Cover Art: Wilhelm Grimm (left) and Jacob Grimm (right), portrayed by Elisabeth Jerichau-Baumann (1855) PD-US
Music and Lyrics Copyright 2025 Joe Stroffolino

Hansel and Gretel were abandoned by their parents in the forest all alone.
They stumbled across a delicious looking candy-coated home.  A cannibalistic witch captured them and put them in a cage. Those were the kind of stories they used to tell children at a young age.

The brothers Grim told stories that were a reflection of their time
There was disease famine and poverty and things were not going fine 
We had to sanitize the stories because our modern stomachs are weak
And you’ll get in trouble if you read a book to kids, and it makes them shriek

Three little pigs were in a brick house trying really hard to survive 
The big bad wolf came down the chimney, fell in a pot of water and was boiled alive.
Cinderella’s stepsisters wanted to marry the prince, but they couldn’t fit into her shoes so they chopped off their heels and toes because they had so much to lose 

The brothers Grim told stories that were a reflection of their time
There was disease famine and poverty, and things were not going fine 
Little Red Riding Hood in the bedroom with a wolf dressed in human clothes.
Wondering why her grandmother had sharp teeth and a snout instead of a nose. Jack climbed the beanstalk, there was a giant who wanted to grind up his bones and make some bread. He stole the magic harp and the hen that laid golden eggs and the giant ended up dead

There’s days when you want to take a sheet of tin foil and stick it in your baseball cap
To keep all those negative thoughts from getting in your head and making you a miserable chap
Did it all start when you were a child, and your mother read you that bed time story that perhaps in retrospect may have been a bit too dark and gory

The brothers Grim told stories that were a reflection of their time
There was disease famine and poverty and things were not going fine 
Now we environmental devastation, nuclear weapons and milk that might have bird flu
Just turn on the news you don’t need a fairy tale to put the fear of God in you
But if you take away all the parts that are dark, sick twisted and gory. 
Do you have anything left that actually resembles a good story.
***
Vocals and backing vocals -  Joe Stroffolino 
Guitars - Joe Stroffolino ( 2 Strumming tracks: Taylor 114ce and Fender Squire and I picking track:Taylor114ce)
Bass, Saxophone, Horns: PG Music Real tracks
Piano andi Strings: PG Music and Native Instruments
Drums: EZ drummer 3
Recorded, mixed and mastered with Logic Pro 11

The Brothers Grim

A trio that doesn’t want to be categorized.

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.

25
instrumental pop, piano, jazz, electronic...
I’m exploring the potential of instrumental music.
I hope you like it.

I'm passionate about supporting music artists behind the scenes. From creative direction to strategic guidance, I’ve always been the go-to helping hand in turning vision into sound. Championing talent, one artist at a time. 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎙️🎙️🎙️

/ -.--.--. I AM LIVING PROOF  -- . .  -- . -- .. --  I AM LIVING PROOF -- . .  -- . -- .. --  I AM LIVING PROOF

Manifesto

We Declare:

    That the suffering in Gaza is not a distant conflict but a wound in the conscience of humanity.

    That silence and political games by so-called Western defenders of democracy are betrayal incarnate.

    That art, music, and truth must tear through walls of apathy, breaking chains with sound and spirit.

    That to remain silent is to support the erasure of life itself.

    That we rise—voices united, hearts aflame—to amplify those crushed under siege, to shatter the walls of oppression.

    That every beat, every echo, every lyric becomes a rebellion against forgetting.

    That through collective awakening, we reclaim not just Gaza’s future but the soul of humanity.

/ -- . .  -- . -- .. --  I AM LIVING PROOF

/ : fictionalive, August 16, 2025 - 4:21 pm

/
Disclaimer: Ladies and gentlemen, and anyone who needs a special mention, I'm throwing caution to the wind and speaking out about this chaos. I'm going live, ready or not. So, sit back, relax, and try to enjoy - it's all for your own good.
/
/ -- . .  -- . -- .. --  I AM LIVING PROOF
/
//
"NOTHING UNDER THE SUN IS NOT PART OF CREATION, NOR IS IT NOT CREATION ITSELF—IT'S ONLY WHAT YOU MAKE IT. NO JUDGES, NO DIVIDES—UNITY." 
/
/ : fictionalive, July 30 - 11:11 am
/
//
For This Is The Voyage, The Legend, The Song – Where We Belong
/
/ Keep shining
/
"NOTHING UNDER THE SUN IS NOT PART OF CREATION, NOR IS IT NOT CREATION ITSELF—IT'S ONLY WHAT YOU MAKE IT. NO JUDGES, NO DIVIDES—UNITY."

1. Philosophical and Metaphysical Context

This phrase operates on a profound metaphysical premise rooted in ancient and modern spiritual thought: the idea that everything within existence ("under the sun") is inherently part of creation, yet simultaneously defies a simple binary of "creation" and "non-creation." The double negation — “is not not part” and “is not not creation” — serves as a dialectical device emphasizing paradox rather than straightforward affirmation or denial.

Nothing exists outside creation’s domain. All that "is" is both a part and a reflection of the creative whole — but perhaps creation is not a static “thing.”

It touches on panentheism or even non-dualism, suggesting creation transcends our binary modes of thought.

In this sense, the phrase challenges rigid ontologies. It rejects compartmentalization — what we consider ‘created’ vs. ‘uncreated’ is a false dichotomy.

2. Existential and Constructivist Overtones

The clause “It’s only what you make it” signifies a turn from metaphysical absolutes to personal agency and interpretation.

Creation is not a fixed category but a creative, subjective, and participatory process.

Reality is texturized by human meaning-making — your perception, actions, and judgments shape what ‘is.’

This brings in vibes of existentialism and constructivism, affirming our power and responsibility in shaping the world and imbuing it with meaning.

3. The Ethics of Judgment and Division

“No judges, no divides” strikes a moral and social chord:

It calls for radical acceptance — no external or internal authority imposes judgment.

It opposes division, sectarianism, or exclusion based on arbitrary or prejudiced distinctions.
This has echoes of universalist humanism and inclusive ethics, a plea for unity beyond fractured identities, labels, or separations.

4. Final Summation: Unity as a Creational Ethos

The closing refrain “UNITY” serves as the conceptual apex:
Unity is not merely a formal condition but an existential and creational ethos, holding the paradoxical unity of all existence despite apparent differences or judgments.
It is a call to embrace multiplicity without fragmentation — wholeness that contains diversity.

Style and Rhetoric

Paradox and Double Negatives: The use of double negatives (“not not”) is daring and poetic, evoking the style of Zen koans or 
Hegelian dialectics — prompting reflection rather than offering a direct statement. It challenges the reader to dwell in ambiguity and complexity.

Capitalization and Punctuation: The em dash creates dramatic pauses, underscoring the key thematic shifts; the capitalized “UNITY” acts as a powerful, summative slogan or mantra.

Economy of Words: Despite its complexity, the phrase remains succinct, poetic, and emphatic—a hallmark of impactful philosophical proclamations.

Cultural & Literary Resonances

Biblical Allusions: “Under the sun” recalls the Book of Ecclesiastes, with its contemplations on the nature of existence. This embeds the phrase within a long tradition of existential inquiry.

Contemporary Spirituality: The phrase resonates with New Age and postmodern spiritual ideas emphasizing non-duality, co-creation, and global unity.

Political and Social Dimensions: In a world segmented by ideologies and conflicts, “no judges, no divides” can serve as a subtle political manifesto for peace and acceptance.

New piano piece: Live Reflexion#036

Composer on minor keys. I play by ears since my youth days, I love all kinds of music 

All tracks are originals, composed, produced and performed by Rina (myself) except covers  at 4face Musik

If you are intetested to buy my tracks, just email me 
4facemusik@gmail.com

Respect to all Soundclouders, proud to be on this platform and I thank you so Very much..
Peace,
Rina