The Incredible Shrinking Brain

February 22, 2025 by Mike Vitale in Music, New Music

Humans have a stellar track record of being both absent and horrid to one another. We take advantage of those with less. We treat others as inferiors. Hurt people, they hurt people.

We criticize the intelligence of those who disagree with our own notions of what it is to be human, alive, and unique. We incite. We cross boundaries.

Discrimination, which then leads to Reverse-Discrimination.

Slavery. Coal Mines. Company Stores. We use. We exploit natural resources, and people alike.

Bigoted. Arrogant. Prejudice.

Angry.

Creed.

Creed is unique from religious belief. It is the public and outspoken form of religious belief. Often times, also crossing boundaries. Inciting war.

For such a young species, we know so little in the broader scheme of existence—and we exercise our limited knowledge with certainty, regardless.

We need humility. What I know is dwarfed by that which I don't know.

What am I advocating for?

For each and every one of us to be present and in the moment as often as possible, and in order to achieve that, we all must know ourselves, and in order to know ourselves, we must work inward from our Ego, to our true Self. Carl Gustav Jung called it Individuation. Taoists call it, The Way. I call it a lifetime of work and effort to be the best version of myself. Authentic, confident, positive, receptive, patient, open-minded, and kind. That starts with you and me and everyone on an individual basis, and there is no mastery. There is just trying to be present.

"Anger and hatred are caustic to the vessel in which it's stored, far more than to anything on which it's poured."

If you don't know why you are so angry and why you hate—you can know. It is a matter of truly searching the inner world of you. I have done so myself, and I have spent tremendous amounts of time by myself, exercising these very notions, and writing these very songs.

That is why the first verse of this tune is a criticism of me. I will start with me. The rest of the song is about society, for which I am a part of too.

I am pointing out an issue I see in society and me. I am also providing a solution, as well as a song to shake your ass to.

I find happiness in making art and connecting with people and telling stories and traveling the country. Writing these songs. They are an inner journey. Those who create, know what I mean. It is profound. I want and wish for all people to experience what I have in my lifetimes as a creator.

I care about us. I care about you. I care about how we treat each other, and how we mistreat each other. Most importantly, I want to see change in my lifetime.

What is the change? People that are happy.

You don't find happiness or God or Self in material goods and wealth. Jesus actually preached that very notion as well, and I agree (and I'm not Christian). You find happiness within, by searching for it and listening to your inner voice. That in itself is a journey and I wish you well traveler.

Happiness is also fleeting and is never constant. It must be that way or else you would have nothing to compare it against.

When you find happiness, the light and true purpose inside of you: you are present often, and you radiate this for all to see.

I found a great deal of happiness on the road the past few years. It made the release of singles, difficult however. Tonight, I am trying again, because it makes me happy. Thank you for listening and reading. I am thankful.

released September 13th 2024

Vocals, Rhythm Electric Guitar, Synthesizers, Moog Mini, Fender Rhodes Piano, Mellotron: Mike Vitale

Drums: Tamir Barzilay

Bass: Paul Jones

Electric Guitar: Molly Miller

Produced by Mike Vitale

Engineered by Mike Vitale, Tamir Barzilay, Paul Jones, and Molly Miller

Mixed by Ryan Lipman

Mastered by Mark Alan Miller

You can listen to this on your favorite streaming service, by following this link:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/the-incredible-shrinking-brain

Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/mikevitalemusic

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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The Curious Case of Phineas Gage and His Brain

February 20, 2025 by Mike Vitale in Music, New Music

Phineas Gage was a demolition foreman for the Rutland and Burlington Railroad in the year 1847.

His job was to blow things up—specifically, that which was in the way of building a pair of railroad tracks. This could be all sorts of things. Mountainside, Felsenmeer, Stone, Boulders, and so forth.

But in those days, when you wanted to blow things up, you didn't have dynamite, because it hadn't been invented yet.

Nitroglycerine, which led to dynamite, was still about 25 years away.

So, when you needed to get rid of what was in front of you, one would drill enormously deep holes in the above mentioned, fill it with gunpowder, run a fuse, pack the remainder of the hole with sand to buffer the charge, light the fuse, and then run like hell.

This was Phineas' job... that is, until one day, he forgot to do one of these ingredients—and that's where this song comes in.

This is called The Curious Case of Phineas Gage and His Brain. Most medical students are familiar with this story. However, since I never studied medicine or psychology in college, I have Conan O'Brien and Bill Hader to thank for this story. Thank you both. I had a great time writing this.

The Curious Case of Phineas Gage and his Brain

words and music by Michael Patrick Vitale

Phineas Gage cleared the felsenmeer and stone to level the ground

He was a detonation foreman for the

Rutland and Burlington Railway, westbound

He drilled holes deep into mounds of boulders and stone and rocky terrain

Before he filled them up with gun powder, fuse, and sand to buffer the charge and keep it contained

And in all those years of such a dangerous profession

I wonder if it ever crossed his mind to exercise discretion

he’d just tamp down the goods with a rod, ingredients primed

But he forgot to buffer the charge with sand this time

Phineas

Oh Phineas

Oh what have you done?

That one meter iron rod

Shot out like a gun

And Lord knows you ducked your head

To get out of its way

But almost only counts

In horseshoes and hand grenades

Phineas

Oh Phineas

How are you still standing?

You’re a miracle of science

You defy understanding

Because Phineas my friend

You’ve got a great big hole in your head

Phineas looks around with a “what’s a matter” wrinkled brow

As his eyes dart around in his head

And his growing audience responds that the brain matter from your head

Is strewn about and I don’t know: you’re not dead

Workers and foreman shout for a physician

And while it seems unique for Phineas to be in such a position

It’s recommended that he take the rest of the day off on account

That his insides are outside and that alone seems like a lot to surmount

Phineas

Oh Phineas

Oh what have you done?

That one meter iron rod

Shot out like a gun

And Lord knows you ducked your head

To get out of its way

But almost only counts

In horseshoes and hand grenades

Oh Phineas

How are you still standing?

You’re a miracle of science

You defy understanding

Because Phineas my friend

You’ve got a great big hole in your head

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

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A Time Machine in 2025

February 03, 2025 by Mike Vitale in Music, New Music

John Archibald Wheeler has this theory that all time is happening at the same time. He was a theoretical physicist. A very famous one.

2025 has just started. I wrote this several years ago while I was living in Long Beach, sharing an apartment with my roommate Chris. The spirit of that moment was captured today. It’s like a photograph. An auditory snapshot. Memories are like that.

Imperfect, just like their creator. Memories I mean. Humans too.

These are my memories. A lot of my songs are. Memories of playing legos with my brothers. Playing with R/C Cars. Being Indiana Jones or defeating an alien invasion from another galaxy.

“And all you touch and all you see, is all your life will ever be.”

Memories have changed my mood. They have changed my outlook. Memories are so powerful.

This is just a song. It's also my life and memories and heart and soul. Do what you will with it. It took a long time to get to this, and you know that too. I tip my hat to my fellow time traveler. Safe travels.

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I Had a Dream with Sharp Teeth

January 03, 2025 by Mike Vitale in Dreams, Music, New Music

This is my first single of the year. It came out today, Friday January 3rd 2025 on the normal haunts. It's called "I Had a Dream with Sharp Teeth."

It’s about being afraid of the dark when I was wee little. Around 4 or 5 years old.

I wrote the song a long time ago. It’s was probably 12 to 15 years ago. May it resonate with someone out there, even if I am shouting into the dark (winky face).

My friend Geoff Pearlman produced this song with me. We had a lot of fun making it.

Thanks for stopping by and checking it out.

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Wait Until Tomorrow | by Mike Vitale (Original)

April 29, 2023 by Mike Vitale in Life, Music, Love

“Wait Until Tomorrow” | words and music by Michael Patrick Vitale

There are crests are trough and crests and trough in a beam of light

And it’s traveling faster than anything else just to bring you something bright

And I myself have often forgot its urgency to greet my eyes

When I’m burdened by the rougher waves of my mistakes while I’m living life

There are crests and trough and crests and trough in this melody

And it’s carefully crafted in words and love and harmony

And although we may not be acquainted or have the pleasure of being friends

It’s a humble gift to anyone who feels the cycle of suffering never ends

But it can wait until tomorrow

It can wait another day
Give it a bit more thought
Reach out to hear what friends have to say

You and I we’re a party of two

But perhaps if you feel the world would be better off without you
It can wait until tomorrow
Please wait another day

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