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