The challenge today turned out to be writing and singing a melody that fit over a bunch of dominant 7th chords with flatted 5th's, and to still have the song sound relatively sunny and lighthearted.

Maybe I haven't filled enough bottles
With the water that drains out of my eyes
To get myself through the heat of this summer.
What a bummer to lose steam a week in.

Maybe I haven't crashed at full throttle,
Grand theft auto, enough times to make the news
To get myself through this day-to-day summer.
What a bummer to lose steam a week in.

What A Bummer

Here's a hokey little song, complete with that "sincere ending" cliche. The focus of this one wasn't so much in the music, but rather in how to define a character and make the listener form a certain opinion about them.

You believe everything I tell you even if it's just half true.
Is 50% of the things I say good enough for you?

Did I ever tell you
About the time I climbed Mount Everest
Just to shout your name up high?
Did I ever tell you that?

They say that it's the thought that counts
When everything is said and through.
But I just can't stop myself thinking about
How to lie to you.

Did I ever tell you
About the time I broke into the Louvre
Just to hang your picture there?
Did I ever tell you that?

In all of my tall tales, no matter where I'm at
You're always there with me.
Did I ever tell you that?

Did I Ever Tell You?

About as quintessentially Chris Hollis as you can get: goofy synthesizers, semi-jazzy chords, an unreliable narrator, and a lot of "la la"s and "oooh"s. I noticed a few songs ago that I'm starting to really like choruses with few words. I tend to be very wordy in verses, so I think they contrast pretty well with that. Plus they're easy to write.

Don't even breathe on it wrong.
Fingers and palms are out of the question.
Check that your gaze is not too strong,
Or six seconds long.

Leave my opinion alone,
Leave my opinion alone,
Leave my opinion alone,
What did it ever do to you?
What did it ever do to you?

Don't tell me what to eat or drink,
Or any other thing, it's out of the question.
I didn't ask for what you think.
The antibodies spring into action.

Leave my opinion alone,
Leave my opinion alone,
Leave my opinion alone,
What did it ever do to you?
What did it ever do to you?

My Opinion

Tried to use a pretty odd, dark chord progression on this. But mostly it was just an excuse to record more 4-part harmonies. Dedicated to the car I currently drive, which has actually driven enough miles to make it around the Earth 10 times.

In a car that's been around the world 10 times,
You don't seem so far away.
Cross the cement on my way to you sometime,
And maybe find some time to stay.
40 miles is about an hour drive,
But still the thoughts eat up my whole day.

Through a telescope by distant mountainside,
You don't seem so far away.
But it's longer than my arm can reach sometimes,
And I know what you're going to say,
40 miles is about an hour drive,
But still the thoughts eat up my whole day.

40 Miles

For last year's challenge, my 30th song was big and anthemic. I wanted to do the exact opposite this year, so here's a stripped-down, easy-going little tune. To all the 30 day song challenge participants, it's been fun.

Got everything I wanted.
Got a few extras too.
I've got to do what I want to,
And that goes double for you.

Go back to your normal life,
Go back to another Earth while you still can.

Hanging around in the foyer,
Guess it could have been any other room.
Freedom's a tough employer,
But I don't have those working man blues.

Go back to your normal life,
Go back to another Earth while you still can.

Thinking back a few days now,
I might not have waved goodbye.
As I was waiting to break down,
I noticed that I felt alright.

Go back to your normal life,
Go back to another Earth while you still can.

Go Back To Your Normal Life

This begins my lower-effort output for 2017.

How can I have you for a minute?
How can I have a minute of your time?
Heaven has to know I'm willing
So why can't they bless me with a better line?
Don't mess this up
Don't mess this up
Don't mess this up

And how can I stand you for a minute?
How can I stand a minute of your time?
I'm more nervous when you're in it
In the witness stand starting to testify
Don't mess this up
Don't mess this up
Don't mess this up

A Minute

Let's play Twister
Let's play Twister
Bend your arm and I'll bend my leg
Leaning back as you focus on your aim

Let's play Twister
Let's play Twister
Curl each finger into its place
Bring it to the blue spot here on my face

Can you give me a moment?
Can I stand on my own two feet?
Time-outs don't come so easy
So in other words
So in other words

Twister

I found the way back to Mom and Dad's old house
The one in the picture in the hall
And every time I'm in there
Every time I sneak inside
I feel like someone's in there
And I turn to see the girl that I love

I heard the song that they played in the car
When I was just five or maybe six
And every time I hear it
Every time I listen close
I think I know who wrote it
And I start to hear the girl that I love

And I Turn To See The Girl

My girl's near her end
So you can quit knocking on my door
I won't let you in
Heard your pitch and we don't want no more
My girl
My girl can't take anymore

Times are getting grim
But you won't see go fight no more
I can't help you win
Tried our best but we lost our war
Times aren't
Times aren't good anymore

My Girl's Near Her End

I'll wipe you off the counters
If you wipe me off the floor
Move in little circles until we're done
Wring me out into a bottle
Though you shouldn't drink anymore, no no
This is the worst of us here on the floor

The Floor

When I was a boy
I could take you for a real mean date
You'd be overjoyed
When I walk you home because it's too late, baby

But now I've got so much responsibility
And employees who fear my voice
There's gas that needs to get in my Mercedes
And Bentley and Rolls Royce

When I Was A Boy

When you say "How do you do?"
You mean "How do YOU do?"
Marching through your skull like I know you do
When I say "How do you do?"
I mean "How do you do it so wrong?"
Like I know you do

Even if you had to care for a million little baby birds
It wouldn't change one thing about you
It wouldn't change a thing

This account is solely for my submissions in the 30 Day Song Challenge, a grueling trial undertaken by a group of aspiring songwriters in Pomona and the surrounding areas. In accordance with the challenge's rules, each of the songs contained here were written and recorded in one day. Give me a break.

Chris Hollis

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