THE CONCEPT
Andrew makes songs based on your ideas.
And sometimes he just makes songs.
But anyway, suggest something?
News
February 2, 2012
2012 REMAINING TOUR DATES
5 more tour stops!
Click for more details about each show.
FEB 6 AUCKLAND
FEB 11 SYDNEY
FEB 12 BRISBANE
FEB 14 MELBOURNE
FEB 15 PERTH
TAGS: News
August 10, 2011
NEW CHAPTER
It’s been a gradual transition that wasn’t always even apparent to me, but I can definitively say now that my work will be focused more on my YouTube channel than this website. (Though a redesign is on its way that will integrate the two a bit more anyway.)
Of course, all the songs here will stay up for your enjoyment – some might even be made into videos in the near future. :) I will also continue to do commissions.
Thank you all for your support and encouragement over the years. Things are getting bigger and better and I hope you’ll stay on this magic carpet ride with me forever!
TAGS: News
August 28, 2005
EXPERIMENTAL FILM
This is a Paid Song! Learn more…
I loved your version of “Birdhouse in your Soul” – can I ask for a version of They Might Be Giants “Experimental Film”, as seen on homestarrunner.com? I’d love it to be in a Celtic/punk style, similar to the Pogues.
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TAGS: Celtic,Covers,Paid Songs,Pop,Songs
June 29, 2005
KAMIKAZE HIGHLANDER
This is a Paid Song! Learn more…
KAMIKAZE HIGHLANDER
[SHORT INSTRUMENTAL LEAD-IN - 20 seconds or so of mournful tin whistles with synthesized bagpipes playing very quietly in the background and military sounding drums (similar to what you had at the beginning of "MC Underwear vs. MC Pantz") - a good reference for the sound for the intro and the ballad following might be the song "Going Home" by Mary Fahl from the "Gods and Generals" soundtrack, the Irish theme about 40 seconds into the "These Brave Irishmen" track from the same sountrack, or the song "Mo Ghile Mear" on the album "The Long Black Veil" by The Chieftains]
[INTRO: Celtic ballad style, with tin flute or recorder and whatever background instruments you feel appropriate]
He came alone to our fair town,
Our tower by the lake.
Katana at his side, in ghillie brogues
Left sorrow in his wake.
A kilt, a brush, a flying scarf
‘Twas strange for the eye to see.
An artist and a warrior both
With the blood of two countries
But now the lad has found true love
by the cliffs of Scarborough-town
Now the fire of a life full-lived
Burns in his eyes so brown
[throughout the second and third verses, the sampled sound of an aircraft in a screaming dive (a kamikaze pilot reference) grows louder and louder – at the moment when you’d think the plane would hit, there is no crashing explosion, instead, the sample cuts off abruptly and you hear:]
One, two, three, four!
[MAIN SONG: tin whistle with acoustic guitar played like a mandolin and catchy drums - sort of like the sound you had for "Celtic Techno Burrito". I'm not sure how you did it with the instruments you have, but it sounded good. Mix in whatever combination of instruments and styles to give it a "Japanese" touch. Whether that's modern Japanese or traditional Japanese, I'll leave to you, but I love juxtaposition and hybridization of cultural styles. I’m happy with the chorus, but you can change it if you wish. The rest of the lyric fragments below I like, but you can toss, rearrange or reword them as you see fit.
[Chorus:]
He’s the Kamikaze Highlander
He’s a half-breed samurai
He’s living in this floating world
Drinking scotch and flying high
[lyric unresolved]
When he fights he fights to win
Yellow skin and a red beard
He’s an almond-eyed gaijin
[Chorus]
With his fair lass at his side
[lyric unresolved]
Japanese resolve, Scottish pride
Don’t even talk about retreat
[Chorus]
He’s a proud Canadian
He can draw up some real mean plans.
He loves montreal smoked meat
Too bad he can’t skate worth a damn!
[guitar solo – I love delta blues slide guitar – if you can somehow make a slide guitar solo fit with the sound of the rest of the song in the context of this solo – Ry Cooder-esque, I would be very, very happy]
[shouted individual words, followed by electric guitar riffs]
Sporran!
Hachimaki!
Sgian Dubh![pronounced: skin doo]
Katana!
[dischordant guitar + cymbals - general noise + haiku by Basho in spoken word a la Rage Against the Machine's "Know your enemy" finale. Repeat haiku if desired.]
Summer grasses -
All that remains
of soldiers’ dreams.
[brief tin flute solo to the end (similar theme to introduction music), with sampled keyboard shamisen sting at end]
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TAGS: Acoustic,Ballad,Celtic,Electronic,Fan Favorites,Japanese,Paid Songs,Rock,Songs,Theme Songs
October 26, 2004
CELTIC TECHNO BURRITO (EXTENDED VERSION)
This is a Paid Song! Learn more…
My two favorite songs from your archive are Celtic Techno Burrito and Skamurai, and I’ve been thinking for a while about paying for a full-length, more developed version of one or the other. I’d leave pretty much all the specifics to you; I’m just looking for more of the same, just with some verses thrown in or whatever you think would work to make it a longer song.
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TAGS: Celtic,Electronic,Fan Favorites,Paid Songs,Songs,Techno
April 16, 2004
CELTIC TECHNO BURRITO
I think you should write a song about a man ordering a burrito and being extremely intimidated by the size of it. The music should be Celtic techno, or any other blend of two genres that would not be caught eating a burrito together.
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TAGS: Celtic,Electronic,Fan Favorites,Front Page,Songs,Techno



