Johannes Schult

This song was inspired by Richard Shindell’s “By Now”. I had little and just forced myself to write a song. I filmed a quick video right after writing the first draft two days ago. Yesterday, I switched the chords in the chorus. Just an hour ago I recorded the final version, which features some piano playing that wasn’t there in the first place/draft.

#43 Katy

Katy stands in the middle of the road
Looking for a place called home
Her broken heart is such a heavy load
She takes it everywhere she goes
Oh Katy, can’t you see
That you’re throwing your life away
Just face reality
And find a place to stay
So that your broken heart may heal

(words and music by Johannes Schult)

This fragment was written and recorded late in the evening of 29th September in a hotel room in Bremen. I was experimenting with the choir voices of my new recording software, using the laptop keyboard as the piano keyboard. Given the slow tempo of the music the inaccuracies of the playing didn’t really matter. I avoided a clear time signature as best as I could, anyway. After maybe a dozen run-throughs I had the chord structure and melody. I altered a few MIDI notes afterwards and double-tracked the whole thing with different voices to give it more width. I could have achieved a smoother ending by speeding up the whole song. But it’s already as fast as I found it still bearable. I was aiming for a majestic anthem, after all.

#42 Choral Fragment

This song started with the lyrics, which I wrote in Bremen on September 30th. Due to time constraints I kept the first musical idea I had and turned it into this song. I had to play it rather fast to make it fit the 52-second-scheme. If you want to listen to a slightly slower version, check out the video of me playing the song (without the fancy distorted drum computer).

#41 Just Like You

She looked just like you
But the smell of her hair
Was somewhat different
She looked just like you
But you weren’t there
You know without you
I wouldn’t be here
Where I am now
Is here without you
I wish you were here
Where I am now

She looked just like you
And she stayed for a drink
And then another
She looked just like you
But her fingernails were pink
You know without you
I wouldn’t be here
Where I am now
Is here without you
I wish you were here
Where I am now

(words and music by Johannes Schult)

This song began with the title, which I picked up at Summer School in Cambridge (September 13th, 2010). Once the lyrics were set I got the main structure while walking through the streets of Cambridge. I then programmed the rhythm section and added a few organ tracks late at night in bed. Back in Germany I added a couple of electric guitar tracks to spice things up a bit. The song could have done with a real band and a bit more time, I think. But hey, aren’t those organ samples already awesome?

#40 The Queue to the Loo

This pressure inside is driving me over the edge
The closer I get, the longer the seconds stretch
Time and space are relative, it’s true
When you’re waiting in the queue to the loo

The situation is as tense as it gets
It’s the perfect place to set up diaper ads
You wonder if there’ll be some TP left for you
When you’re waiting in the queue to the loo

Waiting to step forward, there’s nothing you can do
When you’re stuck in the queue to the loo

(words and music by Johannes Schult)

This instrumental piece was recorded using the keyboard of my computer. I did correct and modify a few notes here and there. But the main parts were recorded late at night in Cambridge, England, after I had experimented with synthesizer sounds and the idea of writing an instrumental with harmonic layers rather than clear melodies. Or something like that.

#39 Parker’s Piece, 2 am

This song took a couple of surprising turns. I started out with the last line of the lyrics and worked my way to the beginning. The acoustic guitar plays a reduced version of the original picking pattern, giving the track more space. I had intended to included at least two verses, but given the mood I barely managed to fit one into 52 seconds. I used a lot of reverb, possibly way too much. Experimenting with sound effects I arrived at the weird version of the guitar tracks you can hear in the background by applying a denoiser.

#38 My Heart Will Stay With You

I can hear you breathing, lying by my side
I can sleep no longer in the middle of the night
I know I don’t belong here; I have to start anew
But when I leave tomorrow my heart will stay with you

When I leave tomorrow my heart will stay with you

(words and music by Johannes Schult)

This song was inspired by the season finale of Community. I’m sure I don’t have to remind you that Community is totally awesome. If you’ve seen the last episode this song will make perfectly sense to you. If not, well, go watch Community!

I recorded this song in two takes with my digicam. It’s the last one I recorded while waiting for my new computer, so next week’s track will have a better production. As for future Community fan songs, I just had the idea to write a heavy metal meets glee homage to the episode “Modern Warfare”…

#37 Team Slater

No left-wing tendencies, a firm grip on life
A grown-up character, math power +5
Statistical knowledge along with a steady income
Attractive looks and then some
Go Slater, go! I’m on Team Slater
Go Slater, go! Winger plus Slater
Go Slater, go!

She’s the one who’s serious; she’s overcome her fear
She’s very much experienced – the decision should be clear
Go Slater, go! I’m on Team Slater
Go Slater, go! Bring Conan back
Team Slater

(words and music by Johannes Schult)

This is a remnant from the time when my computer broke down. At first, I imagined the lead melody being played by a violin. But only on the piano did I find a proper way to continue the tune. This little piece of music is possibly a filler. But it’s one you can use to meditate on life and sound quality.

#36 Funnel Cloud

This is a nod to my dark progressive country roots. And to Old McBiddy, who’s living happily on his farm in Scotland. (O hai, video!)

#35 Old McBiddy’s Wedding

People came from far to see Old McBiddy’s wedding
Gather in the churchyard to celebrate the day
Oh what a joy it’s going to be: Old McBiddy’s wedding
So when he says, I do, the crowd shouts out, hooray!
Now we’re going to celebrate Old McBiddy’s wedding
Hurry boys, do not be late and let the music play

Watch the people as they dance at Old McBiddy’s wedding
Meanwhile Uncle Parker is getting drunk on wine
Come on folks, raise your hands at Old McBiddy’s wedding
Toast to the happy couple and their love divine

(words and music by Johannes Schult)

This is the first proper song I’ve recorded on my new computer. I still have a couple of digicam tracks which I’ll feature here, eventually. I had to force myself rather hard to create this particular song here. Thankfully, Russ chimed in with the suggestion to write about Tropical Heat’s popularity in Serbia. I pieced a few riffs together and assembled the lyrics on the fly, based on a few key words I had jotted down earlier. The whole thing would deserve a more elaborate song. But I only had a narrow time window this week and I was eager to experiment with the new recording software. I hope, however, that the song fits with the other 52-second songs I’ve done so far. (An epic instrumental MIDI-suite is in the works but that’s a different story – related to hybris.)

Želim da postanem poznata u SrbiJa. Ugoditi pomoc mene. Hvala. Ljubav i palacinke!

#34 Big in Serbia

I don’t expect to become an internet superstar
But I wouldn’t mind a bit more popularity
I wish I was big in Serbia
That people recognized me in the street
I wish I was big in Serbia
Just like Tropical Heat

(words and music by Johannes Schult)