Term paper creative piece draft number 1

Hi Randy,

Absolutely love the new lyrics. Sensational. Rick can't wait to hear them re-recorded, and we're booking you a few more hours in the studio to get it down. Once that's done Rick will get on to the mixing and mastering and before you know it we'll have ourselves a record! The marketing dept. will get on to sorting out press releases and advertising for the single, so once you've got those vocals down take some time to put you're feet up! You've earned it. We'll probably change the song title as well as people might not get it. Country Boys and City Girls, the lead single from the new album On Eagles Wings sounds a lot more catchy. I can almost hear it on the Billboard Top 100 now! We'll have to have a meeting about touring soon. Until then, take it easy.

Kind regards,

Cockleberry.

Cockleberry Chumpstain

Junior Producer
South Hit Records
0839 323 323 ext. 9021

---

From: randy_jeffersonmusic@hotmail.com
To: C.Chumpstain@southhitrecords.com
Subject: RE: Final track of album
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2011 14:42:06 +0000

Hi Mr. Chumpstain,

I've rejigged the lyrics a little bit. I've practiced singing them a fair bit in the rehearsal room and I'm managing to get a lot more energy out. I'm really looking forward to taking live on the road soon! Here are the new lyrics:

Elephant in the Room
 
I moved to the city a year ago
I found the country living slow
But found out hard that Cupid's bow
Just doesn't want to know me
The looks I got from city girls
They knocked me down, made my head swirl
I learn despair and I feel lost at sea
My dating history ain't so swell
My chat-lines don't go so well
And cinema trips are much worse than Hell
I hate Hollywood shows
So every day I swallow pride
Hang in there and ride the tide
And dream of sailing a way back home

And the current, it flows so strong
And the waves, well they just go on
But through the storm and every gale
Well I know I must prevail
So keep your eyes on the horizon for my sail
Each girl that made my heart burn
Would close their doors when I returned
You'd think eventually I'd learn
But no sir, no not there
I saw them drinking in their bars
And driving in their flashy cars
But for a country boy they didn't care
Well I'm fed up now of feeling alone
It's hard in the city when your on your own
You gotta get out if you wanna set up home
That's what my daddy would say
Today I'll try a different plan
Borrowed a guitar off my old man
Them city girls, I'm gonna blow them all away

And the current, it flows so strong
And the waves, well they just go on
But through the storm and every gale
Well I know I must prevail
So keep your eyes on the horizon for my sail

So I played all day and I played all night
Songs I'd heard and songs I'd write
I sang anything the ladies liked
And still they wanted more
A gal came up to me after the show
And then right there she let me know
By taking me by the hand to the dancefloor
Well I ain't well-versed in old romance
But boy us country boys can dance
And I knew I was gonna take this chance
With her hand in mine
I swept her round, made her head whirl
And since that night she's been my girl
And ever since I've liked the city fine

And the current, it flows so strong
And the waves, well they just go on
But through the storm and every gale
Well I know I must prevail
So keep your eyes on the horizon for my sail

I hope these are ok. Let me know what you think,

Yours,

Randy

---

From: C.Chumpstain@southhitrecords.com
To: randy_jeffersonmusic@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Final track of album
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2011 13:09:28 +0000

Randy,

If we put this song out on radio people would listen to it and think, "Hey, this guy Jefferson supports them murderin' bastards that shot up that school," and would never touch your records again. That is if stations like UKF and KCD play it in the first place. I don't care what kind of message you think it's putting out there, it's saying to me and to South Hit Records that you're anti-guns, anti-family, hell, even anti-American. We've got the Second Amendment which is part of what makes this country what it is and it looks like you're either here pissing all over it, or you want to use it to justify going out and shooting a load of kids. Either way makes you look a fool and makes us lose a whole lot of money. Plus a lot of radio round here is funded by companies like Colt, S&W and the like. They won't touch you if you come out with something like this, and neither will South Hit Records. We're ready to put out Flying With Eagles Wings and put you out there into the big time, and we know there is a little space out there for you to fit into and really grow. But in order for us to support you when need you to support us. If you change these lyrics, make them a bit more sensible, a bit more good old boy, a bit more you, then we can go get ourselves so platinum plaques. Rick suggests focusing on the feelings expressed in that very first chorus. You can keep the school setting if you want.

Regards,

Cockleberry.

Cockleberry Chumpstain

Junior Producer
South Hit Records
0839 323 323 ext. 9021

---

From: randy_jeffersonmusic@hotmail.com
To: C.Chumpstain@southhitrecords.com
Subject: RE: Final track of album
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2011 12:50:12 +0000


Hi Mr. Chumpstain,

Thanks for the feedback on the track. I'm really glad thank you liked the music, I must say that it's come out well. I'm not sure I agree with your thoughts on the lyrics though; murder ballads are part of a strong tradition in our music, and people seemed to respond well to Blood Red Wine on my last record, about the husband who poisons his unfaithful wife. Hell, the Dixie Chicks did alright with that song about killing the violent husband too. I'd like to think that the song will make people think a little bit about what might motivate someone to go around shooting people, rather than computer games or heavy metal or whatever. I'd rather not make any changes, as this sort of critical thinking is something that I believe in strongly. If you'd like me to do a vocals retake though I'd be more than happy.

Yours,

Randy.

---

From: C.Chumpstain@southhitrecords.com
To:randy_jeffersonmusic@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Final track of album
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2011 12:26:08 +0000

Hi Randy,

Rick and I listened to the track last night and I have to say we were blown away. The music is something else on this track and I can really see it being a big draw on the Country stations we've been looking to break onto since the last album. Rick in particular thought that the chords you've used in the chorus are particularly catchy. The hook there is great.
The only sticking point we've got with the song is the lyrical content. I'm not sure a song from the point of view of a high school shooter is something that is going to appeal to the label's demographic. We don't think that the real Randy Jefferson is going to come across in this song as it is, not the Randy that has come across in the rest of the tracks on Flying With Eagles Wings. Rick suggested that if you go away and redo some of the lyrics so that they come from a more personal space then it may ring better with the music. It may even get a better vocal performance from you if you believe in what you're singing too. Keep the chorus though, or at least keep it as it is after the first verse. Let us know how you get on.

Regards,

Cockleberry Chumpstain

Junior Producer
South Hit Records
0839 323 323 ext. 9021


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Final track of album
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:37:14 +0000
From:Randy Jefferson <randy_jeffersonmusic@hotmail.com>
To: <C.Chumpstain@southhitrecords.com>


Hi Mr. Chumpstain,

I'm emailing you over the final track off of the album. We finished recording last night and Dan reckons it's sounding great. Possibly lead single off the record? He's particularly pleased with the strings sound which we managed to polish off at about 3am last night! Here are the lyrics to it also:

Elephant

I wake up for school some days at ten
Looks like I missed the damn bus again
I won't be sitting with my friends
'Pon that bus' backseat
But when I wake up for school at eight
I couldn't imagine a more awful fate
I learn despair and feel lost at sea
My history lesson ain't so swell
Math lesson, it don't go so well
And gym class is much worse than Hell
I hate them jock kids so
So every day I swallow pride
Hang in there and ride the tide
And dream of sailing a way back home

And the current, it flows so strong
And the waves, well they just go on
But through the storm and every gale
Well I know I must prevail
So keep your eyes on the horizon for my sail

It was the same shit every single term
Every day that I returned
You'd think eventually I'd learn
But no sir, no not there
Because I would wear different clothes
Because I was slightly verbose
How I walked and how I cut my hair
Them jock kids tried to start a war
Poured milk in my locker and more
The stones they threw were the last straw
I gotta make them pay
Today I'll try a different plan
I stole a gun off my old man
Them jock kids, I'm gonna blow them all away

And the current, it flows so strong
And the waves, well they just go on
But though I'm feeling frail
Well I know I must prevail
So keep your eyes on the horizon for my sail

So I shot Billy Brewster in the head
I shot Johnny and I shot Ned
I filled Suzie Baker full of lead
And still I wanted more
Shot Coach Sanders and Pattie Hobbs
The janitor's gonna have a job
To mop all this shit up off of the floor
And after I'd finished the cheerleaders
The school mascot, that poor old creature
Why, I felt just like a teacher!
Bestowing them with wealth
And when I heard the cops were called
I knew my parents would be appalled
So I turned my daddy's gun 'pon myself

And the current, it flows so strong
And the waves, well they just go on
And though the police sirens wail
Well I know I must prevail
So keep your eyes on the horizon for my sail

Hope you like it. Please let me know what you and Rick think.

Yours,

Randy Jefferson.

Marching in March

It's April now. I should have written about this when it actually happened, but there have been a couple of birthdays since then, including my own 24th birthday. This means that the tail-end of March and the early stages of April have been spent mainly drinking and not working hard enough.

I, along with several other chums, were present on the 'March For The Alternative' in London on Saturday 26th where hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to display their dissatisfaction with public sector cuts, both impending and in action, and the threat of privatisation to various areas of the sector. As both a NHS worker and a student these are immediate threats (which I have personally already experienced in both work and education) but really the changes that are being (or have been) made are going to have an effect on everyone in our country, and I would venture mainly negatively.

There's the backdrop for this entry. I'm not going to delve too deeply into the political side of things (political in the sense of politics as discussed on the news and in the press, generic politics, you know what I mean), along with arguments for and against. There are plenty of other people out there better versed in political discussion with more informed opinions. I would recommend a good associate's blog here which is a good read if this is what you are after. It mainly looks at the occupation of Fortnum & Mason on that day. What I mainly wish to look at are the attitudes of people against the cuts who declined to go on the march.

I don't think I know anyone personally who is supportive of the cuts. I do know quite a lot of people though who are opposed to them but didn't go on the march. There were some people who were put off going by the scenes of violence that had occurred at the last student demonstrations around the vote to increase fees. It is quite sad that media sensationalism has led to this. Yes, the police used horses against students at the previous march, but the last one of this scale, the march against the war in Iraq, was much more peaceful. One of our friends was originally not going to go but changed her mind on the day. Once she was up there and part of the march she saw that there was nothing to be nervous of at all, and so I imagine will be more than happy to protest if (that should be when) another such event occurs.

The main disappointment though was those people who didn't think that marching would make a difference.

Let's try a social experiment. First of all, on your own, start talking really loudly. Anything happen? No. OK, now go and get all your housemates and start talking really loudly. At this point your downstairs neighbours may be raising eyebrows and wondering what's the ruckus is all about. Now go downstairs and get them to join in. This may disturb your next door neighbours from watching Come Dine With Me. Go and get them to join in, and while you're at it, why not get the rest of your street to come outside and join in too. Perhaps instead of just talking loudly you could all sing something loudly together. Choose a song that you're all familiar with though so everyone can participate fully. People walking past your street may stop to look and see what's going on. Get them to join in too. In fact, move from your street to an adjacent street and recruit all the people there. Get them singing as well. At this point people may well come from other streets to listen and see what is happening. Invite them to sing too. This is quicker than going out to recruit people. Let them come to you. See if you can get the entire village/district to sing along. That would be quite something. Definitely newsworthy. The nearest town would take an interest, certainly. Take your show out to them, and get them to sing along. This would probably make an impact on national press rather than just local press. People in the city would be intrigued, that's for sure. Some of them anyway. Just for them, take your show to them. You might be tired of singing the same song by this point. With lots of people also it is quite difficult to find one song that everyone likes equally, but by this point the song you initially chose should have enough prestige attached to it to carry you through. If you work really hard and the song is catchy enough you will be in a good position. Try and get the entire city to sing the song together, all at once, all at the same time. That will probably be quite loud. If you manage to orchestrate this and chose London as your city you will probably end up being the Prime Minister. Congratulations!

What this heavy handed analogy is trying to suggest is that if enough people turn up to do something all together at the same time then it's going to have an impact. Another important thing to consider is how events like these get people talking and thinking about the issues at stake. Getting politics to be a real part of people's lives is the key to getting them active. If marches and debates are a regular thing that people are constantly exposed to then it will be hard for them not to form opinions about them, and if these opinions are kept alive and well, and not reduced to dead dogmas then they should hopefully passionately enough to get involved the next time around.

There is another heavy handed analogy that I'd like deploy here also.

Let's imagine your next-door neighbours have some people over for dinner. You're trying to read a book; let's say it's Finnegan's Wake. You're struggling with Finnegan's Wake on account of their dinner table discussions, but since it's the weekend you'll let it slide. You can tackle Joyce later. The next day though, your next-door neighbours over again. They are solidifying their relationships by inviting people over for drinks. They'll have some alcohol and listen to some music well into the night. It's not too loud but you are having some trouble concentrating, as Finnegan's Wake is quite a difficult book to get into. Oh well, maybe tomorrow night. Except that tomorrow night they've decided to carry on from the previous one. Next-door neighbours' friends have brought some of their friends along and are now having a fully fledged party. The music is louder, the alcohol is more potent, some bastard is even smoking. The fumes are managing to permeate through the walls and your hallway does not smell nice anymore. You're not getting very far through Finnegan's Wake. And why the hell haven't they invited you to this party?! It's a bit a ridiculous, but at a risk of spoiling their fun you let them get on with it and decided to try reading the book tomorrow afternoon. Unfortunately, tomorrow afternoon is a very bad time to try reading Finnegan's Wake. Due to a ridiculous cocktail of drugs that has been going round, the party has descended into a horrible sex-fest. All you can hear are the groans and grunts of heaving flesh and banging bedposts. You could swear that there's some actual goats and monkeys going at it next door. Urgh. This is no time for Joyce's monolith. And thanks to all those endurance enhancing drugs this orgy is going to be continuing for quite some time. Alas though, not long enough. Because amidst the sweat and fuck-making someone's neglected their cigarette, and quickly the carpet is on fire. They're too busy getting busy to notice, and in their drug-addled confusion they fail to notice that the entire house is burning down around them. Sadly for you, this house is semi-detached, and as a result you are going to be on the receiving end of severe domestic fire damage. On the bright side you lose your copy of Finnegan's Wake in the blaze.


If we don't oppose things that we disagree with then we will end up giving license to the decision makers to do bigger and badder things the next time around. Stand up and be counted, lest your favourite books get burnt.

                                                    +

"First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me."

                                                     Pastor Martin Niemöller.

                                                    +

"...I shall define actual politics as the constituent formulae of our nerves, brains, muscles and stomachs in their inevitable social reality, formulae that become abstracted from our immediate social relations even in the composition of the same..."

                                                     Editor of Hi Zero 2.

                                                    +