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2020 50/90 Challenge

by Robert James

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5:23

Sun and Moon

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I think we have a winner here.

I already had 50 songs in process for the 50/90 challenge and I was starting to feel like I was going to finish with time to spare. Then my wife and I were having a Facetime call with my step daughter who is away from home in college. As we’re sitting there chatting away this song popped into my head. The entire guitar part at least, start to finish, including the pauses with the feedback and everything. As soon as we were off the call I ran to my bedroom studio/recording nook, setup a click track and played the whole thing. I added the drums and the bass MIDI tracks, and wrote the lyrics and the melody later that night.

It’s the 44th song finished for 50/90, even if it was the 51st started. I like the lyrics as much as it’s possible for someone who hates everything he writes to like his lyrics, and I really dig the melody in the chorus. The guitars solos aren’t bad, and adding the analog delay self oscillation thing on top of the feedback (and then burying them both) is really working for my prog-ish sensibilities.

If there is one song from this year’s 50/90 that will have a life beyond October 1st, it’s this one.

The rhythm and the lead guitar parts are all Gibson ES-335 into a Klon KTR pedal into both a Fender Bassbreaker 15 and a Vox AC15. The self oscillating delay was actually part of the leads but I edited it out during the mix. The delay was a cheapo Donner Yellow Fall. The feedback parts were the same setup as the rhythm parts with a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi ’70 added.

Verse 1 & 3
Its been some years since we met
so long ago it was
the overwhelming regret
hold your applause

Chorus
if the sun and the moon both refused to rise
would you think it was part of some bad joke
If the day and the night were both turned around
would you want to be in on it

Verse 2
I trust your word on all things
I know you’re good for me
and what the future may bring
we’re up to it

Andrew Russe's avatar
Andrew Russe said

I think you're right ("I think we have a winner here"), I've been enjoying all of them playing (it's turned up quite loud, I'm kinda digging it) ... but this one made me come back to the window that's playing it, there's something about this one that commands attention. Nice one! (Back to work now!)

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