Johannes Schult

This song is sung from the perspective of a 52-second song. It sums up one of the main goals of “Jutze 52”. I wrote and recorded it back in spring.

This track is licenced Creative Commons (by-nc) – just like all my 52-second songs. This means you’re allowed to copy, share, edit, adapt the song right away (no need to ask me for permission) as long as you don’t make money with it (non-commercial) and attributed the music to me. So you have the perfect filler for the ending of your next mix tape (or mix CD or mix iPod or whatever it is that is being mixed these days).

#52 52-Second Song

Hi there, I’m a 52-second song
Just a short one, just a quick one
To fill up the remaining free space on this CD
This is why I’m here – the reason for my existence
This is why I’m here – a 52-second song

And it’s just a coincidence that I’m also here to tell you
That whoever made this CD does care a lot about you
This is why I’m here – the reason for my existence
This is why I’m here – a 52-second song

And while we’re at it
Please save the whales!
This is why I’m here – the reason for my existence
This is why I’m here – a 52-second song

(words and music by Johannes Schult)

I will post a new 52-second cover version every day until Sunday. I wrote and recorded an original 52-second song every week throughout this year. So now I’ve ended up with 52 52-second songs. The last one will be put online on Sunday. The cover songs are just a feeble attempt at generating some sort of hype. If you have any suggestions or requests, let me know. (Just bear in mind that it should be Creative Commons music.) I’m also working on a separate page for the collection of 52-second songs for those who are new to this project. (Check out the music section for the time being!)

The fifth and final cover song (for Saturday) is called “Grandma’s Christmas Dinner”. Paul and Storm wrote the song. Their version is a bit longer. But mine has drums! And this video clip.

The fourth cover song (for Friday) is a song by Song Fu veteran Russ Rogers. It’s called “The Homo sapiens Song”. I made a quick lip-sync video with the Christmas tree in the background. The music recording contains drums, piano, vocals, guitar and my keyboard’s bass.

The third cover song (for Thursday) is a traditional German Christmas carol called “Was soll das bedeuten?” (What does this mean?). I just play the piano because it’s one of the pieces I remember from my first piano lessons. (Plus, I don’t know the lyrics by heart.)

The second cover song (for Wednesday) is “Hey Molly”, originally by Mike Lombardo. I turned into a sad instrumental waltz.

The first cover song (for Tuesday) is a somewhat spontaneous piano version of Jonathan Coulton‘s “Drinking With You”. I messed up the lyrics and the sound quality leaves to be desired. But it’s going to get better. And the song itself is cool, I think. Check it out!

This song took shape while I was on my way to work last Friday. I had a solo gig later that day (which was a lot of fun) together with Julian’s band Suff-X and Thomas. Both of them are doing research related to tinnitus. The song wasn’t what you’d call ready when the show started. But I played it anyway. I made Julian play the high a throughout the song.

#51 Tinnitus

Tinnitus, ich mag dich nicht
Tinnitus, du bist fürchterlich
Mein Leben wäre schöner ohne dich

Tinnitus lässt mir keine Ruh
Tinnitus fiept immerzu
Tinnitus, du bist eine blöde Kuh

Tinnitus, was hast du hier verloren?
Andere Mütter haben doch auch schöne Ohren
Mein Gehört hat sich gegen mich verschworen

Tinnitus
Tinnitus

Tinnitus macht mich verrückt
Tinnitus bringt mir kein Glück
Überhaupt, warum heißt du denn nicht Tinnityp?

Tinnitus

(words and music by Johannes Schult)

This song was written at the Kulturnacht last Friday. (Check out the next update for a recap of the show.) I was sitting backstage a few hours before the show started. The programme was just being folded and I learned what a Wickelfalz is (a parallel fold?). I tried to figure out a rhyme, but could come up with nothing but Karnickelsalz. Before I knew, a song was born. I spent the remaining time editing the lyrics and memorizing them as good as I could. I played the song live later that evening.

#50 Kulturnacht-Programm

Ich bin ein Kulturnacht-Programm
Ich habe einen goldenen Rand
Mich hat der Sebastian gemacht
Und übrigens: Ich reime mich nicht

Ich bin ein Kulturnacht-Programm
Ich liege gut in der Hand
Ich habe einen Wickelfalz
Und übrigens: Ich reime mich nicht

Ich bin ein Kulturnacht-Programm
Ich hoffe, ich komme gut an
Ich sag euch, was als nächstes kommt
Und übrigens: Ich reime mich nicht

Ich bin ein Kulturnacht-Programm
Als nächstes kommt Nimmerland
Ich hoffe, das wird interessant
Und übrigens: Ich reime mich nicht

Ich bin ein Kulturnacht-Programm

(words and music by Johannes Schult)

This song needs a children choir. Please pretend it’s not me singing the intro to the song. I was playing around with the harmonies and finished the song rather quickly on November 27. Writing a Christmas carol wasn’t on my agenda. But well, here you go.

#49 Wunschzettel

C-H-R I-S-T M-A-S E-V-E

Ich wünsch mir viele Geschenke
Ich wünsch mir einen Hut
Und wenn ich es mir recht bedenke
Dann wünsch ich mir, alles wird gut

Ich wünsch mir, wir bleiben zusammen
Ich wünsch mir, wir bleiben gesund
Ich wünsch mir ein Buch mit Diagrammen
Aber keinesfalls einen Hund

(words and music by Johannes Schult)

This song is a homage to Johnny and the Hurricanes. I first heard the band when I was a little kid, long before I began obsessing over music the way I do these days. Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me so I won’t go into details. Let it suffice to say that the music was fun. I discovered other interesting music, eventually. Still, hearing some old beat instrumentals always makes me smile. Here is my primitive take on the genre. I kept the instrumentation simple. Lead guitar, rhythm guitar, keyboard, bass (programmed), and drums (programmed as well, but shhh). I’m very happy with the way the tune turned out. Let’s dance!

#48 Wild Geese in Texas

This song had to be forced into existence. I wrote and recorded it on Friday, September 17 this year. Sitting in a friend’s living room I experimented with tambourine loops and MIDI programming. Much of the music was constructed rather than written. Once I had the basic tracks I forced the lyrics on them. I had too many lines so now the last melody part coincides with the vocals.

I postponed releasing this tune time and time again. It is one of those songs that lack a connection to what I usually play. Plus, there’s nothing too original about it. I had been afraid that I would end up putting out nothing but songs like these. But I think I managed to make a few rather interesting tracks in between. This is why I now present this piece as an example of mediocrity which thankfully is only 52 seconds long.

PS: Next week’s song is going to be much cooler!

#47 Socially Sad

I’m lying on the beach
It’s 35 degrees
There’s not a single a cloud in the sky
And everybody’s happy
Everyone but me
Because when it comes to holidays I’m not that kind of guy

I’d rather be alone
And not pick up the phone
And travel somewhere far away from the heat
I know it’s really bad
It’s socially sad
But a daily dose of solitude is what I need

(words and music by Johannes Schult)

This song is the second song about NaNoWriMo. For those who aren’t familiar with the idea: the goal is to write a novel consisting of at least 50,000 words in 30 days (that is, in November). It’s utter madness. You learn a lot about your work ethics. You learn how it feels to suck. You bond with strangers who have also accepted the challenge. And you get emails with pep talk from folks like John Green, Dave Eggers, and Lemony Snicket.

I wrote this song on acoustic guitar, combining an old lyrical idea with my present NaNoWriMo situation. Thankfully, my word count has exceeded 9010 by now. I did take a screenshot from 9010, though, in case I’ll find time to make a video. While figuring out the beat I realized that I could turn the whole thing into a punk song. I programmed the drums only to find that I had miscalculated the tempo. By now I’m used to it, but at first it sounded terribly fast to me. There’s one bass track (programmed), two guitar tracks, and three vocal tracks.

Update six days later: video!

#46 NaNoWriMo Lament 2

This ain’t the song I wrote in Bremen
This ain’t the song I wrote in Mannheim
This song won’t explain the brain to laymen
This ain’t the song that will blow your mind
But come December I will save the world again
Turn water into wine and enemies into friends
But right now my word count is still at 9010

This ain’t the song I wrote in Cambridge
This ain’t the song that I wrote in the bathroom
This ain’t the song that is going to make me rich
This ain’t the song that makes your heart go boom
But come December I will save the world again
Turn water into wine and enemies into friends
But right now my word count is still at 9010

(words and music by Johannes Schult)

This song is the first of two songs about NaNoWriMo. I’m participating this year. For those who aren’t familiar with the idea: the goal is to write a novel consisting of at least 50,000 words in 30 days (that is, in November). So far, I’m on schedule!

I had written the other song first. So when the idea for a second one came up I was tempted to abandon it there and then. I wanted to have an instrumental track, anyway. But then time ran out and I quickly recorded this song, as well. It has three acoustic guitars along with percussion, bass and organ (all rather low in the mix) from the computer; plus, of course, vocals. I can imagine a full band version. However, no time for a full band version – I have a novel to write!

Again, yes: video. This time I deviate even more from the original lyrics. You have been warned.

#45 NaNoWriMo Lament 1

No time for love – I have to write a novel
No time for food – I have to write a novel
No time for anything, so shut the door and go offline
Say goodbye to all your friends

No time to shave – I have to write a novel
No time to sing – I know it’s crazy but I really want to write a novel this month!
No time for anything but 1667 words per day until November ends

No time for music – I have to write a novel
No time for lyrics – …

(words and music by Johannes Schult)

This song nearly didn’t happen. I had written the first two verses months ago and was somehow unsatisfied and/or hit a heavy writer’s block. Cleaning up some piles of paper on my desk today I discovered the page with the words. This time around I liked the lyrics better and immediately filled in the missing parts. Once the music was written I didn’t even have to readjust the tempo, something I almost always have to do to meet the 52-second deadline. And I even managed to throw in a harmonica bit at the end!

Oh, yes: video.

#44 Questions

Who made your clothes and who wrote the Bible?
And what’s the story of the food on your table?
These are the important questions
We have to answer them every day

Where does the money go that you spend on fuel?
Where does the power come from that makes your AC cool?
These are the important questions
We have to answer them every day

Did you smile a lot today?
And when was the last time you were in love?

(words and music by Johannes Schult)