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In the wee morning hours on NY day traveling home - I stopped at the 24hr market - it was closed- In the parking lot I saw hundreds of blackbirds huddled on the ground.... I shared the visual with Calvin and this is the song we wrote about it.

Any thoughts on production etc welcome - thanks in advance

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8731634

ANOTHER BLACKBIRD NIGHT =====
© words and music by C. Stewart / Joice Marie ( Jan 6 - 2010 )

Clusters of Blackbirds
Dive From the skys
Camp out in snow
With icicle eyes

They quit their day jobs
Guarding graveyards
Search for morsels
Under frozen cars

This is how the fowl will survive
Waiting for spring to arrive

CHORUS.....
It's all they know, and it don't seem right
ANOTHER BLACKBIRD, sleepless night
It's all they know, and it don't seem right
ANOTHER BLACKBIRD, night

Now they cuddle up
Hope for the best
Side by side, let
Nature do the rest

This is how the fowl will survive
Waiting for spring to arrive

Repeat CHORUS of..... BLACKBIRD

J-bird dozes off
In her feather down
Hums a lullaby
Fills the empty sound

Cover filled goose down
Piled warm and high
Snug near the fire
Toes warm and dry

This is how a heart will survive
Waiting for love to arrive

CHORUS....
It's all she knows, and it don't seem right
ANOTHER J-BIRD, sleepless night
It's all she knows, and it don't seem right
ANOTHER J-BIRD, night

J is like the blackbird, wears a coat of hope

This is how we all will survive x 2

Repeat CHORUS of BLACKBIRD


! A LeMoN & McFARTneY ProductioN !

This is really cool you two - has a great vibe. Calvin is really getting those atmospheric electric guitar licks down. And the tone of the vocals sounded right on for the song too.

Has a really nice melancholy feel to it. Kind of a cold feel too, like winter.

Lyrically, there were two small stumbling blocks for me - maybe unimportant.

The first was "filling the empty sound". Didn't quite get "empty sound" though I accept it just could be poetic license.

The second was actually saying "J is like the blackbird". You did such a nice job making that clear before the line that it actually took away just a little bit to hear it sung.

Feel free to disagree, of course

In any case, a stark and lovely sad song!

Scott

Cool! I really like the groove and the tone of the song! It's very dark ... almost hypnotic! Calvin's voice and yours blend real well. I wonder if you sang in harmony how it would sound!

Lots of possibilities.

Stan

Hi Joice and Calvin,

This is very cool and original. The octave harmonies sound good here, pretty much together, all the way through.

I wonder how this might sound if there was a bit more reverb on everything? Like, a bigger hall sound, especially on the guitars, to give them a deeper, more "sacred" sound, perhaps...

Other than that, this sounds really good, to me. I like the hypnotic vibe.

Mike

Hi Scott,

Hope you're doing well, it's great to not be snowed in isn't it !

Glad ya liked what were trying to do here.
Yeah i tear the heck out of one note don't I :-)

J-bird IS HUMAN

Fills the empty sound - the empty sounds are the sounds of lonliness

Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

What a good song. Sounds like you are still in the car, intimate and a little creepy, but expressing the whole scene perfect.
Fine performance too!

Ken

Hi Calvin & JM,

Very cool vibe with the guitar on this one. I like that you parallel birds with humans. We're not so different after all.

Ricki

Seems to me to be quite symbolic and somber. I'm not sure if it was your intention but when I hear this song I see homeless people searching for a way to make it through a cold winters night. Either way, I enjoyed it!

I love the guitar work Calvin. Nice subtle feel to them which enhances the mood perfectly.

Steve

Joice and Calvin....a really nice job on this one. It sort of reminds me of the Kingston Trio for some reason...or something that they would have done...(only a bit more up-tempo)

My only nit was.....I think I would have said SHE'S like the Blackbird, wears a coat of hope....but, that's it. Maybe also, I would have changed up the chorus a wee bit more to differentiate a little more from the verses....but all in all, I really enjoyed it and you had great imagery there for sure..nice one.

Jan

Hello Stan,

Always nice when you pay us a visit, we appreciate your kind words ont he song.
Have a good day.

Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

Hi Mike,

Good to see ya.
We appreciate you listening to what we're attempting !
And you sure know your way with sound so.... we're certainly listening to your suggestions.
Have a musical day !

Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

Hi Ken,
Thanks for the visit, we're glad you could take a couple of minutes to listen/comment.
Intimate and a little creepy is probably the nicest compliment we've ever got.

Joice is intimate
I'm creepy

Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

Hello Ricki R.

Good to see ya girl.
We're glad you approve of what we're doing, thank you very much & take care.

Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

Hi Tom,

Hey.....thanks a bunch for giving us the time of day here.
NO, that was NOT our intention, but....I think it's cool that someone can get different opinions about what they think are happening in a song.
Have a good day.

Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

I like this one alot, you two do some really great stuff toghter, this is a great one, love the singing and the music on this is just perfect..I'm happy I got to hear this one, thanks glyn

Calvin and Joice.....you guys are deep always a unique vibe.....I agree it's hypnotic...enjoyed it....keep workin' and keep warm....Bob

I love the music you guys do, it is completely unique and completely yours. You guys do not try to copy any style of music or other performers what you do is truly unique and truly beautiful ... Love it

Hello Little Stevie,

Good to see ya.
wow, thanks a lot, glad ya liked it.

Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvnstewart

Hi Janice,

Good to see you, & we thank you for your listen & youe suggestion too.
Thnak you very much.

Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

Hi Scott

Thanks for listening and the feedback -- I agree that Calvin's guitar really set the mood for this......

I think I'm responsible for the 'empty sound' - artistic license is all that I can say -- another way to refer to silence is what I am thinking........

and the -like 'J bird' - I'm glad that you got the sense of the parallel without that..... hmmmmm -- I can see dropping it - if we do a retake - so thanks for the thought- I appreciate it. : )
jm

Hi Stan

Thanks for your comments ! -- I think adding more Harmony parts would work well..... time is the only factor -- it's pretty natural to sing the octaves -- and I HAVE been told that THAT is Not harmony.. ha ! okay -- but the other takes more time - so may be something that I will get better at doing with time.

jm

Hey guys,
Yet another totally original piece. I love how the vocal seems to surround you, with the lead vocal almost in the back of your head (at least in my headphones) cool vibe! It does, as Tom said, seem to draw an almost unconcious analogy between the birds and homeless people and the warm but lonely as well. Nice touch lyrically.

Blackbirds need to survive the winter like how us humans need make it through this economy, and - hey, I swear I commented on this song before, where'd my post go?

Surrealistic music, Calvin!

Hello Glynda,

We appreciate the nice things you say, THANKS.

Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

Hi Bob,

Well thanks, we try to have fun with out music.
Have a good day.

Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

Hello Dan,

Thanks for giving this one a spin, we sure are flattered by the nice things you say.
Have a good weekend.

Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

Hello Kim,

We sure appreciate you taking a few moments to listen to our blackbirds.
Thanks for your really nice comments too.

Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

Hi Charlie,

Thanks for the listen, we appreciate you giving out song a couple of minutes.
YOUR POST ?........ I don't know, not sure.

Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

Hi Mike

We miss you when you are busy creating masterpieces ; ) Thanks so much for your nice words of support.. I'll give the mix a good listen with the added reverb - I can manage that and see how it may be cool in this piece.
warm regards

jm

Hi Ken

Thanks for stopping by - I sure appreciate your listening and comments.
jm

Hi Ricki

If I could Fly like a bird - I'd come visit ! -- we are a lot alike : ) Thanks for listening
jm

Hi Tom

Thanks ! I like your parallel thoughts too -- we are all scratching for our living here.... and life is pretty fragile - when we are younger not much thought is given to these things..... we are just fed each day.....
jm

Hi Stevie

Thanks for listening ! jm

Hi Janice

Thanks for listening
... I was playing with that line how it can sing different

...a blackbird........... wearing a coat of hope.........

perhaps.... maybe wee harmony can change the chorus enough : )

Hi Glynda

I'm happy that you listen and liek what we do. ! Thanks ! jm

Hi Bob

Well thanks for all the kindness and your good ears. Music is a good form of expression. jm

Hi Dan

You are always more than kind to listen and respond....... and I think that we all drink from the same well -- may be we are just attracted to different vibes and flavors. jm

Hi KIm

Thanks for the lyrical and musical appreciation. It's nice to have musical friends who can relate here. ; ) jm

Hi Charlie

Blackbirds are incredibly interesting creatures.......and maybe as abundant as humans too....Thanks for coming back and posting. jm

Hi Joice & Calvin,

Hey, I think this has got a cool feeling to it as well! Somber and mysterious sounding and with a truth underlying it all…makes it thought-provoking.

I like the rich imagery throughout….very nice! If you use the line:
“J is like the blackbird wears a coat of hope”…I think the message is more hopeful because it kind of emphasizes that. Without it, more raw…You could always tweak it to say, “J and the blackbird wear a coat of hope”….to add to the comment after it. With or without, both are viable options, imo.

Enjoyed the singing too!

Kristi

Hi Kristi,

Nice to see you.
We appreciate the nice things you've said here & thanks a lot for listening to what we do.

Calvin

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

Hi Kristi

Thanks so Much for your thoughtful feedback -- it's always so nice to hear what you have to say and I really like your suggestion..... when I get back in there on this -- I will make that change. So thanks a Big bunch ! jm

Hey Guys!

People often compare writers and performers to others,...but you two march to the beat of your OWN drummer!? If anyone EVER accuses you of NOT writing outside the box,...send them to me and I'll straighten them out!! Avante Garde? Do I really know what THAT means? Very different!

Good job! Droptine

Hi Droptine

Thanks for your generous Comment ! - I'll take an Avant Garde nod any day ; ) jm

Hi Drop,

HEY... who you calling an Avante Gardener ?? :-)
Seriously...we're glad you gave our song the time of day.
We enjoyed fooling with it and glad you liked it too.
Joice & I are both flattered by your wonderful comments, thanks a million.
and now....back to the garden :-)


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Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart