Music & Piano: Jan Schonander

Got in my head that I wanted to play something with a little staccato and this is what came out. Also thought it would be a good idea to do all four seasons and recruited three pianists to complete the cycle. Delighted that Debra Buesking agreed to take on summer and here is a link to her wonderful interpretation:
https://soundcloud.com/debra_buesking/summer-interrupted-c/s-6ix0O3wrxbm

Two additional Soundcloud artists have agreed to tackle Fall and Winter and when their inspiration results in a track the links will be here too. I have also put together a playlist where all four tracks eventually will be in a collection. 
https://soundcloud.com/thegats/sets/four-seasons-interrupted/s-A8Hi6t3VNkV?si=a7457f3de6a241c3a68fc7f30c86a64c&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

I spent seventeen long winters in Stockholm. Funnily enough the most challenging season to me was always spring with all the false starts and long hiatuses. By the time it’s May and you can reasonably expect some warmish weather (defined as over 50F) it inevitably snows and destroys your planned weekend bike ride, or maybe you just have to keep your down jacket in the closet a few more weeks and leave your lighter clothes at the back of the closet. Of course, spring is the beginning of a period of more fun and games. Hopefully you can hear the pull between spring trying to break through and winter lingering on in this music.

This is a performance with no post recording edits. It is entirely in Gm except for 1 note intended to denote a dissonant interruption. I wonder who can locate that B.

Spring Interrupted

Primarily a fun song that takes a bit of humor from the experience of a guy who tried so hard to be a good husband, a good guy, but ultimately loses out. Bemoans all the sacrifices he made, yet he could never please his wife.   

My special thanks to Nat Daniels for stepping in to add some critical new pieces to my old recording, including some great production work!

Craig Durgy: vocals, mandolin & bass
Nat Daniels: organ, background vocals (mixing & production)
©Gentle Rain Records 2024

Thanks to haim_charbit for the banner art!

Lyrics:
You made my mind up, you turned my head around
You said my time was up, it’s time to settle down
You bought your wedding gown

I tried to follow, I thought I loved you so
So much to swallow, you said I had to grow
I tried it even though...

I didn’t think that I was, all that bad a guy but,
I listened to your kissin’ girl
I just killed myself to go on living

Now you want to, pick up with someone new
Now that I blew, my soul away for you
The things you put me through

You got your lawyer, to take my house from me
Last time I saw ya, you had my LTD
You wouldn’t stop for me

I didn’t think that I was, all that bad a guy but,
I listened to your kissin’ girl
I just killed myself to go on living

You got my toaster, you got my bowlin’ night
You weren’t supposed to, just disappear from sight
It just isn’t right

You got my hair changed, you made me chew my food
You made me sleep strange, just cause it felt so good
I gave you all I could

I didn’t think that I was, all that bad a guy but,
I listened to your kissin’ girl
I just killed myself to go on living
Just to go on living, just to go on living, just to go on living
I gave you all I could

(Rap section)
Didn’t think, didn’t think now
Never thought, I never ever thought how
Didn’t think that I could live without you
Everything about me was about you
I can tell I’m living by myself to go on living

I Gave You All I Could

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)

Picture from the video game God Of War
We are nothing more than mortals waiting for the day when Átropos cuts the thread of our life.

Átropos

Thank you Paul for providing an opportunity to once again explore and collaborate with our musical styles. 
I felt this outcome is so appropriate and reflects the energy of our Olympic moods, individual energies and talents .
-Paul  creating the musical structure and playing Bass, guitar, drums and effects
-Mike on keyboards/melodies.

Olympic Pulse - ft Paul Paploviante

Hielo, Ariel En Bicicleta

Mtlsir https://soundcloud.com/user-434699157?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing and me are Glitchy dopt Phong !!

Glitchy Dot Phong - Glitchy Dot Phong

method: employing the presets of the arpeggiator on the a50 to narrow in on philip glass, bbc's celts, orinico flow, the moldau, pata pata or sonamos or whatever your enlarged and numerous senses might perceive
narration: a flow, a bend, afloat
image: copyright jo richter

poem / copyright jo richter

striations of birthing she bore
as though no one had suffered before

shattercone . the final couplet

shattercone - the final couplet

have a great day

An expression of painful elements: confinement, loneliness, and failing to attain what one is reaching for. The middle section (starting in Gb major) offers a little solace, but is only fleeting.

SWW26.6

"Deep beneath the forest, there is magic all around,
With music, dance and laughter, yet you'll barely hear a sound,
But if you're very still, you may hear a fiddle play,
As tiny creatures celebrate another splendid day."

- Beneath the Forest, by Francess Harris

A companion piece to "Enchanted Forest Dance." 
----------------------------------------------
Poem and original composition by Francess Harris - Copyright 2025
All Rights Reserved.

Beneath the Forest

Thanks for visiting. This is a retro eclectic music mix with looming influences from among others Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Lou Reed & Jon Lord. Mostly I write about the human condition.

I am always looking for a guitar player that wants to collaborate. Would be fun to find a real drummer also.

A Gat is a cat in Catalan - it all makes sense if you’re me. The (s) stands for many collaborators.

I encourage everybody on SC to listen more and be less transactional.

Spring Interrupted

TheGat(s)