Subject: Master's Game - Also Link to Demo "I Knew a Girl N
Posted by: Curtis Cameron |
Hi All,
This is one I penned recently. Also, I've put up a new site on Be-Sonic with a working demo of "I Knew a Girl Named Mary". Input would be appreciated. The vocals will be re-done, and I've posted the long version. We haven't laid the lead guitar tracks yet.
Hope you like it. 
Curtis
|
Subject: Very cool site
Posted by: Curtis Cameron |
Hi Again!
The text to this song was lost in The Move so I figured I'd post it here.
Another bit of news. I spent all weekend in the studio with a group of musicians, and "Isabelle" has actually taken form. We worked out the arrangement and the melody line and all that stuff, then did a rough recording. The plan is to bring in a live drummer (YAY!) next week and re-lay all the tracks from scratch (fixing the little glitches), then I'll wrap up the vocals during the early part of next week (hopefully) and do a mix down. I hope to have it ready and posted by the end of next week.
I've found Be-Sonic to be a lot friendlier to Artists posting sound files. So far my songs have been made live sometime the following day (as opposed to 5 to 7 days on mp3.com). WHAT a difference.
Top THAT off with mp3.com's NEW AND IMPROVED content managment system ((Yeah Right) and... Man! WHAT A DIFFERENCE!
Anyway, here's the lyric for what it's worth. This is the third lyric ("Samson's Walk" {now titled "Simon Walked Alone"}, and "Graveyard Shuffle" being the first two) which I have absolutely NO idea of a musical treatment for. Meter wise they are very similar. In many places they follow the exact pattern.
If anyone is struck with melodies or ideas for these particular lyrics, they are available. Although Graveyard Shuffle has generated some interest by a local band called Level Twelve, I'm not sure they'll have time for it. (So many songs, so little time) :)
VERY Cool site !
Curtis
The Master’s Game(c)2001 Curtis CameronV1 He entered into service A cheap and useful pawn The middle game was being played But the patterns were all wrong Knights were fighting on the field In broken dissaray So, he gathered all his weapons And stepped into the fray V2He started in a corner A quiet, fighting man Working towards the center He followed classic plans He proved himself a player And pawns fell into place Knights fell silent when he passed While Bishops gave him grace ChorusBattle was his Glory Victory was his Name He followed all the Master’s Moves And played a Master’s Game V3The battle wasn’t his He fought because he could The Bishops bribed him so he’d stay He told them that he would He chose a fist of ragged Pawns And formed his Strategies Then took the field from the End And gave them Victory ChorusBattle was his Glory Victory was his Name He followed all the Master’s Moves And played a Master’s Game V3 But Bishops play a different game And Glory must be theirs Pawns are paid with fortunes made By keeping Victory’s share A General on a Battlefield Must never shine so bright That Bishops fall into his shade Eclipsed by a Master's light ChorusBattle was his Glory Victory was his Name He followed all his Master Moves And played a Master’s Game Battle was his Glory Victory was his Name He followed all his Master Moves And played a Master’s Game www.besonic.com/applebutter www.mp3.com/applebutter
|
Subject: Re: Master's Game - Also Link to Demo "I Knew a Gi
Posted by: DanGray |
Hi Curtis,
I like be-sonic these days myself, may have to set up over there sometime. I like both of these lyrics, but I was struck with a single overwhelming notion as I read them both - they seem to want to have the story more conversationally told. Now I am not at all a stickler in this area, it's just that I think that the genre sort of dictates the form to some degree. This roots rock sort of feel sort of asks for a more conversational approach. Even 60's roots rock (acid induced though it may have been) was fairly conversational in most cases, it was the concepts that got fuzzy (white rabbit, etc.). It seems to me that you're going for a Springsteenesque sort of vibe, and to that end, I'd rethink some of the lyrical approach a tidge. Just as an example:
He entered into service
A cheap and useful pawn
The middle game was being played
But the patterns were all wrong
*what's the middle game? and what patterns were all wrong? What does that mean even? This is the opener for the song, it should immediately captivate the listener (as in Born to Run, The River, Born in the USA, etc.)or at least make obvious sense.
Knights were fighting on the field
In broken dissaray
So, he gathered all his weapons
And stepped into the fray
*still seems fairly unclear to me. It seems like you're going for poetry value rather than story.*
I guess my overall comments on both lyrics is to make the story more obvious for the listener. :)
Good luck men!
 |
Subject: Re: Master's Game - Also Link to Demo "I Knew a Gi
Posted by: Jt |
Hi Curtis,
I really like this lyric - the Chess analogy and all. I'm going to go back and study it a bit - but I think you're onto something really cool here. Looking forward to the music.
I listened to "Mary". Good hard rocker, but I'm glad to hear that you're going to redo the vocals, because they didn't come through at all for me.
Keep 'em coming!
John
|
Subject: Re: Master's Game - Also Link to Demo "I Knew a Gi
Posted by: Dan |
 ghheeezzz... I'm a little embarassed about not putting together the chess thing... heheh (castled me I spose - woohooo!) I'll have to rethink that lyric and my comments in that light. Hang in there!
Thanks John for not being as obtuse as I was! phew! :P |
Subject: Re: Master's Game - Also Link to Demo
Posted by: Curtis Cameron |
Hi Guys,
Thanks for looking at this one.
It's actually a true story and the title started as "End Game". (For those non chess players, the game of chess is broken into three parts, "The Opening" where you you open up your pieces and fight for immediate control of your portion of the center of the board, "The Middle Game" where you advance your pawns and power pieces and fight for space and try to dominate the center of the board and cramp you enemies movements, and "The End Game" where most of the board is clear, and all your strategies and patterns that have been laid since "The Opening" start to have space to apply their geometric presence on the board. Each piece has certain lines that it controls. Knights movements are essentially circular. If a Knight were in the center of a board, you would see that it would control a circle of squares all the way around the board. One reason you try to place your pieces in the center is to control more space. A knight in a corner has diminished impact on board space. A Bishop controls angles. Pawns movements are linear, but their impact is angular. Kings and Queens are linear AND angular. A game's tone is set by your "Opening" moves. If your patterns are wrong, and your opponent uses classic strategies, he will quickly control the center of the board, hampering your movement throughout the middle game, then slowly pick off your pawns and power pieces until "The End Game" when you are weak and he is still so strong you will either be forced to resign, or suffer Check Mate.)
Anyway, this is a true story about a fellow I know, a specialist who hired on as a worker at the tail end of a multi-million dollar project that wasn't going well. By the end of the project he had taken charge of the portion of the project that he specialized in, gained the honor of everyone involved (except for his enemeies) gained favor and attention of the "Bishops" and got the project back on line. He finally delivered the product on the red carpet, and after his service was no longer needed, he was summararily dismissed without due honor, even though during the process of "The End Game" he was an extrememly important "Pawn" so the "Bishops" could deliver the product to "The King" as they had promised (and gain their reward).
I don't know why it suddenly struck me the other day to compare it to an "End Game" and him to a "Pawn" but suddenly the entire experience came into perspective and came out as "The Master's Game". It was my honor to witness this "Master" take the field and do his voodoo, and it was terrible to witness the injustice of his dismissal after he made all the right moves for all the right reasons for all the wrong people.
Someone on another board suggested a tag and I liked the idea, because the story really isn't complete.
Discarded in dishonor
With pockets full of gold
The only wound he had to heal
Was the one they gave his soul
Or something like that.
But Yup, you're right. Reads like poetry. Thanks for identifying that . I wondered what it was about these lyrics that wasn't working for me. They aren't my usual fare, but this being the THIRD of a bunch, I guess I shouldn't be following the wrong "patterns" if I don't want to waste my time.
Yeah, a Bruce Springsteen roots rocker. Definitely the vibe we were after. I'm torn though. I'm also seriously drawn to the more modern stuff like Three Doors Down and Creed and some of the others. One composer/guitarist I work with, Quinn, tries to steer me in a more classic direction, which really appeals to me and at the same time, I still seek out others who do what I want to do (I love both).
I think my style will be a bit sporadic for a while until I find my "voice" and/or put together a solid cadre of musicians that I work with for a while and we emerge as "A Band". Right now, I'm still working on writing songs because I believe that's where it all starts. I'm starting though to attract musicians because things are starting to work and songs are taking form, and there is nothing like a great lyric put to music and sung by someone who can really sing to give a songwriter credibility.
Also, I have a decent studio set up with all the trappings, along with photo art software, labelers, cd burner, etc., AND I'm Mp3 savvy, so I have something they want.  Soon I'll be setting up websites for local musicians and manipulating their photos, creating art, and uploading all this stuff along with their soundfiles. Not to mention recording their music for them in exchange for musical services (Along the lines of "I'll produce one of yours, you lay tracks on one of mine.") I'm hoping that some will recognize that the songs I write are pretty solid and one of my goals is to start writing songs for them to perform live.
Fingers crossed. Wish me luck. And thanks again.
Curtis |
Subject: Re: Master's Game - Also Link to Demo "I Knew a Gi
Posted by: Liana |
| Hi Curtis, long time no see...speak..write I mean..... well i went on over to your applebutter besonic url and it says I need apassword to hear...mmm shall go over to mp3...Im gone...shall let you know when Im back..nice page btw. Ohh yes...I really like the Chess song...The masters song..great story too!!!!:) |
Subject: Re: Master's Game - Also Link to Demo "I Knew a Gi
Posted by: Melanie Myers |
Curtis,
I couldn't find any music to A Girl Named Mary but, I read the lyrics and liked them imho. they're simple and direct (something I definitely need work one *hee). I also listened to several of your demos I liked especially Susy Boosy - it's real! (imho) I also listened to "Sam" and like the way the singers voice takes on that gravely edge when the song picks up - I was trying to peg the genre and really couldn't because, in my humbe opinion in some of your songs the music sort of sounds country but, then it goes into sort of Southern Rock but, Soozy Boosy sounded more like alternative/rock. I don't know anything about the music side but, it seems to me a good thing that you have variety not only in your lyrics but, musical style. I enjoyed listening/reading and wish you best the luck. Oh, by the way I like the chess analogy on the lyric you have posted here. In my view they would work really well as a rock ballad, pehaps something along the lines of what Queen used to do. Anyway I hope the comments help. And, luck with it.
Yours In Songwriting,
Mel |
Subject: Re: Master's Game - Also Link to Demo "I Knew a Gi
Posted by: Curtis |
Hi Melanie,
I'm sorry it took me so long to reply to your comments here. I just noticed them today.
Thanks for your kind words, not just on Mary, but on all the songs. I appreciate you taking the time to read the lyrics posted here, and listen to the songs on my site, but beyond that, you actually took the effort to comment on not one song, but on four! And all positive comments too. Thank you. It's nice to get feedback from somebody new once in a while. I haven't seen you around before, but some of the other comments I've read imply you've been here before so...Welcome Back!
The music for Mary is available now if you want to give it a listen. I had put it into demo mode because I wasn't sure I liked the production, but figured, what the heck, it's just a demo.
Thanks Melanie!
Gotta Run.
Keep writing,
Curtis |
Subject: Re: Master's Game - Also Link to Demo "I Knew a Gi
Posted by: Steve_Biederman |
Curtis m'man,
This is pretty darned good. I do agree with Dan concerning making it a bit more conversational but I'll wait for the music. It should shine either way. Take care, Steverino. |
Subject: Re: Master's Game - Also Link to Demo "I Knew a Gi
Posted by: Liana |
Hey Steve, maybe you should step on over and sing it
Great work Curtis, you've all put alot of work in these
|
|
