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Charlie -

It is great to back and I want to thank you for getting my name right "Aleck" not "Alex." But Forum members can call me anything they like, within reason of course.

I feel sort of like the second most famous Rolling Stone, Keith Richard, although he's not called that anymore. After years of being call Keith Richards, he legally changed his name from Richard to Rihards. I've known several people with the last name Wood who are always called Woods.

So Alex it is, I guess. And I'm really glad that you liked this rap. Read my reply to Tommy for late-breaking info.

Dean aka Aleck (Rand)

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Floyd,

Thanks for your comment and kind wishes. Yeah, something incredible is going on that only developed within the last few weeks. Read my reply to Tommy. I had completely given up hope but this isn't my imagination playing tricks on me ...

It's great to see that your energy to create is as strong as ever.

Dean

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David,

Thank you. I figure if Queen Latifah (aka Dana Owens, a phenomenal jazz singer - don't believe it? Just search her name on YouTube) can do rap, there's no reason why I couldn't do it. Like everything else, it can be good, bad or ugly. The unique thing about this one is that it asks a question of the listener. One to which I'm still waiting for an answer. Can you help me out?

Dean Clark (aka Aleck Rand aka Alex Rand)

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Janice and Bud, my dear friends

It is so great to be here replying to you in appreciation of your kind remarks. I'm not surprised to see the two of you still here with your inexhaustible creative force. Now, for really good news, see the late-breaking developments in my reply to Tommy. I fear putting on the jinx, but what the hell ...

Dean (aka Aleck Rand and now aka Alex Rand)

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Dani,

I can't tell you how great it is to be writing once again to you and the gang here at the Forum. Please read my reply to Tommy for late-breaking info. Wow, this venue has really stepped up in the world with hundreds, not dozens, of viewers at at a time, PG radio (I even see myself in the Jazz category along with other fabulous players, like Super Mario who helped me so much on this one).

And I'm glad you liked our collaboration. At the risk of repeating myself, I figure if Queen Latifah (aka Dana Owens, a phenomenal jazz singer - don't believe it? Just search her name on YouTube) can do rap, there's no reason why I couldn't do it.

Now, please, who's the survivor? Still waiting for my first answer and I think my chances are better here, where the intelligentsia hangs out, than SoundCloud. What about it Gannon? Come on, man, trivial ...

Dean

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Robert,

Wow! Really thrilled at your reaction to this. You know, they once asked Ray Charles what he thought of Rap and he laughed and, said, "Rap? Now what can I possibly learn from that?" It says a lot about Ray and a lot about Rap. But, even though I've repeated this in several replies, I figure if Queen Latifah (aka Dana Owens, a phenomenal jazz singer - don't believe it? Just search her name on YouTube) can do rap, there's no reason why I couldn't do it. But this heah is RandRap, not Saran Wrap.

Thank you.

Dean Clark (aka Aleck Rand aka Alex Rand)

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Alyn!

Who is that grim-faced rocker that I see looking at me with mild suspicion? Is that you today or in the recent past? Anyway, I like it - communicates a certain gravitas.

I think you'll find the info in my reply to Tommy Adams of how the complicated nerve transposition surgery I had on my left arm at first appeared to be a quite convincing failure and then, months later, some strange things began to happen ...

It is great to be back replying to kind comments like yours. I say again, as I've said in other replies, if Queen Latifah (aka Dana Owens, a phenomenal jazz singer - don't believe it? Just search her name on YouTube) can do rap, there's no reason why I couldn't do it. Like everything else that is words + music, it can be good, bad or ugly. Regrettably, most of this stuff, which I used to regard simply as laughable nonsense, has turned quite ugly. It's good to know that it doesn't have to be this way.

I'm looking forward to being here more often - as a guitar player!

Dean (aka Aleck Rand aka Alex Rand)

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Will? Anthony? Callie? Forum moderators and tech support whizzes??

Wow! I am honored. Not only are your kind remarks appreciated, but you guys have access to the top so I'm throwing down the gauntlet and asking that you throw it, in turn, right at:

Peter Gannon. That's right Peter, I'm talkin' to you. I'm not expecting an answer on SoundClound, but here where the intelligentsia hangs out, things are different. The rap song I composed and was kindly submitted to the Forum by my collaborator Mario, asks a question of the listener. Who is the unique survivor, identified by position number among the N soldiers, N larger than 2. In this neighborhood, if anyone can answer this question it would be you. Not that others couldn't, but in your case a guarantee comes with it.

In any event, it's great to be back and what big, expansive improvements here. Very impressed.

Dean Clark (aka Aleck Rand aka Alex Rand)

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Steve,

Thanks so much for your kind remarks. Rap gets - and deserves - much of the scorn it receives in many quarters: When asked what he thought of Rap, no less than Ray Charles guffawed, and said, "Rap? Now what could I possibly learn from that?" Before it turned really ugly, I dismissed it as merely laughable nonsense. But check my remark about Queen Latifah in my other replies.

I thought it was time for a change.

Dean (aka Aleck Rand aka Alex Rand)

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Rec,

Your comments are very much appreciated. I pretty much talked myself silly about my changing attitudes toward Rap in other replies, so I won't repeat myself here. Just accept my thanks for some very encouraging words.

Dean Clark (aka Aleck Rand aka Alex Rand)

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Aleck and Mario,

I really enjoyed the song, great production and performances. Well done!


Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
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Peter,

I wasn't expecting to hear from you this quickly - I just asked Callie, Anthony and Will to throw down the gauntlet about the question posed by this Rap. The so-far unresolved matter of the unique survivor. I'm not expecting an answer on SoundCloud but here there is someone who can edify us. I'm talking to him now.

Of course, thank you for your kind remarks and I hope the moderators communicated my wide-eyed reaction to all the new, expansive changes at the Forum.

Dean

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So glad to read you are doing better and able to be playing some again.

The King of Cool remains - who else could dream up and rap a hip hop song ala math quiz that is so well done and enjoyable! LOL!

Well done Dean and Mario! Great collab by you two.

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Aleck (Alex) & Mario

It's probably all been said so I'll just say well done.

Peter

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So great to see you again Josie.

Being called the King of Kool just made my day, but unfortunately there must have been a mixup because my official, registered title has always been The Klutz of Kool. You can look it up! I shouldn't have let that slip ... well, too late.

Your kind words are so appreciated. Thank you.

Dean

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Peter,

Maybe, but nevertheless, the positive reaction is appreciated. Thank you.

Dean (aka Aleck aka Alex)

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"I shouldn't have let that slip" ...Klutz...I see what you did there! smile


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DIOECHOOTO haaaaaaaaaaaa!

Klutz ... slip ... brilliant! It took me a second, but I get it.

Dean Clark (aka Aleck/Alex Rand

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First I want to thank Aleck (sorry Dean, that was a bad typo on my initial post) for the honor of playing on his song. Also I am super glad that things are starting to work out for you.

Second I want to thank all of my forum friends who listened and left those very kind comments. This was my first and probably my last time I play on a rap song.

Thanx all.


Principal: Your child always causes trouble in school.
Me: My child causes trouble at home, do I ever call you?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Mario and Dean,

I don't think that the forum has ever experienced a song like this before! I enjoyed it. Congratulations to both of you on a terrific collaboration. I hope that all continues well for you both.

Best regards,
Noel


MY SONGS...
Audiophile BIAB 2026
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