Bonus Mashup: The Intergalactic Wizard

Photo: Steve Burns

For my 46th song project I got distracted from the mashup idea that was distracting me from the song I was writing while I should have been writing another song.

I ended up working on a mashup of The Wizard by Black Sabbath and Intergalactic by the Beastie Boys. I've always thought the second track on The Sabs debut album was unfeasibly funky for a hard rock band. See what you think. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you

The Intergalactic Wizard - mp3

Other free songs by Matt Blick that are nothing like this one

   

From The Archives: I Got Lost

I Got Lost

Fell from grace, right through the cracks

Emotionally raw rock song played on a two string guitar
Download     mp3     Lyrics (pdf)

I lost my way
I lost my path
Lost my bearings
Mislaid the map
Looked for a star
But the night was black
Fell from grace
Right through the cracks


I didn't gain the world
But I lost my soul
Not asking for your pity
Just your hand to hold


I got lost, I got lost
See that face in the mirror?
That isn't me
I got lost, I got lost
Somewhere out there is the person
That I forgot how to be


I gave my all
I bought the shirt
I played the role
Until it hurts
I walked the walk
I towed the line
I stood for truth
And learned to lie


Thought I could save the world
And play a starring role
That dream became so brittle
And much too sharp to hold


I got lost, I got lost...


Pull up the roots
And start again
Tear down these walls
They've been condemned
So many dreams
To feed the fire
Don't waste one tear
For what's left behind


I got lost, I got lost, I got lost

You may also like (Everything) Is Broken or Never Be Silent
Other free songs by Matt Blick

Day 328: The Other Way Of Writing

So here's the thing. I'm working on Silver aka Judas' Song aka Better For Me and I'm still working off a page that I typed out in 2005, annotated with a million different scribbles from the last 6 years (sorry my exaggeration alarm just went off).

I've been greatly helped by Nicholas Tozier's method of writing each section on a separate piece of paper (A5 is how I roll) that way you can rewrite without having to write it all and you can even swop bits around (still not sure verse 1 isn't verse 2 and vice versa. HAH "VERSE - A" - you see what I did there?!?!?!).

That's so cool and helpful. I wonder where T said it. Was it here? Anyways...

I'm losing perspective as you might expect with lyrics that are 6 years old and music that goes back to 1992! Some of the things that are 'wrong' with it have been wrong for nearly a decade. How will I know when I've finished? Or even near finished?

What I did was type up everything I've got so far. Hey presto! It's finished song. (I've read that Brenton Brown does a similar thing too).Yes there are still sucky bits, but I can see the finish line from here now. I'm going to press ahead with fixes and then demo, which will act in pretty much the same way as the fake finished lyric sheet. Once it really is a song, rather than a potential song it will be easier for me (or anyone else) to see the wood for the trees.

And in other news, here's a beautiful vid from Nottingham 'band' We Show Up On Radar. Some of it was filmed just round the corner from my house. Those flippin' foxes are a real pest...

Download the song for free from the We Show Up On Radar Bandcamp page

I'll be a Ghost from WSUOR on Vimeo.

Free download: Never Be Silent
Other free songs by Matt Blick

[If you're subscribed to this blog via email, you will have to click on the post's title to watch any video content (the link will take you my site).

New Song: Don't Bring Your Bongos To Church

Don't Bring Your Bongos To Church [2011] Humorous Rock n Roll Retro
Bongo, bongo, bongo, bongo...
Rockabilly Pentecostalism gone wild.
download     mp3     Lyrics (pdf)     Chords (pdf)

Jesus loves you man
Jesus loves you man
Loves you just the way you am
But don't bring your bongos to church
Don't bring your bongos to church


Jesus loves to hear you sing
You can bring your offering
Just don't hit those things
Don't bring your bongos to church
Don't bring your bongos to church


Bongo, bongo, bongo, bongo...


Take a snake out of your bag
Drinkin' strychnin' ain't so bad
You can even bring a flag
But don't bring your bongos to church
Don't bring your bongos to church


The good Lord understands
When I tell you that I can
Prise 'em from your cold dead hands
So don't bring your bongos to church
Don't bring your bongos to church
Don't bring your bongos to church
Don't bring your bongos to church


Don't, don't, don't bring your bongos
Don't, don't, don't bring your bongos
Don't, don't, don't bring your bongos
Don't, don't, don't bring your bongos
Bongo, bongo, bongo, bongo...

You may also like: Maybe Your God's On The Toilet
If You're Here This Morning (The Notices Song)

Other free songs by Matt Blick

Day 324: Bongo Fury

Wow. A productive and happy day. Both feel a little too rare at the moment.

I completed song 45 - Don't Bring Your Bongos To Church, it took 12 hours from initial idea to finished uploaded demo. I think that's a record - Let's Build An Airport and If You're Here This Morning may have been quicker to write, but I think I demoed them the following day. It's a kind of Early Zappa meets Sun Records-era Elvis/Johnny Cash. Gonna try to post it tomorrow.

But for now just say "bring your bongos" out loud - doesn't that just feel amazing tripping over your teeth and tongue?

I also wrote part of a new song today - it's a lullaby/prayer for Christian parents to sing with their kids, as suggested/requested by a pupil of mine this week.

And I've been working on finishing an old song called Silver which is from Judas' point of view.

Liverpool beat Chelsea today which was great news. We're only 58 points behind Manchester City.

Another great song from Jonathan Coulton...he's a real Ukelele player

And Jon Gomm is from another planet - he's like all the best bits of Adrian Legg and Michael Hedges stuck together - with vocals!

Other free songs by Matt Blick

[If you're subscribed to this blog via email, you will have to click on the post's title to watch any video content (the link will take you my site).

Kid's Song: Eleven Sweets

Eleven Sweets [2011] Children's Humorous
But the fizzy cherry, was stuck to a fizzy cherry
A true tall tale from sunday school, sung by my daughter
Downloads     mp3     Chords (pdf)     Lyrics (pdf)

In the pink group in Arrows, in Church, in the Earth

If you're listening when they tell you all about God

And you wiggle or wriggle or talk to someone

You're probably going to get your balloon popped

Then you might only get three sweets

Or you might only get no sweets

But I didn't wriggle or wiggle or talk

So I got a white bag like they have in the shops

And a pink or green token to put in the silver pig

Cos the pig is the place where you go and put your tokens in

And then you can have ten sweets,

And then you can have ten sweets.

I got some cola bottles and put them in my white bag

And one lollipop, cos one is all that you can have

And more cola bottles, some fizzy cherries made nine

And I put my hand into the plastic box for one more time

Soon I would have ten sweets,

Soon I would have ten sweets.

But the fizzy cherry, was stuck to the fizzy cherry

Which was stuck to the fizzy cherry that I picked up

So I asked the leader, “what shall I do?”

She said, “you'll just have to have eleven sweets today”

And that's how I had eleven sweets

Eleven sweets instead of ten

And that's how I had eleven sweets

Eleven sweets instead of ten

You may also like The Greatest Commandment
Other free songs by Matt Blick

My Name Is Matt And I'm An Encouragement Junkie...

I try to just create because I'm human and that's what we do, and because I enjoy it and it brings me pleasure, and all of that is true. But sometimes I just want to know that someone else out there, anyone, appreciates what I do. I often feel slightly guilty when I make comments like "If you like this song please leave me a comment, or share it with friends" etc which I fend off by telling myself I'm not asking for money, and I often take time to leave comments for other musicians and artists, telling them how much I appreciate their art. But it's hard not too feel like some needy clingy girlfriend or something. Yuk!

But this story made me feel better.

Courtney (Coco) Mault was so taken with the first teaser trailer for Wall.e that she would burst into tears every time the little robot said his name. As this is the modern age she uploaded a film of her bursting into tears on YouTube because it was so stupid and geeky. And a few of the people watching and leaving nice comments were lowly tech guys, wait for it, working for Pixar.

Then she got a Wall.e crew jacket from the producers for Christmas with a nice note saying they like her video.

Then months later she received an invite to fly out to a special end of wrap party and screening at the studios expense. Director Andrew Stanton gave a speech before the film started

"Six months ago, when the first trailer for Wall-E came out, we were only halfway done with the film, and we weren't exactly sure how we were going to get it done. We were exhausted. And then, one day, a movie showed up on YouTube showing a girl watching the trailer for Wall-E. And every time she watched it, she would cry on cue. When we saw that, we knew we were on the right track."


Everybody in the theater laughed at this knowingly. 


"Well," Andrew Stanton said. "We invited Courtney here tonight." 


[Her boyfriend continues] A gasp went through the theater. I turned and looked at my girlfriend, who was gape-mouthed with astonishment. Andrew Stanton asked her to stand up, and all one-thousand sets of eyes in the theater turned to find her, and thunderous applause broke out. Courtney stood, and, not knowing what to do, blew kisses to the assembled artists and craftspeople who had made the film. 


It was one of the most moving and astounding things she had ever experienced, and I had ever witnessed, and Pixar had done it for no reason other than that her video had touched them and made them optimistic about the film they were making, and they wanted to repay her.

How much is encouragement worth? It's worth flying someone out so you can thank them personally (not that I'm in a position to do that anytime soon!). In other words - priceless.

So how about giving some encouragement today? It doesn't have to be me (pause to make cute puppy eyes) artists are more approachable through twitter/facebook than ever. You may just be the one that helps that next song/film/book get finished.

(read the full story)

Free download: Never Be Silent
Other free songs by Matt Blick

Day 313: Looking In A Box For Boxes

Sorting through old ideas, digitising cassettes, hoping to work on two more songs one called 'Silver' which is from Judas' point of view, and another provisionally called 'Boxes'.

I'm really being grown upon by Jonathan Coulton's new album Artificial Heart. And Nemeses is probably my favourite song. Only geek-laureate JoCo would duet with someone via iPhone.

And this is also cool, and if you play Portal apparently it will make even more sense!

Blogging Muses has an interesting post called Five Ways To Finish the Song You’ve Been Working on Forever

Free download: Never Be Silent
Other free songs by Matt Blick

[If you're subscribed to this blog via email, you will have to click on the post's title to watch any video content (the link will take you my site).

New Song: Maybe Your God's On The Toilet

Maybe Your God's On The Toilet [2011] Humour 
Some might say that sarcasm ain't the language of Zion
Interfaith conference on Mount Carmel
Downloads     mp3     Chords (pdf)     Lyrics (pdf)


We use different paths to climb the same mountain
So let's build a safe place to explore the terrain

We're all part of ancient faith communities

There may be common ground that we can embrace

No one person has all the answers

So let's try to find the things that unite

I hope that you'll be part of the conversation

I'll share my feelings first if you like

Maybe your god's on the toilet

Maybe he can't get to the phone

maybe the man with the plan, the whole world in his hands

Sits on a porcelain throne

Maybe he's making a pit stop

Loosing a couple of pounds

Either way he's not home so leave your prayer at the tone

Perhaps he'll answer you when he comes out

I hope I haven't somehow offended you

I hope I haven't said something wrong

Because you practice human sacrifice

And you outnumber me four hundred to one

You fundamentalists don't think humour

Has a place within religious debate

But I'm just trying to facilitate a paradigm shift

So lighten up you prophets of Baal

Maybe your god's on the toilet

Doing a poop or a pee

Is he still in control when he's sat on the bowl

And he's bombing the porcelain sea?

Maybe he's mixing some concrete

Maybe he's moving some earth

He's dropping some logs, seeing a man 'bout a dog

So perhaps we should just call off the search

Some might say that sarcasm ain't the language of Zion

And I should wash my potty mouth out when I'm through

But ask brother James, maybe he can explain

I'm a man, just a man, just like you

Maybe your god's on the toilet

Trying to do number two

Grow a tail, hang a rat, park a coil, send a fax

Drop the kids off at the pool

Maybe he's blasting a dookie

Punching a growler somewhere

He's taking a slam, he's pinching a yam

But it doesn't mean that he doesn't care

Maybe he's laying some wolf bait

Maybe he's laying a brick

He's going boom boom in the little boys room

He'll come out when he's launched the big ship

Maybe your god's on the toilet

But I'm starting to entertain doubts

So I guess I'll just go 'cos your god's a no-show

And if he's in there then he's not coming out.

You might also enjoy The Eglon Song
Other free songs by Matt Blick

Day 310: Love Nottingham And More Poo

Had a couple of hours at Shabby Road laying down song 44 - Maybe Your God's On The Toilet. It will be up on the blog bright and early tomorrow morning.

In other news Nottingham's newest (internet) radio station NGenious went live today. The big difference to our other station is NGenious plays all Nottingham music, as opposed to Radio whatever-trent-is-called-this-week which doesn't play ANY music from Nottingham. Check it out.

Time for some internet love!

Warren Lee is a soul singer that I'd never heard of before I can across him on a New Orleans sampler. Here he is backed by The Meters

Chris Henson is one of those guys that makes you say "why aren't you famous?". I love practically everything I've heard by him, but why don't you try Science Museum or Hate To Be That Guy on for size? (WARNING: Science Museum contains a bad word).

Just listening to Nottingham band The Money, I used to teach guitarist Jake when he was a kid

Free songs by Matt Blick

[If you're subscribed to this blog via email, you will have to click on the post's title to watch any video content (the link will take you my site).

New Song: Brother

Brother [2011] Spiritual Rock
I am the train whose brakes have failed
The Prodigal son blues
Downloads     mp3     lyrics (pdf)     chords (pdf)

Raise the curtain, set the scene

Our Father, my brother and I make three

One I loved, couldn't stomach the other

Couldn't look at my Dad without seeing my brother

My brother, he didn't do a damn thing wrong 

My brother, he never did a damn thing wrong 

Took the fast train to the wrong side of the tracks

Broke my father's heart and I broke the bank

My head was hot but my heart was cold 

My brother you cast a long shadow over my soul 

My brother, he didn't do a damn thing wrong 

My brother, he never did a damn thing wrong 

My brother, he didn't do a damn thing wrong 

My brother, he never did a damn thing wrong 

It's all my fault

Hit rock bottom, rock bottom fell through

Wound up in a pig sty trying to eat pig food

Money dried up and my friends all gone

Retrace my steps to where it all went wrong

It's all my fault, it's all my fault

My brother, he didn't do a damn thing wrong 

My brother, he never did a damn thing wrong 

My brother, he didn't do a damn thing wrong 

Never did a day's wrong in his whole life

But right, right, right, right

Right is more than the absence of wrong

And love is more than the absence of hate

And that my brother, my brother didn't do a damn thing wrong

Is the best that I can say, the best that I can say

I am the train whose brakes have failed

The roller-coaster that jumped the rails

Patron saint of every prodigal son

Parental heartbreaker number one 

Busted shoes on a dusty road

Who should I meet but a well shod ghost?

I'm going back to where he's coming from

Lord have mercy, I look so young...

Free download: Never Be Silent
Other free songs by Matt Blick