The Tramline Of Life

Over 10 years ago, I had an idea to make a movie with my colleagues... only two trailers and some 4 minutes of movie was ever finished.... but I made couple of songs for its soundtrack. This is one of them, the story is combination of ideas from synchronicity (C.G. Jung) and 'tramology' ('sporalogia' in Finnish, parody of astrology invented by a Finnish sceptic Nils Mustelin - how trams affect city people with much greater gravity than distant planets etc.). Well, I understand if you can't figure out the lyrics, I can't remember what I was trying to say… but the journey is more important than the destination

Singing for me was bit challenging because of the high notes and fast pace rhythm - it was impossible to sing the verses on one take. I assume there are also some issues with stressing of the words. But I still hope you enjoy the tram travel

RealDrums: SouthernPopSw16

RealTracks:
Acoustic bass #769
Electric Piano #906
Organ #425
Sax #457
Electric guitar #1037
Harmonica #???

MIDI: sitar+ocarina melody

Vocals by me

Mixed with Cakewalk by Bandlab


Lyrics:

Power in the cables
read your destiny
in the time tables.
You can't leave the trails
you can't even play
heads and tails.
The position of the car
on your birthday
tells what you are.
You can only go
from a station to another station
follow the bed of the eternal flow.

Trams in conjunction
the cathedral is rising
on the horizon
fate on the map
your destination
untangle the twines
read all the signs
on the tramline of life.

Tracks are not a mess
but a network of
consciousness
vehicles on a side street
and soulmates
share the same backseat.
Parallel grid pattern
on her palm there's a
line of saturn.
Joined by synchronicity
home waits at the terminal
or someone's just one stop serendipity.

[Chorus]


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Janne

Very cool, Janne!

Nice composition and production, I like the way you bring in the various instruments.

Vocal also works very well I think.

Maybe my favorite of yours that I have heard so far, well done!

An interesting write with a very strong jazz feeling...
I can see how the song's tempo would make the vocals difficult...
But I think you did a very good job on them...
The backing tracks are excellent...
Do you have plans to merge your song to the video files you mentioned?

Hello jannesan, wowzers! Excellent mixdown on all of this and the instruments are layered nicely. Fantastic work on the vocals. Looking forward to hear more!

That is some cool music!!! The progression and melody are quite mesmerizing. The lyric works so well with the concept of the song, and with the music. I want to see the movie!! This is certainly one of my faves of yours (maybe #1). Love it!!! Take care. Greg

What a tune - very enticing, and very unique. The sitar was an excellent touch. The song has a really cinematic and abstract feeling to it. Somehow, it managed to be dizzying yet addictive all the while.

You should be proud of this one - thanks for sharing

I love it when someone steps outside the box and puts something challenging and original on the forum.
This is really interesting and well worth a couple of listens. The choice of instruments worked well. I particularly liked the sitar echoing the tramlines. The sw16 drums worked a treat as well.
The slightly stilted vocal delivery added to the trippy journey.
Cheers,
Mike

Janne,
Tasty stuff! Very interesting and unique write! Melody goes to very unsuspected places.
Perfect tune for aliens!

P.S. Sitar was a great choice.

Thank you for sharing!

Misha.

Very cool song Janne. Loved the intro. Very intense. Well done

Light & breezy satire!
The rim shots are REALLY prominent but all is is chill & well constructed.

very nice arrangement

flows beautifully

interesting and different

good vocals!

enjoyed,

Kenny

Janne

A nice sophisticated piece, very clever interesting composing, and the vocals work well.
Enjoyed.

Peter

Janne,

This is a great piece. Love all the layers and textures.

Outstanding work!

Bob

Thanks Dave, I appreciate your very kind words

Janne

Thanks Jim for your positive feedback I have no plans to use this song on any old video clips, because they already have necessary songs, but I had some vision back then for the scene where this song could be used, maybe I should try to find the script…

Janne

Thanks Joe for your positive words I'm especially glad you liked the vocals

Janne

Fantastic production. Constantly fresh. A very cool idea for a song and the pop-jazz backing is a prefect match. I know it must have been hard to sing/record...but it was worth it. Really good.

Great work here Janne! I think I like this one better than anything I've heard of yours. I think you did an excellent job with the vocals on this! That jazzy chorus is beautiful and very original! Thanks, Torrey

Dave said just what I was thinking. This is very cool! Well mixed.

Thanks Greg, always nice to read your kind feedback Glad to hear that also the lyrics worked well. Yeah, I wish I had resources to make that movie

I'm surprised you rate this song so high, I thought that the song structure AB-Long Solo-AB and the verse melody are not particulary interesting, so I almost wasn't going to showcase this one… but it is refreshing to read that people have different favorites

Janne

Thanks Deryk for your kind words I tried to get some esoteric feel with that sitar, I'm glad you liked that selection.

Janne

Thanks Mike, your words are really rewarding to me I like to step outside the box, not following conventional paths

Janne

Thanks Misha for your positive and kind words I hope the aliens will listen

Janne

Thanks Scott for commenting, I'm glad you liked my song

Janne

Thanks Ray for your kind feedback I hadn't paid attention to the rim shots, but now that you mentioned they began to disturb me, how selective our hearing can be

Janne

Thanks Kenny, I appreciate your kind words

Janne

Thanks Peter for your positive feedback

Janne

Thanks Bob, I really appreciate your very uplifting words

Janne

Hypnotic and richly textured. And classy.

Productions of this style and quality amaze us. Soooooo many things to get "right."

You did an incredible job with the arrangement, the band and the vocals.

Wow!

J&B

I missed this the first time around, so I'm glad I got to hear it this time.

The sitar gave it a bit of a Steely Dan feel, and the backstory made it even more enjoyable. Pretty funny.

Yes, this has something intriguing about it, to me it seems you were at a creative height with it despite structural conventions. Vocal got you by and made the song work well and not distract.

Thanks Tangmo for your very kind and positive words

Janne

Thanks Torrey for your positive feedback, I'm glad you think the chorus is very original, that's rewarding

Janne

Thanks Floyd for listening and giving nice feedback

Janne

Thanks Janice and Bud, I really appreciate your positive feedback I have come back to this song and arrangement several times, maybe that's why the arrangement has evolved into the quality you are talking about

Janne

Thanks David for your kind words And thanks for the Steely Dan reference, maybe not deserved but still rewarding

Janne

Thanks for your uplifting comment, hmmmm if I was at creative height back then, I hope to get back to there

Janne