A couple of years ago, I supported a Kickstarter for an RPG, Golden Sky Stories ( http://goo.gl/iG9r9k ). It's got all the fun trappings of anime or Japanese video games, but it's nonviolent and intended for players young and older. It is straight-up adorbs, and I recommend it highly. 

Anyway, one of the updates was a vote on what extra setting to do as a Stretch Goal. If you wanted Friendship Time, you commented with the word BUBBLEGUM; if you wanted the Aegis of Equine, your word was HORSEY; and for Fantasy Friends, SLIME. Which is why the word "slime" is in the lyrics. Because I couldn't just vote -- suddenly, I was inspired, and I wrote them a theme song.

Nobody ever said a thing about it. I have no idea if they noticed at all. But, hey. I got a kids' song out of it. And, now, so have you. :)

 

We are in Another World, under a Golden Sky

How we got here's not important, and nobody's asking why,

But we’ve made this our community, and every day we try,

To be the very best that we can be.

In my tavern, I see every type of person come and go,

Some are friendly, some are grouchy, some are fast and some are slow,

Some aren't even really human, but they’re pretty nice to know,,

And we’re here together, happy, strong, and free.

Under a... Golden Sky, nothing is quite what it seems,

Under a... Golden Sky, some alone and some in teams,

Under a... Golden Sky, we have hopes and we have dreams,

In Another World, beneath a Golden Sky.

We've got clever magic animals, and children who are wise,

We've got cute and fuzzy kittens with demonic glowing eyes,

We've got ancient household spirits, of every shape and size,

And the gods of winter, summer, spring, and fall.

Kidnapped royalty is always rescued in the nick of time,

Ancient ruins house the kami and the oni and green slime,

Lots of creatures with such complex names, I cannot make them rhyme,

But our village has a place for them all.

Under a... Golden Sky, we will always do our best,

Under a... Golden Sky, every new choice is a test,

Under a... Golden Sky, we'll do better than the rest,

And we'll bring the rest along so we'll all fly.

Under a... Golden Sky, there's so much to see and do,

Under a... Golden Sky, and we'll share it all with you,

Under a... Golden Sky, all your wishes can come true,

In Another World, beneath a Golden Sky.

Under a... Golden Sky, nothing is quite what it seems,

Under a... Golden Sky, come alone or come in teams,

Under a... Golden Sky, bring your hopes and live your dreams,

In Another World, beneath a Golden Sky.

In Another World, beneath a Golden Sky.

Something is happening, and I'm not quite sure what it is. All I know is that it's some combination of EDM (That's Elevator Dance Music for the uninitiated), four-operator FM bass wobbles, square waves, and headbob jams. It'll be a SONIC (oh no, puns!) experience!

This month's Patreon track will be "My Adult Life", a throwback to FM soundtracks from Genesis / Mega Drive, Arcade, and PC games from the early 90's. And it'll be extreme, mainly because I'm still learning to balance my levels on the YM2612!

Patrons, your rewards and download codes will be delivered after billing completes as usual. Thanks so much for your support!

It's entirely possible that this is too soon.

The horrific killings at the Emanual AME Church in Charleston, SC have actually galvanized the nation into some action regarding racism. Unfortunately, thanks to some well-timed derailing by the Chattering Class -- Fox News and the punditry -- the action taken is fairly inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. And it's happened like that over and over and over again, and is likely to keep happening every time we get close to actually DOING something....

Misdirection
Words: Tom Smith

Music: "Interjections" by Lynn Ahrens

Nine people were shot up in a church, uh-huh

They caught the guy who did it after... a search

He made a confession of his racist obsession,

But the talking heads threw out some misdirection.

It was in a church! He was anti-Christian!

He shot old ladies! He was anti-rapist!

It was in Carolina! He was anti-barbecue!

Misdirection! Is deliberate distraction!

It’s generally set apart from reality by a spurious talking point,

So we talk about something else instead.

The president gave an interview, uh-huh

About a topic long over... due-ue.

He made a digression ‘bout a verbal transgression

And the talking heads shouted out misdirection.

Oh! I’m offended he used that word!

Racist! How dare he discuss his own people!

Hooray! Now WE can say it!

Misdirection! Is deliberate distraction!

It’s generally set apart from reality by a spurious talking point,

So we talk about something else instead.

So if you’re racist -- “She was no saint”

Or classist -- “Entitlements”

Or anti-gay -- “family values”

Or ammosexual -- “If only they’d had guns”

Or anti-women -- “Legitimate rape”

Or power-mad -- “Voter fraud”

A misdirection gets you what you want.

That flag’s a symbol of slavery, uh-huh,

And flying it today is un-savory,

So folks took exception to this old insurrection,

And it really was some beautiful misdirection.

Finally! We can put the Late Unpleasantness behind us!

At last! 150 years of post-struggle struggle has paid off!

Cool! Now we don’t have to do anything substantive about racism or guns!

Misdirection! Is deliberate distraction!

It’s generally set apart from reality by a spurious talking point,

So we talk about something else instead.

So if you’re racist -- “Reverse discrimination”

Or classist -- “Lazy moochers”

Or anti-gay -- “They might get it on me”

Or ammosexual -- “Jade Helm 15”

Or anti-women -- “Look how she’s dressed”

Or power-mad -- “HITLER”

A misdirection gets you what you want.

Misdirection! Is deliberate distraction!

It’s generally set apart from reality by a spurious talking point,

So we talk about something else instead.

Misdirection! Is deliberate distraction!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hal-le-lu-jah!

Look! A Kardashian!

I'm doing a few cover songs for the album Kid Safe, and this is one of 'em. Written by John Mescall and Ollie McGill as part of a PSA program for Metro Trains in Melbourne, Australia, the song went viral. I just think it's a fun song, and I'm working on the SF/fantasy version.

For more information about the song and the original campaign, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumb_Ways_to_Die .

This was written for a Fox Kids Canada PSA about racial harmony back in the 1990s. (Near the end you'll hear a small lick which BNL borrowed from Michael Jackson's "Black Or White".) I knew, when I first heard it mumblety years ago, that if I ever did a kids' album I would cover this song. Now I am, and now I am.

The original song, by the way, just fades out to unintelligibility after "I like your hat...", so I finished off the refrain.

Words and Music by the Barenaked Ladies

There was darkness, there was light,

There was day and there was night.

There was wrong and there was right --

And then there was me!

You didn't even know me, but you treated me like dirt

(And then there was me)

You didn't even know me, but you called me a jerk.

(And then there was me)

I'm from a planet near a star

You wouldn't know, it's very far.

They're calling me the man from Mars,

And I think they're insulting me!

(Insulting me)

They tried to take my special suit

(Insulting me)

They said my head looks like fruit -- What is fruit?

(Insulting me)

"Put your hands up or I'll shoot!"

I don't have hands.

Across the galaxy, I flew,

Heard a peaceful message sent by you.

Now I find you're judged by color and size

I can't believe what you call my...

I'se the guy who sails the sky, but I think I'd like to live here.

I'd like to share your mountains, share your trees, and share your rivers.

I've never seen so many beings of so many colors.

I'd like one day for you to say that I could call you brother.

(And then there was we)

I'd like to learn about your pizza and your weather,

(And then there was we)

Then we could learn about how beings live together.

(And then there was we)

So if you're thinking about being a spaceman,

It don't matter if you're black or white!

Or purple or green or blue or red,

Or yellow with polka dots on your head,

Or made of snow, or made of wheat,

Or looking like something that's kind of a treat.

I like your hat, you like green tea,

There was all that...

And then there was me!

Ladies and gents, I'm excited and jittery. I've overloaded my responsibilities once again and I will be writing an album worth of Sega Genesis music for the indie game "Where's My Mommy?" The game is currently on Steam Greenlight and needs your votes. Please hit http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=516355703, log into steam, and hit that Yes button so we can self-publish!

Attached to this post is the unedited music from the trailer. Also, a build of the game will be shown sometime in the next month (I think?) so my current plan is to have three more tracks (not counting this one) by the end of the month, at which point they will become a secret EP for you, my Patrons. =]

Let me know what you think and thanks for your support!