"First Block Study Hall" - New Song!

So a few days ago, I had a first period study hall, and in an attempt to entertain myself, I wrote a song whining about it.
I don't have notes to it yet, but I always imagine it sounding like a Blink 182 song.

It's first block study hall so what do I do?
I have no homework and no deadlines soon.
My peers are studying for math tests feared,
But I don't study, so why am I here?

At least my iPod's in my back pocket.
Oh, never mind, the stupid battery's dead.
Why does this madness always happen to me?
Everyone else is doing something, it seems.

Maybe I'll doodle on a notebook sheet,
A parody can always interest me.
Five minutes later, my brain's still a blank
This class is cursed and you can take it to a bank.

(breakdown)
                  Background                                                               Main voice
(It's first block study hall...It's first block study hall)
(It's first block study hall...It's first block study hall)
(It's first block study hall...It's first block study hall)              I don't want to be here.
(It's first block study hall...It's first block study hall)             Why does this happen to me?
(It's first block study hall...It's first block study hall)             What am I supposed to do?
(It's first block study hall...It's first block study hall)              This is really not cool.

(Up a key)
The bell just rang, now I can bail out of this box!
And I run out so fast I almost lose my socks!
Hooray for me, now off to science class I go!
And do that massive test I should have studies for...

E5

I'm baaack! Summer vacation, prior commitments, mic troubles, and a shortage of roller ball pens conspired to prevent me from posting! Anyway, here's a new thing I'm working on. It's a variations-on-a-theme kind of mini-project that involves my solo music project, Panda Plays Punk and my band, Cracked Perspective, will hopefully end up as an EP for Panda Plays Punk, and will probably involve my embarrasing myself by emailing people more famous than I. (Not the first time)
I have 2 versions (Okay, one-and-a-half) of "E5" done already. First...the Introduction!

This is an introduction-y kind of piece. This will kick off the EP, and is very hip-hop-y. (I think?) Need a dramatic way to enter? Blast this out!
Second...The Cracked Perspective version!
This is a legit song that I wrote in the past week. The actual lyrics only took a day or two, but it took another few days to get the instrumental recorded. But now I have both!
The lyrics are very morbid...just FYI...

Try to give a speech
But you don't have a voice
Yell 'till your throat hurts
But can't get past the noise

This is my despair
To haunt me every day
I can't make a mark
No one hears what I say

Try to save the world
Even though you can't
Try to find a gem
When there is only sand

(Chorus)
Da ba ba bada ba (x4)

So much there is to gain
If I'm one of a kind
So many doors to fame
But none that I can find

(Chorus)

But somehow I still try
To reach into the stars
To find some tiny chance
That I'll go somewhere far

I have myself convinced
That I can learn to fly
For simply sitting still
Is my version of crime

(Chorus) (x2)

...Yup...don't say I didn't warn you about morbidness...The instrumental is right here.
E5 - Cracked Perspective Version by PandaPlaysPunk
A quick note: the piano is basically going through the same rhythm, notes, and effects that the actual vocals will go through, though I might do some tweaking here and there; this is by no means done.
And there you have it; one-and-a-half versions of "E5." I'm also planning a supersad lyricless "closing" piece, and a frenetic violin solo that will be the theme of "E5."

I Don't Know

This is another song for my still-unnamed solo music project. (I updated the possible-name list). My last song for the project crashed and burned, as it was written on the assumption that I could sing like Jack White. 
Boy, am I stupid.
Never mind; I wrote another song that I may or may not be able to sing.
I Don't Know


(Chorus)
I don't know what has gone wrong
Just know that something is wrong
I see it on the TV
See horrors on the TV

I see hate, war, and violence
Why the hate, war, and violence?
I don't know what's happening
Tell me, what is happening?

I don't know why we have war
What is the purpose of war?
I don't see the point to hate
Where do we get all this hate?

(Chorus)

I hear there's no need to fight
Then why send armies to fight?
I want to get the answers
Does someone have the answers?

Does someone have the answers?
Does someone have the answers?
Does someone have the answers?
Does someone have the answers?

I don't know what has gone wrong
Just know that something is wrong
I vow to find and fix it
Seems no one else can do it.

Who Whats To Be Famous?

I'm back to writing songs! This is for my own solo music project, which means I'm...gasp...singing. (I'm still working out the name of the project; I have a few ideas here.) This is really just an experiment, if I can't make my singing sound tolerable, then the project goes away.
Note: I'm writing the song as part of a story featuring a random person who wants to be famous. This is not my personal opinion.
Here's the song:

I am bored
I'm tired of this world I right now see
I want more
My world is now far too small for me

All these doors
Lead to dullness beyond belief
Force us in the mold
'Till only boredom is all we feel

(Chorus)
I want it all
I'll touch the stars no matter the cost
I'll beat the odds
Go and try, but I won't be stopped

I'll be a star
Immortalized on the TV screen
I will go far
I will get every single one of my dreams

I've got the right cards
I little time is all I need
It won't be long
'Till record sales will come to me

(Chorus)

(Violin Solo + Distortion)

I am done
No more mediocrity
I'll be number one
I see that's where I am to be...


There you have it. If the project goes further, then the story will go to songs featuring the character's attempting to be famous, complete with cliffhanger at end....

Life of a Robot

Another song!

I believe this is my tenth song. This one's actually in 6/8 time, and has a little square riff. I might add a bit of a bitcrusher effect to the vocals, get a bit of a robot voice - it's called "Life of a ROBOT," so...

I'm a human robot these days

Every day is the same

Nothing's now and nothing's changed, 

I do the same thing every day

Think there's something out there for me

But no one lets me see

My time is wasting, bit by bit

There's nothing I can do about it

Living life________

With no purpose

Did not die________

But still totally lifeless

(quieter)

I know I can be someone great

But no one lets me prove it

Just bore myself to death each day

In a world that's too small to fit

(gradually get louder)

Find my life_______

Some new purpose

I won't die_______

Thinking there's something I had missed

I'm a human robot today

Every day is the same

But that won't be for long, I say

Forget the map, find my own way

Know there's something out there for me

That no one let me me see

Not just going to idly sit

I'm on a quest to go and find it...

There you have it. How is it? 

Clueless

I had originally posted this sans intro-to-what-this-song-is-about, thus proving that I really AM clueless.
I often feel like I'm always one step behind, at least when everything is fast-paced. Like 3-on-3 basketball in P.E. I can barely remember whose team I'm on. (Which is why I blog, not play sports)

(Verse 1)
I don't know where I am going
I don't know what is happening
I don't know what I am to do
And once I know, they change the rules

(Verse 2)
I'm a bird in the winter that can't find south
Can't find somebody to show me how
The world is going to fast to see
Once I figure it out, it's too late for me

(Verse 3)
What just occured?
Didn't catch the words
World's far too fast
So I'm left in last

(Verse 1)

(Solo??)

(Verse 4)
I don't know___
I don't know what's going on
I don't know___
Once I get dusk I am at dawn

(Verse 4 with Verse 1 in background)

There you have it.

Wannabe

Another song! This is about a kid who wants to famous...like the rest of us. It's got a nice piano riff (no duh)...and...well...here it is.

I want it all, I want the best, I want to be a music star

I want my life to hit its crest, I am so sure it can't be far

I've got to run, it's time to go, I've got to fight against the clock

I hear the constant metronome, tick, tock, tick, tock, it's time to go.

(Chorus)

Oh, I'll be rich and I'll be famous, I'll have all I could ask in life

'Cuz I am sure that I'm not the same, just all I need is one quick dive

My strife will run, my problems solved, my fame will break all of my locks

But right now that's a dream, that's all, I'm just a loser in a box

My life is dull, my life's a bore, I'm getting tired of what I see.

But yet I know there's something more, I see it all on the TV

The famous souls have all they need, and can be anyone they wish

Yes, that is what I aim to be, my old life will never be missed

(Chorus)

One more musician gone to jail, I see another fallen star

Guess fame's like walking on a rail, 'cept when you fall, the ground's so far

Don't think the money's worth the pain, I think I'm better off down here

So say goodbye to dreams of fame, I'm sure it's much safer for me

Don't need to have the cash and fame, I have all I could ask in life

Already know I'm not the same, don't need to take the extra dive

My problems will all be resolved, I don't need fame to break my locks

Fame won't be in my crystal ball, I'll enjoy life inside my box

Yup. Like it?

Reality Check

Another song! Sorry it took so long; I had writer's block.
This is based on a loop that I made before.
It's a little anecdote of a kid going from I'm-the-best to I'm-a-fail to I'm-what-I-do. A little to much of a fable, but whatever.

(Piano riff, Brass Background)

I want it all, I want the best

Skip all the falls, Skip to the crests

I won't be fake, this I can do

I'll take the cake, and eat it too

'Cause I'm a star, I am the best

I can go far, this I can stress

I am the fore - most in pure fame

I am far more, than just the same

(pause)

(Riff + String Background)

Don't call me cool, don't call me great

My skills are few, don't know the date

Now, don't be shy, you know it's true

Go say that I, I am a fool!

I'm not a star, I'm far from best

That's stretched too far, That I must stress

I'm just one more, blank, faceless name

Yes, that's a bore, true all the same

(pause)

(Riff + Either String+Brass or Choir)

Not in-your-face, not quarantined,

Maybe my place, is in between

I can't do all, but I'll do some

I may just fall, But I'll have fun

I may turn star, I may turn best

But I am far, That I must stress

I can fight for, a better name,

I'll open doors, 'till I find fame

Yup. Whaddya think?

Stargazer

Another song that's not morbid...kinda.
This was SUPER HARD. But yeah, it's nice.
This will have a beautiful string loop.

(Intro)

See the stars, in the sky,

Little parts, of the night.

Twinkling, endlessly

Shimmering, blissfully

Oh, great star, how are you?

From afar, you shine true.

Far in space, you shine bright,

In a maze, out of sight

I let these, moonlit skies,

Banish tears, from my eyes.

All's at peace, in the night,

Not a crease, from life's strife

At this time, my pains flee,

Tossed aside, like dead leaves.

Night makes me, happiest.

Can't life be, just like this?

I'd sit here, for all time,

With no fears, of life's crimes.

There's no stress, no worries,

No sadness, and no tears.

(Violin Solo) Update: There is no solo.

Here's the sun, back to life.

Time to run, with our strife.

If only, life could be,

Just like the, night I've seen

But I know, for today,

Fear may go, but hope stays.

Peace can come, inside me

When night's a, memory...

Yup...Whaddya think?

Anthem of the Unheard

Another song! And not a morbid one! Amazing!
It's got a catchy little C major piano riff to go with it.

(intro)

(Happy melody)

Sometimes I feel that no one can hear me,

There is no interest, far as I see.

I'm walking down Un-listened-to Street,

I might as well be talking to a tree.

Hello, hello, try to hear me please,

I might just have the answer to world peace.

But I'm drowned out by a million flocks of geese

Hungry for more than their rightful piece

(Chorus) (different melody)

No one seems to hear what I'm saying,

My friends don't get it, the leaders don't care.

I keep on talking to walls all day in

Hopes they'll see that I'm not playing

I keep on shouting 'till my throats dry

But it seems that they would rather try 

To not accept I'm here,  (In intercom voice) "Oh, hi,

But I don't care, so forget it, bye!"

(First melody)

Operator, do you hear me clear?

Is there anybody...out there?

Does someone listen to me, anywhere?

Does someone truly, honestly care?

(Switch to D Major)

But though I know I'm not heard today,

Tomorrow is a different time, may-

be someone will hear what I'll say.

'Till then I'll talk to brick walls all day,

(Final Chorus) (second melody) (Still in D Major)

'Till someone seems to hear what I'm saying,

They finally get it, they finally care and

I'll really talk to someone someday in

Confidence the know that I'm not playing

I won't shout 'till my throat's dry,

'Cause I'd know that someone will try 

To help me spread my wings and fly.

You know I'm not a pie in the sky!

(Chorus) (Back to C major)

You might notice the Pink Floyd reference. What do you think?
Update: I put the chorus at the end to smooth it out a bit

Memorial Service (Memories)

Man, I need antidepressants. Song #4, and no happiness in sight. Wow, kid. Lighten up.
I have a arpeggio-based piano riff for this, but my super-slacker lifestyle means that I won't be recording it for a while. And Zhen (the pro singer in my band, Cracked Perspective) won't be around for a while, too. So yeah, I'm only on songwriting for now.

I saw it on the news today

The saddest thing I've ever seen 

But of the aftermath I'll say

These wounds may never heal

(add light beat)

We see such pain in all we view

But just forget about it all

So while people lose all they could ever lose

We ignore them like broken dolls

(Chorus)

The tragedies that come to us

They never seem to go away

But the memories they leave with us...these

Flashbacks of then, we never learn from for today

They say that once upon a time

People learned from their past

But now we disregard old crimes

Save for a flag at half mast

Right now, I feel the past is more

Than a history book paper

It tells of what we've endured

And how it could make us greater

(Chorus)

(Violin Solo?)

(Different Melody)

I wish that in another day,

We'll the world's worries and say

"I've had it with the tears and pain

Let's work 'till only hope remains"

(Final Chorus)

The tragedies that come to us

They'll still come in our way

But maybe we can learn for once

So that tomorrow, we'll be better than today...

There you go. What do you think?

Over the Edge

Another morbid song. Woo. And there's more coming, too. I don't know why I can't write remotely happy stuff. I might have a sense of humor, but that's not going in the music; I'm not Blink 182.
This song has a nice little square lead in C minor; (after playing Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity, in an orchestra-I'm a violinist, if you don't know-that has become my space-war key) and is about a random kid's extreme paranoia. (Morbid? Yes. Scary? Likely. Will it sell? Maybe.) But enough pointless digressions. Let's get to the song.

I don't know what is wrong these days, I never can relax,

I see only anxiety, I'm surprised I'm not collapsed

Look behind my shoulder, my panic's set to "max,"

I feel like I'm stepping on a million sidewalk cracks

I cannot be my myself unless I'm safely out of sight,

I see someone that's to my left, I tiptoe to the right

I'm scared of all my fears but it seems just out of spite

I am also scared of telling someone of my plight

(Chorus)

I must've gone over the edge

The fears possessing me,

Are slowly eating me inside

They are my end-to-be

I think they call it paranoia

but I disagree

I say it's called be being chased 

By ghosts that you can't see

Don't be offended if I doubt you, please just understand,

I'm scared of you and all your friends, the panic's all I have

I might look sane, it's all a game,  it's in my master plan,

To hide your eyes from the facts, I'm lunatic, I'm mad

(Square synth solo)

(Chorus)

I think that I've been round the bend for far, far, far too long

So I've sent my plea of help to you in some kind of a song,

Help me before I decide I'd better pass along

So I won't have these specters haunting me forever on....

(Chorus)

(Chorus)

Yup. Morbid. As are all my songs. The problem is that political songs can get cheesy, I haven't had a girlfriend since kindergarten, and I don't have enough street cred to do those get-outta-my-way-puny-opponents thingies that rappers do a lot. So I write about people tearing themselves to bits Edgar Allen Poe style. That's my lame excuse.

Flight

Super morbid song. It's all about death, war and dreams.


(Sparse, quiet electronic loop only, echo-y voice)
I live without the strife
Above the fear and the lies
But the goal of life
Is how I wish I could fly

My dreams tell all I know
They are the star of the show
And they say I must go 
To where the birds may roam

(Chorus)
(Simple Bass, Piano - ditch echo for chorus)
Ooh, Oh I wish I could Fly
Ooh, Oh I wish I could fly
Ooh, I will do or I'll die...
...Oh, I wish I could fly

(Back to sparse loop & echoes)
The feds have sent me a call
A war is on, they want all
I'll walk myself down the hall
Yet I feel it's my fall

I'm looking out in the dawn
I'm in a jet with a bomb
To kill a man for his wrongs
And leave his family to long...

(Chorus)
(Back to Simple Bass/Piano)

(Violin Solo w/ bass & piano)

(Add Violin in background)
My plane is hit, I'm going down
Oh, I won't see again my town
I feel the sweat on my crown
I never thought I'd die now.......(stop background - only sparse piano chords)

(Final Chorus)
No, Now I never will fly
No, Now I never will fly
No, The war has killed me 'fore I tried
I have not done but I have died (piano chord for last note)


So yeah...Morbid.
This is only my second song...so...yeah...

Look

Here's a song I wrote up a while ago. It was my first (I've written 3), and kinda is a raise-awareness-for bullying thingy.
Here goes nothing:

(rapper) Look, Look, Look at he,

Fighting the bullies he can't be,

Trapped in a world I'd rather not see,

Does anyone care? Is it just me?

Look, Look, Look online,

It's ruthless gossip without any shine,

It's sick how they post that he has no spine.

But if I speak up, I'LL be on the line.

(singer) Someone help me...I think I'm falling,

Dose someone care for me?...Oh please I'm calling.

Can anyone see? Right no I'm thinking,

I'm losing myself...

(rapper) Look, Look, Look over there,

They're beating him senseless, all they can dare,

He's lost all he has, no dignity to spare,

I'd go over to stop, but why would they care?

Look, Look, Look at his pain,

They call him retard, call him gay,

I've had it with them, THEY WILL PAY!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I'LL HAVE MY SAY!

(singer) No one will save me...I know I'm falling.

No one cares for me, I'm no longer calling.

No one can see, right now I'm thinking

I've had enough of myself... (piano riff)

(rapper) (slower) Look, Look, Look, at the ground,

He hung himself with a cord wrapped 'round.

His joy had been stolen and never was found.

We're all responsible, so don't make a sound.

Advice For An Upstart Band With No Resources

I started a band a few weeks ago, called Cracked Perspective. It's me and another kid. As a band we have:
-A keyboard
-A violin
-A MacBook
-An iPod Touch
-A small studio
-The best singer that does not have a record deal
-$16
I have a few questions:
-I've written a few songs and made an instrumental. Should I made a whole series of demos or send one demo now and record the rest with listenable quality?
-I'm a BAD songwriter, but people don't like ghost writers. Should I do a lot of collaborations? Or should I just suck it up and write?
-Where should I send my music? To a big music label? To an indie label? Or should I be an impertinent nitwit and make my own label?
-Do I really need better equipment? How much $$ do I need to raise?
Please Help! Thanks!