16
Apr
2009
In the voting years – Bigger, longer, uncut
OK, so I’m still looking for somebody to help produce this thing…. Any takers?*
Anyway, as promised here it is:
Twisted tune of Mike Rutherfords “In the living years”.
Multiple viewpoint version (Bigger, longer, uncut)
Written by : Hexdream
Assisted by : Cynicman
All:
Every politician blames the one before
Despite all our frustrations
Don’t go beating down their door
They’re lining all their pockets
Doing little for the poor
In the voting years
Nelson Mandela:
I know that I’m a prisoner
To all my country holds so dear
Don’t they know that I’m a hostage
To all our hopes and fears
Deborah Patter:
I wish I could have swayed them
Sensation and despair
Crumpling the newspaper
Needing some fresh air
Callous generations
Do they really care?
In the voting years
Julius Malema:
When I speak they don’t believe it
They say I have no sense
If we lose elections
Can’t we just deceive it?
(or)
When I speak they don’t believe it
They say I have no sense
We will never lose elections
We just cannot conceive it!
CHORUS: CHOIR led by Desmond Tutu:
Saying it loud
Won’t make you clear
You must listen
Just as well as you cheer
It’s too late when you die
To reject eye for an eye
We re-open all our quarrels
Of our present and our past
We only sacrifice our future
It’s the silliness that lasts
Don’t yield to your misfortunes
Don’t see it as your fate
You may gain a new perspective
See things a different way
Don’t drug up
And don’t you sin
You must find a better way.
Jacob Zuma:
We just can’t get agreement
On the subject of defense
The NPA talks a different language
Judges sitting on the fence
Thabo Mbeki:
I wasn’t there that morning
With the voting underway
I didn’t get to sway them
All the things I couldn’t say
Helen Zille:
They do not vote on merit
They only vote in fear
We need to get some credit
Damn it, wheres my beer
All:
I’m sure I heard the echo
Of the gunshots and the tears
I just wish I could have swayed them
In the voting years
CHORUS: CHOIR led by Desmond Tutu:
Saying it loud
Won’t make you clear
You must listen just as well as you cheer
It’s too late when you die
To reject eye for an eye
Why re-open all our quarrels
Of our present and our past
We only sacrifice our future
It’s the silliness that lasts
Don’t yield to your misfortunes
Don’t see it as your fate
You may gain a new perspective
See things a different way
Don’t drug up
And don’t break in
You will find a better way
In the voting years
* Note: This strays from the original format a bit and would be harder to produce. Work for a producer extraordinaire perhaps?
7
Apr
2009
In the voting years – First version
So people have been wanting to read the lyrics for “In the Voting years” which I blogged about previously.
Title : In the voting years (Single viewpoint version)*
Written by : Hexdream
Assisted by : CynicmanBased on Mike Rutherfords “In the living years”. (Mike and the mechanics)
Every politician
Blames the one before
Despite all our frustrations
Don’t go beating down their doorI know that I’m a prisoner
To all my country holds so dear
Don’t they know that I’m a hostage
To all our hopes and fears
I wish I could have swayed them in the voting yearsCrumpling the newspaper
Sensation and despair
Callous generations
Do they really care?When they speak I don’t believe it
What they say just makes no sense
We just can’t get agreement
On the subject of defense
Justice talks a different language
Judges sitting on the fenceCHOIR CHORUS:
Saying it loud won’t make you clear
You must listen just as well as you cheer
It’s too late when we die
To reject eye for an eyeWe re-open all our quarrels
Of our present and our past
We only sacrifice our future
It’s the silliness that lastsDon’t yield to your misfortunes
Don’t see it as your fate
You may gain a new perspective
See things a different way
Don’t drug up, and don’t break in
You must find a better way.Saying it loud won’t make you clear
You must listen just as well as you cheer
It’s too late when we die
To reject eye for an eyeI wasn’t there that morning
With the voting underway
I didn’t get to sway them
All the things I couldn’t sayThey do not vote on merit
They only vote in fear
I’m sure I heard the echo
Of the gunshots and the tears
I just wish I could have swayed them in the voting yearsCHOIR CHORUS:
Saying it loud won’t make you clear
You must listen just as well as you cheer
It’s too late when you die
To reject eye for an eye
*I also have a version suited for multiple impersonation artists, and @Cynicman has started working on a version “in the third person”. These will be posted later.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8mPS0-2Xq8
For original, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8mPS0-2Xq8
Edit: Seems that “In the living years” by Mike and the mechanics will be performed by Jason of South African Idols. While I don’t follow Idols, it is interesting timing.
5
Apr
2009
Obsessions
Don't be afraid to follow your passions
So we all have that little voice in the back of our head that we should be doing something else… Something that really drives our passions.
It’s that nagging voice that has finally gotten to me, and now I have decided to listen properly.
I have been obsessed with mainly two things for as long as I can remember : Exploring technology, and writing.
While I have dabbled with both before, the time has come to start taking them much more seriously.
So far I have given the most attention to technology… Most easily seen with my attempt at starting The OpenProject ( A failure, but I intend reviving it), and most recently my participation in Ductape, the first Hackerspace in the Southern Hemisphere. Ductape has a number of really passionate people. I see big things happening here… Making things is our combined passion, driving us forward. Watch this space 
I have not really done much to explore my writing, and this is going to change.
My first step has been to set up this blog. I need the practice, so what better place to begin.
I have also recently penned a “twisted tune” (See my previous post), and am preparing to write my first novel. I am not expecting miracles. It will be hard work and will probably take longer than necessary, but I am convinced I can do it. I will no longer be afraid.
To quote Dan Moore :
“If you want to be good at something, you have to to be obsessive. You have to do the thing all the time, and when you’re not doing it, you have to be thinking about doing it.
…
if you want to be good at writing, you need to be obsessive about it.”
4
Apr
2009
I need help faking it!
The last couple of weeks I have had this idea stuck in my head for a “Twisted Tune”… A Parody of the song of “In the living years” by Mike Rutherford (of Mike and the mechanics).
Today I decided to sit down and write it, and I think it turned out ok: @cynicman wants to produce it, and @ralfe offered to help with the piano/chorus work.
I am hoping to get this done by general elections later this month, but need to get some voice talent to handle the South African Politicians and personalities.
I need people who can imitate:
Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Jacob Zuma,Julius Malema, Helen Zille, Deborah Patter and Thabo Mbeki.
So, does anybody out there know anybody who could help?
Of course, being on virtually no budget, we will probably just fake it ourselves, and probably badly.
If we cant get it right, I will probably just try hand it off to a comedy producer with experience in this sort of thing, assuming they are interested. Neville Pillay (Top Dan) of East Coast Radio comes to mind.
EDIT: Owing to time constraints I have re-written the parody so that I only need a single male singer and a choir, just like the original song.
I’m also looking for a studio, or nearest equivalent.
