Soundcloud: Bullet points
YouTube: Bullet points

DEVELOPMENT
Written in response to a lyric rhyming challenge, the song idea first emerged purely about a person that likes using bullet (dot) points - I am one of those people. Then a few days later, I thought 'What if that man met a woman who didn't think in bullet points, but in free-flowing speech and text?' as sung in the chorus. The idea for the second chorus then emerged with both the bullet point verses sitting alongside the free-flowing chorus, illustrating a couple that are different but respect and cherish those differences. Given the chord progressions for the A verses and the choruses are different, I was pleasantly surprised that the verse melody fitted nicely in the chorus.

I had the section for a solo sitting there for a couple of weeks, then wondered about two bass guitars ‘duelling’ in a solo. I had heard that before and thought it would be something different. I initially mapped out the bass parts using midi bass in Reaper, then tabbed it. When recording the bass parts, I recorded in separate bar lengths: some four bars, some two, and a single bar section – not because I couldn’t play it but because I’m impatient and couldn’t remember the whole thing as one – which is interesting practical aside to the theme of the lyrics. The bass parts weren’t distinct enough (didn’t have enough ‘attack’) so I ended up blending the midi bass with my recorded bass to improve it.

RECORDING SUMMARY
Style is _EARLY.STY (Early Morning Folk Rock Push)
RealTracks in style: ~683:Bass, Electric, PopHalfNotesPush Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 3580:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm PalmMuteRockPushFast Ev 130
RealTracks in song: 4519:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking IndieFolkAlt158 Ev 100 (Chorus only)
RealTracks in song: 4818:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm SteadyPushMuted ev 110
RealDrums in style:PopRock8ths^04-a:Closed Hat, Sidestick , b:Closed Hat, Snare
Midi in song: Instrument 12 Vibes (used for the bullet point sounds)
Me:
Main vocal – doubled
BV ooos x 2
Harmony vocal – Chorus
Bass x 2
Bass VSTi SI-Bass (Cakewalk) x 2

LYRICS (Chord sheet attached)
VERSE 1
  • My mind works in bullet points
  • Also numbered, it anoints my thinking by making it more succinct
  • Lists are easier than flowing text
  • Merging one thought into the next sounds harder than each being distinct


VERSE 1B
  • Sometimes I use dashes instead
  • What comes from my head can just be recorded
  • One after the other on the sheet
  • Asterisks can seem high tech
  • But they’re just a prostitution of what should be best, despite them
  • Looking arty and neat


VERSE 2A
  • Sometimes boxes - small and square
  • When done, I tick it there, and not left like an orphan
  • A checked list that’s complete
  • Makes my mind replete with a tiny yet significant squirt of endorphin


VERSE 2B
  • A bullet point provides a zone
  • A point required to stand alone but
  • Make sense as a collection
  • Was I born this way, scrawling lists on the side of my bassinette?
  • I doubt it I had not mastered speech yet


CHORUS 1
Then one day I met a girl who showed her world and it was beauty and passion and
sadness and heartache but she wore it so well and with a resolute joy that I
forgot all my bullets I was under her spell ‘cos I needed to change and I wanted to love
and give her ev’ry thing she needed and wanted and more because she loved me and
cherished me and she made me come alive as I hope I did her when I was by her side

BASS SOLO

VERSE 3B
  • It gave a sense of sequence and order
  • Like everything’s under control like it oughta now
  • Words are going out on parole
  • She came along and challenged my ways, now my
  • Routines are changed for the rest of my days, I’d do
  • Anything to be by her side


CHORUS 2
Then one day I met a girl who showed her world and it was
  • (My mind works in bullet points)

beauty and passion and sadness and heartache but she
  • (Also numbered, it anoints my thinking)

wore it so well and with a resolute joy that I
  • (by making it more succinct)

forgot all my bullets I was under her spell ‘cos I
  • (Lists are easier than flowing text)

needed to change and I wanted to love and give her
  • (Merging one thought into the next)

ev’ry thing she needed and wanted and more because she
  • (Sounds harder than each being distinct)

Loved me and cherished me and she made me come alive as I
  • (Sometimes boxes, small and square)

hope I did her when I was by her side
  • (When done, I tick it there)


OUTRO
  • My mind works in bullet points

Attached Files (Click to download or enlarge) (Only available when you are logged in)
Bullet points.png (40.09 KB, 97 downloads)
Regards,
Andrew D
Adelaide, Sth Aust
Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/SQE4btVvNVkLq74e9
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@andrewoftheantipodes