Composer:  ”You Might Be Good For me” by Brian Chartrand, copyright 2011, Flying Lessons Music ASCAP

Type: Home recording 12/11/10

Instrumentation: Me on vocals, guitars, string arrangements, etc.

This tune was started on June 24th, 2010.  My summer changed once I realized that I could stream World Cup games on my computer.  My routine was awesome: wake up, make some coffee, and pull the comfy green Ikea chair into my bedroom and kick back and watch some FIFA.  It was great.  I was watching a game (I forget who was playing) on this particular morning and was strumming away…next thing I know I was playing the verse over and over.  I think I wrote the rest of the music during that game and made the first demo of the tune that night.  The lyrics describe an abusive love affair (FIFA makes for an interesting back drop, doesn’t it?)  Not sure what spawned them…thankfully nothing autobiographical!

This is a story about love when its down and dirty, punctuated with raised fists and voices.  When blood boils and vases get thrown.  This love is defined by confinement and restriction, with harsh penalties for misconduct and error.  This love is not pretty or forgiving.  In fact, its not love anymore.  Its something else entirely.  The catharsis is in the chorus “Ill put down my arms, if you put down your guard.”  There is hope for reconciliation.

Lyrics:

Sit down.  You might want to sit down.

Sit down.  You might want to sit down now.

Rough like the stormy sea, smooth like porcelain

You might be good, you might be good for me

Straight out of hell, you know me well

I’ll put down my arms just put down your guard

Keep down.  Don’t let the neighbors hear.

Keep down.  This is between you and me.

Straight like the Berlin Wall.  Bent like some razor wire.

You might be good.  You might be good for me.

Straight out of hell, you know me well

I’ll put down my arms just put down your guard

You Might Be Good For Me (TAPES)

Composer: Brian Chartrand (ASCAP 2010)

Type: Home Recording 12/9/10

Instrumentation/Band: Brian on vocals and guitars and piano

One of my more fun jobs (aside from being a full-time musician) was doing marketing for a beer magazine.  I know.  It was fun.  One year the magazine rented this amazing penthouse apartment in downtown Denver for the Great American Beer Festival.  I remember waking up super early one morning and sitting at the counter in the kitchen and just watching the sunrise in silence.  I knew it was going to be a long day and the first line popped into my head “I watched the sun rise on this day, and I’ll watch her set.”  I began writing down verses immediately.  I didn’t even have a guitar with me, I don’t think.  It took a couple weeks to develop the song and I played it every so often, but it never made the regular rotation.  I dug playing the tune because it reminded me of that peaceful morning and that particular time in my life, but I thought the song needed something; maybe a bridge and a new chorus.  I filed the tune away under “In Construction.”  Fast forward to last night.  I wanted to dust it off for this project and came at the song with fresh ears.  The bridge came relatively quickly and I scribbled down the lyrics as they came out.  I think the bridge really helps to round out the tune, plus I love the melody and chord progression.

I daydream about living in downtown Denver while I am still young.  Get a flat in LoDo, listen to live music at El-Chapultepec, and drink some of the  world’s best beers….sounds great to me! Here’s to being young and dreaming big!

Lyrics:

I watched the sunrise on this day, and I watch her set

Watch the shadows cascade across her chest

Like the arc of a farmer’s hand, as he sows his seed

Sitting in a penthouse in Denver overlooking the city

I sometimes wish that I could fly so high

Just pick a thermal out and ride into the sky

To believe is to leave, where to go I don’t know but will you follow

To believe is to leave, where to go I don’t know but will you follow

Swoop into an alleyway for a quick bite to eat

And then gracefully return this weary body to flight

North west to the mountains now, just for the ride

And I return at day break just to watch her rise again

And then she’ll tap her baton at all the smiling faces

Watch ‘em scurry like stars just to find their places

To believe is to leave, where to go I don’t know but will you follow

To believe is to leave, where to go I don’t know but will you follow

We’ve come so far so wide, so lets not be strangers here tonight

Don’t be afraid to spread your wings and fly, we’ll be back before daylight

I watched the sunrise on this day and I will watch her set

Watched her shadows cascade across her chest

Like the cast of a fisherman as he throws his net

Penthouse In Denver

Tune Composer: Brian Chartrand (ASCAP 2010)

Type: Home Recording (12/7/10)

Instrumentation: Me on vocals and guitars.

This tune was written on May 27, 2010.  It came really quickly.  Once I realized that this song was about meeting a girl at a party, the lyrics all poured out.  I think at the time, I was listening to a lot of live Martin Sexton.  He has a couple tunes like this…upbeat, happy, light.  As soon as I hit that first chord, I knew the tune was going to jump.

This tune was actually pretty hard to record…for some reason, for the last couple days my apartment complex has been really lively, so there has been lots of noise; doors being shut (which I can FEEL as well as hear in my place), leaf blowers, kids running around…its been tough to get a stretch of time with some quiet.  Its also just a hard tune to play because its fast (132 BPM) and syncopated with lots of grace notes.  It was tough to keep the train on the tracks, so to speak.  It really needs a thumpin’ bass line, which, as you will hear, I had to improvise.  I really dig using all the fun midi sounds that GarageBand offers.  I went out recently and got the Strings Jam Pack which has expanded the sounds even more.  If anyone is looking for a Christmas gift for me…there are other Jam Packs: percussion, world music, etc…just saying.

This tune is a huge contrast to the other tunes on this record, and for that, I am happy.  Shannon Hoon once sang “Life ain’t so shitty” and I completely agree.  That’s what this tune is all about.  For a good work out, try dancing The Running Man to this song.  Good times.

Lyrics:

I spy you from the corner of my eye.  Bored to tears and by the looks of it about to cry.

All of these people standing around you like they know.  All of these people standing around like its a show.

There you were.  There you were.  There you were looking at me, looking at you.

Make my way to the table for a snack.  Next thing I know, we’re standing back to back to back.

All of these people looking like they’ve something to prove.  All of these people looking like they’re the coolest dude.

There you were.  There you were.  There you were standing by me, standing by you.

There you were.  There you were.  There you were standing by me, standing by you.

Take your hand, we walk into another room.  Its just me, and you, a dust pan and a broom.

All of those people are so far away.  All of these people won’t even notice that we’re away.

There you were.  There you were.  There you were staring at me, staring at you.

There you were.  There you were.  There you were kissing on me, kissing on you.

There You Were (DEMO)

Check out this live clip from Seattle Living Room Shows from June 2010:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ1Mig38myg

Composer: Brian Chartrand (ASCAP 2010)

Type: home recording 12/3/10

Instrumentation/Band: me on vocals and guitar

This tune started in April 2010.  Again, I was playing around with opening tuning (DADGAD) and stumbled upon this progression which is essentially hammering on the G string and then on the low A string.

One day I was ruminating about the terms “never” and “always” (yes, I ruminate, on occasion).  I basically decided, in my quest for complete moderation, that these terms are too black and white.  They don’t allow for “sometimes” or “rarely” or “on occasion” or “only on Saturday afternoons.”  Basically, they don’t allow for error.  Other than that, these lyrics don’t draw on anything autobiographical necessarily.  I had the chorus, but I wasn’t sure what the rest of the song was going to talk about.  This song started as many of my songs do…complete jibberish.  I sing some mumbo jumbo over the progression until the right combination of words, melody, theme, and rhythm come together.  Its not very scientific…in fact, its amateurish, but thats how I roll sometimes.

I like this tune because its fairly different than my other tunes.  Its got a marching beat that makes you want to stomp your foot.  I envision a marching band bass drum wailing out the cadence.

Enjoy.

Lyrics:

The best of my life.  That’s what I gave you.  Never enough.  Thats what you gave me.

But I’ll be OK.  That’s what she told me.  She’s walking away. Mistake of the century.

If I lose my way, I should remember today, never and always.

I spent my life waiting for you.  I let you go.  Same old story.

If I lose my way, I will remember today, never and always.

Memories they burn me from the inside out, but it doesn’t keep me warm.  So I just continue to fight, never and always.

I met my soul looking at you. I should let go.  What’s a fool to do?

If I lose my way, I will remember today, never and always.

Never And Always