug-in
    3. The drum parts were created using Logic's Jam Pack drum loops

Related Posts
  1. Sci-Fi Song #6: "Rachel Rosen": inspired by Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep
  2. Sci-Fi Song #8: "Summer Glau"

Sci-Fi Songs Podcast #10


In the podcast this week I prattle on about writing songs with Sci-Fi authors D.D. Tannenbaum and Tom Marcinko, finally getting around to recording my "Battlestar Galactica" song, and releasing my songs as Garage Band files so more people (even non-musicians) can take a shot at remixing them.

  • Last.FM Top 5 artists of the week:
    • O.A.R
    • Mark Olson & Gary Louris
    • Blitzen Trapper
    • The Maine
    • The Passion Pit

If you have any ideas for the podcast contact me at 27summers@gmail.com or via Facebook or Twitter .

I hope you enjoy it,

John Anealio