雲は流れる

Had a little dry spell, hopefully it's over now. In the span of 24 hours I have alternated between hating and loving this track about 400 times...

If you need a helping hand
Someone who understands
Don’t shed a tear, I’m right here

If you need a dollar bill
Or have a little time to kill
Baby you know I will
I’m right here

When you’re down and blue
And you need two big strong arms to pull you through
Hold on tight, that’s what i’ll do

These are more than just words I say
I’m here for you night and day
Have no fear I'm right here

When the road is long
And you need someone to beside you, I’ll come along
Anywhere with you, is the place where I belong

These are more than just words I say
I’m here for you every day
Have no fear I'm right here
Have no fear I'm right here
Let me make this clear

I'm Right Here

We conclude our Summer Series on a hopeful note and a glimpse into the future.  Mankind has finally found that it can accept the differences that divide us, share the bounty between us, and become a vast community governed by faith, hope, and love. How did such a thing come about?  We collectively took a step back from the brink of self-annihilation by realizing "we solve most things if we talk".  
Ironically, this was the most complex song of the five to put together,  We all had an idea of how we wanted it to turn out, and thanks to Seagull and a lot of talking between us behind the scenes, we came to consensus and a final version.  Our little band is proof "we can solve most things if we talk":)  It has been an honor to work with each of you: 
Music composition, 1st guitar (center), bass, synths, mix and production; Seagull, @farout-music-studio
Right & Left Guitar; Our wonderful guitarist; David, @david-dunhamuser589535203
Lyrics & Vocals; Our dear poet Peter, soundcloud.com/user-264930040/tracks
Vocals and harmonies; Soundcloud's most wonderful voice; Oddrun, @oddrun-eikli
And the key phrase at the end; The lovely little Finley, 7 years old.

We Solve Most Things If We Talk

Summer rain finds my face, splashing through my smile
Thunder rumbles fall away, storm is phasing through
Peace of mind is on the case, misery is in denial,
Yesterday’s squally day, tomorrow’s skies are azure blue.

Dreams of history’s tension gladly start to ease
Gripping claws of lunacy finally shun the past
Seems things turned out badly for hunger and disease
Slipping towards unity, laying down the guns at last.

Call my neighbour as my friend, our meanings line as one
Colour, gods and politics accepted as they are
Mutualities to defend no conflict clouds our shining sun
Consideration and respect, a communal repertoire

Mother Mary called today
Handed me a flower stalk
Kissed my worries clean away
We solve most things if we talk.

Need as might we understand equality’s a bed of lies
Celebrate uniqueness as a cast of human thread
Day and night, hand in hand, no polity compromise
Learning from our weakness past, focused on the light ahead.

Mother Mary spoke today
Led me on a learning walk
Eased my troubles on the way
We solve most things if we talk.

Mother Mary sang today
Left me with a simple thought
The wisest heads will simply say
We solve most things if we talk.
"We Solve Most Things If We Talk"

Contented Man (Seagull, Oddrun, Peter, David)

'Double Down' A light Latin/Bossa feel featuring my good friend Andy Grossart on Bass. Also sharing composition.

Walking the Straight and Narrow

Double Down

Double Down ( Feat. Andy Grossart)

Music by Nick Rangel
From the album - Keep It Real
©Nick Rangel 2023

Balancing Point

Words and music By Roger Whittlesey. Saxophone arrangement by Georg Boehme. Boehme plays soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxes. He also plays the bass clarinet. Noel Barrett plays the bass guitar. All other sounds by Whittlesey. © 2024.

Dear Reader, 

In Shakespeare's play "Hamlet," Ophelia drowns herself in what is a terrible and tragic scene late in the play. 

The idea for this song came when I recognized that the grief of loss, missed opportunities, and mistakes compound as we age, and they don't leave us. Instead, these emotions seem to haunt us—often surprising us when we least expect it. And so, these feelings are akin to the tragic drowning of Ophelia, except that they seem to happen again and again—hence the title of the song. 

Georg Boehme, a brilliant arranger, composer, and horns player from Cologne, Germany, joined me on this piece. I sent Georg the basic tracks and gave him no instructions. He knows what to do, and he always exceeds my expectations. His playing on this piece is amazing. As you get to know Georg's music, you will begin to see that he has a unique style, and it shines through in all that he plays. Thank you, Georg, for lending me your immense creative talents. 

Last week, I sent what I believed was the finished version of this song to Noel Barrett, an outstanding bass player from Cork City, Ireland. I knew he would dig the work that Georg did on the track. And he did. Without any prompting, he replaced the bass part that I laid down—and improved the tune tenfold in the process. Noel has rock-solid time and brings a melodic sensibility to everything he plays on the bass. It is a great pleasure and honor to have him guesting on this song. 

Finally, I thank you, my devoted listeners, for your comments and for your repeated returns to my channel. 

I have much more music to write. This is only the beginning of the journey. 

Highest Regards, 

Roger Whittlesey
July 9, 2024

Ophelia Drowns Again

'facetious feces'

Insecure.
Sins a blur
when you're livin'
in the fast lane.
Feel no pain,
until you come 
crashing down.
Lasting frowns
seem to stick around 
endlessly. 
No retreat,
until you get
high again.
Bliss.
Heaven.
The cycle it
never ends.
Repeat. 
Repent.
Be careful or
you'll be dead.
Catchin' zeds,
stuck in a bed 
permanently. 
Germinate seeds
of love within yourself. 

Crashing down.
Masking frowns
until I get high again.
Will it end?
Or is this just life?

facetious feces

Copyright 2024 Joe Stroffolino

There’s day’s when you’re going through life
 And you’ve just gotta put a fake smile on your face
And go through the motions 
and pretend that everything is okay
People ask you how you’re doing 
you tell them
Hey I’m doing great
Even though
that’s not what you really want to say
There’s days when you wish that it was Halloween
So you could walk around looking like someone really mean
There’s days when you feel like you’re grasping for straws
You look at your hands and you wish you had claws
You’ve been walking around with a stiff upper lip
Trying not to let the mask slip
You’re going through life, trying to understand
Is this part of some master plan
You’ve been waiting for so long to strike when the iron’s hot
But lately you’re starting to feel like some kind of creature that time forgot

There’ve days when you just want to stay in bed  all day and watch TV
And eat lots of popcorn and potato chips
There’s days when you go to a fast food restaurant 
And they make you they make you pick up your food and and clean up the mess and you wonder why they ask you for tips
And there’s days when you realize that your milk’s past it’s expiration date 
But you drink it anyway, it’s the closest think you ever do to tempting fate
And there’s days when you’ve been sitting in your cubicle for way to long
And you wish you could stand up and sing a loud a rock and roll song.
You’re walking around all day and on your shoulder’s a really big chip.
You go through your day desperately trying to maintain your grip
You spent your entire life living in a self imposed cage
You kept your feeling bottled up, you never let out any rage
You’ve been walking around with a stiff upper lip
Trying not to let the mask slip
You’re going through life, trying to understand
Is this all part of some master plan
you’ve been waiting for so long to strike when the iron’s hot
But lately you’re starting to feel like some kind of creature that time forgot
Grasping for straws stumbling around sleep walking your way through life
Trying not to make any ripples , trying not to cause any strife
Sometimes you’ve just gotta do what’s right for you

Grasping For Straws

Where's John John?

Many thanks to Eddie Harrison for his work on this new love song. Eddie gave it that 60's feel that I love.  (BMI)

Do You Know (Lyrics by Tony Harris - Featuring Eddie Harrison) Original

Voici la Vidéo : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8ocdaoJvtI 

Salut cher réseaux sociaux, avant les fêtes je tenais a t'offrir une belle critique, j'espère que tu l'aimeras et l'entendras.
En tout cas j'ai fait mon possible pour être à la mesure de ta Coolitude.

Mesdames, Damoiseau, Messieurs, Demoiselles et autres Gueux (ce sont mes préférés) 
J'ai l'immense bonheur de vous présenter "Cool is Watching You" !!
Le Nouvel EP de M'Z - la version "concept en musique" de mes travaux de composition.
C'est une critique du cool social par le cool musical...

Dans cet album je m'exerce à adopter un positionnement musical "cool" et souhaite mettre en perspective les limites de cette 'posture', qu'on s'impose, socialement nous même, plus ou moins volontairement et que les réseaux sociaux favorisent largement. 
Posture qui, semble bien plus nous nuire que nous servir. 
"Cool is Watching You" est aussi un point de rencontre en musique entre Orwell et Huxley qui espère guérir le cool par le cool.

7 morceaux que je définirai plus en détails avec des mots dans les jours à suivre, pour favoriser la transe, en attendant je vous laisse le découvrir en sons avec les seuls gros titres comme pistes.

Je remercie Anesthetize Productions et Guillaume Beringer
De m'aider à la diffusion de cet album, n'hésitez pas à les suivre et allez découvrir les divers travaux qu'ils défendent.

Je remercie ma femme Sam Clou qui m'offre un environnement tellement gorgé d'amour, que je peux avoir le loisir de faire toutes mes conneries et qui m'aide avec ces mots ces artefacts et sa présence à encaisser tous les chocs.

Je remercie Pedro Coelho pour m'avoir accompagné avec grand brio sur le morceau Palais plastique et je vous conseille de le suivre également c'est un excellent guitariste et musicien et une très belle personne.

Je remercie Sociopark et Steph Artaud Films #dirtinthewind et tout le collectif #DIRTINTHEWIND avec qui on s'octroie des espaces de réflexions salvateurs pour théoriser sur la place de l'Art dans une société a la dérive et de permettre de donner corps a une véritable notion de coopération et de solidarité.

Je remercie les familles, la physique, comme celle de coeur qui sont pour chacune des particules qui composent cet ensemble, des phares quand je suis dans les ténèbres, qui me guident même en silence. 
Du panache quand je suis dans l'adversité et qui m'aident a me confronter au monde. 
Un regard chaleureux quand ma critique s'attaque au moi et le gèle sur place.
Un espace ou nos folies sont amies, jouent, s'expriment et ne se jugent pas outre mesure.
Et bien d'autres angles dont chacun pourraient définir une des facette d'un amour violet du nil

Merci également a la rue on se retrouve a 18h en attendant voilà un cadeau qui j'espère nous donnera de la force !!

Cool is Watching you

Suis-je Bien Chez Ce Cher Serge? (VIDEO in description)

Songs with a twinge of humor (and some a bit more serious).  
I do not use AI to create my songs. 
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.