·:[ Leefe rates the world… ]:·
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Finished exams for the year. No more commitments, save Christmas. Time to relax and do things I haven’t had time for recently.

So, after not touching GarageBand for 2 years I thought it was something to try again.

I wanted a piece that didn’t require too much effort, and matched my relaxed mood. Using just samples I put together my tune.

The next day I used images from stock.xchng to create the chilli on a fridge image. And uploaded the tune to MacJams.

Though after 2 years I’m a little rusty, and the song needed some tuning. Fixed the volume and shortened the intro.

The final version can be found at:

Chill out Chilli 2

Reading a post Death By Lawyer: 10 Cool Sites We Miss and was interested to find Pandora listed there.

Had been using Pandora for a while. Nice project that creates virtual radio stations based on your tastes in music. But it seems that has all gone done the tube for non-USA Internet citizens.

Previously Pandora only asked users to enter a US ZIP code to verify that they were US citizens. (I wonder how many users had a Wikipedia ZIP code?) As of a few days ago Pandora has been forced to filter by IP address. So now when you try to use the service you get a Pandora restricted page.

I am sorry to see this service go, and the Pandora people are sorry as well.

• Pandora: Breaking Pandora’s Heart… (3 May 2007)
• Pandora: Canada (14 May 2007)

Recently my small child has been taught Miss Polly Had A Dolly by Grandma. Some of the words are remembered, but not all of them, and I am expected to sing the song.

A search of Google brings up a number of version of the lyrics, mostly differing on what the doctor does, as well as sheet music and CDs with the song on it. Unfortunately finding the song as a sound file is another thing.

So where at 11:30pm do you find a song for a small child who is not sleepy?

iTunes music store it turns out. If you search for “Miss Polly” there are 33 listed songs. Two of the listed songs are pop music, with the rest being the nursery rhyme. So it is quite a popular song to record it seems. Ok, some of those listed are the same recording on different albums, but still quite a big list. And I was interested to find amongst the list an RnB version of the rhyme.

One of the better versions:

The RnB version:

Included below are lyrics familiar to me.

Miss Polly had a dolly
Who was sick, sick, sick,
So she called for the doctor
To be quick, quick, quick;
The doctor came
With his bag and his hat,
And he knocked at the door
With a rat-a-tat-tat.

When you turn a CDs into MP3s to upload to your iPod you are breaking the law. In Australia copyright law does not allow for media shift.

The SMH reports that the minister for communication is considering amendments to the copyright legislation that legalise this media/format shift. You will be allowed to turn your CDs into MP3s, and be allowed to record a TV show to watch at a later time (but only once).

The proposed changes do not legalise media shift of DVDs.

• Cutting crime as easy as MP3 (SMH, 14 May 2006)
• New laws to limit use of TV recording (SMH, 15 May 2006)
• Dumb and dumber: copyright law change(SMH, 15 May 2006)

My second post to MacJames.com is a little shorted. Rather than a full length sound I posted a ringtone.

Lounge 5423 (Ringtone) is a 22 second ringtone with a lounge feel to it.

You can find my song here.

Had this rhyme stuck in my head (about tomatoes, tins and a market) but I couldn’t remember the whole thing. Did a bit of googling and this is what I decided it should be:

To market, to market with my brother jim
When somebody threw a tomato at him
Tomatoes are soft & they don’t bruise the skin
But this one killed Jim; it was wrapped in a tin!

(more…)

After my first few tries at writing songs I thought I should read up on how to actually write one (or the music anyway). Looking throught Google I found the following sites.

• How To Write A Song
• Free Music Education Center
• Move Over, Britney
  Is Trance the Future Top 40?
• Trance music (wikipedia)

Submitted my first song to MacJams.com, titled ‘Wake up, Wake up‘. Waited my 24-48 hours for it to be processed, and is online now.

You can find my song Here.

I was finally got round to writing my first full length soung in GarageBand. And I was going to post it to MacJams but found I didn’t have the status to do so

Sorry, you must earn 20 participation points before uploading a song.

Participation points can be earned by taking various actions in our community. For example, each post you make in our forums, each comment you make about a song, or each new story or article you submit to the site will earn you points.

The easiest way to earn points is to comment on the songs of others. The longer, more involved comment you leave, the more points you’ll get.

You can see how many points you currently have by clicking “My Profile” in the “My MacJams” box on the upper right corner of the screen.

A bit disappointing. Finally got round to writting something and I can’t post it. Have to comment on someone else’s work now I suppose.