Genesis for Say What You Will

The following is taken from a blog entry dated July 28th 2004:

Friday, June 25th, 2004
11:30 AM
At work, began whistling a tune I had never heard before.

11:32 AM.
Wait, this is kind of cool, I should record it.

11:33 AM
Sang melody in to Sony Mini Recorder.
Shortly there after, came up with basic chords and wrote them down.

11:45 AM
Wrote initial chorus lyrics.

12:00 -12:15 PM
Wrote initial 1st and 2nd verse lyrics (over course of a few hours, tailored a few lines as the song idea coalesced in my head).

1:30 PM
Wrote melody and lyric for bridge idea (and sang into mini-recorder). No chords yet.

4:00 PM-6:42 PM
Fired up Pro Tools and Reason.
Created tempo map, and simple "bum bum cha" drum machine part to keep time. (usually use click, but had general idea of what I wanted drum part to do, so wanted initial scratch guitar and vocals to jive against that.)

Laid down initial scratch track of vocals, and 3 guitar parts based on this dark guitar tone I discovered on a previous demo. (I'm REALLY digging this guitar sound).
Played parts all the way through potential final structure.

Went to dinner, watched Miracle, and went to bed.

Saturday, June 26th, 2004:
9:15 AM-10:00 AM
Began writing the drum part.

10:00 AM-2:00 PM
Created new bank of drum sounds for the drum parts. 6 snares, 9 hi-hats, 3 kicks, 6 cymbals, etc. Imported new sounds based on some drum hits by Mr. Elvis Levy (during our last recording session). Tweaked, shaped and set up these sounds in my bank of samplers.

2:00- 3:00 PM
I need a break! Lunch, while watching the extra features to Miracle. Herb Brooks was an amazing person.

3:00-3:45 PM
Wrote and recorded bass part. 2 takes for coverage.

3:45-7:00 PM
Tweaked drum part as song needed, made some lyrical adjustments and re-sang elements of song.

8:00 PM-11:00 PM
Fahrenheit 911: One hot dog, ketchup, spot of mustard, jalapenos, relish. One industrial vat of popcorn, buttered; one double xl of Mr. Pibb. Mmmm...hot dog....

12:00 AM-1:00 AM
Back home; channel surfed. Sleep.

Sunday, June 27th, 2004:
10:00 AM-12:00 AM
Reviewed song, began some rough mixing. Then, lunch.

1:00 PM -3:30 PM
Rewrote elements of 2nd verse lyrics and re-cut vocals. Doubled chorus melodies. Re-cut bridge vocals.
Added trumpet intro to song, Added keyboard part to 2nd half of bridge. Rewrote some drum fills here and there. Made slight changes to drum sounds.

3:00 PM-8:00 PM
Began mixing. Took a break around 8, came back and finished with rough around 10:00 PM. Hungry, tired, burned myself a test CD for the morning drive.

Song's called "Say What You Will."

Good night!!!