Kara-Moon Forum

A bit of an odd one this one. This afternoon I had a call from a very distraught and stressed musical director of the Gangshow produced by the local district Boy Scout groups.  (A gang show is a variety performance of music, songs, comedy etc), who had just recieved a letter from a very famous Musician.  It is common for Gang Shows to use music by famous people that the audience will recognise as backing tracks for dance numbers, and now due to various laws you have to seek their permission to use their music. 

This is purely a charity event, and money raised goes towards paying for trips for the children, or paying for uniforms or camping fees for those whose families are too poor to pay themselves, also money is used to go around various retirement homes to present the residents with gift baskets and put on a carol singing show for them at Christmas, and it is very rare that anyone refuses permission to use a song, since it is for charity. 

Well, this very famous Trance artist (who I will refrain from naming), had previously agreed to let his tune be used since it was for charity, but this morning the musical director received a letter from their agent saying that "Under the current economic climate, my client has decided against waiving his usual royalty fee", basically the upshot is they now want a payment of £2000 to use 1 song, once a night for three performances!!!

So this left them without a song, on the day of their last dress rehearsal, and tomorrow is the 1st live show,  My parents have been involved with Gang Shows and Scouting for over 20yrs, and gave her my number to call me, so she asked me if i could come up with a trance tune at the same bpm, with the same basic structure... but, she needed it in 2 hours!!  :o :o

This is the result.

My honest feelings about this famous trance "artist" are VERY unprintable, to say the least.  To demand £2000 from a kids charity stage show at the last minute.  then again, it doesn't really surprise me, 2 years ago Disney wanted £5000 from them so they could use a song from the Lion King!!

Rest assured I have fired off a very angry and "colourful" email to them ;)

Oh i forgot, A DVD of the show is produced and sold to to raise more funds and the  "artist" also wanted 15% of that too!

The greed astounds me!

Tagged for listening - soon!

I must say 'artist' is the word I'd use, but it would have a little word in front of it. Well done that man and I hope the show goes well.

"Love may be what makes the world go 'round,but greed is the axel,upon which it revolves"

-Charles Emerson Winchester


During the filming of the movie "The Blues Brothers",John Landis paid around the same amount for the rights to the songs from some of the most revered & talented blues artists that ever lived and of course,this was for a major box office profit.
This so-called "infamous" trance artist's talent is a sick joke,compared to these said blues artists.

Personally,I think it's a mistake to even do so much as a spin off of this trance artist,but since it's for a good cause,I completely understand why you did it......but I would have gone a different way,if it was still of equal benefit to the cause.

My comments are in no way related to your artistry Paul-as you did a good job on this version,but this story is very upsetting to me and I would really like to rewind time about 25 years ago,when the world was not nearly as ugly.

-Thom

I'd loved to have more time and been able to work with them on a completely different tune, but they have about 25 different numbers during the show, and the musical director felt having a song with the same genre/speed/structure, length of intro, bridge in same place etc would make it easier for the kids to adapt their dance routine, since it was the last time they could rehearse and they also had to rehearse all the other numbers too.

Apparently all went well, after about 3 times going through with the new tune - the kids got it!!  Fingers crossed for them tomorrow night ;)

I've just realised I uploaded the version where I had far too much  reverb on the choir in the background, so it sounds a pretty muddy.  I wont bother to upload the correct one  though, not worth it, not as if its much good lol

I listened to the tune once, noting lengths of sections etc then wrote/recorded the tune in 1/2hr, spent 15mins mastering and another 15mins burning 3 cd's then was in my car and off!  ;D

I've learned I am getting payed for this one - she's promised me a double Laphroaig - my favourite whiskey, after the show.

Oh and guess who's now been "volunteered" to master the audio for the DVD??  Thats the thing about having parents in Scouting, you never volunteer, they volunteer YOU! lol

Thom :  that quote is so true, a sad reflection on todays world.  That is the reason I love this forum so much, no egos, no airs n graces, just like minded people contributing freely together to a passion for music, writing music for musics sake, not for their wallet.  There's hope for the human race yet  ;D

I won't say anything about that artist  >:D
You did a great job, it's perfect to do a dancing performance on it  8)

k

Music and money.... ::)...They just don't seem to mix very well.
Good production, Paul. Every bit as good as the song you replaced, I'm sure. Schweet! :;

First Imp. This is fantastic.  Great job, especially when considering the very short time span it took to record it. 

Second, it may not be the artist’s fault.   Although the artist said they could use his/her music he/she may not have had authority to do so.  Some contracts forbid that sort of thing as those in control (agents, recording company, etc.) may have total control over areas like this, i.e. be careful what you sign.  I know Weird Al ran into this.  The artist gave his permission and loved Weird Al’s parody but the record company banded Weird Al from using it. 

Instantly fell in love with this O0 :- 8) :;

I bet the kids will really go nuts over it. That other guy did us all a favour. I'd be very tempted to write and tell him so >:D

The night went brilliantly, I was very nervous when I heard the opening notes to my tune, praying the kids would be OK and remember the changes to their dance - I needn't have worried, they performed flawlessly!!   

A 1 1/2hr show all went without a problem, full house every night.  I attended on Friday night, and afterwards in the green room, i was presented with a bottle of my favourite whiskey Laphroiag!!

This is the last year for the musical director as by the time the next gang show is upon us in 2 years time, she will have retired.  I was asked if I was interested, but had to decline, I can't read music - everything for me is by ear, have no experience in managing a group of musicians, and no experience in arranging songs for instruments - doing an arrangement at home on my synths is one thing, but to do it for a group of real musicians, who need sheet music, is way above my skill level, this post is normally more suited for someone with a more traditional musical background, apart from a few piano lessons years ago to improve my technique when i was touring I'm entirely self taught.  But, I have said I will happily be involved in anything I can help with - sound effects, writing/recording tunes/song to be used as backing from a CD.


Mario - the artist owns the record label and all rights to their music - thats why I was p***ed off.

Will - I certainly did send a strongly worded letter, most of it unprintable! lol

Hats off  :;

k

Excellent. I'm delighted it went so well, and what a send-off for the outgoing musical director too. It could so easily have been a tragedy.

Let's also hope the kids took enough away from the experience to fire their own creative imaginations.

 :;
Well done, Paul ..... in every respect ......


just out of curiosity  :o

had you noticed that, when listening to this ...... your little doggy avatar is nodding at the same tempo  :o
Was this planned, or a freak of nature  >:D

 ;)
James

This has more of a euro-dance flair to it, a chilled atmosphere. The hats are not frantic like most trance, and the kick drum is missing the IN-YOUR-FACE OOMPH that most modern trance has. This is not a bad thing, as musical interpretation is far more important that genre placement. I love the melody, and how it is something I'd like to whistle. The odd-saws and the gated pad were a nice touch.

I got the feeling that the background choir was too drone-like. I wish that it could have been sidechained part of the time, or replaced with a gating pad for segments of the beat. I just felt like it droned too much and had a little too much of a noise element to it in spite of the other elements (slight clash of frequencies).

I say that it is good work, especially for the time frame, but as with any work it could use some slight improvements. Keep it up!