Episode #210: Forever  (Song starts at 4:20 )

I went outside tonight, just before I recorded this episode. The stars are incredible aren’t they? Infinite. Makes you realise how insignificant we are, really.

I like to think we all count. We all made up part of the universe.

Those sorts of big thoughts are the sorts of things I was thinking when I wrote Forever, song#85.

It was 1988. I had a gig at the ski fields in New Zealand. I was playing the piano and singing in the evenings. Apart from this, my time was my own. So I skied. And when it rained I wrote songs,

When you’re up the mountain, your mind can really wander. It was a moody place. Often serene, some days the wind was really howling.

Also what was inspiring me was Crowded House’s 2nd album, Temple Of Low Men. I listened to it every night as I went to sleep. So 80s music was the style I was listening to.

Also what had a big say on how Forever came together, style wise was: everything night after the gig , I’d walk back to my room, feet crunching on the frosty gravel. Under my was my Roland D50 synth.

Before I listened to the Crowded House album, I’d pick up my pen and write a page or 2 of lyrics.

The next day, I’d fire up the synth. And randomly select a patch (a different sound).

It’s quite different to composing on the piano, writing on the synth. A breath of fresh air. And it suited the style I was writing.

I enjoyed recording the demo for this episode. I fired up the drum machine for a bit of fun. It was nice to finally record the demo, it’s been a wee while since 1988.

The lyrics are about sitting back in the evening, considering the bigger picture, how the years are nipping by. ( the pinch of the years) and the the little dreams that eat away. Endless evenings of different plans.

What’s this all about? For me, it’s about the fact that I’m a very driven person when it comes to the arts.

Something made me write 800 songs, and I’m still going. I’m loving recoding them - I’m working on wrapping up another 5 albums presently,

The 6th folk rock album, with Paul Dredge is finally done. Whoo!

It’s is nice to complete a creative project. But then what happens? The next thing suddenly becomes the new focus, us creative people need to keep moving on.

It’s never about the destination. It’s about the process.

I wonder whether I’ll record Forever one day? Perhaps. It strikes me as a sort of an album track.

Ive been toying with recording an 80s sort of a synth driven album. I imagine Forever might fit on that sort of an album .

It’s good to have variety in my life. I’ve composed all sorts of songs from quiet piano solo pieces to rock songs. I paint and sell seascapes, cartoons of animals and teach piano. I enjoy making the videos for my music. And I’m working on video courses for the piano, seascapes and cartoon drawing

Today was one of those days where I felt like my plans were getting away on me. So made a new plan, came up with a timeline, some deadlines. We’ll see how it goes.

Anyhow, I was still in a bit of a reflective mind when I came in to my studio tonight to record this episode. Forever had been floating around in my mind these last few weeks.

I flicked open the 1st book and there it was, song #85. There are 154 songs in the first book

Look at yourself in the mirror is there a stranger staring back?

The years pass by and it seems some days you have a realisation you’ve got a bit older. It’s not something you think of each day (well, I don’t). It just catches up on you now and then.

Ok come back in time with me to 1988. It was a most enjoyable gig, the ski gig.  I’m glad I wrote songs like Forever. Here we go (lyrics here: www.petepascoe.wordpress.com (The Bounce/Forever)