FAWM: "Il ment (He's lying)"

Il ment (He's lying)

6 days ago by @ambroise

Liner Notes

Got stroke by too many people quoting Orwell and still using words the other way around. they talk racism only to say it is antiwhite, sexism only to pretend men are oppressed, class struggle only to wail about the rich hatred, blah blah blah. It feels like they have read 1984, but are on Big Brother’s side : war is peace, freedom is slavery etc.

I saw the skirmish "glove" and I though of the image of turning something inside-out, like a glove.

It felt like a simple idea that could fit the #28wordslater challenge. Yet if I’m explaining the idea of the song, it probably needs further editing.

It’s a #fmajaminchallenge chord progression but with 2 modal changes. Could probably be called cheating.

Lyrics

Il dit le contraire tout le temps Retourne les mots comme des gants Il dit Orwell était un précurseur Parle de novlangue de Big Brother Inexprimablement Entièrement Il ment

He always says the opposite Turns words around like gloves He says Orwell was a pioneer Talks about Big Brother's Newspeak Inexpressibly Completely He lies

Comments

@danvaillancourt 2d

The music creates a dystopian effect that leaves me slightly on edge. And this feeling works great with the subject matter of the lyric! 🙌🎶

@ambroise 2d

Thanks! I think I'll try to find a way to reduce the dystopian effect a little. I put that on the to-do-after-fawm list.

@jessicagraae 6d

It’s wonderful to hear something in French. It seems like you’ve got something microtonal happening here. Gives it an otherworldly feel.

@ambroise 3d

Well the root note changes every four chords. That doesn't make it microtonal in theory. But it mades it hard to sing and I believe my voice is out-of key sometimes, and that could make it microtonal. I did try my best to stay in tune, though. The feeling I was aiming for is more out-of-balance. To match the feeling one gets in front of alternative reality. I very pleased you called it otherwordly. The word sounds cool, AND it matches the feeling in the lyrics. Thanks!

@owling 6d

J'adore comment le côté dissonnant sert les paroles! Et en effet Orwell est cité de tous bords, à tous les rateliers. Je suis en colère contre lui, depuis que jai lu le livre "L'invisible Madame Orwell" (et même avant en vrai, quand j'ai lu Hommage à la Catalogne et que j'ai entraperçu l'ombre d'Eileen dont il ne cite jamais le nom) mais j'ai quand meme de la peine pour lui, qu'il soit utilisé pour servir des idées de droite. Ça me donne tjrs envie de leur dire : ha oui ?? Orwell qui s'est battu avec le POUM contre Franco, il serait d'accord avec vous?????

@ambroise 6d

Han je ne me rappellle même plus d'Eileen alors que j'ai lu Hommage à la Catalogne !

@owling 6d

Normal. Il dit juste "ma femme" de temps en temps. On comprend qu'elle aussi s'est engagée dans cette guerre mais il n'en dit pas plus. Le travail d'Anna Funder (qui certes est un gros parti pris mais m'a paru coherent et sourcé) laisse à penser que les chapitres qui expliquent les aspects plus politiques (entre le POUM et autres) viennent en realité du travail d'Eileen qui bossait dans les bureaux.

@ambroise 3d

Ça me fait penser au Château des animaux. Une réinterprétation de la fermes des animaux en BD. J'ai l'impression qu'ils ont rajouté un certain nombre de personnages féminins. Ou alors se sont-ils contenté de leur donner plus de place ?

@porrectus 6d

I"m a fan of your chord choices for this song. On point prosody, unpleasant like the alleged subject. Really cool take on the prompt. Well done.

@ambroise 6d

Thanks! Hopefully the only unpleasant melody I'll sing this fawm !

@gindark 6d

This discordance is so fitting for the subject. It's unpleasant and a mutation of the normal, just like the lies, but we are compelled to listen! Of course many people would dislike it because it is uncomfortable but that is what good art does sometimes eh! The message is strong! I also like the way you sing it, creepy, almost like the rats gained a voice. Perfectly imperfected!

@ambroise 2d

Thanks a lot. I owe this idea for a song to the "glove" skirmish and the 28 words challenge. I'm actually surprised how strong the message is. I think I'll give it a rework after FAWM. I'll keep in mind your advise on uncomfortable music so to try and keep some disordance.

@johnnycashpoint 6d

Great! I like the drone-y quality that FMaj and Amin gives the song. The vague fadeout at the end feels quite sad - it's amazing the freedom simplicity can give a song when realised well. j$

@ambroise 3d

Thanks! I guess we're never far from oddity when toying with music theory.

@kahlo2013 6d

Love the pointed message and your delivery of it is perfectly suited to the sentiment.

@ambroise 6d

Thank you! I suppose I was genuinely angry against blunt lies (and probably against you-think-you're-clever unsingable chords progressions too).

@daveescoffery 6d

The music really fits the message of the song, and it’s an important message. Thanks for translating because my French is extremely limited (that is, I can understand some, but not much, French when reading it because I studied Italian).

@ambroise 6d

Thanks ! Maybe your "And they'll know we are Christians" was an inspiration too. Great example of upside-down common logic.