Dandelion Seeds | Mike Vitale (Original)

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“Dandelion Seeds”
words and music by Michael Patrick Vitale

We’re dandelion seeds in the wind
A couple kids playing pretend
Making wishes in the weeds
Reading our futures off of tarot cards and tea leaves

Wandering around the bend
With one hand on the steering wheel, the other on the bitter end
Reaching out towards the stars
Above a Hollywood sign and an ocean of cars

I have my opinion, but you’re full of your own
And there’s plenty of windshield time with our thoughts alone
And some could wage argue that truth is both moot and plural
Yet I’m still in love with the girl
Still in love with the girl

We’re dandelion seeds in the wind
A couple kids playing pretend
Making wishes in the weeds
Reading our futures off of tarot cards and tea leaves

Wandering around the bend
With one hand on the steering wheel, the other on the bitter end
Reaching out towards the stars
Above a Hollywood sign and an ocean of cars

I have my opinion, but you’re full of your own
And there’s plenty of windshield time with our thoughts alone
And some could wage argue that truth is both moot and plural
Yet I’m still in love with the girl
Still in love with the girl
I’m still in love with the girl
I’m still in love with the girl

If you are interested in learning more about me and my songwriting, engineering, production, and album making process—or would just like to be a part of my creative endeavors, check me out at http://www.patreon.com/mikevitalemusic

I have two albums that I’ve been working on to release this year. The first is Americana music, and the second is more world music driven! The Americana album is already available to listen to right now for $10 backers.

"Straw Man" | Mike Vitale (Original)

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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.

Human - Mike Vitale (Original)

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This is a song I wrote about us and for us: human beings. I have an extensive track record of being very hard on myself—as well as continuously beating myself up for mistakes that I have made in the past. As much as we all know we are fallible creatures, that doesn’t stop us from judging one another, and worst of all, judging ourselves. My desire is for this song to be a reminder that we are all trying the best we can—to try to keep that in mind—to see yourself in others so that you may understand that we are all in this together. Maybe it’s somewhat like that Bill Hicks quote: “[...] we are all one consciousness experiencing ourselves subjectively [...] Life is a dream, and we are the imagination of ourselves.” He was a standup comedian, and isn’t it funny that they are the ones spouting some of the most pertinent, astute, and (sometimes) poignant observational truth. A quick thank you to everyone supporting my original music on Patreon: this is my latest offer for $1 backers. A special thanks to Amy Armitage and Fernando Gallegos.

Human
words and music by Mike VItale

People are a walking contradiction
Placing one foot in front of the other
And me I had no idea that i could walk this way
So I learned it from my father and my mother

People here are doing the best they can
Based on whatever their parents already covered
And I’m doing my best to do my best myself these days
So together let’s see what we discover

Because truth be told everyone tells a lie
And honesty can be delicately laid
Language was created to understand one another
So I choose my words carefully to say

We’re Human

Take it easy if you’re feeling down
Everyone trips from time to time
It’s a forgone conclusion to maintain the resolution
That you’re a perfect circle or a perfect line

Because truth be told everyone tells a lie
And honesty can be delicately laid
Language was created to understand one another
So I choose my words carefully to say

We’re Human
We’re Human

So go on and be mean if that’s what you’re feeling
Or maybe decided to turn the other cheek
Have a sense of humor, or maybe spread a rumor
We get back what we put into this world

Because truth be told everyone tells a lie
And honesty can be delicately laid
Language was created to understand one another
So I choose my words carefully to say

We’re Human
We’re Human
We’re Human

Fool For You (Live at Hotel Cafe)

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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.

Support and Join the Record Label:  http://bit.ly/2nigMwU
Learn More About Me Here:  http://mikevitalemusic.com
Upcoming Shows:  https://www.bandsintown.com/mikevitale/
Subscribe:  http://bit.ly/2niho5G

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

Listen to Me Here:
Soundcloud:  http://soundcloud.com/mikevitalemusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3WvkxAen388KiPMSxh6joB…
Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mike-vitale/260074369
Purchase Music:
Bandcamp:  https://mikevitalemusic.bandcamp.com
iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mike-vitale/260074369

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

Time Machine (Live at Monika Lightstone Studios)

This is a song that I wrote about how human beings are all organic time machines, whether in regards to our ever diminishing cell division as we age, our ability to reference memories and experience them again at will, or a vivid imagination that allows us to think into the future—and write songs that make reference to all my favorite science fictions, growing up. This is also about my family, and growing up in Visalia, CA. Lyrics are listed below if you like words. I like words.

Video and Audio captured and then released back into the wild by Monika Lightstone.

Audio Mix by Mike Vitale.

You can also watch the 4K version on my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfr9HgtrRDc

Support and Join the Record Label:  http://bit.ly/2nigMwU
Learn More About Me Here:  http://mikevitalemusic.com
Upcoming Shows:  https://www.bandsintown.com/mikevitale/
Subscribe:  http://bit.ly/2niho5G

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

Listen to Me Here:
Soundcloud:  http://soundcloud.com/mikevitalemusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3WvkxAen388KiPMSxh6joB…
Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mike-vitale/260074369
Purchase Music:
Bandcamp:  https://mikevitalemusic.bandcamp.com
iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mike-vitale/260074369

TIME MACHINE 
words and music by Mike Vitale 

cogs and wheels that spin and spark 
driving alone on a highway in the dark 
steampunk brain, this lone machine 
behind my random access memory 

I've got Legos sprawled all across my floor 
My brothers and I are going to war 
force fields furnish the perfect protection 
for a space ship powered by our predilection 

I'm a time machine 
I am senescence 
a dinosaur book 
adolescence 
A onesie sleep 
on my parents couch 
loving me to bed 
with caring slouch 

cogs and wheels connect with the power train 
playing with my r/c car in the rain 
I'm behind the wheel of my own creation 
an 88 mile an hour rumination 

I'm a time machine 
I am senescence 
a dinosaur book 
adolescence 
A onesie sleep 
on my parents couch 
loving me to bed 
with caring slouch 

I jump like Indiana Jones down a flight of stairs 
Avoided hot lava on the kitchen chairs 
I saved the whole world from a fierce invasion 
I'm an observer in a widening age dilation 

I'm a time machine 
I am senescence 
a dinosaur book 
adolescence 
A onesie sleep 
on my parents couch 
loving me to bed 
with caring slouch 

I'm a time machine 
I am senescence 
a dinosaur book 
adolescence 
A onesie sleep 
on my parents couch 
loving me to bed 
with caring slouch

Thank you to everyone supporting on Patreon. Special thanks to Fernando Gallegos and Amy Armitage.

Empty Circle (Live From My Living Room)

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Here is a live video of me performing a tune about being dumped right after Christmas.  Hey, there is never a good time to get dumped.  It might as well be after Christmas.

I am very proud of this song.  It's a piece of my life.  Perhaps you might relate to it.  Perhaps not.  It is without a doubt, one of my favorite songs that I have written.

As always, thank you so very much for making this such a special year for me.  

I am working very diligently on my social media presence at the moment.  Namely Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, so if you feel like connecting on any of those formats, I would be thrilled. Links can be found at the very bottom of this message.  Also, if any of this stuff that I am posting is good, please share.  I would be honored.  Word of mouth.  On social media.  Whatever you fancy.  Sharing is the biggest and best thing you can ever do for me.

All my love,

Mike

Moon

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FullMoon2010.jpg

Oh, why hello there.  Good to have you here.

So, in tandem with my last post, I'm balancing my time a lot more efficiently.

I began using a spreadsheet yesterday to help keep track of how long I work on things.  It's allowing me to do a whole bunch of different tasks all in one day—and, Presto:

Here is a mix I was working on this morning in my three hour window.  It's for a song I wrote called Moon.

The first lines of the song came from a story that my friend told me.

He was visiting an animal sanctuary populated by former circus animals who were rescued once their tenure with the circus had ended.  One animal in particular captured my interest and my sympathy.  It was an elephant.

My friend Josh told me that the elephant would take three steps forward, and then three steps back, repeatedly, for an indefinite amount of time, which was very peculiar—so much so, that he asked the person who was giving them a tour of grounds, why the elephant was behaving that way.

The tour guide said that the elephant was chained to a pole for most of its young and adult life.  The chain would allow for enough slack to take three steps forward, and then three steps back.

Three steps forward.  Three steps back.

Three steps forward.  Three steps back.

That was life for that elephant—an intelligent and beautiful creature.

While there are many elements to this song, this is one of them—and we all deserve to be free.

It is amazing how powerful a habit is.

However, outside of the context of this song, I had a lot of fun putting this together.  My friend Tom Bremer played lead guitar.  I sang and played rhythm guitar.  I also mixed the song.  I engineered this one myself too.  For audio nerds (like me), it was recorded through a Universal Audio preAMP that I've never tried before called a Twin Finity 710.  I used an AKG C414 on the lead guitar and used my AT4033 on the rhythm guitar.  Vocals were through the AT4033 as well.

It probably sounds like amateur work, but I do the best I can—and I'm learning.

I hope this finds you all smiling and well and that perhaps you my find something to like in this tune.  It has deep sentimental value to me and my life.

- Mike

Patreon

I recently setup a Patreon account in the hopes of speeding up the process of releasing new music and new music videos.

Visit me on Patreon

Visit me on Patreon

I'm very grateful for friends, family, and fans who have been so kind as to be a part of this process thus far:

Ron Feldman, Bridget Mackiewicz, Fernando Gallegos, Heather Renz, Brenda Prisk Mattea, Carey Brown, Tim Grobaty, John Sinambal, Matt Vitale, Joshua Jon Day, Megan Kaplinsky, and Yeggi Kaela Watts.

While I realize that this sort of thing is not for everyone, I deeply appreciate the people who resonate with the idea of participating in something like this.

I've been trying, with very little success, to release music on a consistent basis paying professionals to do quality work in the fields that they are good at.  

As a singer/songwriter, I am required to juggle a great deal of tasks, and if I were to be completely honest, it takes a toll on me over time.  It is very stressful and strenuous work being your own booking agent, manager, band organizer, graphic artist, mixing engineer, recording engineer, marketing person, show organizer, etc., while also trying to do the very thing that all the other stuff I just listed is in support of:  write and perform songs, with a band or just solo acoustic.

I have been very fortunate to have artistic friends who have been kind enough to help in any way that they can, from time to time, but at the end of the day, things happen faster and move much more quickly when people are being paid for what they are good at.

I've tried my hand at several different fields within the realm of music, partially out of interest, and also, mainly out of necessity.  For example, I mixed the audio for the video below.  It took me roughly two and a half months.  I read some books.  Did some studying.  Made about 49 mixes of this song (approximately).  Treated my room for recording and mixing.  I had fun doing it to begin with, but it became more difficult, the more time I spent working on it.  During those two and half months, I wasn't writing songs or successfully maintaining the other aspects of doing music business related stuff listed above; I was concentrating on mixing this song.  I became exhausted and depressed after about one month of work on it.  I kept chugging along though.  I took several breaks because it became difficult to have a good objective outlook on the work I had put into mixing the song:

However it turned out, I worked very hard on this, and did the best I could.  However, in the process, I realized that I can't do everything by myself.  I need help.  That is why I am writing this: to ask you for help.  If I have a budget to work with, I can reduce my work load by hiring professionals, and effectively, create more quality art.  Ideally, I hope that I can focus on that, mainly.  This is my goal.  In the meanwhile, I appreciate your attention on the art that is being made, and hope that if you find yourself in a place to pledge even a small amount of money, you would have my sincere and deep gratitude.  Here is a link where you can learn more about how you can help:

http://www.patreon.com/mikevitalemusic