Week 22 – ‘This Is England’

Remember when you were 5 years old and pretending to be a grown up?  I don’t know about you but when I was young I’d switch jobs every few minutes.  One moment I was a Doctor, checking my Mum or Dad’s pulse and the next I was a policeman, patrolling the stairs for any signs of unrest.

This week I’ve regressed a couple of decades and pretended to be lots of things.  Take Tuesday for example:

• I’d been toying with some new songs the night before and woke up full of ideas.  Wordy ones (as opposed to musical ones). From 9:30 until 11 I was a poet.
• It dawned on me that I should probably eat something, so I cooked up some posh Bacon sani’s (with muffins, sour cream and rocket).  Chef Hamilton.
• I consumed breakfast in the studio part of the lounge, while chopping up trumpets and putting them in the right place/trying to make them sit nicely.  When midday arrived I was a record producer.
• A few hours later I realised I hadn’t finished the press release or told enough people about ‘Sing for England’ yet, so I spent the next 3 or 4 hours working in PR (which feels very strange when you’re having to talk about yourself).
• 6pm came and I popped out to get a swift pint and check the world was still turning (breif stint as the town alcoholic) before coming home and replying to a bunch of other, non week 21-related emails.  Frank the secretary, working late.

On the whole it’s been a successful week of job-juggling, but I can’t help but be annoyed about one thing in particular.

There’s another England song getting a lot more attention than mine. Chris Kamara (ex footballer and Sky Sports pundit) and the FA have released an ‘official’ England song for Euro 2012.  The proceeds are going to charity and I’m a big Kammy fan so I don’t completely begrudge the exposure they’re getting… but I can’t help but notice how awful the song is!

As sad as it is to see something so average reach a public who deserve a lot better, the fight is not over yet!  I’ve re-written the press release (to include a little comparison between the two songs) and will spend a few minutes every day (until England are knocked out) trying to persuade people to write about and play the song.  You can help me out if you like – by downloading the press release and sending a few friendly, strategic emails (to your local paper, radio stations or even Chris Moyles himself!).

Enough about the past and the future.  This is the present.  ‘This is England’.

 

The Blurb:

What better time to release ‘This Is England’ than on the weekend of our Queen Liz’s Diamond Jubilee.

Week 22 is about the country that I was born and hope to die in.  At times it frustrates the hell out of me but since it’s defined my experience of frustration (which is nothing compared to what it might have been had I grown up in Uganda) I can never be angry at it for very long.

Back to FH HQ this week.  Everything was recorded on my trusty laptop with one exception (which we’ll get to in a minute).  There are subtle acoustic and electric guitars, some piano, a splash of glockenspiel and the dulcet tones of Jose Vanders (who we heard all the way back in weeks 1 and 2).

I’ve often thought the song needed a little something else and last week I played a version to Mark and Mixy (from the Dead Poets) with a view to getting some spoken word involved.  They weren’t sure there was space for it and if I’m honest nor was I.  Back to the drawing board, then.

We’d contemplated using trumpet on last weeks song and after asking around on twitter I met a nice chap called Hugh Davies – who records various brass instruments at home and sends those recordings via the internet.  What a splendid idea!  I was at the point where I’d almost given up when I sent Hugh the song and asked (hopefully) if he fancied doing something.  He said he was very busy but could probably improvise a couple of quick takes… and the rest is history!

Now it’s on their I can’t imagine any other instrument in it’s place.  There’s something really British and regal about it, which obviously fits in nicely with this weekends festivies.

Speaking of which, I’m ready… are you?

Favourite Lyric:

I like a lot of the lyrics in this song.  The first verse:

“Billboards and leaflets send hands into wallets to spend all our worries away
There’s storms in a tea-cup and cottages joined up by 3 lane motorways
Stories in papers and walks in the rain
Go out in the town where we all look the same”

My favourite lyric is probably the bit at the end of the 2nd verse though:

“Ride on the tube where a smile is as rare as a word
Jump in the shower and scrub while you sing like a bird
No it’s not perfect but neither are we
We’ll say what we want and we’ll be who we wanna be”

It isn’t perfect but neither are we.  We can say pretty much whatever we want and we can be pretty much whoever we want to be.  Sometimes it’s good to remember that.

Week 21 – ‘Sing For England’ (Euro 2012 song)

When I was younger I would have bet my entire Panini sticker collection that I would end up playing for (and probably captaining) England’s football team.

Unfortunately it hasn’t really worked out.  Some say I never fully recovered from the hamstring injury I had when I was 7 and others say I was just a bit shit.  I think I prefer some.

As you may know Euro 2012 is just around the corner and Roy still hasn’t called so I figured the only way I’ll be contributing this year is through the medium of song…

It’s Friday morning (01:30am) and I’ve just got back from a wonderful evening watching the Dead Poets show (followed by a Frankie Boyle exclusive) in Soho.  For those of you who don’t know the Dead Poets consist of Mark Grist (teacher turned rap-battler and Youtube sensation) and Mixy (Rap-battler turned Poet Laureate and all round nice chap).  Having spoken on Twitter many months ago we finally met yesterday afternoon and started working on a few things together.  More about that soon.

After the show I walked in to find the finished version of this weeks song in my emails, courtesy of James Earp – who I’ve had the pleasure of knowing since the ‘great major label heartbreak of 2009′.  He is without doubt one of the most genuine, decent characters I’ve met since I started out in this pig of an industry and although we don’t get to work together much these days (he’s signed to Sony, I’m signed into Facebook) it’s been as fun and easy as it always was.  So much so I’m going to drag him down with me…

Earlier in the week (Monday I think) I had a day at home.  My only job of significance was to re-write one line in the first verse and in doing so remove all trace of potential offence and political incorrectness.  To cut a very long and boring story short… I failed.

We did a radio edit incase the Beeb won’t play it but I much preferred the original line (about world cups and world wars).  James agreed so we consulted a few more ears and got the old, ‘Not really sure. Yeh, I think so. Probably be fine’ response, before going out on a limb and making the decision to go for it!  I hope it’s taken in the right way (not too seriously) like some of the other lyrics!

 

The Blurb:

I’ve always wanted to write a football song but an opportunity has never really presented itself until now.  Must be said it’s been a LOT of fun, due in part to the vibe of the song but mostly due to the lovely people who got involved. It’s been a real team effort:

It all started with James Earp – who helped me finish the song and recorded/produced the whole thing.  He even let me play bass on it (one take wonder) which is a first!

My friends Andy and Alex came down the studio and sang on the choruses.  The best thing about this?  One of them is Scottish!  My sincere thanks to him (and his nation) for their support.

Yesterday Mark and Mixy came round my house and huddled into the make-shift vocal booth in my lounge to sing on the choruses.  Today we all went back to school…

Mark and Mixy were due to perform/record at The Priory Primary School in South-West London and I asked if I could tag along to try and record some kids singing on the song.  Luckily the staff, parents and pupils were all fantastic and I managed to get permission for the whole of year 5 to sing on the choruses.  Don’t they sound amazing!?

Favourite Lyric:

There was originally a verse that listed players in positions and finished with ‘Downing on the bench, always on the bench’, but true to form Stewart didn’t make the final (lyrical) line up.  Ouch.

Aside from the obvious, slightly controversial lyric my favourite HAS to be:

“50 grand a week is why the least that you can do is try…”

Final Thought:

Next on the agenda is a music video for this – which needs to be shot and edited and ready for Youtube in the next week/10 days in time for Euro 2012.  Right now I have no idea how I’m going to make that happen (production companies and budding directors feel free to get in touch)!  I’ll let you know how I get on next week.

Week 20 – ‘Thinking Back’

Another good few days in the land of #onesongaweek.  Here’s the low-down:

I’m currently sitting in a studio with James Earp (a fantastic producer who I’ve worked with before).  This is good news.  Be excited.

The other day I met another chap called James who works for a new(ish) magazine called Scout London.  In metaphor land they’re going to jump aboard the #onesongaweek express and travel with us for a while.  In reality they’re going to write some words about me (every week) for anyone in the world who’d like to read them.  Isn’t that nice? Here’s a link to the first article.

I’ve written a song about England/Euro 2012.  I’m not sure how it’ll turn out but in writing this I’m committing to releasing it next week.  Crikey.

I recently popped into XFM to see an old friend and ended up leaving a t-shirt and sarcy note for the person I managed to offend on Twitter in week 12.  On the basis he’s not mentioned it I’m think it might have gone down like a lead balloon.  Oh well!

I’ve been working on a few different collaborations recently – which seem to be taking their time to come together.  Songs with Ryan Ashley, Alishas Attic and Mark Grist are on their way… but not just yet.

I’ve not recorded this weeks song at home.  There are two reasons why:

1) I’ve been super busy and am now in the studio with James.

2) The alarm in my block of flats has been going off for FIVE DAYS STRAIGHT.  I admire it’s ability to keep a steady pace (52 BPM to be precise) but the fact I can tell you this with a fair degree of mathematical accuracy worries the shit out of me.

The Blurb

I’ve wanted to go back to a town called Basics with #onesongaweek for a while now and I hope I’ve picked the right song to go there with.  ‘Thinking Back’ is one of my oldest songs and it’s about the only girl who’s ever really, truly broken my heart.

It doesn’t get much more basic than two microphones, recording at the same time – one in front of my face and the other in front of my guitar.

Unfortunately I don’t have such recording capabilities in my little lounge/studio (one instrument at a time, please!) so when I found out I was recording with James this week I insisted we take some time out to do this.

It’s one of those songs I’m not overly comfortable talking about (I’m sure you understand) and I don’t tend to play it live very often.

I do remember playing it once a at a gig/birthday party in Guildford though.  Here’s a little story.

 —–
Chapter 1 – The Only Chapter

It can’t have been more than a month since we’d broken up (which sounds a lot better than ‘since she’d dumped me for some twat with a big nose’).  I’d spent a while kicking around in a hemp haze and feeling sorry for myself but as the days rolled by the clouds eventually began to clear.  Things (like my chin) were looking up.

I was hungover but the sun was out and I’d met a girl the night before.  She wasn’t Kyra but she was interested.  More importantly it was my birthday.

My friend Dan’s birthday always seemed to fall the day before mine (weird) so as usual we planned a joint party slash gig.  We’d get drunk, I’d play some songs, other people would play some songs and everyone would have a jolly good time.  Fantastic.

Soundcheck and dinner came and went like the N35 bus does on a Friday night (slowly and stressfully) but as usual we drank our way through it.  

I don’t remember much of the gig.  For some cruel reason Kyra had turned up and was standing in the front row.  Obviously I tried my best not to notice.  Obviously I failed miserably.

Thinking Back was scheduled to be the penultimate song in the set but it ended up being the last.  I’ll never forget spitting out every single word in her direction (with those crazy eyes I sometimes get when I sing) and the look that it forged on her pretty little face.

She left.  I felt a little better.  We’ve barely spoken since.  

—–

Favourite Lyric:

I don’t really know what to say about the lyrics to this song.  It’s a weird one (even after all this time).

“Thinking too much just fucks things up”

Probably best not to think about it, then.  See you in week 21 x

Week 19 – ‘The Shortest Song In The World’

It feels rather strange writing this on a Wednesday with the song already in the bag… and even stranger knowing you won’t read/hear it for another 36 hours or so.  I’ve gotten used to finishing things and sharing them with you straight away (which I like because it gives me no time to question myself) but this week is different and here’s why…

Tomorrow (Thursday) I will be leaving the house.  Mental, right?!

For most people this is normal behaviour – but this will be my first Thursday in 2012 as part of the real world.  I’m going for lunch on Oxford Street, Shepherds Bush to do something exciting (news soon) and then I’m off to get really, really drunk at my friend Nicci’s book launch.

Speaking of Nicci – her first book (a proper novel, called ‘Someday Find Me‘) is out tomorrow (which is now yesterday).  I say this next bit with trepidation (incase she reads it) but I’m kind of inspired by the whole thing.  I’ve definitely never fancied the way anyone writes before.  I think it’s partly because I know her, partly because the characters in the book (Fitz, Saf, Quinn, Win and co) are ridiculously endearing and partly because every so often she drops a phrase like ‘daddlylonglegsing around’, presumably just to make me smile.

We’ve talked about doing some writing together so hopefully that’ll happen soon.  I’m not sure how it’ll work (an author and songster) but if nothing else I’ll be able to get my book signed.

Back to the world of #onesongaweek…

I haven’t been able to write much recently and time constraints were suggesting I record an old song this week – ‘Thinking Back’ or ‘Breakfast On My Own’, perhaps?  I sat down with an acoustic guitar for about an hour on Tuesday before realising that everything was flawed.  The songs were really sad and I was really happy (for once).  Time to change tact…

I walked to Sainsburys, bought a bottle of mulled wine (one does question why there’s supply and demand for festive drinks in May), trundled over to Clapham Common, sat down with an acoustic guitar… and wrote this:

 

The Blurb:

First things first, I know it’s not ACTUALLY the shortest song in the world.

Second things second, it’s only 56 seconds long.  I can’t make you pay for it.

Third things third, we’re 19 weeks in and everything seems to be going really well (touch wood).  I’m not dead yet and more and more of you keep coming back each week to buy the records and say nice things -  so it’s high time I said thank-you.

‘Thank-you for coming, this one’s on me.  Click right here and download it for free.‘

‘The Shortest Song In The World’ was recorded in my lounge (as per usual). Some jangly guitars, hand claps, a splash of piano and a bunch of ‘oohs’.  I hope it makes you tap your foot, smile and maybe even press play more than once.

—–

As far as Thursday goes, that’s it.  What you’re now reading was written in the wee small hours of Friday morning (I’m seeing double after Nic’s book launch).  Two things to tell you, neither of which I knew when I wrote the above:

1) I had a little chat about #onesongaweek on BBC Radio 5 live earlier (the reason I was in Shepherds Bush).  I knew it was a pre-record but I didn’t know it would air so soon.  It went out last night (at around 1:30am) but you can hear it on the iplayer here (it starts around 50 minutes in).

2) Less than 500 words ago I said I’d finished this weeks song.  I lied.  If ever there was a song that needed bass this was it – so I’m happy to report that my old housemate (and bass virtuoso/part-time Womble) Alex Karban gave up his time while I was out drinking to fill out the low frequencies.  Thanks Alex.

 

Favourite Lyric:

“I don’t dream about anybody else”.

It’s true, I don’t.

 

In other news:

It’s been a largely positive blog full of thank-you’s so I’d like to balance the scales and send a very big ‘fuck you’ to Orange – the mobile phone company.  On Tuesday I had the displeasure of finding out they’ve stolen nearly £400 from me since December 2010.  It all started 17 or so months ago when they messed up my order and I was without internet for nearly a month – so by way of apology they sent me a mobile dongle for free to use until my broadband was connected.  Long story short the freebie wasn’t free.  Orange have charged me nearly £25 a month for said dongle ever since.  A dongle I no longer use and haven’t even seen since January 2011 when my broadband moved in.

Needless to say I ‘kicked off’ (to put it mildly) and they’ve since offered me £200 back – which I declined.  Next up is the phone call from a friendly chap called Jamie (expected Saturday) who will have spoken to the people upstairs and should have some news for me.  Fingers crossed it’s good – otherwise you’ll be reading about little else next week!

Week 18 – ‘Friday Nights’

Thursday nights and Friday mornings – at the same old table (in my studio) talking about the same things (songs and blogs).  Celebrities and cheap TV (on in the background) doesn’t say a thing to me and I can’t wait to get home (go to bed).

It’s 01:19am on Friday morning and I’m just starting this weeks blog.  Sometimes I wonder why I bother with this part – surely the song I’ve been slaving over for the last 72 hours is enough?

Here’s why I bother:

Firstly, without this weekly blog I’d almost certainly forget a whole load of cool stuff – like the old man I saw on Clapham High Street who had aspirations of being the crazy pidgeon lady from Home Alone 2.  Here’s a photo.

Secondly, this blog gives me an opportunity to tell you about exciting things – like the grand opening of my very first online shop (have a browse here), my first ever happy customer (look!) and the fact I’ve eaten 3 Bento Boxes in the last 5 days.

Thirdly we can talk about current affairs.  Yesterdays election, for example.  I hope you voted?  I tweeted a while ago about Brian Paddick (the Lib Dem candidate for London major) and how I was asked to perform at his conference only to have the offer swiftly revoked.  Safe to say I didn’t vote for Mr Paddick yesterday and I can’t wait to dish the dirt and tell you exactly why… slight problem being that until there’s no chance of the person who told me the truth about dear Brian getting into trouble I’ve (reluctantly) promised to keep my mouth shout.

Lastly, and most importantly, these blogs give me an excuse to talk about this weeks song.  So without further ado…

 

The Blurb:

This weeks song It was Christmas record of the week on XFM a long time ago (prior to the release of ‘The Land Before Time‘ on VHS – just kidding, I’m not that old) and was featured on the ‘You, Your Cat & Me’ EP.

It’s about getting drunk with your mates and putting the world to rights.

When I was at university life was predictable.  By day we’d drink in the local Weatherspoons and by night we’d frequent a bar called Fahrenheit 55.  It’s after one too many nights out in the latter that I penned this song.

Friday Nights wasn’t originally going to be a part of #onesongaweek but it’s been requested on Twitter and Facebook too many times for me to ignore.  I decided on Tuesday morning that If I was going to revisit it I’d like to do something totally different with the production – so that’s what I’ve done.  At first I thought about doing it a bit like week 16 (I really like that one) but then I realised I don’t live in Manchester and Jonny and Pete do – so I took a splash of influence from week 15 instead, clapped my hands a few times (literally) and ‘hey, presto’.

Who’s Presto?

The female voice you can hear comes from the lovely Ellen Robinson.  We met rather randomly on a train from Cambridge to London (after the last show of my little April tour) and a conversation about Belle & Sebastian turned into a sing-song on the night bus.  Six days later she learnt some words and sang them wonderfully into a microphone (for the first time ever!).  Amazing – thanks Ellen!

Favourite Lyric:

I quite like the bit in the 2nd verse about America playing board games but my favourite lyric come at the end of the chorus.

“And we’ll make jokes about religion
And we’ll laugh about the queen
Making fun of politicians ’cause they say things they don’t mean
And it’s just our way of getting through the days routine.”

I’m not religious, a monarch or a politician so I guess it’s easy to poke fun…  but if you can’t poke and be poked, what can you do?!

Week 17 – ‘Buttons’

I know showering is more efficient (in terms of time and cleanliness) but I do enjoy a good bath.  The bathtub is a place for calm and a place for reflection.  I also like to watch ‘catch-up TV’ on my laptop.

Yesterday evening I ran the bath and scoured the internet for something easy to watch.  Simon Amstell doing stand up appeared on the screen.  The choice was made.

I spent the best part of half an hour giggling to myself before the final credits rolled and I started thinking…  There’s this wonderful moment where he talks about us humans – and how we spend our time pondering the past or worrying about the future as opposed to living in the here and now.  It isn’t rocket science and it’s certainly nothing new but it all made a lot of sense.

I’ve been guilty of living anywhere but the present recently – so much so that week 17 has totally passed me by.  After returning from Middlesborough and playing a few London shows I finally started gathering my thoughts on Wednesday evening… but it wasn’t long until my friend Jonny (from last week) turned up and we went on a man date before staying up writing songs until the wee small hours.

The plan was to wake up on Thursday and start week 17 there and then but like most of my plans it failed.  I found myself working on the song me and Jonny had written the night before (a lovely little festive tune) and It was only at 4pm (when I could procrastinate no longer) that I finally sat down and decided what I was going to do for week 17.

 

The Blurb

I haven’t had much time for writing in the last couple of weeks – what with touring and a million other things – so it was nice to sit down and play around with an old song.  ‘Buttons’ used to be called ‘Public Transport’ – and it was very different to the version you’re hearing today.

Some songs come together in a few minutes and some fall into place over the space of months and years – this is one of them.

It was written (initially, at least) about an ex who I’ve already mentioned (in week 2).  Enough said.

Recording wise it’s back to basics.  Last week I was above a pub in Manchester with prime choice of 8 guitar amps, 5 guitars, a dozen or so microphones, a wurlitzer (and so on) and this week I’m back in my London flat with a laptop, a guitar, a keyboard and one microphone.

This has led me to the conclusion that I need some stuff:

• Drums (at the very least a snare drum).  This week I resorted to hitting an empty tub of hair product that I’d filled with drawing pins.  It’s no way to live.
• A guitar amp.  Logic (the program I use to record) has lots of fake ones but it’s not the same. The neighbours would also appreciate it (or not).
• A decent microphone.  My little Apogee One is serving me very well for the £150 it cost – but it won’t last forever and it’s certainly no Neumann.

You’ll be pleased to know this isn’t one of those awful ‘pledge music’ appeals for help with a new studio (speaking of which did you see the Daniel Beddingfield one? CRINGE)… I was just letting you know that this weeks recording was never going to sound as shiny and wonderful as last weeks.

While we’re on the subject of charity (let’s be honest, I am one)… If you’re desperate to donate your hard earned cash to help me upgrade the #onesongaweek studio then you can – but such donations are only accepted in the form of you buying the songs and actually enjoying them.

It’s just awkward otherwise.

Favourite Lyric:

“You sew my buttons back on”.

It’s no lie – she really did sew my buttons back on.  In more ways than one.

Final Thought:

I’m about to get ready and go to Cambridge for the last show of this little April tour.  Man on the Moon – onstage at 9:30.  Hope to see some of you there x

Week 16 – Another Love Song

Week 16′s been amazing, frustrating, inspiring, exhausting and just about every other ‘ing’ under the sun.

Firstly I need to thank all the lovely people who left their houses to see little old me play some songs.  Oxford, Manchester and York were all a lot of fun.  I can’t quite believe how many t-shirts I’ve sold or how far some of you travelled (I think a 7 hour round trip from Essex to Manchester is this weeks record)!  Special thanks to Beth and friends (for letting me play some songs in their lounge and sleep in a comfy bed – here’s a photo of us in the kitchen) and Emma, Joe and co for looking after me in York and offering me somewhere to sleep (even though I decided to drive back to London instead)!

Secondly I need to thank Jonny Wright – who is currently sat above a pub in Manchester making the final tweaks to this weeks song.  I met Jonny a few years ago (in Sweden – we were on a songwriting camp in a strange little town) and after really getting on and sharing similar musical ideals we’ve only just got round to working together – safe to say it’s been great seeing him again and I’m hoping this is the first of many songs.

Before we get on to the important stuff here are the last two weekly videos.  One of them isn’t in a Car Park and the other one features Helen Ruocco.  Lovely.   Week 14 – The Birds (4am) & Week 15 – It’s Not Love (But We Do Just Fine).

The Blurb:

The last time I saw Jonny was at Koko in Camden.  He was playing bass for Paul Heaton (of Housemartins/Beautiful South fame) and although we saw each other for a beer after the show we didn’t get a chance to properly catch up… so I was excited at the prospect of seeing him and doing some work together during the northern leg of my little April tour.

I arrived early on Tuesday afternoon and we met in a nice pub – full of different clocks and ‘do not disturb’ signs.  Everyone was friendly (Manchester usually is) and I had a few good ideas floating around in my head.  This was going to be a fun few days – I could feel it.

Between Tuesday 13:00 hours and Thursday 16:00 hours I estimate me and Jonny spent at least 35 hours in the pub – working away.   It wasn’t all boozing and laughing, though.  We also made some musical noise.  Here are the results:

 

‘Another Love Song’ is exactly what it says on the tin – another song about love.

The verse/concept had been floating around for a while but was given a new lease of life as soon as I played it to Jonny and we started bouncing ideas off the walls.  After spending a few hours working on a new chorus and fresh arrangement we wrapped things up and I headed off to play a show at the Night & Day Cafe.

On Wednesday morning I woke up earlier than I care to remember and came to just in time to witness the recording of drums.  Jonnys friend and band-mate Pete Marshall (who I’d met briefly at Koko) turned up with some top banter, effortless chops and a nice flatcap. Here’s a video of me and Jonny dancing round the room during a take.

Jonny played in some bass and we took turns with the guitars before getting round to vocals later that evening.  At about midnight we laid down the final ‘oohs and ahhs’ and I trundled back to the hotel – tired and a little stressed, but very excited.

On the Thursday I arrived slightly later to find the whole of Heaton’s band rehearsing for a tour in the room downstairs (minus Jonny of course – who had been hard at work comping and mixing the things we’d recorded the day before).  The guys (Pete, Chris and another Jonny) were kind enough to pop in and shout ‘hey’ a few times for us during their lunch break – you can hear them in the choruses.

Thursday ended around 4pm when I had to leave for the next stop on the tour – Fibbers in York.  After the show I drove back home to London… slept for a long while and woke up to find the version you’re listening to now.

So that was week 16.  On tour, writing and recording songs in Manchester with Jonny and his friends…  To add to the romance of it all it turns out the pub is owned by Mr. Heaton himself – and it was his collection of clocks and ‘do not disturb’ signs I’d been admiring previously.  Exciting stuff.

Favourite Lyric:

I seem to get asked about my influences quite a lot and always find myself talking about lyrics.  The same names crop up… Adam Duritz, Davey MacManus, James Allen (and so on)… and Paul Heaton.

When I pulled out the verse to this song on Tuesday afternoon I had no idea I was sitting in Heaton’s pub – or that his whole backing band would end up featuring on the recording.  In hindsight it’s funny how it’s all turned out.  These lyrics have clearly been influenced by some of the Beautiful South/Housemartins stuff.

For once I’m really proud of every single lyric in this song so I refuse to pick a favourite!  I like how the first verse sets it up:

“Here’s another love song
I know it’s not the first one
It might not be the last one
But it’s yours, it’s yours”

I like the pre-chorus that shamelessly name-drops some of the best love songs ever written.

“And now I’m ‘Back For Good’
So I’ll be your ‘Wonderwall’ tonight
‘Stand by Me’ I’ll ‘Stand By You’
Coz ‘You Were Always On My Mind’
And that’s why ‘I Walk The Line’”

And then I like the chorus – especially the bit about being stuck in a major key (only writing happy songs) because you’re so smitten with someone.

“Hey (Hey!)
Baby I’m the one for you
Tell me that you feel it too
You make my heart go boom and I said
Hey (Hey!)
I know that you’re the one for me
I’m stuck in a major key
And I don’t wanna sing the blues
So here’s another song for you”

 

Week 15 – ‘It’s Not Love (But We Do Just Fine)’

I’m writing this at 3am on Friday the 13th of April and an awful lot seems to have happened in the last 30 hours.

My definition of an awful lot:

• Sat in a Polish restaurant in Southampton and ordered a feta cheese salad (very adventurous).
• Played a gig and met some lovely people.  Few too many bum notes on the keys, mind.
• Got given a really sweet letter after the gig which I read in the car home. Thanks Charlotte.
• Walked in at 2am to find an email from Mary Hamilton (wife of Frank Hamilton – see wikipedia)
• Sat smiling at the screen until at least 3am.  It was a lovely email and I’ve wanted to make contact for a while.
• Rudely awoken at 8am by the delivery man.  100 You, Your Cat & Me t-shirts now in stock.  Went back to bed.
• Woke up again and made a smoothie.  Banana, red berries, apple juice, yoghurt and porridge oats – if you’re asking.
• Heard through the grapevine that a chap called Gary Kemp might like to write a song together for #onesongaweek!!
• Managed to offend someone I really admire on twitter (without even meaning to).
• Drove to Guildford and played a gig. Really enjoyed it – lots of singing along and not too many bum notes on the keys.
• Came offstage to be confronted by 3 people wearing home made FH t-shirts (all of whom bought YYC&M t-shirts).  Amazing!
• Drove home and stopped off at the BP garage.  Bought a snack pack of sausage rolls and god said it was great.
• Got in at 1am and saw an email from the person I offended on twitter.  All is well, thankfully.
• Put the kettle on, made a cup of peppermint tea and started writing this blog.

So far it’s been mostly good news, right? Here’s the bad news…

Week 15 isn’t ready yet.

I think it’s best I make you wait a day or two instead of giving you something I’m not quite happy with – so sometime in the next 24/48 hours a song will appear.  Please accept my apologies, go back to enjoying your Friday and keep an eye on Facebook or Twitter over the weekend.

Before I go and get busy in the studio I’d like to point you in the direction of the first ever #onesongaweek competition.  I announced it the other day and you can read all about it here.

One sleep, several plugins, a Bento box and exactly 49 hours later…

 

The Blurb:

Such a lot happened in the 30 hours preceding the start of this blog that I forgot to mention something super-exciting.  On Thursday in Guildford (as those in attendance will know) the wonderful Helen Ruocco joined me onstage to sing ‘You Your Cat & Me’.  Helen’s voice is the one you hear on the entire YYC&M EP and we haven’t seen each other since she removed herself from the musical hemisphere and went off to travel the world!

The impromptu performance led to me persuading her to come round and do some #onesongaweek singing – and thankfully she obliged.

‘It’s Not Love (But We Do Just Fine)’ is a bitter-sweet love song – parts of which have been knocking around for a while.  I’ve always been a big Pogues fan and set out to write something with a ‘you’re a bitch… but I still love you’ theme.

Recording it has been a labour of love.  I started it before tour and went back to square one a couple of times.  Originally it was an upbeat country-skiffle number (a bit like Ashley from week 4) but in the name of progression I’ve settled on something completely different.

The acoustic guitar came out of an idea I had when I first heard that Gotye song that’s (rightly) taken over the universe and the electric guitar came out of a journey back from Southampton listening to the 3rd Kings of Leon album on repeat (‘Ragoo’, specifically).

There’s also a big booming floor tom (masquerading as a bass drum), a sprinkle of glockenspiel… and of course Miss Ruocco’s dulcet tones.  I hope it’s been worth the wait.

Favourite Lyric:

Some relationships are hard work and some are eerily effortless… but the best ones tend to be a combination of the two.

“And I know I piss you off when I get drunk
And sometime’s I feel angry ‘coz you’re so blunt
You make me nervous every day
but I wouldn’t have it any other way“

This week should be interesting.  I’m away from Monday to Friday/Saturday (so will probably end up recording Week 16 in the Etap hotel in Manchester).  Wish me luck!

Week 14 – The Birds (4am)

For some reason it feels like ages since we last spoke but by definition it can’t be more than a week.  Either it’s been another tiring journey from LE to JOG (we’re abbreviating now, keep up) or I’m officially losing all concept of time and space. Let’s be honest, both are pretty plausible.

Happy Easter by the way.  I hope you’re spending the weekend somewhere nice with an endless supply of chocolate and hot cross buns. I’ll be celebrating Jesus’ death in the comfort of my lounge/studio – working on next weeks song so I don’t get caught short when tour begins on Tuesday.

I say tour, it’s more like a cluster of dates – here they are. I’ll also be doing a couple of living rooms shows in the days between (organising those this weekend) so if you’d like to get involved and haven’t already done so you need to read this status and email frankhamilton2012@hotmail.co.uk.  As if that’s not enough excitement I’ve also just spent more than half the money in my bank on merchandise.  I’ll be selling t-shirts (for the first time ever), lighter/bottle openers, badges and a host of other things you don’t need but should probably buy anyway!

 

The Blurb:

So week 14 started with a bang (literally).  It was Wednesday night and I’d just started recording this weeks song when a loud noise invaded my ear drums and shook the walls of my house.  I had a peek outside and everything seemed fine… so I carried on.

An hour or so later and I’d programmed some piano and recorded a guide vocal before making the awful discovery that there was no milk in the fridge.  And so began the scariest 10 minutes of 2012 so far…

I put on my shoes, picked up my keys and walked outside to find an eerie silence.  Straight away I noticed there was only one car parked in the street (it’s usually full) and  after a few more paces I spotted the police tape at the end of my road.  I wasn’t sure what had happened (there were no people, let alone policemen, to ask) but it was apparent I couldn’t get through so I did a 180 heel-spin and began walking back towards my front door.

While searching my pockets for the keys I’d just been holding (I spend at least 3% of my life doing this) I heard the sound of sirens coming from around the corner and poked my head round just in time to see a police car speed off into the distance – leaving behind it another street with few cars, no people and yet more police tape.

The reality soon dawned on me.  I was stuck inside a no-safe zone.  Alone… and probably not safe.  Fuck.

Something bad had happened (presumably some sort of chemical-based terror attack) and the police had sealed off the area before getting the hell of out there.  As far as I knew me and my flat were the only one’s left standing in the whole of Lambeth (maybe even London/the world).  It definitely wasn’t supposed to end like this.

Needless to say I wasn’t sure what to do so I went back inside (where it felt marginally safer) and paced around for a few minutes before consulting twitter.  It was decided that if this was to be the end I should at least be well informed and possibly even put up a bit of a fight so I put my shoes back on, said goodbye to myself in the full length mirror by my front door… and went out to face reality.

Of course it transpired to be a lot of fuss about nothing.  There had been a fire/gas explosion at Sainsburys supermarket and there were no terrorists (at least not any active ones) in SW4.  I looked up at the night sky and let out a little smile, happy to be alive… before deciding that Londis was probably a better place to go for milk than Sainsburys – given the circumstances.

Ok, let’s move on to all things musical.  Last week myself and Danica Hunter joined forces to bring you an upbeat break-up song about a weekend.  I went a bit ‘piano loco’ with the production and we also did a nice little acoustic version for ‘The Car Park Sessions’ (which you can see by clicking here).

This week I’m flying solo again and presenting you with another break-up song – only this one’s not so upbeat.  I’ve gone ‘back to basics’ with the production (acoustic, piano and no drum programming!) although I did have a lot of fun with the electric guitars.  I’ve always wanted to be in an indie band… can you tell?!

Favourite Lyric:

I like the pre-chorus (which stemmed from another song called ‘Standing On Your Street’) but it’s the first verse that I like most.

“4am and the birds are singing songs that I don’t know,
But I don’t wanna sleep until you come home.
Wide awake for days I’m eating breakfast on my own,
Running out of milk and running out of hope.”

The opening lyric is about sitting in bed at 4am and listening to the birds through the window – something I find myself doing at least once a week.  The second line is about denial, petulance, stubbornness or a combination of all three that brings about a ridiculous (but really quite sweet) show of affection.  The third line develops on the second and talks about eating ‘Breakfast on my Own’ (another song you’ll hear about soon enough) before the fourth one talks about milk (which you can buy from Sainsburys) and hope (which you can’t).

Week 13 – Song About A Weekend

So here we are – week 13.  Exactly a quarter of the way through this whole charade.  When I write it down it seems like a big milestone but in reality it’s been just like any other week.  Another song.  Another blog.  Another journey from Lands End to John O Groats.

It’s 11:21pm on Thursday night and I’ve just finished mixing the song.  There’s an attractive girl on my couch (we’ll talk about her soon enough) and she’s just suggested we go out for drinks to celebrate what appears to have been a successful collaboration.  She even said she’s buying.  It’s a no brainer, right?

Wrong!!  This Romeo has work to do:

• I said the song’s finished – it’s not. I just listened again and there are tweaks to be made.

• I’ve got a blog to write (which seems to be taking care of itself – just about).

• We’re filming the live version for this weeks ‘Car Park Session’ tomorrow morning which needs a bit of organisation.  I’ve never done one of these on Friday before but I’m off to Wembley on Saturday  to watch a sport called Rugby (I’m assured it isn’t fictional) and have sessions all day Sunday and Monday.  Needs must.

• To compound the misery my parents are coming to visit in less than 18 hours!  Not only is the house is a complete and utter state, it also still smells of jazzy cigarettes from a nocturnal writing session we had on Tuesday/Wednesday.  Uh-oh!

Before this blog turns in to a to-do list let me point you in the direction of last weeks ‘Car Park Sessions’ (wonderfully directed by Barbara the Hungarian) before moving you swiftly on to this weeks song.

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The Blurb:

First things first, a disclaimer:  The piano at the beginning MIGHT be a bit too loud/gritty in (but only on some speakers).  I could spend a short while sorting it out but I’ve already mixed and mastered the song 11 and 7 times, respectively.  For now at least – enough is enough!

‘Song About A Weekend’ is a collaboration with the lovely Danica Hunter (who’s still sitting on my couch as I write – looking a bit bored!) and out of all the #onesongaweek offerings so far it has been both the easiest and most difficult.

It was easy to write.  We spent a few hours sitting in the sun on Clapham Common throwing acorns around before returning home with a fully fledged tree.  When tree’s first fledge I’m never usually happy with them (there’s always a branch out of place or a piece of bark that doesn’t fit in) but this tree was special.  It was secure, had common sense and knew exactly who it was from day one.  Well done tree.

Once a tree has been fledged it’s then up to it’s creator to decide what happens next.  Since it’s birth we’ve always known that the tree would end up being part of the #onesongaweek forest – but there were still big decisions to be made about where it should be positioned and how it should be decorated.

I am of course talking about the production of the song – which has seen me go round in circles for the better part of 72 hours.  If we hark back to week 9 where I talked about this process being like driving from Lands End to John O’ Groats – this week I’ve visited Cambridge, Brighton, Swansea, Norwich, Liverpool, Birmingham, York, Plymouth and London en route – in that order.

Never the less we’ve arrived and the time has come to get out the car, stretch out legs, find the sword that doesn’t exist… and you know the rest!

Favourite Lyric:

I’ve just woken Danica up from a light snooze (it’s now 2:21am) to ask her about her favourite lyric.  Somewhere between a yawn and a groan she told me she really likes the end of the 2nd verse (about smoking and ‘lost’ being her middle name) but she loves the whole of the first one.  That’s settled then…

“Wrote a song about a weekend
Coz I haven’t got a girl
I look to the stars and the planets
But I don’t wanna change my world
I read another horoscope
But they all say the same
I write another love song
And give it a new name”.

I write too many songs about the birds and the bees… so here’s one about a weekend instead.  Who am I kidding?!