Sock Patterns

An unapologetically cheesy Michael/Janet Jackson style 90s epic pop song. I just got a new main synthesizer (Yamaha Motif XS) and per tradition, when I get a new piece of gear, I write a new "demo song" with it. Everything you hear is coming out of this insane keyboard in one pass, no external processing! DON'T hit play if you're opposed to sugary Teddy Riley style swing, you'll be nauseated. I'm an equal opportunity nostalgist! :(

• play
• pause
• stop
• min volume
• max volume

posted by jake (13 comments total)

This makes me very happy.
posted by phrontist at 2:25 AM on April 16, 2007

I dig. I dig very much.

If you find Warren G in that synth I believe a remix is in order.
posted by RobertFrost at 3:24 AM on April 16, 2007

This is a work in progress. Apologies ahead of time to Jake if he didn't want words to it. It doesn't need words. I'm not saying it does. Just that the idea came to me and I couldn't resist. It's silly fun.

Haven't attempted to record it yet cuz I'm stymied on the extra verse. I don't wanna sing the same verse three times. Granted it's intended to be pop. Reminds me more of Stevie Wonder than the Jacksons.

That's meant as a compliment Jake. =)

Please feel free to help me with the extra verse, or improve the lines I got. Nomanisan. Right now it's a one trick pony. Maybe the chorus needs tweaking to keep it from being as annoying as that old Dr Pepper jingle, but then maybe that's part of the silly fun of it. Pop songs are supposed to be repetitive.

There's also places where of course the verbiage is rough when singing it. Not unlike a dune buggy on rough terrain, but I think that's part of why I like it. Constructive criticism is helpful, or blatant insulting is I suppose inevitable too.

- - -

Cave dude back in cave man times
He threw rocks at the moon.
some ten thousand years later
We throw words at the blue.
MetaFilter in the morning
MetaFilter after noon
MetaFilter evry evening
What else is there to do?

You think you know why you come back
to MeFi
Do you?
Well I think I know too

Cuz we all think we know
what we know
but the more we know
the more we know
we don't know!

And I gotta know what you know you know
You gotta know what I know you know
he's gotta know what she knows you know
And she knows she's gotta know what we know you know.
And he's gotta know what you know you know
You gotta know what I know you know
we gotta know what we know.

(instrumental)

7
6
7
6
7
6
7
6

(bridge)

And I gotta know what you know you know
You gotta know what I know you know
he's gotta know what she knows you know
And she knows she's gotta know what we know you know.
And he gotta know what you know you know
You gotta know what I know you know
we gotta know what we know

(instrumental)

Cro Magnon in cave man times
He threw rocks at the moon.
some ten thousand years later
We throw words at the blue.
MetaFilter in the morning
MetaFilter after noon
MetaFilter evry evening
What else is there to do?

Cuz we all think we know
what we know
but the more we know
the more we know
we don't know!

And I gotta know what you know you know
You gotta know what I know you know
he's gotta know what she knows you know
And she knows she's gotta know what we know you know.
And I gotta know what you know you know
You gotta know what I know you know
We gotta know what we know
posted by ZachsMind at 11:55 PM on April 16, 2007

...on second thought never mind. I tried to record it. You guys ever heard about Roger Corman's version of the Fantastic Four movie? Yeah it was that bad. Spielberg just bought me off.

Song's fine as it is. Don't need words. Pretend I said nothin'. Great song there, Jake. =)
posted by ZachsMind at 12:27 AM on April 17, 2007

Oh man, the greatest part is when the music actually does the Michael Jackson squeal! Funny.
posted by edlundart at 3:32 PM on April 17, 2007

For being a "demo song" you sure put that thing to work. Damn!
posted by snsranch at 4:29 PM on April 17, 2007

ZachsMind: I LOVE YOU! We should get someone who can really do a Michael impression to rock it out.

snsranch: Thanks, but I'm baaaarely scratching the surface, having owned it for a week, just widdling with presets. My last main synth was an 11 year old Roland XP30, so moving up to this is like trading in your fishing boat for an aircraft carrier. So hot.
posted by jake at 5:30 PM on April 17, 2007

I tried it again, this time an octave higher.

*bangs head with palm of hand a few times*

A problem I'm having, beyond the obvious being I'm not Michael Jackson OR Stevie Wonder, for some reason Audacity records my voice at a slightly different speed from what WinAmp plays the song at, so when I sing to it while recording my voice, the result starts off okay but gets funky the further into the song I go. It's very subtle, almost imperceptable until about half way through when I'm obviously singing a half beat off by that time.

I was attempting at least a dummy track, so someone who can actually fake Michael Jackson could listen to where I'm saying what. However, me doing it falsetto sounds even worse than when I originally sang it in my own register. There's points where I can't hear myself, but dogs are barking outside. I thought it would make it funnier, but it's not unlike chalkboard scratching. Not quite the funny I had intended.

It's a silly fun idea but it needs someone better than me who can actually sound like Michael Jackson or the joke falls flat. It also needs second and third verses. Maybe a first.

My flesh is willing but my talent is weak. =)
posted by ZachsMind at 6:28 PM on April 17, 2007

this is absurd.. horrible NKOTB era indeed. but a perfect Demo.
posted by mary8nne at 8:18 PM on April 17, 2007

*chair dances*
posted by frykitty at 5:49 PM on April 27, 2007

It's hard for me to properly describe how much I like this because I'm afraid you will think I'm being sarcastic, and nothing could be further from the truth.

This is perhaps my favorite tune on MeMu. This is wonderful, a true epitome of the genre. The lead guitar line is simply amazing.

Being a child of the 80's this scratches an itch laying deep within my medulla oblongata.

Thank you.
posted by Ynoxas at 10:13 PM on April 29, 2007

Badassness detected. Love it when the guitar kicks in.
posted by empyrean at 9:19 AM on May 8, 2007

ZachsMind, you know you can import the song into Audacity and then use a headset to record, right?

jake: this is all kinds of awesome :D I don't even notice the lack of vocals.
posted by Phire at 11:56 PM on November 8, 2007