5090 by FAWM: "Lemon Boy"

Lemon Boy

9 weeks ago by @odilongreen

Lemon Boy

odilongreen

00:00

Liner Notes

I often wonder where @carleybaer comes up with her #badmusicclub prompts. This week, however, it’s pretty obvious: she plainly was inspired by the classic 30s musical Lemon Boy:

Which, as you all know, starred young Zander McGunty, shown in this infamous file photograph shortly before his tragic disappearance from the Hollywood scene.

I know that the point of Bad Music Club is to write our *own* music, but in tribute to this “Devil with the voice of an Angel” (as he was of course contemporaneously billed), I felt compelled to post this, his most famous song from his most famous movie, in tribute, so you can all revel once again in its ageless charm. (And, if any of you *haven’t* heard it before, maybe you’ll become a lifelong "McGunty-head" like so many of us already have)!

#fuc #musicaltheater #theatrical

AI STATEMENT

No generative AI was used in the making of this song. All lyrics, melodies, chord progressions, etc. are from me only. All instruments were played by me (although some are sample-based and played on keyboard).

The vocals are computer-generated, through Synth V, but are hand-programmed, note by note. It's basically the same as using any midi virtual instrument, except it's a voice rather than a trumpet or bass or flute or piano or whatever that's being keyboard-played-and-programmed. (However, the above images obviously *are* AI.)

Lyrics

Well, my parents always ask me “son, why can’t you be sweet?
Be helpful round the house and kind to people you meet?"
But you know, mom and dad, that would be a deceit
I’m sorry to be sour but you know I’m just a lemon boy

And my teachers say that I should pay attention in class
Not give smart aleck answers if I’m hoping to pass
I know it’s good advice I should do but alas
I’m sorry to be sour but you know I’m just a lemon boy

They say I’m rude to my elders
They say I’m up to no good all the time
They say I should do as I am told
I think that would be the greatest crime

[Solo]

Now the cute girl on the corner is looking my way
She says nice boys are boring, will you come out and play?
And for once in my life I ain’t got nothing to say
Sometimes it pays to be sour; I’m just a lemon
I’m so happy being sour; I’m just a lemon boy

Comments

@mctown 3w

cool

@nahlej381 6w

I’m a bit too high to understand exactly what’s happening…but I love it. Going in for round 2! Very cool mix of tech and analog creativity/elbow grease

@freshspotlessyouth 7w

Such a cool sound--anachronistic and weird. But, wow, you've written a show tune, catchy and lovely and sort of sweetly melancholic

@fuzzy 7w

I need to see this imaginary musical now.
And you know I'm always a fan of weirdo Liner Notes.
Yeah, this tune is definitely weird in a way I can't quite define...
Sort of...creepy?
I dunno.
Great work, though!

@musicsongwriter 8w

Very different song from what I usually hear from you, yet very enjoyable to listen to as well. Ot could be in retro movie. Creative fun.

@chipwithrow 8w

Everything about this is brilliant and delightfully weird - best thing I've heard so far this 50/90!

@toms 8w

How did he disappear!!?? I absolutely love this, from concept to completed song. "Lemon boy" needs to (re?) enter the slang lexicon immediately.

@funnypunkband 8w

I feel like I'm tuning into another era. Love the aesthetics of this one, and of course, the "sorry to be sour" line is perfect for our lemon boy. Great melody and cool instrumentation, too.

@jtsteam 8w

I'm so glad this musical has been unearthed and is finally getting the recognition it has long deserved.

@ttg105 8w

Really creative backstory and vintagey-sounding sound. A really great tune! The last verse is killer ... "Sometimes it pays to be sour; I’m just a lemon." Words to live by! The lovely melody reminds me of tunes from kids' programs, which I'm sure was the intention. Love those horns!