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I've Been Down

I been down in the skip [skip = in the garbage bin]
I been snorkeling around
I ain't been seen for days
They can scream and shout
But I ain't be coming out
Don't care what the gullah says [gullah = loud,squawking bird]

Don't want no pozzy job [pozzy = high ranking]
Don't want no chains
Don't wanna watch my life slipping away

Ain't gonna punch the clock
Ain't no wage theft slave
Don't wanna hear you talk
'Cause it's always the same

Been down in the dustbin snorkeling about [dustbin = garbage can]
Been looking for spare change
Been looking for a little change

Going down the gurgler [gurgler = drain]
Bucketing down I go [bucketing = pouring rain]
Straight in line or a crooked grind [crooked grind = skateboard move]
No problem-o

Been down in the skip
And I ain't be coming back
I been looking for spare change
Just looking for a little change

(Guitar solo)

Don't want no tommyrot [tommyrot = nonsense]
Going off nine to five [going off = yelling]
You can knock me dead [knock me dead = impress]
But you've already said the last of your lies

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree [reference to the  Kookaburra song]
Merry, merry king of the bush is he
Stop, Kookaburra
Leave some for me

Don't got no worries mate [no worries = everything is fine]
Just feel a little strange
Can't take another day
Just need some change

I've been down


Instruments

3489:Bass, Electric, SkaPunkPopAB Ev 180
3493:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm SkaFastPop Ev16 180
3494:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm SkaFastPunk Ev16 180
2586:Guitar, Electric, Soloist PunkMurray Ev 165
SkaFastPopWes^3-a:Snare, Open Hat , b:Snare, Ride

Effects

Main Buss: EZ Mix (Punk/Mastering), Lurssen Mastering Console
Vocal Buss: GW VoiceCentric, Fame Studio Reverb (Studio A Live/Vocals), Panagement 2, Magma Lil Tube
Lead Vocal: SynthesizerV (Ninezero)
Backing Vocal: SynthesizerV (Ninezero), Magma Lil Tube, Izotope Vocal Doubler, Raum (Grounded)
Bass: Fame Studio Reverb (Studio B Live/Bass), Neutron 3 (Deep Bass)
Drums: CLA Drums, Fame Studio Reverb (Studio B Live/Drums), Panagement 2
Solo Guitar: UJAM Retro Finisher (Scanner Ensemble), Panagement 2
Rhythm Guitar 1, 2: Fame Studio Reverb (Studio B Live/Guitar), Panagement 2


Post-Posting Edits

1. Per B.D.Thomas' suggestion, I've swapped the voices, so the low voice takes the lead. I also added tube distortion to the Vocal Buss.
2. Small tweaks to the vocal - altered a lyric, got rid of a plosive, added a bit of harmony. EQ'ed the drums, changed the Mastering plugin to fix mid-rangy sound.
3. Adjusted balanced between voices.

The Story

April is almost gone, and this is the first song I've done this year. I've got a lot of catching up to do!

As usual, I started by finding a demo BiaB song I liked. In this case, it was _BUSTER.STY. Since I was trying for something a bit more "pop" than usual, I avoided Maj7 chords and anything that was perhaps too "jazzy".

I also used a lot more pitch repetition than usual.

The singer was originally going to be Kevin, but I tried out Ninezero on the track. It was a bit high for him, but it seemed to fit his attitude.

And then... nothing. The music suggested perhaps the singer was a disaffected skateboarder, or something more Camper Van Beethoven, but specific ideas weren't coming.

So the song sat for weeks without any sort of progress.

Finally, I forced myself to write something, recalling back as a kid when I used to go "dumpster diving" at the local office, in garbage bins that smelled of coffee grounds and carbon paper:

   i've gone down in the dumpster snorkeling around
   and i ain't been seen for days

Ninezero's Australian accent reminded me of rayc bantering around his Aussie slang. So I pulled up a webpage of Australian terms so I could replace "dumpster" with something a bit more colloquial, and the song grew by bits and pieces.

The "Kookaburra Song" is still under copyright, but it doesn't use the original melody, and it's a short quote that recontextualizes the lyric. So it should be good under fair use.

Again going against my habit, I've left the tracks pretty basic in an effort not to overproduce it.

As usual, any and all comments welcome!

Lyrically and musically, I think that's a pretty cool and catchy ska song, but the annoying Mickey Mouse vocals detract from it.

I've never heard a ska sung so high. Bring the vocals down an octave (think Madness: Our House), add some bass (or low-end in general) and you have a winner.
LOVE the flow and the lyrics.

David,

I love the energy in this and I don't mind the voice at all - in fact, I think is perfectly suits the song.

Excellent production as well.

Bob

In my ears, the vocalist is singing bit too high, makes it difficult to hear the lyrics. Ninezero has nice low register, so I think it wouldn't hurt to transpose the song down.

But the song itself is very catchy and has the early 80's Brit ska/punk feel. Funny and positive look on the dustbins. And you have made very good work to make the singing sound fluent and natural even in the fast tempo.
Good underproduced mix, although the guitar panning is quite wide to my taste.

Janne

Agree with others regarding the vocal octave. Bring it down and lets hear that.
Otherwise, its a jumpin tune.

Thanks for the feedback! I've posted a new mix that uses the lower voice as the lead.

I've actually updated it a while ago, so I'm not quite sure why people are hearing the old version...

OK, I just tried again. Says it was updated 10 hours ago. And this time it is MUCH better. That lower octave should be the keeper.

Yep, much better
I would probably transpose the whole song down an additional 4 semitones to have an even better vocal range for the singer, but I also like it as it is now.
Cool stuff!

Different! But *good* different :-) Thought I wouldn't like it. Not my genre, haha ... but like it I do, nevertheless.

I haven't heard the first mix, but this voice range sounds good to me

Good job!

Pretty good I think, David! Nice groove.

I listened yesterday also but didn't have time to comment; I agree with the others, I like the vocal much better now.

Guitar solo sounds pretty good, after I post this review I'm going to check out that UJAM Retro Finisher, see what that's all about!

Good to see you with a new one, you always produce interesting music.

Enjoyed!

David, I did not hear the first one so I can't comment on the improvements you made but I did like this one.

Although not my favorite genre this one is really good.
Super groove and mix.
You do wonders with those vocal synths.
Great work.

I thought it sounded good. Ninezero sings punk rock pretty well.

I like the song. Short but good

Hi David
Really cool song
Punk music with synth vocals, I haven't heard that before
But it turned out surprisingly good
I would not have guessed
This shows how much experience you have with this matter
Really good
Many greetings
Andi ;-)

Started just reading the lyrics with many smiles. Thanks for the interpretation, David. Wow, as soon as I pushed play I knew I'd be back to push it a second time before saying anything. Very cool sound, David --even the abrupt ending. Man, those vocals are quick --heck everything is quick. Quite the solo! Yes, I remember "The Kookaburra Song." This one is much cooler.

Hi, David !



This was something special !
I like the tune and the style !
Everything is just super on this tune !
One of your absolute best !

Cheers
Dani

Cool, cool song. I didn't hear your first version, but the singer works on this one. Man, does it (he) sound real, and I like how the pronunciation isn't standard American English.

Thanks, Bob!

I really liked the high voice, but I was sold once I switched the voices.

Thanks for listening and the good words!

Hi, Janne.

I was surprised how well Ninezero worked - especially since I had started with Kevin. It was a lot of fun going for that '80s sound.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hi, Dan.

Thanks for sticking around for another listen!

Hi, B.D.

If it weren't for the pain of re-doing the guitar solo, I might have given it a shot.

Plus, that would lower the high voice, which has grown on me by now. I'd have to not have him strain to hit those notes!