Hi,

https://soundcloud.com/planobilly/son-of-sam?si=94e868a8f5b9423bb6a1b42f9eef6eea

Except for a short guitar intro, this was all made with BIAB.
I hope the mix does not distract too much from the message.
This is such a simple song but I really struggled to try to put it together.

I see we have a new Covid variant coming out of Africa. Perhaps war will be the least of our concerns.

I promise the next song will be " another silly love song" lol

Billy

"I see we have a new Covid variant coming out of Africa. Perhaps war will be the least of our concerns."
Yeah, it ought to be.
My government are ramping up aggressive talk against China while selling off the national jewels to it.
China doesn't need war.
The song tells a very bleak story against a calm, smooth almost lounge jazz backing.
The News break in, it reminded me of Orson Wells' radio play of The War Of The Worlds...nicely done on your part.
If only Lennon was right when he sang "War is Over if you want it".
he was a tad naive and optimistic - sadly.
Well done sir, well done.

First of all, John Lennon WAS/IS right, war is over if we want it. Guess it falls on the IF. Sad situations like this require artists like you to expose the truth, and you do it with such a fine song, Billy. Hopefully the world will once again be ready for silly love songs.

Thanks guys,

lol...I think it will be a long time before everyone is totally burned out on "silly love songs"

This one gave me a lot of trouble for such a simple song. Perhaps I was a bit ambivalent about posting it here.

There is absolutely nothing good that can come out of a confrontation between Australia and China or China and anyone for that matter.

Let's hope for better days ahead.

Billy

Man, you certainly believe in LCR mixing. That's some really hard panning!

The reference to the atomic bomb and prior administrations was unexpected. I guess the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Nicely done.

Hi Billy,

there has been a long tradition of anti-war songs, but unfortunately they're not that popular anymore these days. Actually we don't hear many protest songs at all - we're amusing ourselves to death, as Neil Postman said.

The fact that we don't have big world wars seems to make people sometimes forget that there are numerous incredibly atrocious smaller wars that cause endless misery to the people involved.

Billy, no doubt that your 'sillylove songs' are fine, but if you'd aske me: Stick to this genre - it's important and the way you do it is powerful. There's so much to worry about...

Really well-done.

Stay safe,

Stefan

Thank you for the kind words. I try to keep these "robbers, raiders, muggers, cheaters, gangsters, thugs, thieves and stealers" in check, but it is a big job...lol

Sie können sich nicht vorstellen, wie sehr ich mir wünschte, heute Abend in München zu sein. Meine Frau und ich lieben Deutschland.

This pandemic is making me really sad for all my friends in Europe. Let's hope things get better, especially in Germany.

This recording was a bit of a mess with very unconventional mixing and lots of little mistakes...so is war I guess.

Thanks,

Billy

Covid will go same day, unfortunately, war will always be with us.

Loved it!

Great message, well done.

moto

Great song!
The war is on Covid but not in a united front.
I am from Africa and I have been personally affected by this hellish pandemic.
I have lost some very personal friends, family members and band members. At the same time my position was declared redundant at my work place. I took early retirement but still serve my community through the civil policing framework, which keeps me sane and provides for purpose.

Apologies for the rant, but this song of yours just opened the gates.

Thank you

CBO

Thanks, Moto and CBO.

Thanks to all of you for the kind comments.

The lyrical context of this song is a pretty uncomfortable look at the world around us. I really had no idea what people would think when hearing it.

With comments coming from widely diverse parts of the world I guess the message must be pretty universal.

I think I will do another version and fix the mix and the vocals.

Billy

Very cool song and vocal. These lyrics have been spoken in different ways over and over. Peace and being kind to each other does not seem to be very popular.
Wars with other countries. Wars within our countries. Both side screaming at each other with their version of right. Peace and compromise does not seem to be popular or get enough clicks on Facebook. Only if people could start showing us how to live instead of telling us how to live we could move towards peace and compromise..

One of our collaborators once mentioned that a sad song can be effectively presented with a seemingly counterintuitive backing vibe.

This offers good confirmation of that notion.

The panning and volume graduations do serve to keep one locked in.

Sad indeed but well done.

J&B


PS We came to listen a while back and the link was dead...assume this is a new version?

Really well done Billy!!! I like the rhythm that carries the vocal......almost a narration style to it. Very powerful production!! Take care. Greg