Elusive Blue: Album Release 💙
Like where the sea touches the sky, blue can be elusive. Sometimes we don’t know where one thing ends and another begins…
It is hard to pinpoint the moment when feeling blue turns back into blue skies. Blue: Earth’s most prominent color, first prize, and the color of our favorite jeans. We love blue in sapphire, royal, navy, and sky. My new album, Elusive Blue, explores the many shades of this color. No matter which shade of blue you are currently feeling, I hope that you find a song that you relate to.
Blue has been swirling around in my mind for some time now. It made an appearance in my first album, Just a Dreamy Idea, in Alice’s blue dress (Alice) and in the atmosphere of midnight blue (Infinity). When I started recording a new album a little over a year ago I knew that I wanted to express color through music. Blue is a multi-dimensional color with so many shades and mood associations. In my new album, Elusive Blue, a reference to this color is woven into each song. Blue is such an important color right now. It’s a global color. From space, our blue planet revolves around the sun as we all face a global pandemic together. In these elusive times I present you with my new album, Elusive Blue. I would like to thank my producer, Chris Bihuniak of Rock Band Academy Studios, for his endless encouragement and support.
Checkmate
I released Checkmate as a single last summer, but also included it on the album. This song is a quintessential example of the direction of my music right now. I pull all the stops in this song. A game of chess parallels things playing out in real time. It is filled with layered harmonies and theatrical sound effects which both appear throughout the album. I created the sound of horses hooves and even howl at the moon. The lyrics are packed full of symbolism, historical references, and hidden meanings. This song began as a drawing of a castle in one of my journals, and it tells a story about making decisions, quick thinking, and maneuvering in this game called life.
The Cleanse
Unlike any song I have written before, The Cleanse was born out of an improv session. Last summer, I was in the studio with my producer, Chris Bihuniak, and had just finished recording a completely different song. I did not have any lyrics or music prepared for the next one and was just playing and singing how I felt in the moment. The lyrics might seem to be unrelated, but they are actually bits and pieces of things running through my head that day. The song starts off with some troubling thoughts which morph into positive thoughts after a mental cleanse. “I’m gonna improvise, sanitize, visualize and exercise. Meditate, recuperate, activate, and dedicate every moment to the present, removing everything unpleasant.” After a bout of marching band music, the cleanse is in effect. We finessed this song slightly after the jam session, but it mostly remains in its original form.
Our Titanic Love
It was a snowy day, and I was sitting at the piano in our living room. That day was particularly blustery and ice pelted the windows. I began composing music that matched the weather and that song became Our Titanic Love. When I was recording in the studio, I had a bit of a cold so there was a slight rasp in my voice. I decided that this was authentic to the mood of the song and left the original vocals instead of re-recording them. This song has a “blue” feel about it and even contains the lyric “elusive blue” which later became the name of my album. I recalled the glaciers I had seen off the southern coast of Chile towering over me with their colossal menacing points, and the freezing cold washed over me once again taking me back to a different time…
Ferris Wheel
Ferris Wheel was actually inspired by a photo I saw on Instagram. A French shop had posted this amazing picture of an abandoned ferris wheel that was covered in vines in the French countryside. This combination of beauty and decay fascinated me, drawing me towards its broken beauty. I wanted to capture this nostalgic mood for everyone else and what better way to do that than writing a song. I have always loved French pop music, so I also wanted a bit of the song to be in that language. I do not speak French, but I do sing a little section of this song in French. Like in many other songs on the album, I incorporate sound effects such as children laughing and unusual percussion to create mood and setting. Creating these sound effects was a blast! Chris and I would scavenge around his basement looking for anything with an unusual vibration or texture. I even recall making a bubbly sound with a turkey baster in a glass jar of water and the rustling of the vines and ivy by running my hands through a nearby plant. It may sound silly, but these little touches really add a touch of magic to transport you to the setting of the rusty Ferris wheel.
11:44
11:44 was the last song that I recorded for the album. I am fascinated by aligned numbers, and it seems like a lot of the time when I notice the clock, it is 11:44. Additionally, 11:44 P.M. is a time of night when I seem to have a lot of random thoughts and questions running through my head. I think about things like, “Why do people prefer mediocrity in friends and excellence in strangers?” Have you ever noticed how quick we are to be judgmental of our friends? When our friends do something extraordinary we look for flaws or become jealous. On the other hand, our society praises celebrities easily without looking below the surface. I also have thoughts like, “Isn’t it funny that if we copy something we thought was unique, we become less like the thing we copied, because what we liked about it was that it was original.” I think taking a honest look at our thoughts is important to living an aligned life. We should always be questioning, even ourselves.
Space Diplomats
In Space Diplomats, it starts out with my head in the clouds which is a feeling that I relate to quite often. I head out on the search for a likeminded person who is also up in space. While soaring through the Milky Way, I meet Golden Boy who is a positive influence on my life. Together Golden Boy and the Star Eyed Girl explore the full artistry of potential that lies “somewhere beyond the unknown skies.”
Warrior Queen
Warrior Queen was also released as a single earlier this year. 2020 marks the 100th anniversary or the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment giving women the right to vote. This song celebrates all women, past and present, who are willing to stand up for equality, freedom and truth. At the beginning of the song, the Warrior Queen has been banished to an island by the “dictator king.” Not to be contained “by sharks or hurricanes,” she marches across the sea floor bringing messages of justice through peace. 2020 is an important election year. I am not old enough to vote, but I encourage everyone who is to get out there and have your voice heard. Channel your inner Warrior Queen!
Honeycomb Eyes
Honeycomb Eyes started with a dream. I woke up startled one morning after having a dream that my eyes had a honeycomb pattern in them. This thought was still with me during Algebra 2 class and my mind drifted away from math to poetry. I scribbled a poem in my planner about honeycomb eyes. I later set the poem to music. In this song, “when we cry tears of honey, rivers run bittersweet.” I think the most significant lyric in this song is, “It’s so lovely to be human.” This simple statement describes how I feel about our human experience.
If you have read this far into my rambles about my new album, I appreciate your dedication! I write songs for the light seekers and dream chasers. Maybe this is you? Together we can create a world where we all explore our own potential and make the world a beautiful place. It’s so lovely to be human!
~ GPF
Checkmate
The black horse rides into the night
Open the gates and let him in
Clouds turned black
And the sky turned blue
But all that I could think of was you
You turned your shoulder
I turned my cheek
But don’t misinterpret me as weak
Badum, badadum
In this game of chess
the stakes are high
In this game of thrones
don’t lose your pride
With chess board thoughts
I protect the king
My next move is swift and keen
Dark horse rides near
Did I retract?
Well if I did, I take that back, mhmm
Ah-ooo-ooo-ooo / howlin at the moon
Ah-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo
One step forward
Two steps back
Better make sure you stay on track
Hold her in a high esteem
Soon they’ll sing God save the queen
One step forward
Two steps back
Better make sure you stay on track
Hold her in a high esteem
Soon they’ll sing God save the queen
In this game of chess
the stakes are high
In this game of thrones
don’t lose your pride
Touche, touche, touche
In the shadow of
your castle walls, you hide
Down-da-down it came
Like the fall of Versailles
Ah-ooo-ooo-ooo / howlin’ at the moon
Ah-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo / howlin’ at the moon
Losing pawns
to save the knight
It’s hard to know what’s wrong or right
Wrong, right
You wore armor
I held my shield
What did this chess game yield? Ahhh
Checkmate
Ah-ooooooo
The Cleanse
Ba nanana, na na naaa
Ba nanana, na na naaa
The scratch in the record
The crack in their facade
The truth can hit you just like intrinsic fraud
I drank you in like a breath of fresh air
It’s an ironic matter
They pretended not to care
The first offer was better than the nonexistent latter
The first offer was better
than the nonexistent latter
The first offer was better / the first offer was better
than the nonexistent latter / than the nonexistent latter oh ohhh
But you would know
cause you were there
You would know
cause you, were there
hm hm mmmm
Ooooo ooo oooo oooo
I’m gonna improvise, sanitize,
visualize, and exercise
meditate, recuperate,
activate, and dedicate
every moment to the present
Removing everything unpleasant
Blending my ingredients for the juice of life
Left right, left right, left right, left right
Left right, left right, left right, left right
Things sound different in your head
I think you’re kinda funny
When I get out of bed
I think of you, honey
honey, honey, honey
You look so good
Is that shirt brand new?
Has anybody told you
you look good in blue
But you would know
cause you were there
You would know
cause you were there
The first offer was better / you would know
Than the nonexistent latter / cause you were there
You would know
whoo ooo whoo ooo whoo ooo oooo / cause you were there
The first offer was better / you would know
than the nonexistent latter / cause you were there
You would know
whoo ooo whoo ooo whoo ooo ooo
Our Titanic Love
What was I thinking
In this deep, cold sea
Surrounded by the memories
Of you and me
A familiar face
A fall from grace
This tragedy
Ice struck home
Cold to the bone
Our Titanic love
It was smooth sailing
Full speed ahead
I was hanging on
To every word you said
Hit me in the side and I cracked in two
Ooo ooo ooo
There weren’t enough lifeboats
To save us both
Now I have sunk
And you’re afloat
Hit me in the side
In the elusive blue
The bottom of the ocean is a lonely place
Remembering the glory of those lovely days
A familiar face
A fall from grace
This tragedy
Ice struck home
Cold to the bone
Our Titanic love
It was smooth sailing
Full speed ahead
I was hanging on
To every word you said
Hit me in the side and I cracked in two
Ooo ooo ooh
Caught up in dreams of invincibility
Scattered hearts and leftover debris
Hit me in the side
And I cracked in two
My heart breaks
And I can’t breathe
And the orchestra plays
We’re breaking
And I’m sinking
And it all went down
Life boats, life boats
It was smooth sailing
Full speed ahead
I was hanging on
To every word
Every word
Every word, every word
Hit me in the side
And I cracked in two
Ooo ooo ooh
Life boats, life boats
There weren’t enough lifeboats
To save us both
Now I have sunk
And your afloat
Hit me in the side
And I cracked in two
What was I thinking
In this deep, cold sea
Surrounded by the memories
Of you and me
A familiar face
A fall from grace
This tragedy
Ice struck home
Cold to the bone
Our Titanic love
11:44
Bibidoo wap bap bp bp bow
My cat is a bystander watching the magic happen. I think that’s what some people do.
In the eleventh hour
When the fours align
My mind begins to wander
Beyond all space and time
Why do people prefer
Mediocrity in friends
And excellence in strangers? Ooooo
Aligned
Trying to live my life aligned
Live my life aligned
11:44
There’s nothing authentic about playing small.
If you are shrinking yourself to fit in the world, you’re missing the whole point.
It’s our true blue responsibility to live fully.
11:44
In that mysterious hour
When the fours align
Our horoscope in stars
I’m reading all the signs
Why did we know everything the day before
And then question it all at 11:44? Oooooo
Aligned
Trying to live my life aligned
11:44
Live my life aligned
Isn’t if funny that if you copy something that’s unique, you become less like the thing you copied because what you liked about it was that it was original?
Aligned
Trying to live my life aligned
11:44
Live my life aligned
Space Diplomats
5…4…3…2…1… / dum dum dum, dum dum dum
If I was an alien
I’d live among the stars
But if I was a human
I’d be colonizing Mars
Blue ooo moon, dum dum dum
Once in a blue moon
Dum dum dum, dum dum dum
I heard get your head out of the clouds
But I’m never comin’ down
I’m soaring through the Milky Way
Looking for a sign
There I saw you golden boy, golden boy
Your thoughts aligned with mine
Blue ooo moon, dum dum dum
Once in a blue moon
Dum dum dum, dum dum dum
From the fire the spark rose high
Into the constellation’s eye
Your eyes they shine so bright
with oxygen and light
The future we rewrite, human
We save the planet from ourselves,
ideology, and fools
After all the biggest stars
are just tiny molecules
Heed the tale of golden boy
and the star-eyed girl
Spreading peace in outer space
Diplomats to alien worlds
Dum dum dum, dum dum dum
dum dum dum, dum dum dum
Dum dum dum, dum dum dum / Ooooo
dum dum dum, dum dum dum, dum, dum, dum
The full artistry of potential lies somewhere beyond the unknown skies.
Warrior Queen
A string of pearls straight from the sea
A feather headdress light as the breeze
From the blue lagoon she emerged
As the Warrior Queen, ahhh
Hear her battle cry
Raise up your words
And lie down your arms, hm
Banished by the dictator king
To an island where she couldn’t be seen
She strode across the sea floor
In silk of emerald green
Channel your inner Warrior Queen
She couldn’t be contained
By sharks or hurricanes
It’s over her own heart she reigns
Her spirit is set free
Like Lady Liberty
Strength was worn on her chemise
Bold as lightening and ever free
Deep and wise as the bottom of the sea
Dances on rocky waves with grace
Hail the Warrior Queen
No dreams are too big
No glass ceilings are too high
Let’s walk through doors and testify
And remove him from his throne of lies
Throne of lies, throne of lies
Channel your inner Warrior Queen
Let’s go usurp the philistine
Stand up, speak out, and march about
And we will be seen
No dreams are too big
No glass ceilings are too high
Let’s walk through doors and testify
And remove him from his throne of lies
Throne of lies, throne of lies,
Throne of lies, throne of lies
Channel your inner Warrior Queen
No dreams are too big
Channel your inner Warrior Queen
No glass ceilings are too high
Channel your inner Warrior Queen
And march about
Channel your inner Warrior Queen
Throne of lies
Channel your inner Warrior Queen
Channel your inner Warrior Queen
Honeycomb Eyes
Haze fell lightly on my gaze
As the cows graze
In the dark blue moonlight
With honeycomb eyes you stared into my soul
And left me dumbfounded
I wanted to tell you, they’re coming for you
Run, run
But my mouth was zipped shut tight
Zipped shut tight
You don’t know what I know that you know
And I know you never will
But that was just another passing thought at 11:44
Through honeycomb eyes things look compartmentalized
Through honeycomb eyes things look compartmentalized
Honeycomb eyes
Through honeycomb eyes things look compartmentalized
Love prevails as the universe takes one collective breath
And when we cry tears of honey
Rivers run, bittersweet
It’s so lovely to be human
And when we cry tears of honey
Rivers run, bittersweet
It’s so lovely to be human
Through honeycomb eyes things look compartmentalized
Through honeycomb eyes things look compartmentalized
Honeycomb eyes
Through honeycomb eyes things look compartmentalized
But you, on the other hand
Have stayed in the ring
While the punches were thrown
And the cat lady sings
They cry out against
Some cry for
That boy in the boxing ring
And when we cry tears of honey
Rivers run, bittersweet
It’s so lovely to be human
Ferris Wheel
The abandoned Ferris wheel stood in a field in France
Children used to play, women used to dance
It was the only relic left from those carefree days
Of lovestruck madness and carnival haze
I could almost see on top of the ride
Two ghosts from the past are sitting side by side
Rusted metal and overgrown vines
Haunting beauty, arms intertwined
I long for those endless summer days
when the light set the Ferris wheel ablaze
Shhh
There in the distance
I could feel in the breeze
Sound of cheers as she caught the trapeze
Laughing freely
Caught in those carefree days
Of lovestruck madness and carnival haze
I could almost see it begin to spin
And I wonder if we could go around again
Rusted metal and overgrown vines
Haunting beauty and arms intertwined
I long for those endless summer days
when the light set the Ferris wheel ablaze
Silhouette against the blue
Memory lane when it was brand new
And my thoughts begin to wonder
Will it ever be the same?
Oh no ohh, oh no ohh
Amour, amour pour toi
Ah ah ah ah ah
S'il te plaît et merci
Ooo oooo
Vignes et lierre aussi, aussi
Amour, amour pour toi
(in a round)
I long for those endless summer days / I long for those endless summer days
when the light set the Ferris wheel ablaze / when the light set the Ferris wheel ablaze
/ I long for those endless summer days
/ when the light set the Ferris wheel ablaze
Haunting beauty
Arms intertwined
