Tuesday, January 19, 2016

The Story Of Rock Star By Matt O'Connor

ROCK STAR 
Words and music: Matt O'Connor

CD: Gullibles Travels, TRACK 1


Performance Rights Organization: BMI

Tell your friends to go to Tiny URL dot com slash forward story of rock star
it will direct them to this page!

http://tinyurl.com/storyofrockstar
 
LISTEN TO  ROCK STAR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOh8pHjJK3A



Current airplay:   WEMF Radio, Cambridge, Mass.
                                Boston Free Radio, Somerville, Mass.

                                As heard on KLOS 95.5 Southern California
                                http://www.955klos.com/

The initial idea for the song Rock Star came to me from a song that Joe Viglione wrote called, "Are You A Rock Star Yet?"




LISTEN TO  ROCK STAR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOh8pHjJK3A

  It was about someone who puts on airs and acts like a typical Rock Star when in fact not being one at all. However I turned this idea on it's head, and made an opposite sketch out of it, which was making fun of all the dues one has to pay to become a Rock Star, and that by being the one to pay those dues, become one. I wrote it with a healthy dose of Irish American Sarcasm, in the happy key of G. 

When I write a song I tend to come up with the melody and words for the chorus first, then the verses get filled in. On the day I wrote Rock Star, I was under the walk way at Los Angeles City College connecting the music building with the dental building, which has a natural echo chamber. I sang it there for a second, and it sounded good, and thus a song was born.

__________________________________________
Here are the lyrics:


 I'm such a Rock Star, 'cuz I haven't washed my hair, 
Took a Gutter Punk Shower, And no one seems to care 
I'm such a Rock Star, And I'm going really far, 
'Couple dollars short of the bus, 
'Cause I don't have a Jaguar. 


break:
I swear to God I know it's never gonna change, 
I'll just keep playing 'till they drag me off the stage 

I'm such a Rock Star, 'Cause I don't have any girls,
Unless they're a thousand miles away, In my imaginary world
I'm such a Rock Star, 'Cause I'm hanging out with Cheese,
Good evening, We're the Drug Inspectors, Let us see it if you please


My Momma said I'd end up broke and all alone,
That's why "Good Riddance" is what they're writing on my stone


I'm such a Rock Star, And I only came to play,
I sure as hell can't afford a beer, On the money that I make
I'm such a Rock Star, And I'm still on S.S.I.
But I'm still trying to work, God alone only knows why


He'll lay me down with my bottle of Jack and my guitar,
Some kid'll find me and say "I wonder who you are, weren't you a Rock Star?
C'mon and play!

The End

Copyright(C)2014 Matt O'Connor, BMI
All Rights Reserved

LISTEN TO  ROCK STAR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOh8pHjJK3A



The song was recorded a year or so later at Moletrax West/Danalog Studios with producer Jeff Moleski, who produced around 33 of the song by The Smashing Pumpkins.


The band at the time was myself on rhythm guitar and vocals,
Eric Ross on additional guitars,
Ronnee Reese on keys,
Jeff on drums,
and Steve Feldman who was assistant engineer and who played a great bass track!

Also rock journalist Julie Asperger came down as a guest and did backing vocals.

Eric and I came down on the blue line train with a half rack of Natural Ice and some herbs, and everyone else came later. later.


The first track we recorded was the acoustic guitar, which I had originally intended to just be in the beginning, but Jeff insisted we record it all the way through with the click as a bed track for everything else to lay on.

This was actually hard because we had never practiced with a click, so it took about an hour to record that properly. Then we recorded the electric guitars and the drums, then the bass, then the bass, then the vocals, and the keys, backing vocals and the guitar solo which I wrote and played were played last.


All in all it was a good 11 hour day or so of lots of fun and everybody had a great time! There are many happy memories of that session and I think that shows on the track.


Contact Matt on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/matt.oconnor.566
__________________________________________


LISTEN TO  ROCK STAR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOh8pHjJK3A



SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPlnsWc1WwQ


YULETIDE LAMENT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-HvunI3f1c



Dead Like Me A Promo O Death

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11_xpxNgEeY

Uploaded on Dec 21, 2010
A Video For The Blues Classic Standard O Death With Dead Like Me Video Promo Song From O Brother Where Art Thou Song Re Arranged For Guitar and Voice by Matt O'Connor Harmonica by Bradlee Jones



_______________________________________________________________
Page web design: Joe Viglione Media

Joe Viglione is publicist for the legendary Cantab Lounge in Central Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Club Bohemia (Downstairs at the Cantab,) the 40 year old Original New England Compact Disc and Vinyl Expo, for Australian band Audioscam, and many other artists and authors. In the 1980s Joe was the production partner of the late Jimmy Miller, producer of Blind Faith and The Rolling Stones (Mr. Miller's resume' needing no introduction) Joe signing Miller's production of Johnny Thunders "In Cold Blood" to New Rose Records when he was A & R for that French label.   He is the producer of SUNNY: The Bobby Hebb Story boxed set (this is the 50th Anniversary of the song "Sunny" which hit in 1966) and also produces The Demo That Got The Deal radio show, how major artists secured publishing deals and major label contracts. You can contact Joe at Demodeal}@|yahoo.com  or https://www.facebook.com/JoeViglione   

http://mmone.org/joe-viglione/

http://joeviglione.com