[NTLK] Looking for people participating in making a Newton song for Noah's film

Sat Feb 17 06:13:39 EST 2018

I have the same. It not fit to the music. And that karaoke song is pretty crap (no offence). I’m not musician, but I know sound - and I couldn’t find the proper rhythm.

> On 17 Feb 2018, at 10:34, Jon Glass <jonglass at usa.net> wrote:
> 
> I don't think it was intended to be sung when it was written. I have tried
> multiple times--every time it shows up--and can't find a way to make it fit
> the music. :-(
> 
> On Sat, Feb 17, 2018 at 3:23 AM Tom Zahm <tpzahm at newted.org> wrote:
> 
>> I had the same problem.
>> 
>>> On Feb 16, 2018, at 6:14 PM, Sonny Hung <sonnyhung at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Frank,
>>> 
>>> This is such an intriguing idea.
>>> I’ve been listening to the original song.
>>> Been trying to see how the timing to sing it to those lyrics go but I’m
>> having trouble.
>>> Pulled out my guitar and played the song and even tried singing while
>> listening to a you tube rendition of the original. Can’t say that the
>> timing for me is anywhere decent.
>>> Wish I could listen to some else singing the Newton version.
>>> 
>>> Just wondering has anyone else tried it out?
>>> 
>>> Sonny
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>> 
>>>> On Feb 12, 2018, at 6:19 PM, NewtonTalk <newtontalk at pda-soft.de> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Hi gang, most of you will probably remember that Noah has recently dug
>> out
>>>> Avi Drissman's text that is based on the Don McLean song "American Pie".
>>>> Quote:
>>>> 
>>>>> secondly does anyone want to sign/play guitar this
>>>>> and record it to include in the film?
>>>> 
>>>> Since the response so far has been somewhat less than overwhelming, one
>>>> could also say nonexistent, I had an idea that I discussed with Noah. It
>>>> would be a really cool thing if this could become a joint effort of
>>>> musically inclined list members. For one, it would be much more fun.
>>>> Moreover, one's own imperfections would be much less noticeable if one
>> was
>>>> singing or playing along with as many people as possible.
>>>> 
>>>> Of course this will only work if people sing or play, at least to the
>> best
>>>> of their ability, on the same beat and in the same key. This is why I
>> have
>>>> searched for a Karaoke track that is all instrumental. This was much
>> more
>>>> difficult than expected, because most contain parts of the original
>> lyrics
>>>> sung by a choir. But here is an all instrumental one:
>>>> 
>>>> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qp7JIelAP8>
>>>> 
>>>> The same beat and the same key, however, aren't sufficient. People will
>> also
>>>> need to work with the same text. Below is Avi's text after some marginal
>>>> modifications by yours truly. I made these modifications because we are
>> now
>>>> 20 and not one year after the Newton's demise, because I find "the day
>> the
>>>> Newton died" easier to sing than "the day that Newton died", because
>> Newtons
>>>> will NEVER die, and because I wanted to format the text so that the
>> lines
>>>> will better match the text in the Karaoke track, making it easier to
>> stay on
>>>> beat.
>>>> 
>>>> I will probably provide a guitar track within the next couple of days,
>> so
>>>> maybe in the final product we won't need the Karaoke track at all and
>> thus
>>>> get around potential copyright problems. The good news is that if you
>> base
>>>> your recording on this karaoke track, it will still be usable with my
>> guitar
>>>> track, since that'll be based on the Karaoke track, too. Maybe I will
>> also
>>>> provide a voice track. That'll depend on whether I'll have a day next
>> week
>>>> when I am alone in the house for a couple of hours, and whether at that
>> time
>>>> I'll have enough Single Malt Whisky nearby to help myself to some liquid
>>>> Dutch courage.
>>>> 
>>>> Whoever feels inclined to participate singing or playing an instrument:
>> It
>>>> would be cool if you could do a recording WITHOUT the Karaoke track
>> (that'll
>>>> make mixing things together much easier) and send it off-list to Noah
>> and
>>>> me. Of course, if you know someone who could improve this soon-to-be
>> Newton
>>>> song of the century even more: Why not invite him to join, even if he
>> or she
>>>> is not a list member! I am sure his or her name will appear in Noah's
>> film,
>>>> which will practically guarantee lifelong fame.
>>>> 
>>>> Also, if anybody out there has the skill and the software for mixing
>> musical
>>>> tracks, please drop me a line. I think I could do it using Audacity on
>> a PC,
>>>> but I have never done stuff like that before. Noah could probably do it
>>>> using GarageBand, but my impression is that he isn't an audio mixing
>> expert,
>>>> either.
>>>> 
>>>> So: Don't be shy! Most people sing better than they are aware of. And I
>>>> promise that in the unlikely case that your recording sucks, it will
>> not be
>>>> used. Just make sure not to wait too long. If I remember correctly, the
>> film
>>>> is supposed to be released at the end of February.
>>>> 
>>>> Cheers
>>>> 
>>>> Frank
>>>> 
>>>> Ah, almost forgot: Here's the lyrics.
>>>> 
>>>> A long, long time ago,
>>>> I can still remember
>>>> how Apple used to make me smile.
>>>> And I knew
>>>> if I gave them a chance,
>>>> that they would make my Newton dance,
>>>> improve, enhance its elegance and style.
>>>> But February made me shiver
>>>> with every press release delivered.
>>>> Newton Inc. was gutted;
>>>> Newsgroups all were flooded.
>>>> I can't remember if I cried
>>>> when I saw the power Steve Jobs plied.
>>>> And something touched me deep inside
>>>> the day the Newton died.
>>>> 
>>>> So,
>>>> 
>>>> Bye, bye, Newton Inc., Newton PIE.
>>>> Drove down to Cupertino but the brain trust was dry.
>>>> Yet loyal users look you straight in the eye.
>>>> Saying "I'll use it 'till the day that I die",
>>>> "I'll use it 'till the day that I die".
>>>> 
>>>> Read Defying Gravity,
>>>> Newtons are not Macs and not PCs.
>>>> Do gut feelings tell you so?
>>>> Now do you ignore opinion polls?
>>>> Is your Newt wired to your soul?
>>>> And can you take Rosetta being real slow?
>>>> Well I saw the smile on your lips
>>>> when up came a cool solar eclipse.
>>>> Your words spoke for us all,
>>>> "Man, I'm havin' quite a ball!"
>>>> I was disorganized, boy did that suck!
>>>> Then my MessagePad got me unstuck
>>>> But I knew I was out of luck
>>>> The day the Newton died.
>>>> 
>>>> I started singin',
>>>> 
>>>> Chorus
>>>> 
>>>> Now for twenty years we've been on our own
>>>> And support from Apple is long gone,
>>>> But that's not how it used to be.
>>>> When Steve Jobs sang for Ellen and Gil
>>>> the whole Mac world seemed to stand still
>>>> and Newton Inc. was humming happily.
>>>> When losses hurt Amelio,
>>>> Jobs grabbed the title "CEO".
>>>> The board room was replaced;
>>>> Then Gil left in disgrace.
>>>> And while Steve did Newton Inc. un-spin,
>>>> He did his P.R. with a grin,
>>>> And we felt the RDF kick in
>>>> The day the Newton died.
>>>> 
>>>> We were singing,
>>>> 
>>>> Chorus
>>>> 
>>>> The Newton group was relaxing.
>>>> Development had been quite taxing;
>>>> The 2100 ready to go.
>>>> With Newton Inc.'s obvious fall,
>>>> they saw the writing on the wall,
>>>> that Steve Jobs at any time could blow.
>>>> When the CEO started talking trash,
>>>> then engineers left in a flash.
>>>> We all could smell a rat,
>>>> But the RDF quelled that.
>>>> And as Apple offered more RAM room
>>>> We saw an awful future loom
>>>> Do you recall the sense of doom,
>>>> The day that Newton died?
>>>> 
>>>> We started singing,
>>>> 
>>>> Chorus
>>>> 
>>>> None of us felt quite the same
>>>> when the day we dreaded finally came.
>>>> We wished Newton to again rise.
>>>> So, come on Apple, come on Steve,
>>>> grant Newton technology a reprieve.
>>>> But we just saw its slow demise.
>>>> And as I watched Steve take the stage
>>>> my hands were clenched in fists of rage.
>>>> Critics they all applauded;
>>>> We felt we were defrauded.
>>>> And as Newton burned into the night--
>>>> Such pain in the MessagePad's sad plight-
>>>> I saw Steve Jobs laughing with delight
>>>> The day the Newton died.
>>>> 
>>>> He was singing,
>>>> 
>>>> Chorus
>>>> 
>>>> 
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>>>> 
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> 
> -- 
> --
> Jon Glass
> jonglass at usa.net
> jonglass at mac.com
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