Dancing and Crying

Dancing and Crying
Written and Recorded 2010

How this song has made it through the years, I'll never know. When it was written, I had just assumed that would be the end of it. It isn't a particularly accessible or catchy song. It doesn't tell a particularly stirring story. Not that I don't enjoy the song, I don't mean to say that at all. It's just of all the songs I've written, how has this song made it through 5 years of changes and continues to be rearranged today? I don't have the answer, but the fact of the matter is that I wrote this song back in Baraboo and it has since been performed in Of the North and now again in Whiskey Doubles.

This song is another instance of a clear image in my head, using some real life people and events as the characters and inspiration, and crafting a fictional story around it. In this case, the narrator is at a wedding, observing a good friend dealing with a tough situation. Though her pain is obvious to him, nobody else can see what's going on.

• I love the synths used on this recording. The opening chords are simple, yet powerful. It creates a nice contrast when the more subdued verses start.
• The right and left hands of the main keyboard were recorded separately. I really wanted to be able to do both, but my skills were not where they needed to be. Practicing those sorts of things wasn't really an option at this time. Songs came quickly and I had to employ whatever means necessary to get the ideas out.
• This song has 2.5 verses, which is a bit odd. I think it was another one of those songs where I felt I'd said all I needed to say, any more would have been overkill. Looking back, I think I painted a clear enough picture. Lyrically there is nothing I would add.
• These songs were largely keyboard and synth based, so having a guitar solo was a bit odd for me. I saturate it with a ton of delay so it blends better, but I think this is a nice bridge for the song. It's nice and simple.
• I don't have a nice recording of an Of the North version, but there is a video here. This was a night where Kent arranged a few songs to add string quartet. Our band was at it's largest and we were sharing the bill with the quartet anyways, so Kent extended the bridge and added the them in to this song. It was a great and unique experience. If you want to hear what it sounds like now with only guitar, cello, clarinet and flute, you'll have to see us live this summer :)