Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

UPDATED!

I had such a great time with you all in Amsterdam I had to compose a song about it. So here is the unofficial Maemo Summit 2009 theme song, "Raining in Amsterdam". I hope it resonates with at least some of you!

I'm looking for vocalists to complete this. So if you have the "pipes" and decent recording equipment/environment, please PM or email me (or post here). I don't want to inflict my singing on the forum so I'm only posting the instrumental and lyrics; for the rest I will share a rough idea of how I hear the vocals going in other communications. Also, this is just a rough mix so please ignore any flaws!

So without further ado...

WMA: http://www.maemo-daemons.org/Raining...0Amsterdam.wma

OGG: http://www.maemo-daemons.org/Raining...0Amsterdam.ogg

MP3: http://www.maemo-daemons.org/Raining...0Amsterdam.mp3
(MP3 quality improved a bit, but still a little fizzy)

Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
cc 2009 Randall G Arnold
Key of C, 105 bpm


(intro)

Fooled by the sun when I landed here
Warmed by an air out of time
No one could blame me for falling hard,
Struck by an innocent high

Some were surprised when the clouds rolled in
A sprinkle of laughter, a lighthearted wind
Gifts from a downcast, sympathetic sky

And-
(chorus)
The rain doesn't miss me in Amsterdam
The way I'm missing you
Waiting for the train in Amsterdam
I hope you're waiting too...

(break)

Dodging the bicycles, chasing the bus
Losing our way in the night
Knowing the locals are laughing at us
Surely we must be a sight

Surrounded by friends that I'd never met
Who cares if we're cold, who cares if we're wet
These are the mem'ries that keep you warm for life...

But-
(repeat chorus)

(instrumental)

No-
(repeat chorus)

Fooled by the sun... (raining in Amsterdam...)
Fooled by the sun... (raining in Amsterdam...)
(fade out)
Fooled by the sun... (raining in Amsterdam...)
Fooled by the sun... (raining in Amsterdam...)

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

Makes me wish I was there (well, that and the N900 :) ). I wish I could sing, but all I can do is thank you.

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

Hey, thank YOU pupu! :)

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

Pupu on YOU, Tex!

:D

(Nice song, btw ;))

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

107 views and no volunteers. I am definitely going to have to nag timsamoff on this... :D

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

I thought it was lovely, but I would struggle to sing it just from the lyric and wma file. If you have a score I could work with, I'd be happy to sing it... my voice is in tune, though there are probably people around with better quality pipes.

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

Again, I will provide a version with my crappy vocals for illustrative purposes. I will also be building a lead sheet with chords. I'd love to have you on board!

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

A version with vocals might do it - I can sing along and get the idea. Then sing it back and see what you think.

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

Thanks Kathy-- once I get a vocal version cut I'll PM you.

If several people offer leads, maybe we can select a single lead vocalist from contributors. Or I could even alternate lead vocalists in the verses. At the very least, I'm hoping to have multiple voices on the final lines.

Ideas welcome!

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

I'm happy to be involved anywhere - not necessarily lead.

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

On a related note-- once the song is complete, it would great to have video(s) made for it! Especially by members in the region (hint hint, allnameswereout). :)

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

--- wow ----

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

Nice... Thanks, Texrat. It's not my usual style of music but this is good - so good in fact, that I'll stick my neck out....

I haven't recorded for years, so I'm not sure my equipment or voice are close to good enough, but that'd be up to you.

Happy to at least make you feel better about your voice :)
PM coming your way...

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

For whatever reason I'm not able to play your file on my 64-bit Linux machine.. (google says this is a common problem) :(

Would you mind uploading it as mp3 or ogg or something like that?

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

Thanks jow!

I really have to say kudos to PGMusic for their wonderful Band in a Box app, and Cakewalk for Sonar. I'd be lost without them!

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

I'd love to do the former... unfortunately I'm having trouble getting decent MP3s with the software I have. I'll keep working on it.

I have not tried OGG yet, but I believe I have a tool that can create those files. I'll check.

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

The tablet plays it though.. how could I forget to try that.... so never mind. Sounds great, can't wait to hear it with the lyrics :D

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

Well, I was able to get an OGG export pretty quickly using Wavelab, and went ahead and did MP3 as well even though I tend to get artifacts with them. First post updated with links!

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

Very nice song. :)

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

Please cut me in on the vocal score as well. I don't have great recording equipment, but I can sing a decent bass/baritone part.

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

This is awesome! What a great community we have here.

I will be following up with volunteers ASAP!

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

great idea.
too bad I cannot participate, I have no music instrument or the ability to play and and the vocal if I sing I am pretty sure the speakers will blow out and people will loose faith in music.
I can be an audience though.

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

You might also be interested in the Electronic Maemo Summit theme song by Karoliina Salminen: Maemo Summit 2009 Opening Music (direct download link)

That said, I'm looking forward to the final, vocalized version of your song :)

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

Very cool! Karoliina's song needs more publicity.

Next year we need to do an entire album. :)

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

@Texrat
What software do you use for composing, or you have your own instrumental slaves? :D

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

As mentioned earlier, Band in a Box for composition (sometimes Realband), Sonar for mixing and pre-mastering. I'm learning to use Wavelab for final mastering.

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

Alright, I spent last night improving the mix... especially making the drums crisper. They may be a little loud now, but I usually worry about final levels when I have vocals in. I actually want the drums a little hot on this one anyway.

I'm excited about this song on one hand because I think it's some of my best mixing work so far, but also because a few people here have volunteered to try adding vocals.

Speaking of which, I hope to add in some "template" vocals tomorrow and alert those who have expressed interest. Hang tight!

Note that all links in the first post are updated with new mixes. If you don't hear any handclaps (just added) then you have the previous mix cached.

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

I'd like to try something-- does anyone have audio they can send of crowd conversations? It might be cool to include it during the instrumental or fade out. If we did this, would there be permissions issues? If so it might be helpful to limit the audio to small crowds so as to make permissions easier.

On a different note, can someone add more tags to this since I can supply only 2? For instance, song, etc.

Finally, I am trying to record rough vocals today for those interested in contributing that way. Pray for what's left of my voice! :o

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

http://free-loops.com/download-free-loop-86.html

Generic, but... ;)

Tim

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

Thanks Tim. I plugged in some from freesound.net... including authentic Amsterdam ambient sounds. ;)

By the way-- are you interested in providing vocals?

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

I cranked out some lousy vocals today and fired 'em off to the two people who expressed interest in doing vocals along with another who has me on ignore I think (:p). If anyone else is interested PLEASE let me know! Surely out of all the people here we have a few more singers...

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

I'll try singing for you, even though I didn't make it to the summit. Oh, and I can add crowd noises or whatever using Audioease Speakerphone 2. Might take me a few days, though, as I'm waiting on a new furnace and it's a bit chilly here...

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

Check your PMs! I'll forward you what I sent the others.

Re: Raining in Amsterdam (Maemo Summit 2009)
 

Hey gang, I'm making some small chord changes I think will improve the song quite a bit. Not to the chorus but the regular verses. I'll send a PM to the current collaborators as well, and again invite anyone else interested to give some singing parts a shot. Vocal details are shared via PM.