Flatbaroque
Well-known member
Working on this. All my text disappeared!!!
“I’ve seen your face in every place that I’ll be going
I read your words like black hungry birds
Read every sowing
Rise and fall. Spin and call, Here my name Carnival.”
So starts the song by Jackson C. Frank that this week’s Season is named after.
A couple of options for you this week.
Option 1: Any song sung, written or covered by singer songwriter Jackson C. Frank. Not a huge discography but plenty of gems in a career cut short by a series of tragic circumstances.
If he was a contestant on one of those crappy TV talent programs on these days - he’d be a shoo -in to get a start based on his “ sad back story” tm alone.
A couple of whole albums, as well as plenty of songs can be found on youtube. And. Chord charts for a few songs can also be found.
A brief video of his story.
Option 2: All things Carnival, Circus, Fair ground, Amusement park, Medicine Show, fete etc.
To make it even easier your song just has to contain a word in the lyrics that could commonly be associated with any of the above. Even if in the context of the song it is not directly about a circus etc.
For example “ Stuck in the middle with you “ with it’s line “clowns to the left of you” is indeed acceptable even though it is not referencing circuses in the song.
The only circus animals I will accept are – Lions, Tigers, Elephants and Monkeys. Again in any context. So “ The Lion sleeps tonight” is acceptable even though it’s not about a circus.
I enjoy the fact that as well as the fun side of these amusements popular culture has always dabbled in the dark side. Witness Tod Browning’s 1932 horror film “ Freaks”, the 1947 film noir “ Nightmare Alley”- Tyrone Power’s acting masterpiece (watch for free on youtube). A film in which the word “Geek” has it’s original somewhat sinister meaning. “ Geek” also occurs in this context in Dylan’s “ Ballad of a Thin Man”.
Ray Bradbury’s “ Something Wicked This Way Comes”…another example of the dark carnival.
So - light or dark.
Roll up, Roll up.
All the usual rules regards start and finish timing apply. See previous seasons.
Originals welcome but I would like these to be within the context of Carnivals, circus’s etc. not just containing a possibly unassociated lyric as I’m accepting for covers.
Collaborations, multi tracks, other instruments all ok. Just have some uke in somewhere.
No song limit. But if you do more than two circus songs you must then have a Jackson C. Frank for your third before you can do more circus songs..
Late week enthusiasts have plenty of time to get some in on Brian’s Singing season.
Cheers John - Playlist below
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBJ_WKUxx2a3_36sQaac7LjQkxofEtw-L
“I’ve seen your face in every place that I’ll be going
I read your words like black hungry birds
Read every sowing
Rise and fall. Spin and call, Here my name Carnival.”
So starts the song by Jackson C. Frank that this week’s Season is named after.
A couple of options for you this week.
Option 1: Any song sung, written or covered by singer songwriter Jackson C. Frank. Not a huge discography but plenty of gems in a career cut short by a series of tragic circumstances.
If he was a contestant on one of those crappy TV talent programs on these days - he’d be a shoo -in to get a start based on his “ sad back story” tm alone.
A couple of whole albums, as well as plenty of songs can be found on youtube. And. Chord charts for a few songs can also be found.
A brief video of his story.
Option 2: All things Carnival, Circus, Fair ground, Amusement park, Medicine Show, fete etc.
To make it even easier your song just has to contain a word in the lyrics that could commonly be associated with any of the above. Even if in the context of the song it is not directly about a circus etc.
For example “ Stuck in the middle with you “ with it’s line “clowns to the left of you” is indeed acceptable even though it is not referencing circuses in the song.
The only circus animals I will accept are – Lions, Tigers, Elephants and Monkeys. Again in any context. So “ The Lion sleeps tonight” is acceptable even though it’s not about a circus.
I enjoy the fact that as well as the fun side of these amusements popular culture has always dabbled in the dark side. Witness Tod Browning’s 1932 horror film “ Freaks”, the 1947 film noir “ Nightmare Alley”- Tyrone Power’s acting masterpiece (watch for free on youtube). A film in which the word “Geek” has it’s original somewhat sinister meaning. “ Geek” also occurs in this context in Dylan’s “ Ballad of a Thin Man”.
Ray Bradbury’s “ Something Wicked This Way Comes”…another example of the dark carnival.
So - light or dark.
Roll up, Roll up.
All the usual rules regards start and finish timing apply. See previous seasons.
Originals welcome but I would like these to be within the context of Carnivals, circus’s etc. not just containing a possibly unassociated lyric as I’m accepting for covers.
Collaborations, multi tracks, other instruments all ok. Just have some uke in somewhere.
No song limit. But if you do more than two circus songs you must then have a Jackson C. Frank for your third before you can do more circus songs..
Late week enthusiasts have plenty of time to get some in on Brian’s Singing season.
Cheers John - Playlist below
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBJ_WKUxx2a3_36sQaac7LjQkxofEtw-L
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