She Starts Fire

Another song recorded by and featuring Daniel Johnston, Jad Fair, and myself and released on the album 'Somewhat Humorous' under the name the Lucky Sperms.

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posted by Item (6 comments total)

item - vocals, guitars
Jad Fair - drums, samples
Daniel Johnston - piano

The second song I've posted here from the Lucky Sperms sessions of spring 1999. I wrote this song to impress Jad. I though it sounded like Half Japanese at the time, though now I don't think it does. He seemed to like it a lot whatever the case. It's about the meanest girl that I'd ever met up until that point, a beautiful liar named Cate. I stole the title from a Hong Kong movie that I've never seen and I wrote it the night before we recorded it.

During the recording sessions Jad and I stayed at Daniel's parent's house in the country. Daniel would routinely sleep until three or four in the afternoon and his parents would go to bed around eight, giving us just four hours of loud time a day. Jad and I passed the time digging in local antique stores, playing croquet, and writing music. Daniel would wake up and immediately ask if we could go to the comic book store (a 40 minute drive), to the movies (also a 40 minute drive), or in the very least to go buy some soda pop to smuggle into his house. Soda was forbidden by his parents as it doesn't seem to mix well with his dozens of health problems and medications. At first we tried to talk him into recording before we went out, but it soon became apparent that unless we gave in, he'd completely phone in his performances. This was towards the end of my collaborative relationship with Dan. I distanced myself from him when I realized what a manipulative creature he could be. I still have letters he sent me after I stopped returning his calls that scolded me for dropping him and that he would end with "Your friend(???), Daniel".

As I mentioned before, Dan's health was poor and some days he couldn't sing at all. I think we recorded this on one of those days, as I vaguely remember writing it for him to sing. I'm also not certain that his piano playing made it to the final mix, but it was in there originally. In any case, his spirit very much haunts this song.

Interesting sidenote: Shortly after this album came out a couple of years later I was in bed with my future ex-wife the morning after one of our first sleepovers. When the clock radio went off, this song was playing on the college radio station. I don't think I've ever impressed a girl more before or since.
posted by Item at 4:52 PM on August 30, 2007

(by the way, I don't sing like this anymore. At all.)
posted by Item at 4:53 PM on August 30, 2007

You know, upon further listening I think that either Jad or Dan was playing secondary guitar. I only remember playing as I sang and not overdubbing. Hmm. It probably only matters to me.
posted by Item at 4:58 PM on August 30, 2007

Your recollections and ruminations are interesting, item. And though the kind of vocal style and delivery you're employing in this particular piece, to be perfectly honest, is not the kind of thing that really moves me personally, it is still very good, getting the job done and sounding appropriate for the material. You mention that you don't sing like this anymore: is that you doing vocals on the Denim and Diamonds track you posted awhile back?

I'm also not certain that his piano playing made it to the final mix...

Yeah、I was straining to hear piano in there, but couldn't really detect any trace of it. I think it's safe to say it didn't make it into the final mix!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:48 PM on August 30, 2007

It isn't me on the DnD tracks, no. I tend to croon more these days if I sing at all.
posted by Item at 6:56 PM on August 30, 2007

Good lord! I played Daniel Johnston albums back in '90 or '91 on the radio. Man, that brings back memories.
posted by davejay at 10:49 PM on August 30, 2007