No Vacancy | Mike Vitale (Original)

April 14, 2024 by Mike Vitale in New Music, Music, Good Music

This is a song I wrote when I was living in Long Beach, CA several years ago—what feels like a lifetime away from me, now. It was another life.

I was exercising the deep hurt that I felt after the end of a relationship—transitory. A Dixie cup? It's not my place to say. Feelings. Truth. Facts. Gossip. What do any of those things really mean, when you are hurting. I think you just want the pain to stop—and it always does eventually.

What I do know, is that I sobbed as I wrote these words, and that they were cathartic. Hopefully, they will be to someone else, now.

No Vacancy

words and music by Michael Patrick Vitale

Dancing with a lover on a dead-end street

Stepping on toes with my two left feet

I fell asleep under a vacancy sign

The NO was burned out, but then she changed the lights

A foggy walk alone on a new moon night

She disappeared all together when I closed my eyes

The street lights flicker on and off, on and off, on and off, like her emotion

Until I find I'm off the deep end of an abstract notion

I forgot the melody a caged bird sings

The door's wide open but I've got clipped wings

The seed went sour in the dying light

So I'll sing for my supper 'til the water runs dry

The quick hide hid under a broken nail

The Essex split in two over an angry whale

There were rumors of cannibals living on the island nearby

So the survivors took the opposite course and ate each other when the truth was in short supply

I forgot the melody a caged bird sings

The door's wide open but I've got clipped wings

The seed went sour in the dying light

So I'll sing for my supper 'til the water runs dry

Parallel lines in the wilderness

Train tracks broken by a small recess

As the casualties are listed by a talking head

She limits her emotion behind words she read

I forgot the melody a caged bird sings

The door's wide open but I've got clipped wings

The seed went sour in the dying light

So I'll sing for my supper 'til the water runs dry

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Infinite Jest | Mike Vitale (Original)

April 06, 2024 by Mike Vitale in Love, Life, Good Music, Music, New Music

In Buddhism, our nature within The Universe is described as self-excitatory intelligence, or in other words, The Universe creates itself, which in turn, creates us, to perceive itself as a Universe. We are all a small piece of some larger cosmic entity, when one stops to think about it.

In Taoism, Verse 1: “The Tao (or way) that can be told, is not the Universal Tao (way). The name that can be named is not the Universal name. In the Infancy of the Universe, there were no names (there was no one to perceive it). Naming fragments the mysteries of life into ten thousand things and their manifestations.”

This is to say, as smart as we might think we are, we do know the Universe. It is a mystery to us. One that we feel, rather than try to rationalize by giving it a name, or giving God a name.

Bill Hicks, a young stand-up comedian, would end his sets with this short sentiment written below. This was a man who had cancer, and knew he was going to die. He started experimenting with hallucinogens to try and help make peace with his own ultimate and rapidly approaching demise:

“Today a young man on acid realized that all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration, that we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively, there is no such thing as death, life is only a dream, and we are the imagination of ourselves. Here’s Tom with the Weather.”

Think about that for a second. It is powerful. You are capable of so much. You are capable of expressing yourself, and bringing joy to others, to create jokes that bring people together in laughter, or to write a song that unites folks under a common thread.

Have you ever thought about how art is the medium in which truth is universally accepted by the masses? That is how comedy works. We laugh, because it’s true. We sing, because it’s true. Truth is subjective. We are all experiencing the Universe subjectively.

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Want by Mike Vitale

February 26, 2024 by Mike Vitale in Music, New Music, Love, Life

I wrote this song shortly after moving to Los Angeles. I was astounded by the tremendous amount of homelessness in my neighborhood, and in Southern California in general. And if those numbers weren’t astonishing, the pandemic exponentially increased the homeless population to a scale I could never possibly imagine.

I don’t have an answer to fix it. I really wish I did. I am an empathetic person, and there are millions of reasons why an individual ends up on the streets—and while I do not have a solution, I can say that I see possibility. I see value. I see the potential of a person. I see the sense of community amongst the ranks of people I know on a first name basis in my neighborhood. I see the folks who are suffering from Schizophrenia, and Tourette’s, and Manic Depression. I see self-medication. I see people. I see you. I see me.

Want

words and music by Michael Patrick Vitale

A tall glass of water

A safe bed to sleep

A roof overhead

Warm food to eat

A world full of want

Desires and dues

Everyone needs something

Without exception too

Someone to hug us

When we’re feeling blue

Someone to love us

Through and through

Everyone wants

We’re all living proof

Everyone needs something

And I’m no exception too

Maybe under an overpass and over this life

Feeling all alone and cold and scared and hungry at night

Empty as a Dixie cup, discarded just the same

Crumpled up and wasted under pliable walls, blankets, and rain

Who here marks value on things you can count

Please add up all the tents and tarps standing about

Everyone here needs a home and no one ever wants to feel alone

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Just the Way You Are | Billy Joel

February 19, 2024 by Mike Vitale in Music, New Music

I’ve been hearing that Billy Joel just released a new song.

Hallelujah.

The first song of his that I remember connecting with was “We Didn’t Start the Fire”. That was 1989. I was 10 years old, jumping on a gigantic trampoline, at my friend Deiter’s house. Deiter was Belgian. He still is Belgian. Not quite sure why I am talking of him in the past tense—perhaps because we haven’t seen one another in 35 plus years. I digress though. He had this giant trampoline, and we were bouncing on it, doing back flips and forward flips, listening to Billy Joel be incredible.

That’s how Billy Joel makes me feel: like I’m jumping on a trampoline when I’m 10 years old. He always will. Thank you for making more music and putting it into the world. I imagine it means the world to a lot of us. It does to me.

This is me playing the first few sections of “Just the Way You Are” feeling like I’m 10 again, jumping on a trampoline.

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"Straw Man" | Mike Vitale (Original)

January 25, 2020 by Mike Vitale in New Music

STRAW MAN | words and music by Mike Vitale

This here scarecrow became your straw man
You dress me up and put me working in the fields
Old crow hangin’ ‘round straw man
Eating them seeds before they ever bare yield

I was just a hollow set of clothes
Laying useless across the floor
Someone else had worked hard in me for years
Now I lay there dirty from a day of chores

This here scarecrow became your straw man
You dress me up and put me working in the fields
Old crow hangin’ ‘round straw man
Eating them seeds before they ever bare yield

There was a time I felt brand new
Worn proudly on body lay
Now these worn and torn threads seem like old shoe
Good for nothing but to scare the birds away

This here scarecrow became your straw man
You dress me up and put me working in the fields
Old crow hangin’ ‘round straw man
Eating them seeds before they ever bare yield

Ain’t got a word in edgewise to say
Farmer’s got me tied and beat
Onlookers see me hanging right there whispering gossip ‘bout me from the street
They say, don’t got a leg to stand on
Ain’t got no foot in the door
That boys quite the strange phenomenon for all the crows to ignore

This here scarecrow became your straw man
You dress me up and put me working in the fields
Old crow hangin’ ‘round straw man
Eating them seeds before they ever bare yield

This here scarecrow became your straw man
You dress me up and put me working in the fields
Old crow hangin’ ‘round straw man
Eating them seeds before they ever bare yield
Eating them seeds before they ever bare yield
Eating them seeds before they ever bare yield

Thank you to everyone on Patreon for helping me to release art into the world—whether it be humble videos such as this from my living room, more professional efforts of releasing video, full length albums, or any other number of ways this original music is being propagated. A special thanks to Heather Renz, Fernando Gallegos, and Amy Armitage.

Kathy's Song | Mike Vitale (Original)

December 08, 2019 by Mike Vitale in Life, New Music

Out of anything I have ever done with my life—this was the greatest responsibility and privilege that's ever been put on my shoulders: I was asked to write this song by my friend Amy who lives in Australia. It was a gift for her mother, who was nearing the end of her current form here on Earth. Her mom's name is Kathy. I asked for Amy to send me as much intimate detail and memories she could muster about her mom's life—especially as it pertained to Kathy and her children. I put as much of my heart and love into this song as I could. The greatest gift in my life was to receive these words from Amy after I sent her the song:

"I played it to her and said nothing. She said, it's beautiful— where did you find this?"

I said "it's a song written for you."

She continued to cry and listened and said "it's beautiful. It's absolutely beautiful."

And when it ended I asked her if she recognized the voice, she paused, she didn't know and then she said "is it your friend? Is it Mike Vitale?"

And she asked me to thank you.

Right now it's night time. And she's alone in her hospital bed, listening to the song, over and over and feeling very special.
Thank you x."

Kathy passed away on July 2nd 2019. Thank you so much for the opportunity and privilege of this connection, Amy. All my love to you and your family.
Here are the words. I'm working on the production for it right now—it'll be on one of my two new album coming out in 2020.

Kathy's Song
words and music by me

Baby Steps
Your hands on my waist
Showering kisses on my tiny face
My clumsy dance
Living life's ballet
But your outstretched arms met me there half way

Mum was magic
and her grand illusion
As sorceress of candy and it's sweet diffusion
Lollies would vanish
And cool mints too
Appearing under pillows from across the room

When we were young
Zizi couldn't say
The suitable pronunciation of our names
Amanda was Memo
And Brett was Bert
And mum would say she loved us all the much in the world

We took long drives
With no destination
While mum and dad would hold hands in adoration
The passing scenery and years roll by so quick
With kids in the backseat listening to music

Your wheelchair
I engage the brake
Showering kisses on our mother's face
This mysterious dance
It breaks my heart
But nothing in this Universe will ever keep us apart

Thank you to everyone on Patreon for directly supporting the art I make. If you are interested in having a profound affect on my ability to release more art into the world, whether it be through videos like this, or the two albums I'm releasing in 2020, or the acoustic album I put out in 2018, or the tours I setup across the United States, you can do so here: http://www.patreon.com/mikevitalemusic

A deep and special thank you to the Patreon patrons Fernando Gallegos and to Amy Armitage (this is song is dedicated to her mother, Kathy).

The Incredible Shrinking Brain (Acoustic)

February 13, 2019 by Mike Vitale in New Music

This song has been proven popular amongst strangers. Maybe you’ll like it? Are you a stranger? I don’t want your candy. No, I’m not going to hop in your car with you. This is called The Incredible Shrinking Brain:

Support and Join the Record Label:  http://bit.ly/2nigMwU
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Upcoming Shows:  https://www.bandsintown.com/mikevitale/
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THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING BRAIN
words and music by Mike Vitale

I feel like a mime with a painted on sad face touching an invisible wall
And it’s a crime I can’t see this behind my shit talk fueled by jealousy and alcohol
Sure, I’m overly critical, but by now I should know better
Maybe I’m just too hard on myself and it doesn't really matter

The longer I live the less I know for sure
When I was a younger man my certainty was premature
There’s all these abstract explanations I could conjure up in vain
But I’m the man with the incredible shrinking brain

Do you feel like an actor dressed up in black face?
We’re really just canaries in a coal mine
Carried out the shaft like a suitcase, soot trace, smeared across our face and brow
War on race, preference, sex, and creed are indelible
and noxious as the fumes
And right before we lose our consciousness
collective conscience looms

The longer we live the less we know for sure
When we were a younger brood our certainty was premature
There’s all these abstract explanations I could conjure up in vain
But we’re people with incredible shrinking brains

Create the fertile furrows from a farmer’s plough
Two fathoms deep shouted across the bow
"Anger and hatred are caustic to the vessel in which its stored,
Far more than to anything on which its poured."

The longer we live the less we know for sure
When we were a younger brood our certainty was premature
There’s all these abstract explanations we could conjure up in vain
But we’re people with incredible shrinking brains

Fool For You (Live at Hotel Cafe)

February 13, 2019 by Mike Vitale in Live Show

Here is me performing a song I wrote live at Hotel Cafe in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA. My friend Monika Lightstone found this on her hard drive the other day, and shared—I thought I would follow suit.

Connect with me online and say hi:
Twitter  http://twitter.com/mikevitalemusic
Facebook  http://facebook.com/mikevitalemusic
Instagram  http://instagram.com/mikevitalemusic

FOOL FOR YOU

words and music by Mike Vitale

the touch of your skin against mine
was flawless and supine
as I read your story in braille

my resolve was as frail
as that tall tale that lingered from my tongue
now I'm all twisted up
like a towel that's been wrung

maybe it's the conversation we had in bed
maybe i just want to see your eyes roll back in your head
maybe you're a drag from a stranger's cigarette
but once i've got you on my lips
you're hard to forget

and now that you've got me where you want
you're moving from hot to cool
and now that you've got me where you want
woman, i'm a fool for you

feeling your chest heave
as you're lying there asleep
now I'm bating every breath
so that the moment isn't cheap

are you resolved to entail
a large sail to guide me away
on some nautical course
that perhaps I'd rather stay

maybe you're just playing hard to get
or perhaps you just want me to forget
maybe I'm a marionette on strings
trying to measure your depth beyond anatomy

and now that you've got me where you want
you're moving from hot to cool
and now that you've got me where you want
woman, i'm a fool for you

and now that you've got me where you want
you're moving from hot to cool
and now that you've got me where you want
woman, i'm a fool for you

Record Store Day Performance - Youtube

June 21, 2018 by Mike Vitale in New Music, Live Show

Here is a live video of me performing my song TIME MACHINE in Long Beach, CA. This was an In-Store performance on Record Store Day, April 21st 2018, at Dyzzy on Vinyl.

If you dig it, please help me share the video! Thanks to our very own Megan from here on Patreon, for capturing the footage and sharing it!

If you dig this, you can find more by visiting my Youtube Channel here: http://youtube.com/mikevitalemusic

Mike Vitale and Tom Bremer play guitar and sing—at the same time! (in Long Beach)

June 20, 2018 by Mike Vitale in Live Show

TODAY (Wed June 20th 2018), before our circus act later in the evening—the one where we put my head in the mouth of a live tiger—Tom and I will attempt the impossible: "to sing and play guitar together, at the same time, while broadcasting on Periscope, at a Holiday Inn, in Long Beach, in the penthouse restaurant THE VUE, while reading a 1980's issue of Penthouse magazine." All of this will be performed in front of a live audience, who does not care. Come. Drink. Don't care with us, together. Because, people who don't care, together, really don't give a shit, together—with a GREAT view of Long Beach.

Here is an event invite. Don't look at it though. Okay, you can look at it: https://www.facebook.com/events/593984740986747/

We'll be playing songs from my new album EMPTY CIRCLE. Here are links to various streamlining services and digital distribution outlets to get your feet muddy with Mike and Tom. Make sure take off your shoes before you come in the hou... damn you. Look what you just did to the carpet??!

http://smarturl.it/lvmdy2

Acoustic Album

February 22, 2018 by Mike Vitale in New Music

Aside from all the full band material that I have been working on over the past few years, I am also nearing the completion of an acoustic album. I'd like to share one of the tracks with you. It's a song called EMPTY CIRCLE. I just posted a video of it today on my Youtube Channel.

It deals with the end of my last relationship. In hindsight, it was a good thing. However, at the time, I felt like a small child lost in the woods at night, walking in circles, trying to find his home.

EMPTY CIRCLE
words and music by Mike Vitale

I was a table
But now I'm a rug
It's raining outside
Your shoes are covered in mud

I was a Christmas Tree
But now it's past Christmas Day
I got tossed out
With the crumpled gift wrap you throw away

It was fun while it lasted
But now I'm left here feeling slanted

Walking in footsteps
Don't seem to be mine
A snowy path of prints
Through a forest of pine

Off in the distance
There's a vanity light
It shines through the window
Of my home at night

Wearing the same clothes I wore yesterday
Chill of snow numbs my pain

As this crooked line
Becomes and empty circle
I was opine
But now I'm non-verbal

I am a footnote
To your storied life
I'm all alone
You're someone else's wife

A tiny table
Place setting for one
The holiday supper
Has already begun

As a child lost in the woods at night
I search for a pathway towards the light

As this crooked line
Became and empty circle
I was opine
But now I'm non-verbal