This is actually the third version of the song. I felt the original idea I’d roughed out with the keyboard and computer could be more interesting. So I reworked the whole track again (twice) adding several ‘hooks’. These were some vocal ‘stabs’, some keyboard/synth riffs as well as writing ( what I hope ) is a more interesting bass line. I beefed up the drum section too. I hope the fun I had creating it is reflected in the overall vibe of the track. Having said all this, the question is: did it actually work? 


Get Up

Special thanks to Cecilia for her a cappella ...of which I modified the tone in order to fit perfectly with my arrangement and atmosphere

EQUALITY FOR ALL.  🎧

(Chorus)
No basic style, come on take a ride
Basic style——why? A catalog of vibe
Put a name on it, another wave for the tide
Listen what’s inside, then blast it worldwide 
The groove does not lie, a melodic glide
   Something-though, this much is certain
Set free to run wild—-no basic style
No basic style (Echo)

(Verse 1) 
Energy driven, music’s a haven
No questions-no answers -Taken-none given
We Share parts of ourselves 
   Just for the living
But I’m still underground 
Although I have risen
To a higher level in fact,
Basic styles-good riddance 
Bye bye—-let’s dance 

Switch it up!

(Verse2)
Switch it up-Switch it up
Random rhythm of raindrops 
Nothing fancy—-plop, plop
Lightning strikes naturally 
It’s all good-fear not

No hassle, add a deep bass
Some kicks and one-shots
Vibe along, it hits the spot
Feel the rhythm, move your butts
Cataloged tabbed—-
“Forget Me Nots-Vibe Will Hit The Spot”

No basic style—
(Chorus)
Interlude

No Basic Style

on your mark

get ready to

cannonball

into the blue



after swimming

sparkle all around you

catch the sound

breakers breaking



stop the boat

get ready to

pick a spot

to slip into



after swimming

as the sunlight bakes you

summer sips

on a sand dune



after swimming

after swimming

come swimming

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

image by Leandro Crespi via Unsplash

After Swimming

'ghetto falsetto' with Harmful if Followed and sixstring mac 

Isaac and the apple:
Mac: music, lyrics and vocals
Harmful/Shane: lyrics, vocals, backups 

one man verity show:
Scotty: lyrics, vocals, backups, art 

Well the night’s effervescent and I’m on fire
Full of anti depressants to blunt my ire
Well aware of the presence of my desire
It feels very pleasant as I get higher
And I’m clad in a fashion to catch the eye
So why does everyone ignore me as I walk by
It would be a different story for a different guy
But I’ll never find the glory unless I try
So why do I lie so low 
Why don’t I let them know
Let them bask in the glow
Of my ghetto falsetto 

Most are fucked up from the drugs they take,
and don't care to interrupt all the love I make,
but I can't quite erupt so, I'll simply fake,
and make believe
that I have climaxed, because all the noise
that keeps me far from relaxed and trapped in the void, 
I've always had a clean nose but perhaps I'll toy 
with singing in falsetto. 

These streets are full of cackles and high pitched screams
A ghetto manifesto haunting my dreams
Monotone narration to a story I know
A baritone ending won’t leave me alone
I’m not crazy it’s the world around me
I’ll deal with the shit eventually 
Then get past the truth I know
That I’m too low for ghetto falsetto 

But it don’t mater how high or how low 
Unless you mean it nobody will know
All you need is the seed and the get go
Let go of the ghetto falsetto

ghetto falsetto (with Harmful if Followed and sixstring mac)

I have been hearing so much AI music lately on SoundCloud and these  thoughts have been percolating with me for a while and finally they coalesced into a song. (created without the use of AI).
***
Vocals & Back Up Vocals: Joe Stroffolino
Guitar Strumming Track:  Joe Stroffolino Taylor 114CE
Drums: EZ Drummer 3
Bass: PG Music Real track
Piano:  EZ Keys2 
Synth Bass: Logic Pro 
***
You got tired of struggling so hard to write a great original song
And then this amazing newfangled technology came along
Now you’re using AI to create music, and it’s a much easier process
And you’re convinced you found the ticket to achieving great success.
You tell yourself you’re a great artist because prompting takes a lot of skill
But deep down you know the AI did most of the work and you swallow the bitter pill
People complement you on your guitar playing and they tell you your voice sounds great
It makes you feel so good but you don’t ever set them straight
Those classic rockers used to write 10 or 12 good songs every couple of years
Now you’re posting two or three songs a day and hoping for a bunch of cheers
You’re rolling the musical dice, hoping you’ll come up with a catchy viral hit 
But there’s so much music flooding the internet that no one gives a shit
You tell yourself you’re a great artist because prompting takes a lot of skill
But deep down you know the AI did most of the work and you swallow the bitter pill
People complement you on your guitar playing and they tell you your voice sounds great, it makes you feel so good but you don’t ever set them straight
Some people believe we’re living in simulation and none of this is real
We’re just digital creations in a computer with the ability to feel
But even if that’s not the case, we’re quickly, heading to a place where no one’s going to be able to tell the difference.
You used strum your guitar, trying to capture lightning in a bottle and the songs that emerged came from you.
And now the songs you write with AI, what they’re saying, you don’t have a clue.
Music used to feel therapeutic, it was a window on your soul that you could share.
But now something feels missing because your songs no longer lay your heart bare.

Prompting Takes A Lot Of Skill

Torbjørn: vocal, instrumental and vocal composition https://soundcloud.com/tobbenv
Oddrun: vocal and vocal composition
Mastering: Njål Frode Lie
Poem: William Blake
"Ah! Sun-flower" is a poem by William Blake, published in his collection Songs of Experience in 1794. The poem explores themes of longing, weariness, and the human desire for something beyond earthly existence, using the sunflower as a symbol. 

A big thank you to you Torbjørn, what a great joy to sing this beautiful poem.

Poem: William Blake

Ah! sunflower, weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the sun,
Seeking after that sweet golden clime
Where the traveller’s journey is done;

Where the youth pined away with desire,
And the pale virgin shrouded in snow,
Arise from their graves and aspire;
Where my sunflower wishes to go.

Ah! Sun-flower. Torbjørn Vagle. Oddrun Eikli

Electric Horizon

Simple music made in GarageBand :)
Lyrics & vocal by me

Lyrics:

I'm a little different, not like everyone else
But I'm happy with that
I have nothing to prove
And I don't need a common groove

I walk around with a smile on my face
You may think, Is there something wrong
Well, I am just a satisfied woman
Living life, singing this song

So I´ll toast to a happy life
It can be challenging for sure
But if you get through it with a smile on your face
Can you ask for more? 

There is comfort in getting to live
It's not a given for me
Spend my life doing what I want
Allow myself to dream

I walk around with a smile on my face
And you may think, is there something wrong
Well I am just a satisfied woman
Living life, singing this song

So i´ll toast to a happy life
It can be challenging for sure
But if you get through it with a smile on your face
Can you ask for more?

If you get through it with a smile on your face
Can you ask for more?

A Happy Life (Original)

The Snow Queen – Gerda Searches for Kay – Feat. Melissa Rood
August 2025
Duration: 2:40
Listen to more music from the Snow Queen ballet at: https://soundcloud.com/bruce-klepper-1/sets/the-snow-queen-music-for-danse
Vocals: Melissa Rood https://soundcloud.com/novembersoundmusic
Recording: Bill Rood
Mixing and production: John-Marc Ventimiglia https://soundcloud.com/john-marc-ventimiglia
The Snow Queen has taken Kay and Gerda is sad for the loss of her frend and is looking for him in Winter. 
Music for Danse Etoile Ballet (www.danseetoile.org) who will be performing The Snow Queen Ballet January 2026 in Colorado.
For voice, strings, piano, bells and percussion

The Snow Queen - Gerda Searches for Kay - Feat. Melissa Rood

Giving and Taking (open invitation for a collaboration from IPG1) 
https://soundcloud.com/ipg1/giving-and-taking-vox-90-bpm
Paploviante: E-Bass, Music, Composing, Arrangement, Mix and Mastering
Lyrics IPG1:
Cloud Stepping (Chorus) Life is relative, 
to the one that’s living it Inside outlook, 
to giving and taking it 
Experience god’s works, all senses 
We were given just a little bit 
We couldn’t handle it all  the few we have 
can nearly fit the few 
we have can nearly fit
(Verse1) 
If we knew it all, and all, and all 
Then nothing would matter It’s all a puzzle to be solved 
We have always been the answer 
The plan of god without reward 
Evolves in different ways 
We are all awake in different dreams 
To let the devil play
(Verse2)
 Who amongst us hear the screams 
Of millions of lives lost,  and don’t look on it as savagery
 And wonder what’s the cost 
What’s the worth, and what’s the cost 
Are we listening or not 
Are we listening or not
(Chorus)
 Life is relative, to the one that’s living it Inside outlook, to giving and taking it Experience god’s works, all senses 
We were given just a little bit 
We couldn’t handle it all  the few we have 
can nearly fit the few we have can nearly fit

Giving And Taking IPG1 and Paploviante

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.