Six Months Later....

So we've been completely blog-silent since May!
We've still been very busy graduating, working, moving house, eating, drinking, recording, writing, networking, nerdworking, singing and darrrncing. It's just unfortunate that none of these terribly exciting events made it onto this page.
However, now that I am settled and can has internet again, I'll be starting a song a day up again, hopefully with a similar regularity to what we produced initially. Additionally, I'm going to intersperse these musical whimsies with written blogs about how we're getting on poking our feet into what we hope will be appropriate doors. Sometimes these doors will be profitable, useful, insightful, and sometimes they will be slammed on our poor musical toes.

I feel perhaps I haven't had enough coffee to start me up this morning, but never mind; there is the gist! More music! And more writings! ....Probably a similar level of inanity and nonsense in both.

Bye :D

Are You With Me? (Alternative Version)

"Are You With Me?" was written over a year ago. This is song #16 From The Song A Day Series. This is an alternative version of the song.

Is It Beacuase...?

Song #15 From The Song A Day Project. This song is a response to "Suits Me Fine", #14 From The Song A Day Project.

Until I Stop Breathing

Possibly s ong #13,14,15? from the song a day project. watch and find out :)

Untitled*

Im not sure what song number this is, its all got a little mixed up. However, this is the song with no name "Untitled*" - From the Song a Day Series. It was written and recorded at about 4.30am, hense why im so quiet, but i wanted that effect anyway :)

#14: Suits Me Fine

So.... I don't think James has been putting his songs up here! Anyway, this is song #14, a short little ditty about nothing in particular, just being content and less terrified of impending old age than I used to be. Yes, the ukulele is out of tune. But no, I can not fix it apparently.

We'll still hold hands when we're eighty, but we might not wrestle in bed
I'll bring you your tea on a tray hey, and make sure you're always well fed
You'll cuddle into me, and fall asleep, like every night
This is our life, and it suits me fine
This is our life, and it suits me........fine.

Fear - Mark Two! #13

This is an electro/bassy kind of mix I started today as part of a thing for uni. It's the same video essentially, but mushed up. I like the backing so far; I like how exactly the same melody can turn from this soft "la la la" girl voice into a pretty dirty sounding piece. I may even mean durrty. I might carry it on into a full song after uni.

*strokes beard*

PS I wrote this at about 2am in my head, where I do all my best work. Then in the morning, I'd forgotten the melody, so I made up a different one. The head one was better, but this will have to do.

#11 - Fear (We Look On)

Yo-la,

Today's video is actually yesterday's video, but blogger takes a long time to upload, and I lost the will to live. So, here is song #11 from Song A Day- this is just a short vocal experiment vaguely related to my practical dissertation at uni. The video was done at about midnight last night and is pretty much irrelevant, so it's probably best to listen with your eyes closed :)

Julia

Just 'til June....

It's been a while since anything got posted up here - James hasn't figured out blogger yet, so i'll have to get his videos off him and put them up. in the meantime, do check out our youtube channel - http://www.youtube.com/oogliabeast - it has all the videos which haven't quite found their way on here yet!

Today's video is a quick little song from my frazzled brain, bemoaning the fact I can't seem to write my dissertation, and would rather write silly little songs about nothing than finish my degree!

I, don't have the time / To write songs about my holidays, with this dissertation on my mind / But here I sit, can't finish it / The words are bad, the grammar poor, but look how I play in 5/4:

Words have always come so easily / But now blank pages seem to laugh at me / Someone help me finish my degree / I'll pay you good money to be me.

But just 'til June........

Dont Bring Me Down

Finally, I got the interent yesturday. Just needed to share that with everyone. Its James here by the way. New working version of song #7 "Dont Bring Me Down". Enjoy. I want steak. I want it now. Feed me steak.

Lyrics:

I have been here before, but i cant make sense of it all
And who wrote the story?, cuase my part ain't there anymore
Where am i going now?, And why did they push me out?

The words may have drained from the pencil, but i can still say it out loud
And it only seems fair that i mention, they dont know what they're talking about
And so i wish you well, you make the choice

But dont bring me down with you
Dont bring me down
Dont bring me down with you
Dont bring me down

Where are you going now?, Looks like they pushed you out.

High Over Nothing........finally!

Today's video isn't really a video - it's just a song with repeating titles. The reason being is that I tried to add a load of photos as a bit of a slideshow, but they were all woefully inappropriate considering the mood of the song! So.... anyway.... rambling aside....to get straight to the..... point....

Our good friend Sam wrote these lyrics some time ago, and she and James put together an acoustic version of this song maybe two years ago. And so, as part of Sam's birthday present, we decided to give High Over Nothing a makeover, and more detailed arrangement. And turn it into a six minute song, from about two :)

Here it is....

NB This song was actually recorded some time ago, but I couldn't post it until Sam had actually received it :)

You & Me.... (& A Ukulele)

Okay, so it hasn't quite been a song a day just yet....

But in my defence, I've been busy trying to salvage my dissertation! James, on the other hand, has all the time in the world.... but no internet just yet.

We're trying to rectify these problems, so in the mean time here is a short sketch I wrote the other day.

Apologies for the poor quality, out-of-tune uke and buzzing noise. This is because I was at an awkward angle, the uke won't stay in tune and someone was ringing the door bell.... but the uke has a frog on it. look at the little froggy! look!



Et.....VOILA!

Two videos in one day?! Le BB is really spoiling us!

Today's song would have been ready at about 1pm if not for this....

Three Big Cheers! James is here!

Hey y'all!

James turned up today, and we were able to create the first collaborative effort of the Song A Day project. And it was just wunderbar everybody. Just wunderbar. James's initial idea was an epic ballad about someone who went to a diner but was served a burger without ketchup, and as a result was forced into a journey of undetermined duration to buy a microwave and sauce.

After some discussion, we decided to write a simple call-and-response tune. We tried to record it live but it took about half an hour, because one of us couldn't stop giggling. So we recorded it in one take, then lipsynced and used our mad acting skillz instead.

The song is based on James's journey to my house, and all the trials which ensued. I think you'll agree that it is heart-breaking.

James, you got here late today / I thought that it was yesterday
Could you not find a place to park? / I had to park around the block
I thought we said we'd meet at noon / I txt to say I'd be there soon
I've got a busy schedule / Just cancel like you said you will...

But now you're finally here, my fears just disappeared Let's give up three big cheers:

Woo hoo hoo!

You didn't meet me at the door / This house has got like twenty floors
Well even so, you took a while / You know that rushing's not my style
Let's get to work, just you and me / Hang on a sec, I need to wee........
You took a while on the bog.......... Shut up James, let's rock this blog!

Cos now you're finally here, my fears all disappeared, Let's give up three big cheers:

Woo hoo hoo! Woo hoo hoo!

Etc....

Outtakes to follow....

I am Busy McBusyson

Yo-la,

I haven't written since Thursday as I've been super-busy, then sick and tired. Stupid uni work. Grr at it. Anyway, this is just a quick little ditty today, as I've got work very shortly. Sound quality isn't terribly good as I was trying to sort out the audio drivers so it would all go in sync. didn't really work - the latency just creeps in. It's like they just get tired after a while - anyone else get this?

Anyway, here it is: provisionally titled "Through Today", reflective of my current exhaustion I think. Caffeine, anyone?

Song 2. Woohoo!

Evenin' all,

Today's song is an upbeat little number about an unusual ant. Inspiration for lyrics comes from Jennifer Smith. So blame her. I've put the lyrics in below because I rushed it and I dont' think the vocals are very clear. This'll be a much swifter process when I can just use the digimatal camera. Anyhoo....

I'm not the biggest, or the strongest ant you'll meet
But I make up for it by the lightness of my feet,
I flit about the colony, my step as light as air
When hungry monsters come to eat, well I just won't be there.
I pirouette, escape the threat, I leap just like a ninja, and that's why.....

Not all ants fear the aardvark.

I learned my skills in the hills of samurai Japan
I trained in aikido, kendo, judo, jujitsu, origami, kung fu and shotokan.
Now I jump and vault and somersault, no other ant comes close
So when that hungry beast arrives, I'll vanish like a ghost
I pirouette, escape the threat, I leap just like a ninja, and that's why....

Not all ants fear the aardvark. Not all ants fear the aardvark. Not all ants fear the aardvark. Not all ants fear the aardvark....

Please Stand By....

We are currently experiencing technical difficulties.

Thank you for your patience.

A Song A Day with Bad Betty is currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please hold.

So, last night it was the wireless router's outright refusal to let me online, and today a corrupted memory card prevents me from uploading the first two songs. Very dull.
However, I've ordered a new card which should be here in a couple of days and can start uploading videos from then on. I recorded a short song today on a ukulele, about nothing in particular. I like it!
Anyway, I'll keep the blog updated while I wait for delivery of a new SD card.
All the best musical vloggers start off this way, I'm told.
It's just so frustrating because, for once, I've actually done something I said I would do!
Anyway. I'll be back.

Buongiorno tutti,

Normally, a Sunday would be a great day to start this project, as I do my best to fill it with complete indolence and toast. However, today is my good friend Sam's birthday, and I am currently working on her present. While, technically, it would qualify for inclusion, being an original creative....thing.... there is a slight chance she may see this post, and as such it would totally ruin it for her!
So, in conclusion, there's nothing to see here. This was a bit of a waste of text and webspace, but there we go. I think it's important to write every day, even if it's only to make excuses as to why I haven't done anything :)
I'll probably include details of this thing I'm doing today once Sam has seen it, but for now....
Well, watch this space until tomorrow I guess!
Ciao!

Bad Betty Begins Bloody Brilliant Blogger Blog

Hi!

I'm Julia and I'm one half of Bad Betty. We've decided to start posting video blogs, and hopefully write a song a day. I came up with the project because unlike James, my musical other half, my production of music is tediously slow. So, in order to rectify this, I've decided to try and force myself into writing a new piece of music every day. I'm not going to be too stringent with rules. The only thing I think I'll put in stone is that it needs to be an original piece of music. It can contain samples/homages/parodies etc., but basically it's gotta be my (or our) own work.
Starting..... Monday.