Spring 2025

April Friends

HAZY BODIES PASS SOARING HIGH

Your Mix 1

Music For Older People (myself Included)

Songs with a twinge of humor (and some a bit more serious).

Joe Stroffolino - Joe on the Edge

One minute things are going fine
But life can turn on a dime
Every day you roll the dice
And sometimes you find yourself on thin ice

You go for a routine medical check
And they find something you didn’t expect
You’ve been eating healthy food you take a daily jog
Now you’re wondering if you’ll outlive your dog

You’ve been working so hard for all these years
 but what do you have to show for it
All these things you bought but what do you have to show for it

Some people spend their lives accumulating wealth
But what’s the point of money if you don’t have your health

It’s nice to set some long term goals and think about your future days
But sometimes you need to take a step back and make sure you’re on the right highway

You’re hanging by a thread that you used to think was a thick rope
Your road was very flat but now you’re climbing a steep slope

You get up in the morning and you go to work 
You get up in the morning an you go to work
You get up in the morning and you go to work
Five days a week

You’ve been working so hard for all these years
but what do you have to show for it
All these things you bought but what do you have to show for it


You wake up every morning  go  about your day
Sometimes you wonder if it’s goanna be okay
You try to take it one day at a time
Some days are bad others are fine

Incidental finding, life threw you a curve
You're driving down the highway and you're trying not to swerve.
Incidental finding, life threw  you a curve
You're driving down the highway and you're trying not to swerve.

Incidental Finding

Copyright 2024 Joe Stroffolino

Lots of people moving to the state of AZ
The desert seems like a nice a nice place to be
The only problem is there’s not enough H20
One day you’ll turn the tap and it’s not gonna flow
The climate keeps getting drier every single year
I guess we’ll have to take fewer showers and drink more beer

If you can’t stand the heat maybe you should get out of the kitchen
Maybe this isn’t the right place for you.
The sun up in the sky is 93 million miles away
But it feels a lot closer on a hot Arizona day

There’s not enough snowpack on the mountains up high
They say the Colorado river’s running dry
They’re ripping up lawns, replacing them with rocks
Instead of going barefoot, you walk around in crocs
The polar glaciers are melting in to the sea
I wish that they could scoop up an iceberg and drop it down on me

If you can’t stand the heat maybe you should get out of the kitchen
Maybe this isn’t the right place for you

Most of the rain falls in the summer
Monsoon season can be a real bummer
You get a big dust storm, they call it a haboob
You can watch scary videos on You Tube
You’ll be driving and suddenly you can’t see
You gotta make sure you don’t crash into a cactus or a tree

If you can’t stand the heat maybe you should get out of the kitchen
Maybe this isn’t the right place for you

A long time a ago, it must have been tough without air conditioning
People just had to sit around all day moaning and bitching 
Now the biggest thing we complain about is our high electric bill
As we lie on the couch watching Netflix enjoying the comfortable chill

If you can’t stand the heat maybe you should get out of the kitchen
Maybe this isn’t the right place for you
The sun up in the sky is 93 million miles away
But it feels a lot closer on a hot Arizona day

Can't Stand the Heat

Cast of Characters:
Joe Stroffolino-- @joseph-stroffolino -- Taylor 114ce acoustic guitar, main vocals, harmony vocals, lyrics, composition
Llanpsych -- @llanpsych -- Tez – Fender HSS Telecaster electric guitar
TexMex Shaman–@texmex-shaman –Stephen– Tom Anderson Custom T electric guitar, mix, mastering, and production
Mistermark-- @user-432503709 -- Mark – piano
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara -–Ken–drums
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)–@josh-clary-1 –- four string Fender Precision Bass with a plectrum

This song began as one of Joe's catchy, lyrically centered songs, which he wrote on his acoustic guitar, and filled in with VST instruments. He came up with the lyrics by sharing ideas with fellow SoundCloud musician Michele Ansani, who began the thought process of a song about becoming a musician.
Knowing that Josh is a fan of his work, Joe offered this song to him in hopes that he'd share it with the rest of the band. Of course, Josh jumped at the opportunity to work on his song, and immediately shared it with the rest of the group.
Ken went to work first, adding his driving, excting drums. Josh was having a hard time coming up with a good bass line for it, until Ken suggested that he use the power of the 1/8 note to propel it. Tez was up next with his clever fills you hear throughout the first half of the song. Stephen came along right after and matched Tez's energy for the guitar fills in the second half of the song.
It was still missing a solo in the designated spot, though, so Mark stepped up with his innovative piano solo you hear in the middle. If it sounds a little mechanical, that's because he's using an arpeggiator to achieve the effect. We thought it sounded good in a song about AI, though.
Once all the parts were dialed in, and Joe had gotten all his vocals tuned up, we asked one of our resident pros, Stephen, to mix it for us. He did that and mastered it, too, expertly, as always.
This is the first song we've ever done with Joe, and don't expect it to be the last. We all really enjoyed putting together, in no small part because Joe is such a competent, receptive, and gracious collaborator. We all hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Lyrics by Michele Ansani and Joe Stroffolino
Music by Joe Stroffolino (@joseph-stroffolino)

When I was thirteen I picked up my first guitar
it was my mother's, it only had one nylon string
I tried to play it like a rock star
I learned to play the Coca-Cola jingle
So I could teach the world to sing
When I was fourteen, I put on six new strings
I learned to play Beatles, I learned a Bob Dylan song
I sounded out of tune but I tried to carry on
At fifteen I wrote my first original tune
So bad it sounded like it might have been written by a baboon
When I was sixteen, I got a new guitar for my birthday
The metal strings sawed through my fingers
But I continued to play
And the calluses formed and every day I learned a brand new chord
I was obsessed with that guitar and I never grew bored.
I wrote songs every day and most of them were a mess
But I believed that through hard work, I could achieve success
Malcom Gladwell wrote a book that said it takes ten thousand hours
To become and expert at your craft
But now all it takes is two commands and an enter
And in two minutes you have ten versions of the same damn new song,
You just have to choose the type
folk, rock, rap, pop, metal, jazz, trap or blues.
You don't even need to write the lyrics,
your push a few buttons let the AI choose.

And people will think your songs are great even though you didn’t write or play a single note.
When I was 20, I did my first concert, it was time
it occurred in a village square
there were four cats all friends of mine
I was still using the plectrum and sometimes I got the chords wrong
at thirty I finally wrote what I thought was a decent song
It had a very well thought out structure

AI Sucks - Eclectic Collective

Music and Lyrics Copyright 2025 Joe Stroffolino
Vocals Joe Stroffolino
Guitar's: Fender Squire picking track  and Taylor 114ce strumming track Joe Stroffolino
Violin and Bass PG Music real tracks
Drums EZ drummer 3
Piano Logic Pro Session Player track 

All these people who claim they were abducted by alien UFO’s
They say they took them up onto the spaceship and examined them from head to toe.
Most people think those stories are made up, but what if they’re actually true
It kind of makes you wonder what motivates those aliens to do the things they do
If I ever get abducted by aliens from outer space, I think I might ask if I could hitch a ride off this crazy place. 
People who believe we couldn’t have built the pyramids without alien assistance
There’s days when I can’t find my car keys without lots of searching and persistence. 
Maybe we’re just 2 legged creatures and the earth’s an exotic alien zoo. 
And they come here on safari to see what we’re up to
If I ever get abducted by aliens from outer space, I think I might ask if I could hitch a ride off this crazy place. 
Even if they don’t consider me to be much better than a trained monkey
I could play my guitar to cheer them up whenever they feel grumpy.
They say the speed of light is as fast as you can possibly go
Maybe those aliens have access to information we don’t know
Maybe they just look at us in the same way scientists study bugs
They read the work of our most brilliant minds and they just shrug
Maybe someday if we start World War three, they’ll stop the missiles from firing
Or maybe they’ll just let us blow ourselves up because they find our behavior so tiring
Maybe someday if they think we’re ready, they’ll land a spaceship in times square
And although they’re usually naked, they’ll put on some underwear
If I ever get abducted by aliens from outer space, I think I might ask if I could hitch a ride off this crazy place. 
Even if they don’t consider me to be much better than a trained monkey
I could play my guitar to cheer them up whenever they feel grumpy.
There's days on earth when it feels like it might be kind of nice to get away
And getting abducted by aliens just might be okay.

If I Ever Get Abducted

Scream for Your Life before it changes forever. 

Collaboration

Vocals, Lyrics, Composition, Production, Guitar - Billy @sidehustleprophets

Guitars, Bass, Composition, Production, Mixing - Chris @chris-schlue

Drums - Karli @mightymartens

Scream for Your Life

Scream For Your Life

Q-Don't Stand by Me

Copyright 2025 Joe Stroffolino 
***
Vocals, Strumming and picking tracks (Taylor 114ce): Joe Stroffolino
Additional Picking Track: Native Instruments Sunburst Guitar
Bass, Drums and Keys: Toontrack EZ Bass, EZ drummer and EZ Keys
Fiddle: PG Music Real track (viola)
Recorded using Logic Pro 11 and mastered with Ozone 11
***
All those times when you tried to play at the at top of your game
lately your enthusiasm’s starting to wane
You’ve been trying so hard to re-ignite that fire in your belly
lately your resolve, it’s turning into jelly 
You've been trying to be the best that you can be
but maybe you’ve been barking up the wrong tree
if your Spidey sense starts to tingle, maybe it’s a sign 
that you should open up the curtains and let in some sunshine
Sometimes you need to listen to your inner voice
Every morning that you wake up you still have a choice 
You’ve been swinging for a home run, but you can’t even seem to get to first base
You feel stuck like a rat in a race, like one of those monkey’s they shot into outer space
There’s days when it feels like you’re hanging by the end of your rope
And you struggling so hard to find a solution so you can cope
if your Spidey sense starts to tingle, maybe it’s a sign 
that you should open up the curtains and let in some sunshine
Sometimes you need to listen to your inner voice
Every morning that you wake up you still have a choice 
You try to make it through each day and sometimes you feel like the missing link
White knuckling your way through all the changes, trying not to be the first to blink
People doing things fast with AI that you're sure would take you several weeks
But you swear you’re going keep doing things the old-fashioned way with your luddite techniques
Your life is like a river that’s constantly flowing, 
You get swept along by the current You’re never sure where it’s going
Sometimes it feels like you’re playing a game of musical chairs
You’re afraid that when the music stops, you’ll be the one whose left standing there

If your Spidey sense starts to tingle, maybe it’s a sign 
that you should open up the curtains and let in some sunshine
Sometimes you need to listen to your inner voice
Every morning that you wake up you still have a choice

All Those Times

Cover picture: Albert Bierstadt, "Emigrants Crossing the Plains" (1869): an oil on canvas painting of emigrants on their way to Oregon, inspired by a fifty-wagon train of German emigrants who crossed Bierstadt's path during his 1863 expedition.

Although it is very difficult to estimate the total number of European emigrants, it is thought that from the beginning of the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century, around 30 million people left Europe for the United States.

I reworked in the last days on this not particularly original piece, whose first draft is from 2018.
Femal vocals courtesy by La Boutique Studios Dakar; harmonica by Dust Bowl - Vintage Country.
Composed by Michele Ansani (2018-2025).
Posted on SoundCloud: 2025, March 26

Their American dream *

[ Albums ]
https://negativeheadphone.bandcamp.com

[ Youtube ]
https://www.youtube.com/c/negativeheadphone

[ Spotify ]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6yptVqiGbvP3HpQNz2XTyQ

[ Facebook Page ]
https://www.facebook.com/negativeheadphone

[ Twitter ]
https://twitter.com/NegaPhone

Youtube

Invader

Cast of characters:
TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen– Taylor T5z acoustic guitar, Tom Anderson Custom T electric guitar, Gibson Earle Scruggs banjo, Eastwood MandoCaster mix, mastering, production, and composition
J.J. Terrell-- @j-j-terrell—JJ-- organ
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken–drums 
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 –Josh – Fender Precision four string bass, played with a plectrum 
Mistermark-- @user-432503709 -- Mark – harmonica, jaw harp, timpany, hambone percussion, and production editing     
This song began with Stephen, who recorded it on his acoustic guitar and bass to a programmed drum track a few months ago. We were all thrilled to work on it, even though it sat in BandLab as a project for almost a month before Stephen separated the tracks, thus allowing us to trickle in our parts. JJ was first to jump on it, because he could before the tracks were separated, as his part is completely his idea. He added the organ that really set up the entire sound of both dominant sections of the song. 
  Ken was first up to the project once the tracks were replaceable, making the wild, driving beat his own. Inspired by both JPJ and Michael Ivins, Josh laid down his bass line, trying to match Ken's energy. Last, but not least, Mark jumped in with the rumbling timpani. He also added the flavorful harmonica, and unique jaw harp you hear throughout, as well. 
  At that point, Stephen also got the idea to add the hambone percussion at the very end of the song, which we all consider a treat, and after showing us how it's done, Mark volunteered his percussion skills to give it a go. Stephen wasn't done with it, though, and still had some magic to sprinkle. He went in and added the howling electric guitar you hear prominently in the second main section. Also, he added the tempting intro with his acoustic guitar and electric mandolin that looks like a Telecaster guitar. 
  Once it was in the bag, we thought it appropriate for our master mixer Stephen to put it to bed, which he did in his always expert manner. Mark did help with the production, though, as he's very good with editing and spotting mistakes that need to be corrected.
  This is a gift from Stephen to all of us, and you, too. It took a lot of teamwork to make the dream work, as always for Eclectic Collective. We hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Country Ham (Eclectic Collective)

So, your weight keeps going up and your motivation keeps down.
Situations that used to make you smile, lately they make you frown.
The pants that used feel comfortable, now feel too tight.
You used to be a lover but now you just want to fight.
You feel like the human version of a caterpillar, who went into a cocoon
And when you emerged, you were singing a different tune
Maybe you should take a look around at all those people worse off than you.
You should count your blessings and be thankful you don’t have to walk a mile in their shoes.
Try to find the silver lining in those situations where you constantly complain
Try to be part of the solution instead of yanking on everyone's chain.
Everywhere you go you pontificate about all the things that you hate.
You reminisce about the good old days but back then you were complaining too.
Every year those new year’s resolutions, they quickly come and go.
They disappear as fast as the springtime melts the snow.
You wish you could join the circus to escape your current life.
But the circus had to close down cause they were concerned about animal rights.
You want to get your mojo back. You’ve fallen in a crack.
You’re like a cockroach lying upside down wigging your little legs and you can’t roll over
Maybe you should take a look around at all those people worse off than you.
You should count your blessings and be thankful you don’t have to walk a mile in their shoes.
Try to find the silver lining in those situations where you constantly complain
Try to be part of the solution instead of yanking on everyone's chain.
You’ve turned into the person that you swore you’d never become
Every day you become more of a curmudgeon

Curmudgeon

Mental Health Day$

CAN’T YOU SEE
Vocals: Melissa (Ghosthack) Can’t you see
Brandon (Ghosthack) I don’t wanna go
https://www.ghosthack.de
Lillithe: Arrangement and Production
Paploviante: Remastering


Can't you see

Great EWI Breath Controller Cello Jam by Jörg: https://soundcloud.com/joerxworx

The Next Level (Remix Cello Jam)

Dream of Freedom

A smooth blend of mellow pop, ambient textures, and downtempo jazz vibes. Laid-back grooves, soft keys, and warm tones come together to create a dreamy, late-night mood. Perfect for slow evenings, creative sessions, or simply letting your mind wander.

Floomara Swaylix Octo

Link to video where I tell the story behind the song : https://youtu.be/cilXaNM0IoI?si=IbBwc2wlxYTwoADH 


In Catholic school, whenever I misbehaved, the nuns used to pull my hair.
If I could go back in time and do it all again, I’d gab some clippers and shave my head bare.
I did eight years of hard time in Catholic school
I was never the kid who was considered cool
Eight straight years of Catholic School and somehow, I survived
Eight straight years of Catholic School.  Thank God I’m still alive  
My first-grade teacher was a nun, who if you’re penmanship was sloppy
She’d make you take all your books and stand there holding them in the back of the room.
She was like a witch except instead of a pointy hat she wore a habit
She carried a crucifix instead of broom.
I did eight years of hard time in Catholic School
I was never the kid who was considered cool
The cafeteria food tasted horrible, but I had to eat it
I had to wash it down with milk that was warm and sour
I’d try to fold my plate in half and throw it away, but the nuns would catch me and make me eat it
It’s like they had this secret food wasting detection superpower
Every year your birthday, it was customary for the kids in the recess yard,
To grab you and kick you and punch you for every year of your age.
I still have flashbacks of a girl with pointy hard black shoes kicking me really hard in my rib cage.
My fifth-grade teacher Sister Margaret she’d been teaching for way too long
It was time for her to retire but they let her teach another year and that was wrong
She had long grey whiskers growing out of her chin
She’d sit at her desk and trim them with of scissors and you sure as hell better not grin
She’d tell cautionary tales about innocent kids who got into cars strangers
She seemed to enjoy describing all the bloody graphic details of the danger.
I did eight years of hard time in Catholic school
I was never the kid who was considered cool
Eight straight years of Catholic School and somehow, I survived
Eight straight years of Catholic School.  Thank God I’m still alive

Catholic School

Jag vill ha kaffe. ( 1997 ) Eddy Mango ( Eddy )

SOAR / feat. Odarka / Paploviante Music
Vocals and Lyrics Odarka:
https://www.looperman.com/acapellas/detail/23305/soar-acapella-by-odarka-95bpm-pop-acapella
Paploviante:
Bass, Music Composing, Mix, Picture and Mastering

SOAR feat ODARKA

Hazy Moonlit Night

Modes About Me - Dead Body
Album:
Happy Not Hateful

Guitar:
@themysteriousdecibel

Bass:
@thefunkykaiju

Producer:
tssrecording.com/

Lyrics:

Happy Not Hateful

Dead Body

This is just a song of personal circumstances written in the same phase as “Jigs & Fixtures”.   
Looking back after so many years, I really should not have any regrets.  The song picture is also arbitrary.
Thanks so much for stopping by.

[CREDITS]
Music / Lyrics / Vocals / Arrangement / Programming – Michael C. Lynn
Guitar Solo – Brent Mason @Band_in_a_Box
Violin Solo -  Avery Bright @Band_in_a_Box

[LYRICS]
It's been four years now					
I am still around in these castle walls					
Not yet ready for society bound					
Waiting for chances to call					
But the curtain's falling before the play begins					
Sometimes you make it					
Sometimes you have to give in					
					
In this castle					
For too long I've been here					
See the castle					
Many long to be there									
That's the castle……that's the castle

Card games in the library					
Play truant repeatedly					
Keep on fooling around					
Examination's in a daze					
All the years are gonna waste					
Feeling like a clown					
Empty stages, regret is the only thing					
Run through the pages					
Can't find the right song to sing

In this castle					
For too long I've been here					
See the castle					
Many long to be, long to be there

Requirements must be satisfied					
If you wanna get inside					
Fill the forms and stand in line					
The status that you're aiming					
Dreams you're pursuing					
Future sure looks fine					
Games hall and canteen					
Swimming pool in between					
Are just too fascinating for school-leavers at seventeen				
					
(CHORUS 2)					
Come and join the castle					
We're getting better every year				
Join the castle					
It's nice to have you here
Join the castle					
We're getting better every year				
Join the castle					
It's nice to have you, nice to have you here

The Castle

Golden Dance

drummers paradise

Additional vcls B.Browning

SOMEONE SAID
DON’T GO MISTAKING PARADISE WITH A HOME ACROSS THE ROAD AND I SAY
DON’T GO MISTAKING WICKED.COM WITH WICKEDMOVIE.COM OH NO
IT MIGHT LEAD YOU INTO A MATTEL GLITCH SOMETHING YOU DON’T REALLY WISH EVEN IF YOU’RE OVER 21
BREAK A LEG DON’T BREAK AN ARM SKIING IN THE TELLURIDE
ET CAETERA MAN AUX ARMES SOUVIENS-TOI, BONNIE AND CLYDE
BEING OVER SEVENTY ONE
I THOUGHT I MIGHT CLICK ON THE LINK COULD I BELIEVE I SAW ? OH NO
OVER 6000 WICKED SCENES
HOW CAN THEY ALL FIT IN ONE SCREEN? OBSCENE MAN OBSCENE
I’D RATHER HAVE THE LAND OF OZ A TALKING GOAT WITH A POINTED HAT A FEMALE CHILD GLINDA THE GOOD ELPHABA GALINDA TIT FOR TAT
SANS COMPTER MADAME MORRIBLE WHAT IS LIFE BUT A SILLY RIDDLE ENFIN BREF
AU FESTIVAL DE TELLURIDE
OU QUE TU SOIS OU MÊME AILLEURS MES MEILLEURS VŒUX DES INVALIDES DE MÉNILMUCHE, DU SACRÉ CŒUR
OUI CAR TOUT ÇA C’EST D’LA BROUTILLE L’IMPORTANT MAN, C’EST LA FAMILLE PAS VRAI ?
REMY MAGALI REBECCA REBECCA REMY MAGALI AND PHYLLIS OF COURSE
HERE’S TO THE SOCCER PLAYERS BON ANNIV BON ANNIV EMMANUEL

MATTEL GLITCH (Lyrics) Song for Emmanuel

This song is dedicated to two sisters with celestial voices that I had the chance to appreciate on: "the song with no words" by "highlander on the Run"👏👏👏

I’ve known Annie,  
I’ve known Ailsa them shine,  
In every sweet phrase.  

Two souls in harmony,  
Beneath starry skies,  
With their melody,  
They make hearts rise.  

In a world that rushes,  
Where time stands still,  
Their voices dance softly,  
Like dreams that fulfill.  

With celestial notes,  
They lift up our hearts,  
In a sound embrace,  
Where love never departs.  
 
Every verse a fate,  
Together, sisters,  
On their path so great.  

And when darkness approaches,  
And hope starts to wane,  
Annie and Ailsa sing,  
And life blooms again.  

I’ve known Annie,  
I’ve known Ailsa,  
Two sisters in my heart,  
That the world will embrace.  
(I’ve known Annie,  I’ve known Ailsa, )

I’ve Known Annie and Ailsa

Hey everyone!
This track, Asteroids (The Original Was Better), started when I heard Beating Edge’s chiptune tune RND and got inspired to write some lyrics about the classic arcade game Asteroids. I added my acoustic guitar and vocals on top and sent it over to the band.
They liked it so much they decided to jump in and make a second part with a more rock vibe using the same musical base. We put both parts together into one track, starting with a fun spoken intro, a little vocal line to bridge the two sections, and finishing off with a hilarious outro.
It was a really cool collab and I’m stoked for you all to hear it!

Music by: Beating Edge
Lyrics by: Tom (Beating Edge) and Joe Stroffolino
Performed by: Beating Edge and Joe Stroffolino
Acoustic guitar (Taylor 114ce) by: Joe Stroffolino
Vocals performed by: Joe Stroffolino and Tom (Beating Edge)
At the moment, this track is exclusively available on SoundCloud.
Released on June 6, 2025.
©2025 Beating Edge and Joe Stroffolino

Lyrics:

[Spoken Intro]
Joe: Wow! This is a really cool Arcade!
Tom: Yeah!
Joe: Hey, check it out! Is that an Asteroids game over there?
Tom: Oh, wow!
Joe: I haven't seen that in like that forever!
Tom: That's definitely Asteroids! Let's play a game!
Mary (with a sore throat 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣): Oh yeah! Let's play Asteroids!

-->Joe

I used to play asteroids in the 1980’s
I liked to blow up rocks in outer space
The flying saucers would attack me
At an ever-increasing pace

I stumbled across an old vintage arcade the other day
I hadn’t played Asteroids in a long time
I popped a quarter into that old machine
And I watched my score start to climb

I watched my score start to climb
I watched my score start to climb
I watched my score start to climb

Time goes by so quickly
and playing that game really took me back
To those days when my future was unwritten
And I hadn’t gone so far down my current track

Pushing those buttons so fast and furiously
Standing in front of that arcade machine
Blowing up all those asteroids
On that black and white video screen

Blowing up all those asteroids
On that video screen
Blowing up all those asteroids
On that video screen

For a couple of minutes, I forgot about the present
I was back floating in outer space
Breaking big rocks into small rocks
I had a a big smile on my face

And then it was time for me to go
Cause I had errands that I needed to run
But that old video game
I sure had a lot of fun

It's not over yet

-->Tom

Just a single screen, all black and white
The whole room's dark except the TV's light
Rotate and thrust, it wasn't much
No one had seen a thing like this before

Now there's a 3D holographic thing
That no one plays, 'cause nobody can afford
With a visor on, your body's gone
It's kinda fun, but the original was better

We used to play all day, late at night
For the high score, it was do or die
No one knew what a quarter was worth
No one knew what the future had in store

Now there's a 3D holographic thing
That no one plays, 'cause nobody can afford
With a visor on, your body's gone
It's kinda fun, but the original was better

The original was better
The original was better
The original was better
The original was better

Now there's a 3D holographic thing
That no one plays, 'cause nobody can afford
With a visor on, your body's gone
It's kinda fun, but the original was better

[Spoken Outro]
Someone who wants to stay anonymous 😂: That was a lot of fun!

Asteroids (The Original Was Better) - Beating Edge & Joe Stroffolino

Cover art:  Taylor 114ce and my Peloton

Eating lots of cheese and hotdogs, eating lots of cake. and pie
I wish that I could switch to arugula and beets so I could be a more healthy guy.
It seems like everywhere I look; I see a delicious high calorie treat
But I only have one stomach and there's so much food to eat.
There's a Peloton in my basement, I need to go down there
Cause I. don't like how I look in my underwear
Why can't losing weight be as easy as losing hair.
I step into Starbucks for black coffee and walk out with hot chocolate and a muffin. Sometimes I feel like a teddy bear who's been filled with too much stuffing 
I tell myself that for lunch I'll have a side salad, and I'll skip the dressing but the more that I think about it it starts to feel depressing
there's the peloton in my basement I need to go down there.

If God said to Adam if you eat that fruit, you won't look good in your birthday suit, would he have taken a bite?  Based on my experience I don't think so.
If Moses led his people to the promised land and they found a place where desert was banned, would they have stayed there?  Based on my experience I don't think so.
There’s a Peloton in my basement. I need to go down there. 
I chew on my celery stick and I wish I was eating a French fry and I sip from my bottle of water but I'd rather be drinking a Mai Tai 
every day when I put on my clothes my pants feel a little bit tighter and every time when I step on the scale I realize I'm not getting lighter
There's a Peloton in my basement, I need to go down there
Cause I don't like how I look in my underwear
Why can't losing weight be as easy as losing hair.
Why is the food that tastes the best so unhealthy it's not fair.

Peloton in My Basement 2025 version

Carl from the Beautiful dark wrote a song today titled "Baldy Patty" and  it inspired me to write my own personal a song about baldness.  I started to lose my hair in my early twenties, and for awhile it bothered me and then one day, I decided to shave my head and I have never looked back. And now so many years have passed that I have been bald longer than I had hair. 
***
Guitar (two strumming tracks) Taylor 114CE 
Organ (playing my midi keyboard using the Logic Pro Organ plug in)
Strings (playing my midi keyboard using Native Instruments strings)
Piano: EZ Keys 2 (Indie Pop (tweed))
Drums (EZ Drummer 3)
Bass (PG Music Midi track with sounds from Native instruments Rickenbacker)
***
My hair’s falling out and I don’t know what to do.
My hair’s falling out, and I’m singing this song to you.

I’ve got hair on my fingers; I’ve got hair on my neck.  
I’ve got on my toes, I’ve got hair on my chest.  
But the one place I want it, it keeps falling out.  
My hair’s falling out and I don’t know what to do.

I shaved my head until the top of my skull was shiny
And I know it’s counterintuitive but I’m no longer bald and whiny.
When you’re young, you assume that you’ll always have hair
And then when you start to lose it, you think it’s not fair
Sampson in the bible when he lost his hair, he became so weak
But that guy on the bottle of mister clean is definitely no geek

I’ve got hair on my fingers; I’ve got hair on my neck.  
I’ve got hair on my toes; I’ve got hair on my chest.  
But where it’s missing on the top of my head, I no longer care one bit.
Because now when it comes to baldness, I don’t give a shit

My Hair's Falling Out

I have been using a CPAP machine for several months.  I am sleeping much better and I decided to take a stab at writing a song about it.  
***
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is a common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. A CPAP machine uses a hose connected to a mask or nosepiece to deliver constant and steady air pressure to help you breathe while you sleep.
***
Copyright 2025
Vocals, Lyrics and Chords: Joe Stroffolino
Guitars:  Joe Stroffolino: Taylor 114ce (two guitar strumming tracks) and Fender Squire Picking track
Drums:  Programmed using EZ drummer 3
Bass:  Pg Music Midi track with .vst sound from Native instruments Rickenbacker
Organ: Joe Stroffolino: Playing Midi Keyboard with vintage B3 Organ sound from Logic Pro
***
Cover art:  Real (Non-AI) Photo of a Halloween Skeleton wearing my actual CPAP mask  (I was going to take a picture of me wearing the mask but believe it or not, the skeleton looks more attractive) 
****
CPAP Lyrics: 
I was snoring, so I had a sleep study, and they gave me a CPAP machine
It took a bit of getting used to, it was uncomfortable at first, but now it’s part of my nightly routine
When I first put on that CPAP mask, I tried to pretend I was like Darth Vader, part man and part machine, but actually I look more l like Jason in that hockey mask on Friday the thirteenth
The doctor said if I don’t wear that mask, I’ll be gasping for breath all night long and I know I’d better keep wearing it, if I want my heart and brain to stay strong.  I just wish I looked a little bit more sexy while I was wearing it.
Every night when I go to bed I wear a mask that covers my mouth and my nose and on the top of my head, connected to the mask, there’s a big, long hose.
They say when it comes to romance, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover 
 But something about that CPAP mask makes me thinks it’s goanna be hard to find myself a new lover.
The doctor said if I don’t wear that mask, I’ll be gasping for breath all night long and I know I’d better keep wearing it, if I want my heart and brain to stay strong. I just wish I looked a little bit more sexy while I was wearing it.
Sometime you gotta try to put things in perspective
Sometimes you gotta try to be a little bit more objective
Sometimes you just gotta put function over form
Sometimes you gotta be willing to deviate from the norm
The doctor said if I don’t wear that mask, I’ll be gasping for breath all night long and I know I’d better keep wearing it, if I want my heart and brain to stay strong.
I know it’s very important to follow all the proper medical advice and I have every intention to keep using my CPAP device.  I just wish I looked a little bit more sexy while I was wearing it.

CPAP

When https://soundcloud.com/dneye asked me for a track to play his fantastic guitars on, I brainstormed this 5/4 piece with odd chord set in order to make it difficult to him and thus get the best from his skills. After programming it, I added some organic solos (yep I played keys) to make it seem more friendly ;))))

And he... succeeded in the challenge, overcoming all my expectations !!!

Five by D'n'Eye: guitar1, guitar2, guitar3, guitar4, harp.
Five by E-Ruizzo: piano, bass, mellotron, organ, drums.

Hope you'll enjoy this our first post in the new year !!


High Five !! (with D'n'Eye)

Songs with a twinge of humor (and some a bit more serious).  
I do not use AI to create my songs. 
https://linktr.ee/joe.stroffolino
Recently I have had the urge to pick up my guitars (Taylor 114ce and Fender Squire) and I have been trying to use more guitar in my songs.  
My go to .vst plug ins are  EZkeys 2, EZ Bass and  EZ drummer 3) and my DAW is Logic Pro 11. 
I welcome your comments and enjoy listening to all the great music on SoundCloud. 
All songs are originals and copyrighted.