FAWM: "Letters from Minnesota"

Letters from Minnesota

4 days ago by @paul_pedersen · @hummingbear

Letters from Minnesota

paul_pedersen +1

00:00

Liner Notes

Nancy created lyrics that are very current. I liked the bird's eye view of a human chain spelling SOS, so jumped on board to make a short song. Had fun bringing in a tympany, three toms, trumpets, a trombone and a piccolo.

Lyrics

It only took a thousand people Arranged in single file On the frozen waters Of lake Bde Maka Ska.

It only took three letters To say what needed said From a bird’s eye vantage point This is how it read:

S O S S O S S O S S O S

S O S We are sending out a signal S O S We are sounding our distress S O S On a sunny day in winter: Look what’s happening to us S O S

Comments

@toddnorem 6h

Well, I finally know how to pronounce Bde Maka Ska. Not living there in a while now, the name change still surprises to me. This is really great. Still can’t believe that all of this happened and is happening in Minneapolis of all places. Stay strong. The whole world is watching and we will not forget this.

@paul_pedersen 5h

The citizens have been dealt some nasty cards, for sure. Lucky for me, there's a YouTube video where a fellow pronounces Bde Maka Ska, so I learned from him.

@kahlo2013 1d

Perfect! I loved seeing those photos and love that you collaborated to make a song about it. The repetition and delivery of SOS is so effective! Really well done!

@darcistrutt 3d

Two of my kids live in the suburbs of the twin cities, and my bestie is one of the folks delivering food and driving people's kids around if they are too afraid to leave their homes. It's a crazy time. I live just over the border...20 minutes away. Often, I've thought, thanks for noticing...but please send help. Your song rings very true.

@paul_pedersen 3d

Your government is being absolutely brutal. There's no common sense to it. I find it's disgusting to watch from afar and it must be much more difficult to have it on your doorstep. I wish our song would restore things, but not likely. Maybe the midterms can shift political power. Let's hope!

@jerrypettit 3d

Help is on the way!! What an awful episode for Minnesota. Great song! ❤️

@paul_pedersen 3d

Minnesota deserves better, but so does America. Glad you enjoyed our mini-song.

@johnstaples 3d

Simple but powerful lyrics saying what needed to be said! Awesome lyric write here! Oh and very clever title!! And the music, melody and performance really brought this to life! Such an outstanding rendering that got stronger and stronger until that final section with SOS interspersed with the final verse lines. Just an excellent new song!

@paul_pedersen 3d

Thanks so much for your strong, positive response to our song. Much appreciated!

@joefahey 4d

Being from Minnesota I can't thank you enough for creating this song, it means so much to us here to have the support of people from around the world who are so empathic to the people and the situation here. It was a wonderful blast of joy to hear someone sing "Bde Maka Ska". Nicely done, thank you!

@paul_pedersen 4d

Thank goodness I'm at a safe distance from the nastiness that has been forced upon you. One would have to be extremely hard-hearted not to feel for you and your neighbours. I can't fathom how a president can do that to his own people.

Beyond the politics, I want to thank you for listening to our song and responding to it.

@davidtaro 4d

The lyrics are great - very current and also very impactful. I really love all the sonic experimentation, the timpani hits in particular are load of fun. Brilliant to include the morse code at the end too. Great collabing :)

@paul_pedersen 4d

Thanks very much. Nancy's lyrics seemed to leave room for a bit of experimentation. Glad you liked my attempt.

@fabkebab 4d

the time change for SOS is surprising, and then the SOS morse code section at the end - its neat - its like you have a mico-opera with three different (small) movements. I enjoyed it, and I enjoyed the reference to the peculiar lake name. well done to you both!

@paul_pedersen 4d

Thanks for checking out the shortest song I've ever done. Luckily, there was still lots of room for experimenting with sounds. I hadn't thought of it as a micro-opera, but I like that description.