The song that wouldn't die

Jim of Seattle · Post by **Jim of Seattle** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 2:55 pm

Hi everyone.

I'm speaking tomorrow at a local group about Welcome to Windows, like how I wrote it I guess, or something. I realized I have no idea what I'm going to get up there and say. Any ideas?
The group is all about how people combine art and technology, and they meet once a month and have people come and talk about their wacky art+technology projects.

jack · Post by **jack** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:50 pm

talk about songfight. tell them not to suck if they send something in.

and hey jim! long time no see.

pegor · Post by **pegor** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:03 pm

I have played the tune for many people and always get a smile and request for more information about it. I even played it for a room full of linux nerds who were way to pleased with it.

Beyond the obvious and mostly unfounded idea that it sticks it to the czar of Redmond, I think people enjoy it because it takes sounds people hear everyday ( found objects) and puts them in a very pleasing context. It is the photograph of an object you see every day, newly portrayed in the golden evening light. it is the essay about childhood that makes riding a schwinn to the fastfood restuarant seem like poetry....

damn I think I'm drunk ..... nevermind ....

Caravan Ray · Post by **Caravan Ray** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 2:25 am

Your ears must have been burning Jim!

recent post from the current Ark of Philidelphia review thread:

Caravan Ray wrote:
halen99 wrote:
MC Eric B wrote:My Ark Reviews:
But, I don't think this should qualify as a songfight song since it has no lyrics. It could be about any topic.
So a few years back before my first fight I asked everyone on the board and the fight master said that instrumentals was welcome and that one even won once. I believe the song was called Welcome. I understand your point however I put a lot of effort last week into this so when people say this isn't a song, or this shouldn't count it's a bit annoying. That being said I love you all
That yes/no instrumental debate has happened on and off over the years. The key I think is that the song has to reflect the title - that is hard to do without words. Jim of Seattle's Welcome To.... was a special case. He actually pulled it off. If the title was "Baby Elephant Walk" and Henri Mancini entered, he might win too. I can't think of any other examples that could do it

Jim of Seattle · Post by **Jim of Seattle** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:12 am

Thanks everyone. Nervous as hell. I AM planning to talk about Songfight a bit, but there really isn't anything to say about the song itself. I sat down at the computer and wrote the thing one evening. I have to stretch that one sentence out to 20 minutes.

I know! I'll make stuff up!

Anyway, thanks and I'll let you know how it went.

Post by **Spud** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:19 am

What is the local group? What are their interests? Why do they want to hear from you? Go from there.

btw, what IS the local group?

Jim of Seattle · Post by **Jim of Seattle** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:36 am

Yeah, that's good advice.

The group is called dorkbot. They meet at the 911 Media Center on Capitol Hill, and apparently have been around for years and have branches all over the world. I'd never heard of them. Their purpose is talking about the melding of art and technology. Looking on their website there look to have been a lot of interesting speakers. The head guy's wife is a Microsoftie who heard the piece, apparently.

http://www.dorkbot.org/dorkbotsea/

Post by **Spud** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:08 pm

Ah yes, I am familiar. I am a frequent visitor to 911 and have seen (and heard) the ambient sound installation. I would show up tonight, but we have band practice. Good luck.