Breaking News
by @toddnorem
Liner Notes
I came up with this chord progression and then wrote a draft of lyrics while on a plane ride to Mobile, AL in December. I was researching time travel and what someone from the 1940’s would notice if they were transported to life here in the year 2026. It was quite fascinating. The lack of human interaction was a big one with people constantly looking at devices. All of that was inspiration when writing this—it was a productive plane ride. I did a rough demo when I got home so I wouldn’t forget it. It’s one of those songs I felt like I could expand more with a chorus and bridge and all that, but at the same time I liked how condensed it was. I did rewrite some of the lyrics today and added an extra verse when recording it. Then enlisted some technology that would clearly blow the mind of a 1940’s time traveler to finish it.
Lyrics
Director’s cut at a breakfast cafe Move the bacon aside, eggs look better that way Coffee’s a bust, better doc them a point The server scowls like we’ve stolen her life
Flash the TV screen, something’s happening An occupation it seems, an unraveling Like to light up a smoke with my coffee and dream I’m far away in a go back machine
How did we get to this point, what technology We’ve forgotten to see, shared humanity Like to light up a smoke with my coffee and dream I’m far away in a go back machine.
#altcountry #americana #singersongwriter
Comments
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Super cool concept! Love the lyrical idea and premise. I think the demo is really nice, helps paint the picture of this sort of wistful nostalgia. Nice work!
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Boy I really love the guitar sound you got here. Is that a slide or a pedal steel? Interesting idea about the time travel. I’m sure the 40s guy would be freaked by most every thing. Whatever production tech you used would not have been around for him. How did we get to this point? I like the line - We’ve forgotten to see, shared humanity. Great sound. Intriguing idea. Well done
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I’m not sure actually. I used Suno to come up with that guitar part. Sure wish I could play like that!
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This is one of the coolest things I've ever heard from you. It feels like the first time I've heard your voice in such a lush production, at least one like this, it feels like something from one of Bruce's lost albums. The whole thing feels like a cinematic dream and you need to do more of this, your voice cuts through so well in this landscape. The concept itself is so interesting, a time travel of less than 100 years but it could be millions. Really nice.
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The random song button brought me here and I’m so happy it did. Your lyrics paint a vivid image of diner life. Love the production. Well done.
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Interesting concept - would make a good skirmish. TV was in its infancy in the late 1940's; what would a time-traveler think of "Breaking News"? And imagine if he lit up a smoke without realizing how people would react today? Your vocals capture the disorientation and "WTF" thoughts running through the mind of the transported. Nice mixing and instrumentation!
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Neat premise for a song. I like the vocals, with a bit of dustiness in them. This line really stuck out to me: "How did we get to this point, what technology We’ve forgotten to see, shared humanity". Seems like the reality of the world, sadly.