David Wu discusses explosive new Fringemunks video "The Consultant"

The completed audio recording of "The Consultant" is so good, in my opinion, that it is the best output of the Season 4 album (which now has just 2 songs left to record/release) to date.  So this is in best-of territory.

As for the music video, it aims to capture in my view the essence of 2013 in the pop culture and political realms, and throws this "feel" over to 2036 for consideration.

That's the premise behind the video.  It's a question, not a statement.  There are approximately 170 (more or less - I didn't tally it up) unique images that I pieced together in a mosaic-esque fashion, and the arrangement will hit people differently at different times, in different ways.  I have nothing to say - I'm merely recapping and reflecting, but not pushing anything.

I am a political moderate, and while this may mean that I disagree with both sides all the time, it also means I have a unique (and in my opinion, a more grounded) perspective.  It's one thing to follow beliefs and have values.  But we are living in a very disturbing time.

The majority of Fringemunks videos out there on the interwebs were produced by third parties, and had nothing to do with me with the obvious exception of the audio production itself.  I did a few music videos of the songs as well.  But this is the first Fringe video not to be primarily about Fringe.  Yet in producing it in this way, I believe it is at the heart of Fringe, which aims to make viewers reflect about real life, real issues, and real relationships.

As many of you know, the episode's storyline dictates which song and lyrical structure I will use to recap the story.  I have received many suggestions for songs to parody for this project, but in 99% of those cases, they merely want to hear a parody of that song, without having given though to which episode it should recap.  So this case was in fact "as usual" - the episode discussed 1) how Walter's former opinions about the other side were now in question, and 2) how Jones was synchronizing the frequencies of doppelgangers to destabilize both sides.  Blurred Lines, indeed.  Hence, the parody choice.

I took it one step further:  blurring the lines between non-fiction and fiction ... between our world, and the Fringe storyline.  I'm not sure if anyone wants to breakdown the images used throughout this video; but I'm not sure if that is the best way to experience/analyze the video anyway.  Up to you.

I was debating on whether to end this video with a message of hope, or a sign of despair.  I decided on both simultaneously (or neither, if you look at it another way):  "DIVIDED WE STAND."  This can be taken two ways:  negatively (we are divided), or positively (we still stand despite the divisions).

Regardless, feel the video and the song.  Reflect, recap, and react as you please.

Holy Naked Tuesday! The Fringemunks release their 1st Season 3 song in almost 2 years

Twenty months have passed since David Wu's Fringemunks last released a song recap of a Fringe Season 3 episode.  Twenty.  The wait is over, and a new song (a parody of Mumford & Sons' "The Cave") is available for you to hear.

That's not to say that these twenty months were unproductive.  The Fringemunks, after all, did release seventeen Season 4 songs, three Season 5 songs, a contest entry song, and a Christmas album all in that time span.

So why the delay with Season 3 songs, of which only three remain?

"It might be part psychological, part difficulty, part indifference" says Wu, who now only needs to complete song recaps for episodes "Reciprocity," "LSD," and the season finale "The Day We Died" to finish the Season 3 album.

Of the 100 total Fringe episodes, this new release - "Epis. 3.20: 6:02 AM EST" - is the 82nd song recap.  Although it recaps a 2011 episode, Wu uses the musical and lyrical sensibility that he has been employing in more recent material.  "It has to reflect how I feel about the episode now, because we are in the 'now', and we're no longer in the past," says Wu.  "And it works for this song.  It is from Walter's point of view, and he has changed.  He is crying.  Instruments in his head are different and more profound and direct."

With lyrics such as Last year, I received a sign from Thee / a white tulip You sent to me / I believed you had forgiven me, the Fringemunks are at their most spiritual - complete with fanfare horns, subtle organs, and banjo-like steel guitar meshing together in the song's instrumental backdrop.  And yet amidst the spiritual content, there is the comedy.  I bumped into Olivia, who screwed Peter the previous night, goes one of the earlier lyric lines.  It is a nod to the other Season 3 songs, while also showing that the project isn't afraid to go where most lyricists don't care to venture.  "Whatever the case, there's no way I would have written these same lyrics two years ago," says Wu.

The Fringemunks started off with a buzz in Fall 2008, just a few weeks into Fringe's five-season run, but now each new song is lucky to get a few "likes" and "shares" on Facebook, or even retweets on Twitter.

"These are lean times for Fringe fan projects, now that the show is over," Wu admits.  "But with this new song release, and the 18 remaining, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and still a lot of great music to make and lyrics to write for this project.  And being that fan projects are now a bit thin, this means that the Fringemunks likely obtain more of a percentage of the audience, albeit a smaller cumulative amount."

The project almost came to an end after Season 3 broadcasts ended.  "At the time," says Wu, "the series' end was not defined, so I knew that committing further to The Fringemunks would mean that it would put a damper on the rest of my side music career as long as there were unreleased songs.  It reached a boiling point, when I said 'forget it.'"

In early Fall 2011, Wu in fact announced the project's retirement, to the dismay of many.  But this retirement was short-lived, as Wu devised a plan for the Season 4 songs.  "Basically I was going to parody the entire White Album (the nickname for the Beatles' eponymous 1968 album), in order.  The season premiere would be - and was - a parody of 'Back in the U.S.S.R.,' while the finale would have parodied 'Revolution 9' and 'Goodnight.'  It was a crazy idea, abandoned after four songs - but it saved the project.  And the 4 songs are among the best, even if the subject matter wasn't the greatest."

Yet all the while, the Season 3 episodes remained on the shelf.  "I always knew I wanted to finish them," says Wu, "but I just wasn't in the mood at the time."  But now, with only three songs remaining from that middle season, the album's stock is up.

_________________________________________________________

Click here to listen to the new song, "Epis. 3.20: 6:02 AM EST."

David Wu reflects on "Fringe," meeting the cast, and how this series will resonate in time

My journey with Fringe didn't begin at the start of the "Pilot" episode, like many of you.  Mine started midway through that episode.

It was September 2008, and I had seen the bombardment of advertisements for this new J.J. Abrams series.  It had been a long time (perhaps since In Living Color or Growing Pains) since I was interested in any TV series.  So while I was mindful of the hype, I had not fully bought into it, and I took a long nap after work on that Tuesday evening without a second thought.

I woke up, noticed the time, and decided to turn in to the show.  Opening the TV software on my PC, I watched - in the standard definition broadcast with the left and right sides cut off (that's how FOX rolled with standard def back then) - as Charlie Francis visited the Harvard basement lab for the first time, and asked: "Is that a cow?"

And the rest is relative history.  Between then and now, I became a Fringe fan "outlier."  I met and mingled with the cast in NYC.  I created an episodic song recap project that may go down as one of the most elaborate (and insane) fan ventures in history.  And perhaps most profoundly, a character was named after me (yes, "David Wu") in a Fringe episode.

The Fringe Podcast gave me the opportunity to earn a press pass and interview the cast at New York Comic Con in 2009.  It was a spur of the moment decision, and my first trip to New York.  In my interactions with the cast throughout that weekend, it became clear that they were more than just co-workers to each other - they had become a true family less than a full season into the show.

They also knew the importance of establishing a personal relationship with the show's fans, and they took advantage of every opportunity.  This interaction and dynamic would prove to be crucial in the yearly renewal of the series, up until FOX's decision to award the show a 5th and final season (extending the series to 100 episodes) despite horrible Neilsen ratings.

Here are some brief recollections of my interactions with the Fringe cast, and also one producer:

• John Noble ("Walter Bishop") - This man cares. He was like an older brother to his castmates, and visibly moved whenever a fan praised his work.  By the end of the weekend, he would wave at me in recognition.  When I asked him to record a podcast promo spot, he took my iPod with a recording device attached, and spoke directly into the device's display section - a very Walter-esque moment.  He was elated when he found out about my music recap project for the series.

• Josh Jackson ("Peter Bishop") - Right before interviewing him, we exchanged greetings and I happened to call him "sir."  ... To which he responded: "Sir?  C'mon I'm still young - I'm turning 30 this year.  Haha!" Then slapped me on the shoulder and confirmed, "Nah, I'm just f-----g with you man!"  He was genuinely happy to be there, and it seems like press junkets are - for him - an opportunity to collect his thoughts about the series, and help with his visioning for his character.  Recording his podcast promo spot, he stated "This is [Your Name Here], and you are listening to The Fringe Podcast" - because the prompter cheat sheet stated exactly that.  He would record the actual promo with his name a few seconds later.

• Jasika Nicole ("Astrid Farnsworth") - To know her is to love her. She's the one cast member I interacted with the most that weekend.  Her brother-and-sister relationship with John Noble was evident all throughout that weekend.  She and I would remain in touch in private for some time after that.  She and I have the same favorite episode of The Office ("Dinner Party").

• Kirk Acevedo ("Charlie Francis") - He's nothing like his more stone-faced character.  He and his family were at the junket, and I think he was taking in the entire Comic Con experience, glad to be a part of a well-received series.  The low point of the series - amongst the cast and crew - was when he was written out of the show later in 2009.  It made many of them uncomfortable, and their complaints about this move spilled into interviews.  Perhaps trying to make amends, the show found a way to write him back into the show later on.

• Lance Reddick ("Broyles") - He's also nothing like his character Broyles.  He's all at once outgoing and empathic, and made everyone around him feel welcome.  He gave the best interview, and our conversation went so well that he waved off the assistant who had motioned "time's up" to him.

• Jeff Pinkner (executive producer & showrunner) - Our interview got cut off because of time constraints (he had to be moved down to the panel which was a few minutes away).  After I handed him my card which stated I was the Fringemunks producer, he gave a "oh of course" look and stated, "I know who you are."  He was on top of checking on what fans were doing to promote the show.  He asked me for permission to somehow promote my work - I said yes, not knowing how he'd do it.  My best guess is the "David Wu" character was the Way - thanks, Jeff!

It was disheartening at times to see the show dwindle in audience-size from more than 10 million per episode, down to the low numbers it is garnering now.  Last week's episode, which aired just a week prior to tomorrow's finale, was the show's least-watched episode.

A show that was not afraid to take risks also may have fallen flat on its face a few times, but the fact it took risks is a redeeming factor in and of itself.  Ultimately, as a whole, those risks "work" as part of the overarching storyline.  The show, to its credit, evolved - and was a vector moving in a direction, rather than staying a comfort zone.

The show, in many ways, defines the transition from my 20s to 30s.  Things have come full circle.  I watched "Pilot" in my old bedroom in my parents' house, and will watch the series finale tomorrow in my new house in Covington - the site of a cancelled finale party (EDIT:  1 confirmed attendee - but ultimately cancelled just the same).

Though the finale will mark the end of an era, the series' effect and influence on the future has just begun.  The show is ultimately about responsibility:  taking care of the world, and of the ones we love.  It is also a time capsule of "science thought" in the early stages of this millennium.  Will the show gain more viewers after it becomes history?  Of course.  So I won't jinx anything, I won't mention another sci-fi series that is massively popular now, but had low TV ratings during its first-run broadcasts.

Also, fan labor will be rewarded in the future as well.  As new fans decades from now - and perhaps centuries from now - view Fringe as a classic TV series, they will latch onto the work that fans were creating during the series' run.

The legacy continues, for all.  Onward and upward.
_____________________________________________
David Wu is the creator and producer of The Fringemunks, who are recapping all 100 episodes of Fringe with song parodies.  Listen/download all of them here: http://DavidWuMusic.com/fringemunks

Follow on Twitter:  @DavidWuMusic / @Fringemunks

FRINGE | David Wu's theory about the child Observer's actual identity

In the 2009 Fringe Season 1 episode "Inner Child," we were introduced to the character who was lovingly referred to by many as "Creepy Bald Kid," or "CBK" for short. This kid "resurfaced" in Season 5, is now called "Michael," and seems to be a the key for saving the universe.

Who is he, really?

My theory is that he is actually the physical manifestation of Henry, son of Peter Bishop and the alt-verse-Olivia Dunham - and, technically, prime Olivia's son as well, since both Livs have the same DNA... Yes, the one whose existance was supposedly erased when Peter went into the machine. It seems, to me, that Donald/September utilized this loophole of a person/being/entity as an anomaly that could save the world.

I won't go into a multi-paragraphed borefest of explanation for my theory. Instead, I will present to you a very organized and mindblowing bulleted list of thoughts that seek to verify my prediction:

• Just as Peter somehow "returned" to existance, perhaps something parallel happened to Henry.
• Donald/September made it a point to reveal the prior existance of Henry to Peter (the coma brain connection scene), in Season 4 episode "The End of All Things."
• Henry's chromosomes/DNA were utilized by Walternate to manipulate the machine - and perhaps September was able to utilize this aspect as well.
• So how could Peter and Liv meet their future offspring back in Season 1? No problem. Just as September could move that one VSC rocker's son through time, he can do it with the kid. Move him to the future to be known as an "anomaly." Move him back to the "Inner Child" Season events. No problem indeed - hey, Donald is on it!
• "Anomaly XB-6783746"? XB = Ex-Bishop.

David Wu's track-by-track notes for The Fringemunks' new holiday EP, "Yule Freakout!"

Listen/Download Now!:
 http://tinyurl.com/fringe-xmas
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Notes are fun, right?  Here goes:

I released this album for 2 main reasons:  1) to generate some interest in the project, using an elastic market (holiday albums get buzz) and uniqueness (there are no other Fringe-themed holiday albums out there) to move the product; and 2) just felt like it.

These songs are not episodic recaps like the main Fringemunks songs.  Thus, they were less detail-oriented, and more about invoking emotion and reflection.  In many ways, the lyric-writing was more natural, while still retaining the "essence" of gross-out Fringemunk standard gag-worthy flavor.

1. Happy Xmas (Oppression Is Over)
   A new recording.  This is actually one of my favorite Fringemunks songs of all - a rousing way to kick off the album, at the very least.  That's of course me playing all the instruments (which is the case for any Fringemunks song).  My new digital piano (a Yamaha Arius) is being used, and upstairs I overdubbed some tremelo guitar - using a Fender Strat and recording it using a microphone (as opposed to plugging the guitar straight into a mixer).
2. Blight Christmas
   An underrated track, released last year (2011) on the odds-and-sods album Bloody Rare.  The song's storyline takes place in the alter-universe from Walter's POV when William Bell informs him that he is at fault for all the blight.  Also an ironic track - very upbeat material, positioned with very dark lyrics.
3. The 12 Days of Fringemas
   A popular track, released last year concurrently with "Blight Christmas."  The piano that I used is at my parents' house up in Seattle.  One year later, the song holds up as a good performance that people should enjoy for many holidays/Christmases to come.
4. Have Yourself a Fine Delicious Egg Stick
   A new recording.  Like "Blight Christmas," this combines 2 elements that only music can bring together:  this time, gag-worthy lyrics are combined with a very solemn melody and arrangement.  Around this time of the year, I frequently hear all these long, drawn-out holiday songs... perhaps by that one Josh Groban dude.  "Silent Night" ... "O Holy Night" ... all sung and arranged so slowly that it's almost comical.  Hence, this song here makes fun of those types of songs ... long and drawn-out, and maybe people will fall asleep to this song some time in the future.
5. The Fringemunk Song (with David Wu)
   This is the oldest of the 5 songs - recorded and released in 2008 (during Season 1 of Fringe) as part of my annual Christmas release.  It's meant to be obvious that we basically copied over the lyrics AND dialogue from the original Chipmunks' recording, with a change in one of the lines.  The recording isn't the greatest, but it's 100% Fringemunks, historical and hysterical.  'Nuff said.

David Wu
5 December 2012

David Wu discusses Fringemunks' contest entry song "Backstory Ballad"

It's a song that you won't hear for another week - Nov. 7 - when The Fringe Podcast's "Bridge the Backstory Contest" entry deadline is reached.  But the song is complete, and will be submitted within a day.

It's a competitive entry, but the award is in its edginess as a fan-fic-or-humorous-or-something-else romp.  The lyrics itself are, by the nature of its "grasping for straws," 50% likely "true" and 50% joke.  But it succeeds as a semi-epic journey through the years 2012-2036 in the Fringe universe of "what if" tone.

It is a parody, but the parodied song won't be revealed here.  What can be revealed is how I took a detour from what I suspect will be the "usual suspects" in terms of what other contestants will cover in their bridge-the-gap storylines.  I take on characters and entities that may not otherwise have been covered nor cared about - but once mentioned, they and their fictional stories in this song will - assuming the Fringemunks "last" - remain a permanent record of wonder and potentially debatable would-have-been-an-interesting-route tone.

The song will subsequently be released as a track on The Fringemunks' odds-and-sods Bloody Rare compilation album.

Fringe: "Walter Bishop Is Wanted" video more than just promo - it's a key

Hello all.  David Wu here.

Recently, a video containing this image was released:

I think it's more than just a promo.  It's a key.  Some of the characters match up with their English counterparts.  Here, for example:

 So - by that logic - all the promos (past and future) that contain funny characters can be matched against this key to decipher what is being said.

--David Wu

Pre-recording notes for The Fringemunks' "Brave New World, Parts 1 & 2" single

Some notes:  I haven't even started recording, nor have I finished the lyrics.  But the concept seems like it will work.  Up to now, I've completed the first 13 episodic song recaps for Fringe Season 4, but I felt it was time to tackle the "Brave New World" 2-parter.

I won't give away which 2 songs will be parodied.  In fact, I won't announce them until the single is released(!).  There will be 2 individual songs on the Season 4 album (1 for each part), but the single release (which will utilize the above artwork) will combine both into 1.

At the end of the day on Fri., 8/31/2012, I'll be holding a drawing to see who will win an advance copy of the single.  Want to enter the drawing?  If so, click here.

Some notes for each "part":

Part 1 (Epis. 4.21):  Instrumentation will be simple but precise:  keyboards, some synth guitars (on keyboards, of course), and me playing my Fender double-strat electric guitar (a rarity, since I'm not a guitar player, although the instrument shows up on some previous Fringemunks songs like "A New Day in the Old Town" and "The Road Not Taken").  The song will contain possibly the most singalong section of any of the songs.  The movement I need depends entirely on feel, mood, and faithfulness to the storyline ... plus a bit of humor.  POV:  Peter.

Part 2 (Epis. 4.22):  Instrumentation will be loud.  Lots of keyboards.  I haven't decided if I'll use guitar (as in an actual guitar).  It's gonna be alright.  I may need to, or may not need to, add 1 or 2 more verses.  POV: Walter. 

NOTES on the Fringemunks' Epis. 4.13 "A Better Human Being"

PLAY SONG NOW:


There's probably no other similar production in the Fringemunks' 74-song history, possibly with the exception of "The No-Brainer" (54 songs ago), which parodied "Poker Face."  Both productions didn't use my usual keyboard or piano playing - instead Reason (the software) was used, although one has to "play" the software's instruments musically as well.  Still this current release is of a different style altogether.

As is the norm, I chose the song (No Doubt's latest single) only because it provided an ideal lyrical framework for the storylines in the "A Better Human Being" episode.  The "I'm fine" pre-chorus was already identical to Olivia's "I'm fine" assertion, while also the correct amount of syllables (and similar sounding) for the "hive mind" lyric.

A few delays were used, sparingly but in good pressure points.  Fun song.

NOTES on The Fringemunks' Epis. 4.12 "Welcome to Westfield"

It just so happened that the song for "Welcome to Westfield" was another welcoming of sorts: It was my first song to produce in the music studio of my new home in Covington, WA. The instrumental had already been recorded at the former studio, at my parents' residence in Seattle. But the vocals were done in full at the new place. I made the song a bit quick-paced on purpose, as I wanted the "frantic" urgent nature of the episode to be reflected. Incidentally, the percussion instrument heard at the tail end of the first chorus was a pen tapping on an empty wine bottle - that wine was given to me as a new house gift. The lyrics took a while - moderately difficult.

A Brief Tribute to Papang (1929-2012)

Arsenio Acob (1929-2012)

I just found out about Papang's death earlier this morning.  Although I (as has much of the Acob extended family) have been preparing for this moment for weeks, there is still a level of shock and devastation.  Our family has now entered a new phase, with new challenges and responsibilities as we move forward.  But as I deal with my grandfather's death, I am reminded of some experiences that will resonate with me for the rest of my life.

An hour or so before my cousin Omar's wedding some years ago, I realized while changing into my suit that I was missing my necktie, which was apparently moved to another bag at a relative's home.  Being that there weren't neckties readily available, and not to mention I was going to be performing some music soon, it was a bit of an awkward situation - and I didn't have my car with me.  "Come on, we'll go get it," said a willing voice.

It was Papang, of all people.   So he drove me back to Wapato to retrieve the tie.  I realize now that Papang had seized the opportunity to hang out with me.  He and I maximized that time together, asking each other questions about life and music.  With me living in Seattle, I was one of the grandkids that he saw the least, and so it was good to catch up a bit.  Papang had turned an awkward situation into a bonding opportunity.

Years before that, during a Christmas celebration, there arose a situation in which one of Papang's sons dejectedly walked out of his home that night after a glass gift accidentally crashed to the ground.  It was a weird situation, and some of the family didn't handle it well.  I walked out to the back porch, and there was Papang comforting his son, unconditionally with a smile.  No words were spoken - the presence and agape love spoke volumes about his faith, and it is an image that will remain with me.

As much as our extended family has grown and prospered, there are inevitably imperfections.  But Papang led by his example and leadership, by turning bad situations into opportunities for victory.  That's just one of his many legacies, but it is the one that will resonate with me the most.

David Wu

15 March 2012

Here's What Your Favorite Fringe Character Says About You

Here's What Your Favorite Fringe Character Says About You

by David Wu

____________________________

Olivia Dunham: You are a loner, you doubt yourself, but deep inside you know that you kick ass.

Peter Bishop: You spend time wishing that people love you for who you are now, not for what you once were.

Walter Bishop: With all the food you eat daily, you frequently need to take a "Massive D."

Astrid Farnsworth: You enjoy your job, but you realize it's more of a stepping stone than your calling.

William Bell: You're not a Fringe fan. You are a Trekkie who watched Fringe just to check out Leonard Nimoy's performance.

September: You can recite your favorite Fringe episodes word-for-word, going as far to state a piece of dialogue before it is even spoken. And sometimes annoyingly so.

Charlie Francis: You spend your days hoping you won't be fired, laid off, or cremated.

Phillip Broyles: Your wife left you when you told her that you wanted to leave your six-figure job in order to become a lounge singer.

Ella: Your theme song in life is "Umbrella" by Rihanna, because you get to sing "Ella" a whole bunch of times.

Rachel: You have a crush on Ari Graynor. That must be the only reason.

Brandon Fayette: You have doubts about your job safety when you know that both the CEO and the night security watchman have been hanging out and getting stoned.

Nina Sharp: You're not over the hill; you're down in the valley.

Thomas Jerome Newton: You need to get a life - as much as you've tried, you can't naturally induce yourself to dream about electric sheep; and even if you did, you better not tell anyone or you will be ridiculed. Try something more worthwhile, like installing a chip into your lower spine.

Lincoln Lee (Over There): You spend your days listening to R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion" on repeat.

Lincoln Lee (Over Here): You have craved pecan pie since March 18, 2011.

Col. Phillip Broyles (Over There): By day, you run a tight operation at your work, and are a confident authority figure. By night, you are a family man. But deep inside, you really want to be a lounge singer.

Charlie Francis (Over There): You hope and dream for a "bug girl" to enter your life.

Walternate: You have dreamt of plugging your book "ZFT" on a popular talk show.

Fauxlivia: You can't decide on which nickname you want friends to use for you, so you just go with all of them. And sometimes annoyingly so.

Frank Stanton: Your new life's motto is: "Mama's baby, Papa's maybe."

Astrid (Over There): You're amazing, but you need to take time to breathe.

Brandon Fayette (Over There): You could have sworn you saw a mug appear and then disappear into thin air.

August: You will go out of your way for the person you love the most. And sometimes annoyingly so.

Roscoe Joyce: You laugh when everyone adores you when you play a bunch of random chord progressions on a piano.

David Robert Jones: You exclaim "Mr. Cole!" randomly, in a faux-English accent.

John Scott: You never existed.

Congratulations to Fringe for getting a Season 4

It was announced by Fringe co-showrunner Joel Wyman via Twitter earlier today that the series was granted a Season 4.

I would like to take this time to personally congratulate the fanbase of the series, for playing a major part in this decision by the FOX network. And obviously, I've had some choice words for the network itself in recent months, but I do want to sincerely thank the network for extending what I strongly feel is currently the best show on TV.

I'll continue to be a fan, although the Fringemunks episode-by-episode song recaps will cease after the Season 3 songs are complete, as announced back in December 2010. As of this moment, 50 of the planned 65 songs spanning Seasons 1-3 are finished and already released. That's not to say that I don't have a plan for Season 4 - it just simply won't be the same magnitude and feel.

The series continues to amaze and impress new fans as well as the veterans who were watching since the "Pilot" episode. Although ratings are currently less than stellar, I do think that the quality of the show will be enough to gain new fans well into the future, even a hundred years from now.

The Fringemunks project will ride on the series' coattails well into the future as well - someone in the year 2125 will marvel at, say, our Epis. 3.22 "The Day We Died" song, and word-of-mouth it to his/her friends. Thanks, cast/crew/producers of Fringe, for producing material that inspires my material, and I owe a lot to all of you.

--David Wu

FRINGE THEORY | Peter & Fauxlivia's Baby: Perhaps We've Already Met Her

Ella?

OK, I realize this theory may be far-fetched, and is a bit of a shot in the dark. However, here are some dots I'm connecting:

• "Brown Betty" [2.19] episode allegory: Ella provides Walter with "a much better ending." If we are to take the episode's allegories seriously as indicative of the Fringe mythology as a whole, perhaps Ella is the gamechanger and ace-up-the-sleeve at the end of the Fringe series, whenever it is.
  
  
• "Brown Betty" episode allegory: Rachel (in Walter's story) was actually not Rachel, but an actress pretending to be named Rachel who was used by the fictional Walter for his agenda. If we take the episode's allegories seriously, perhaps Rachel was lying/acting about being Ella's aunt from the get-go - and that brings to mind another question: who (perhaps Walternate?) would be using her?
  
  
• In "Bound" [1.11] (starting at the 30:00 mark), we see the first extended scene involving Olivia and Rachel. Two interesting factors come up: 1) Rachel claims Ella gets her strength from Olivia (and looks temporarily distracted a few seconds later), and 2) Olivia asks Rachel if there's something Rachel isn't telling her (which Rachel denies).
  
  
• At the end of "August" [2.08], August and December watch Olivia and Ella, and December says: "Look how happy she is - it's a shame things are about to get so hard for her." "Her" could be either Olivia or Ella.
  
  
• Possible writer/producer hint: In "Concentrate and Ask Again" [3.12], there is a magic 8-ball towards the beginning of the episode - the other magic 8-ball is seen in "Bound," as it was the gift given by Ella to Olivia, after Rachel and Ella's alleged trip to Peru. Perhaps we are to "connect the 8-balls" a little, although the symbolism is still alluding me at the moment.
  
  
• In "The No-Brainer" [1.12], Rachel marvels at Peter and Ella's first meeting, and states: "The way you are with Ella, you could be really good," then quickly "corrects" herself and says "at a party."
  
  
• Also in "No-Brainer," Ella survives the brain-melting computer video, while others did not. Ella, in fact, has no signs of any injury, and Olivia seems almost shocked that Ella could withstand such a trauma.
  
  
• In "The Transformation" [1.13], Olivia has trouble remembering some historical details relating to Rachel, after which Rachel changes the subject to John Scott. [This is similar to how Olivia had trouble "remembering" Fauxlivia's memories (after they were implanted in her) a few seasons later.] A minute later in the same "Transformation" episode, Rachel looks distant when she claims that her former partner Greg is a jerk.
  
  
• In "Inner Child" [1.15], it is Olivia (as opposed to Rachel) who Ella wakes in the morning for company.
  
  
• In "Unleashed" [1.16], Rachel "jokes" with Olivia and Ella: "You two work well together, and I don't like it."
  
  
• In "Bad Dreams" [1.17], it is revealed that Ella is receiving some sort of "vaccination" - frequency unknown. Ella says that this substance was dead, but that she now felt it was "alive" (though Olivia assured her that it was just a "bad dream").
  
  
• In "Over There, Part 1" [2.21], Olivia gave Ella the cross handed down from her mother, further cementing how Olivia thinks of Ella kind of like a daughter.
  
  
• So how would Ella time-travel back to an earlier part of the timeline? The only 2 ways I can see is that 1) an Observer would have to do it - the Observer was able to allow Roscoe Joyce's son to travel through time in "The Firefly" [3.10] - OR - 2) back in "Safe" [1.10], it was revealed that Walter was once working on a time-travel device - perhaps Walternate was successful in making one work. Also NOTE: In the first Fringe comic book series, William/Walter DID make one work.
  

--David Wu

An interview of Roscoe Joyce, former keyboardist of Violet Sedan Chair

DAVID WU: Thanks for taking the time to speak with us for a few moments, sir!

ROSCOE JOYCE: Wu! How in the blazes did you get here?

DW: I drove. I think all of us Fringe fans are excited about your appearance in the upcoming episode, "The Firefly," which will be aired this Friday, Jan. 21. Do you watch the show?

ROSCOE: Not as much since Season 1, to be honest. It seems like a great show. I remember a great subplot involving an agent who died, but somehow stayed around for half a season. It was great plot. Great Scott! I forget the agent's first name.

DW: Interesting. Do you enjoy the resurgence of the popularity of your former band?

ROSCOE: Definitely! I want our music to be heard for all time. Well, you better not hook up your amplifier to the record player - there's a slight possibility for overload.

DW: So now that it's years later, what current road are you on with your music?

ROSCOE: Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads! But I do have one thing to say: wohohoho, the future is looking a who-o-o-llle lot better now that I personally dropped off old vinyl records in used record shops around these here fine United States.

DW: Yeah, a fan named Kiki found one of the vinyls a few days ago here in Seattle's Easy Street Records, the Queen Anne store! And then another one found it at the Easy Street Records in West Seattle... and then I found one and bought it for five dollars plus tax at the West Seattle location just today! Thanks for doing that, man.

ROSCOE: Fans of Fringe, please excuse the crudity of this method of distribution. But it works! It works!

DW: Congratulations, again! Any last thought for Fringe fans?

ROSCOE: Just one - remember, Fringe is what you make it!

The Fringemunks to end episodic recaps after Season 3

As announced on Facebook earlier this week, I will cease to produce The Fringemunks' episodic recap parody songs of Fringe, after Season 3 (and after a total of 65 recap songs have been completed and released).

For me, this was a simple and easy decision. I do love the project, but I know that to continue on past this season would be too much of a burden. Having said that, I have nothing but great things to say about the project, the fans, friends and supporters - all in all, a win-win situation that grew out of thin air.

So does this mean the end of The Fringemunks? Not exactly - you may see/hear them pop up in some odd project or song once in a blue moon. But it's the grueling one-song-per-episode schedule that was becoming a bit of a chore.

However, keep in mind that there are still 19 more songs left to be released before the project's episodic run ends at 65 songs, so the ending - while clear - is still only on the horizon. Until then, enjoy the ride!

The current state of "The Fringemunks" project

Truly a global audience!

It's hard to believe that, as of this writing, The Fringemunks project is now 45 songs old (not including the odds-and-sods tracks of Bloody Rare). I thought I'd share a few thoughts about where things are with this project.

What started off as a fun 2-song joke has turned into the flagship project of my website, and I never expected it to go this far, this long, and this deep; and never did I expect that it would help me obtain an audience (however big or small) from around the globe. Each time someone overseas listens to a song, someone's dream (mine) is coming true!

That's not even including the possibility that the "David Wu" character in Episode 2.18 may have been more than just a coincidence; and I haven't even mentioned the plug by Alyssa Milano earlier this year. Meeting the cast in Feb. 2009 in New York was an amazing experience. These are great stories to tell my future grandchildren.

I'm not by any stretch of the means an "expert" in TV series, nor do I share the same type of enthusiasm or passion as some other amazing Fringe-ies, and that makes the accomplishments of The Fringemunks project all the more remarkable!

But, as you can imagine, it is a huge epic project and - not an easy one. If it were easy, more people would be doing it, I'm sure!

The toughest part now is actually the lyrics - that's the phase that takes me the longest - scrutinizing every phrase, every word, every line, every verse, every chorus - to make sure it flows and that it is accurate. The music is a little easier. Season 3 storylines involve so many moving parts, to the point where it is hard to recap an episode from only one person's POV per song.

On top of that, each song now is now under a bit more of a microscope than, say, the Season 1 songs - in those early songs, there was hardly any pressure. Now each song is reviewable and ... may I say ... sometimes The Fringemunks can be a tough act to follow, even for The Fringemunks themselves!

I find that I have less and less time to work on the songs nowadays, so in the very spare amount of time I do have, I try to make it count - and means sometimes doing tracks in one take and leaving things raw (which is actually not a bad thing to do). But it also means that it can be tough to keep up with an already-busy schedule. I'm 45 songs in, but there are currently already 51 episodes out, so I'm 6 behind.

I have stated my complaints about FOX for Fringe's timeslot, yes. I have stated that the move to Fridays could very well mean the end of the show by Season 3's finale, yes. There is a chance I might need to cut off The Fringemunks' episodic songs after a certain amount of time, yes. But I need to make it clear in case it isn't already clear: I don't personally want the show to end, nor do I want it to end merely for the sake of relieving me from parody-making duties. If I really want to quit, I'll quit, regardless of whether or not the show continues.

If there's a bit of a constant shift back and forth between wanting to continue and not wanting to, then that is also the mark of any longterm project. Whereas a project can last 3+ years, life changes month-to-month and week-to-week, and I'm essentially not the same person (or in the same state of being) as I was when Fringe started.

But while things change, there is a constant - the released music. The project evolves, and the music approach changes song-to-song, but once a song is released, it remains as is. And I have found that they actually age well in time, like red wine. I thank the supporters/fans of the project for this, as they are the ones who really make the project worthwhile! They even show more passion for my productions than I do at many times! Some know my own lyrics better than I do!

So, moving forward... let's continue to have some fun. And thanks for listening.

How I Lost 30 Pounds

In August 2008, I decided to take control of my health. Since then, I have lost over 30 pounds. Here's how I did it:

1. Eating 3 meals a day, including breakfast.
2. Eating more vegetables/fruit.
3. Eating healthy portions. (This is key - no food is off limits, but higher-calorie foods should be limited.)
4. Recognizing which foods are healthier - no need to count calories if this is practiced.
5. Drinking more water.
6. Limiting sugar intake, in both foods and drink.
7. Exercising, including running and team sports (dodgeball/softball)
8. Limiting the amount of times I eat out after 9 PM.

Fringemunks: Some random thoughts as I near completion of Season 2 songs

Just wanted to say that The Fringemunks project, in retrospect, almost single-handedly resurrected my music career. Before it, my music career was in shambles, and was in disappointment mode. With music ministry coming to a screeching halt in 2007, and with my music not generating much buzz, I led the life of many a-musician, just inching by, making music and hoping people would listen. Not too many people did over time.

The Fringemunks and all the buzz resulting from it gave me the adrenaline/motivation I needed. It really is nice to know people are listening to the songs - even in a silly project like this. The fact people actually come to me and ask me "what song is next?" rather than me having to motivate people to listen, is something I'm not as accustomed to. Some celebrities have heard the songs, too. Who would have thought?

So, anyway, 5 songs left for me to recap for Season 2. Epis. 2.18: The Man from the Other Side will involve the 'munks singing about the David Wu character in one part, which will be fun. I'll parody Red Hot Chili Pepper's "Otherside." I'll use an instrumental stripped down to its bare essence.

Then Epis. 2.19: Brown Betty will be one of the most talked about productions of the entire Fringemunks repertoire, I can predict. How do I recap a somewhat "musical" episode with music? I think I found a way.

Then Epis. 2.20: Northwest Passage. Well, since that Pearl Jam dude scored this episode, would it be feasible for me to parody Pearl Jam? I haven't decided if I will yet, but that would be an obvious option.

Then Epis.'s 2.21 & 2.22: Over There, Parts 1 & 2 ... being that they were separated out, I will opt to create 2 songs, one for each part. If I try to combine it into 1 song, it will either be too long because I want to mention all the details, or it will be at regular length and I will end up missing out on mentioning some key details. Considering that there are zeppelins in the sky on the other side, would it make sense for me to parody a Led Zeppelin song to recap one of the parts? And how will our final Season 2 song end? I think I found the most epic way.

And perhaps I'll sing, without my voice sped-up, for a verse or so in one of the 5 remaining songs. Who knows? And can you believe that there will be 43 Fringemunk songs about Fringe in existence? ...and counting...

Fringemunks songs for Fringe episodes 2.16 and 2.17 will go "back to basics"

The past several songs of the Fringemunks have been fun, rewarding, but also a bit complex. The project is definitely in a different place now than it was a year ago at this time. At the time, the project was merely a "side project" to say the least. Nowadays, it is near (but not totally in) the forefront of my music career - it is, after all, my most successful "brand" of music, even if it is not at the heart of my music career as a whole.

So admittedly, the bar I've been setting for the songs has been so high that I find it hard to follow it sometimes. The difficulty level of the songs (having to learn the songs, perform them well instrumentally, create lyrics, harmonies, etc.) has been hard to keep up with at times.

I've received more comments and encouragement for the past 8 songs (I'm already up to 36 songs) than any time before - but I think it's time for a slight change of pace so I can continue the journey in an efficient manner. Not that I've strayed away from the original intent, but I think for the next two songs (2.16: Olivia. In the Lab. With the Revolver. / 2.17: White Tulip), I will take it back to basics. Lyrics lyrics lyrics. Songs that drive the plot. The essence of Fringemunks - well, I'll strive to meet it. Let's roll.