December 17, 2018
I have to admit to mild plagiarism on this song, but it is impossible to secure proper attribution. Many years ago (too many to worry about) I was in the washroom of the Kopper King bar in Whitehorse, Yukon. This was not unusual for it was the hotspot of music and meetings "back in the day". The band Going South had residency there for a few years and they were excellent. I also participated in some of the Sunday jams.
Anyway, written on the wall was "My old lady, she's so mean, she throws my drugs in the washing machine"! Wow, what a brilliant line I thought to myself, I have to write a song about that. So I did!
I believe there is an underlying feminist theme to it since the protagonist is in denial about some elements of his attitude and relationship to desire and life beyond the simple pleasures. On the other hand, it might just be cringeworthy. That's how art works.
On the album I decided to play all the instruments because I wanted it to have a kind of "garage band" feel and I believe that has been achieved. It was one of the most fun songs to record and contributes to the spirit of the album.
Posted by Ted Parkinson.
May 4, 2016
Can there be such a thing as a "lighthearted global warming song"? Or perhaps it is just treating climate change on a personal level: walking dogs in the mud and worrying about sidewalk repairs. This is life whether or not we like the weather.
It was very warm in Ontario in February a few years ago and that caused me to think of the line "spring comes in February". And I know for a fact that some people just like to watch the weather channel. It relaxes them and it even has actual shows which ...
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Posted by Ted Parkinson.
January 3, 2016
My album cover illustrates my ideas of "neighbourhood" by showing my present Kitchener neighbourhood on the cover and my older neighbourhood on the back.
I was born in
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory and lived there for many years before going to university and moving (eventually) to Ontario. The back photo is of
Atlin B.C. which is an hour and a half drive south from Whitehorse. It is called the "Switzerland of the North" because it is ringed by mountains. Atlin Lake is the largest freshwater la...
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Posted by Ted Parkinson.
December 12, 2015
I will be posting a series of articles on the songs and production of my first album. You will be taken "inside" this modest undertaking. I will discuss important questions like "C versus Am7"!
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Posted by Ted Parkinson.
