Susan the Neon Nurse ([info]neonnurse) wrote,
@ 2007-02-23 14:41:00
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Current mood: creative

Unwritten song stuck in my head
At least some of you may be aware of the phenomenon called "Wizard Rock". It was started by two brothers who came up with the idea of writing songs based on the Harry Potter novels, and performing them as Harry, Year 4 and Harry, Year 7 using the name Harry and the Potters. They started small, cutting CDs and playing in local libraries, but now have a big fan following, regular summer tours and all kinds of fun stuff like that, including an LJ fan group [info]harrypotters.

One of the many admirable things about these young lads is that they have gone out of their way to encourage other Wizard Rock groups, which has led to the formation of bands like Draco and the Malfoys, Remus and the Lupins, the Moaning Myrtles and dozens of others.

I myself have been tempted to make a foray into this fandom, but several factors stymie me at this time.

1. I do not play an instrument. One of my brothers does, but he's of the religous stripe that is aghast over the shocking demonic best-sellers, so no joy there.

2. No recording equipment.

3. Not a cute young thing with groupie appeal.

4. No one crazy enough to join a band with me.

5. Excessively weird sense of humor.

Three could be ignored by clinging to lofty, artistic thoughts. But even if I solved the problems of one,two and four, five is admittedly a poser. Witness the first idea I cam up with: a Wizard Folk Rock group called "Minerva and the McGonagalls", performing songs in a Steeleye Span sort of way. Like, for instance, "Parselmouth Rogue in a Nation"....

Poll #933835 Potential mega-hit or what?
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 15

Parselmouth Rogue in a Nation

View Answers

OMG, hilarious!
6 (40.0%)

Hilarious, but no one will get the joke.
4 (26.7%)

Buh?
4 (26.7%)

I get the joke, but it's not that funny.
1 (6.7%)

Shouldn't you be doing some actual work?
0 (0.0%)



Or if not that, maybe show tunes, such as the one from Disney's classic, 'The Aristocats', "Everybody Wants To Be A Cat."

OK, I'll stop now.

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[info]redrob
2007-02-24 01:30 am UTC (link)
1. Not a major obstacle. There are various solutions to this (a karaoke machine, Band in a Box, etc) or just sing a capella. Or start a band!

2. Do you have a microphone attached to your computer? You have a recording studio. Admittedly, not a very good one, but still.

3. Completely overwhelmed by #5.

4. I disagree. I'll admit, you might have to go rather far afield, but I know several bands with members in different states - heck, even on different continents!

5. Honey, this is an asset!

Seriously - if you want to get gigs, then, yes, instruments, (reasonably local) bandmates, & equipment would be very useful. But even then, find a few like-minded friends who will be at a convention with you, and you can pass lyrics and rough sound files back and forth via email/ftp/whatever, plus an hour or two to rehearse at the con, and then perform! You're probably not much of a threat to Britney Spears, but isn't the point just to have some fun?

Anyway, just thought I'd share some thoughts.

Alex

Why yes, I am a filker. How did you guess?

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]neonnurse
2007-02-25 03:08 am UTC (link)
You intrigue me strangely. And yet, do I need another fandom? Not so much.

I guess I will back-burner this one a while unless I suddenly get a brain email of a big chunk of lyrics....

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]guinnevere_b
2007-02-24 01:55 am UTC (link)

  1. I sorta-kinda play keyboard... but not for many years. And I used to sorta-kinda play the twelve-string... but I've had fibromyalgia for a long time, and now I think psoriatic arthritis is starting to flare in my hands...

  2. I have a tape recorder and a CD burner, and a microphone... is that close enough?

  3. Me neither. Darn it.

  4. If not for the major hurdle of Geography, and how much of it there is between your house and my house, I'd love to be in a band with you.

  5. I like weird. It's comfortable and familiar. And I still say all musicians are weird on some level - it takes one to know one.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]neonnurse
2007-02-25 03:10 am UTC (link)
There is always the chance I could win the lotto, and then Geography is no hurdle at all! I would love to be in a band with you too, because I think you have an awesome singing voice!

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[info]guinnevere_b
2007-02-25 05:07 am UTC (link)
Aw, thanks, darlin' - your voice is pretty amazing too: both pretty, and amazing! Now if we were only Sweet Young Things again, we'd be on the charts! (Surely there's a market somewhere that wants to hear singing grandmas?)

I like the name: Parselmouth Rogues In A Nation (doesn't matter if people don't get it - I didn't know to what the name Steeleye Span referred until recently, but I still loved their music!), also Minerva and the McGonagalls, or a band could go totally goth/punk and be Bella and the Lestranges!

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]neonnurse
2007-02-25 06:42 pm UTC (link)
I'm sure there would be a niche market somewhere for singing grandmas. Everybody loves grandmas, right? :)

Is your barbershop group still active? I haven't seen you post about it in a while.

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[info]guinnevere_b
2007-02-25 07:23 pm UTC (link)
Is your barbershop group still active? I haven't seen you post about it in a while.
Sadly, no. We broke up just after competing in the spring of 2005. The baritone felt we weren't ever going to get past third place - it was our second year in that slot - and maybe she was right, we just couldn't get together often enough to work out the rough spots. Michigan winters can get in the way of getting to rehearsals, and we were situated at all four corners of the state, figuratively.

Although I'll bet that's nothing compared to what Colorado winters can do! But you all have that Pioneer Spirit, you just deal with it.

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[info]neonnurse
2007-02-27 11:02 pm UTC (link)
Now that you mention it, I think maybe you did tell me about this. My brain, she not so good no more....

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[info]bojojoti
2007-02-25 08:28 am UTC (link)
I was unaware that an excessively weird sense of humor could be a bad thing. That explains a lot about my life. Hmmm.

In high school, my wonderful soprano went spiraling from high soprano to low alto, and I finally dropped out of choir in my senior year. I knew boys' voices changes, but mine disintegrated. So, no musical ability, but I can still think of a few groups I wouldn't mind seeing:

Crospin Conk and the Honky Tonk Badonkadonk Tonks
Dobby and the Dirty Sox (sing mostly head-banging songs)
Rita Skeeter and her Lovely Maids of Metre (sing old beetle songs)
Lavender Brown and the Rainbow Crooners (sing mostly blues)


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[info]neonnurse
2007-02-25 06:46 pm UTC (link)
It's not that a weird sense of humor is BAD. People just don't get you. Like a sig I used to use, "Causing furrowed brows and perplexed looks since 1953."

I think ALL of those are really good names for a (wizard)rock band! The Badonkadonks sound like they are heavily influenced by Zydeco.

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[info]bojojoti
2007-02-26 08:18 am UTC (link)
My poor son went on the road with a construction crew two summers ago. When he got back home, he was so thankful to be back among people who laughed at his jokes. We understand one another's sense of humor.

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