**Edited by Boydie to use the SOUNDCLOUD embedding feature**
A few short weeks ago, myself and Adam decided to engage in a forum collaboration. Adam graciously accepted my offer adding that we both seem to “get’ each other musically. It appealed to me because our approaches to writing and production contrast a little but not extremely so. I wanted to produce something quite polished but also embrace that wonderfully quirky flavour that Adam brings to all of his work.
I immediately set about writing a new song and called it ‘Rock “n” Roll’. It was really a song that celebrated love and also about getting lost on the way to Tesco. There was a line that read “We took the short cut into France.” I recall visiting Southport for the first time and a journey where my partner took a wrong turning. Suddenly we found ourselves in a beautiful rural setting and I commented how we both could have been in the French countryside. Adam picked up on the line “We were worlds apart. Still we made a start” and then fired across a rewrite that embraced the French idea further. Mine however, was a true story and I couldn’t quite relate to the rewrite. I loved the idea of depicting a french romance so I recalled a holiday in Northern France and a car journey to "Rouen by the Seine." Several emails later, we had a solid plan to embrace the French theme. There was a line about French impressionism in the song “Impressionistic so replete” but Adam had a great idea, comparing the two lovers to Serge Gainsbourg and Bridget Bardot “I was Serge and you Brigitte." Lyrically, the song was born. Adam sent across some wonderful backing vocals and a fine bass line. We had some discussion about the use of space and I then wrote a new bass line that allowed all of the parts to fit together instrumentally: accordion harp and piano were essential to evoke the French feel that was demanded by the lyrics, We went with Adam’s excellent title “Le Rock ’n’ Roll” and I think a fine song developed.
We do work differently and I work at high speed whilst Adam was a little tied up with work commitments. He was a gentleman throughout the exchange of ideas and I have to say that he caused me to consider many aspects of the writing, arrangement and also production that teased the true potential out of the music and lyrics.
Adam, I’ve incorporated your cleaned up vocal. I’ve worked away from home to complete this so may eq your parts again when I’m settled in a recording/mixing space.
I'm ging to catch up on some reviewing this evening and over the next few days.
Anyway, here it is, “Le Rock ’n’ Roll by Paul Vasey and Adam Farrister.
Le Rock 'n' Roll
I remember how we used to be,
Back in the spring we played a game.
Dancing late and drinking wine
I couldn't wait to call your name.
We were worlds apart
Still we made a start
We danced to Rock 'n' Roll.
Rock ’n’ roll.
We took the ferry crossing into France,
drove to Rouen by The Seine
Laughing as we lost our way,
We were born perchance, again.
We were worlds apart,
Still we made a start.
We danced le Rock 'n' Roll.
Hey, nothing ever stays the same;
the movies and the picture frames.
Lovers walking hand in hand,
are blown upon the wind like sand.
They dance le Rock 'n' Roll.
Rock ’n’ roll
Traffic jammed the city streets.
beneath Cathedral Notre Dame.
I was Serge and You Brigitte
We were so in love’, je t’aime.
We were worlds apart.
Still, we made a start.
We danced le Rock ’n’ roll.
Rock ’n’ roll.
We danced le Rock ’n’ roll.
Rock ’n’ roll
Written by Paul Vasey and Adam Farr
https://soundcloud.com/wicked-deeds/le-rock-n-roll-paul-vaseyadam-farrister