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Songwriter Forum => Feedback on Finished songs => Topic started by: Jambrains on August 06, 2017, 08:33:14 PM

Title: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: Jambrains on August 06, 2017, 08:33:14 PM
More often than not Shane MacGowan's name sneaks into the reviews of my songs (hi Skub!  ;D) so I figured I may just as well release my inner Shane. Karen appears playing one of those metal rod things with holes in them, whatever they are called  ;D

https://soundcloud.com/jambrains/shane-macgowan

The Curse Of Shane MacGowan

While I was still in junior school
at the tender age of eight
they told me at the talent show
that backstage you must wait   
Then I stepped into the limelight
and I struck that opening chord
but the second I began to sing
the audience all roared

Shane MacGowan!
Shane MacGowan!
He sounds like Shane MacGowan
when he sings
Shane MacGowan!
Shane MacGowan!
He sounds like Shane MacGowan
when he sings

I moved on to a collage
and joined the football team
I played defensive quarter back
my game was tough and mean
when we sang the national anthem
just before the game began
the crowd would hear my raspy voice
and the shit would hit the fan

Shane MacGowan!
Shane MacGowan!
He sounds like MacGowan
when he sings
Shane MacGowan!
Shane MacGowan!
He sounds like Shane MacGowan
when he sings

In this grimy bar in Dublin where
You can still smoke if you like
the beer was thin as water
but they had an open mic
So I had myself a Guinness
and I stepped onto the stage
but as I started singing
this one guy began to rage

Holy Moses!
Holy Moses!
he sounds exactly like me
when he sings
Holy Moses!
Holy Moses!
he sounds exactly like me
when he sings

From the table in the corner
a ragged man appeared
he threw himself around my neck
while bursting into tears   
"I always thought I was alone
but I was clearly wrong
c'mon, let's sing a duet
cause the whiskey won't last long"

Shane MacGowan!
Shane MacGowan!
We sound like Shane MacGowan
when we sing
Shane MacGowan!
Shane MacGowan!
We sound like Shane MacGowan
when we sing
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: Mikey on August 06, 2017, 08:41:42 PM
Nice one JB, had me smiling all the way through and the track is great, sounds very authentic, and you do sound like him, in fact the whole track sounds like one of his, I thought I would get in before Skub comes on and says I told you so.

Mikey
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: Yodasdad on August 07, 2017, 09:04:09 AM
Foot tappingly good.

I'm not really familiar with Shane's stuff apart from the obvious Christmas number, but I can kind of hear it.

Really liked the driving beat and the tin whistle type instrument.

There's just one thing bugging me...from the first chorus all the way through, I was waiting for ' he looks like Shane Macgowan when he smiles' chorus... and it never came.

Some clever lyrics in this so I'm sure you're capable of adding it in.

Go on..I'm dying to hear it.

Yodasdad
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: PaulAds on August 07, 2017, 10:53:24 AM
I loved the Pogues in the early days, red roses for me & rum, *** and the lash...but I was quite taken aback when I read the book "a drink with Shane Macgowan" a case of thinking you really like someone, but then...

Anyway...this is a great fun bit of writing...compares very well with some of their best work, I'd say.

Great production and sympathetic instrumentation give it an original yet familiar sound.

Brilliant. And yeah, you do, I guess. Shane is a great writer too. Another similarity  :)

Ps I believe that none of the Pogues original lineup were born in Ireland...not 100% sure...
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: Jamie on August 07, 2017, 05:08:42 PM
Well, I wasn't expecting that! Brilliant take off of the pogues! Great recording and the song really worked well. I've always thought of you as a rocker!
Brilliant!
Cheers
Jamie
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: Darren1664 on August 07, 2017, 05:38:56 PM
Great tune!! and so much fun! really brought a smile to my face, especially the Holy Moses section! Really great stuff. Something about your voice reminds me of Shane MacGowan  ;)

Really well recorded, performed and lyrics nailed! Top notch

Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: Skub on August 07, 2017, 11:23:34 PM
 :D

Brilliant JB.  8)

There ya go,even review remarks can be made into to a song,that's inspiration forya.  :D

Karen tootles extremely well on the pipe with holes innit,all adds to the fake authenticity.  :D

Love it.
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: mickyplankton on August 08, 2017, 10:46:38 AM
One word: Awesome.
I'm a fan of SM. He is a genuine legend and this song is a fun and lively tribute.

Ive been a bit light on this forum recently but when I saw this track on the feed I had to dive back in. And very glad I did. Brilliant stuff!

Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: Buc McMaster on August 08, 2017, 01:47:57 PM
Being a Yank I must confess ignorance of this MacGowan fella, but this is a hopping little tune!  Well written!  Machine gun lyrics delivered perfectly with a wonderful rasp in your voice (I'm guessing MacGowan must sound similar).  Love the pipe!  I like it!
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: Cawproductions on August 08, 2017, 04:12:01 PM
Jambrains,

Ha, Bloody love this, great track, Perfectly suits your style.

Absolutely bangin.

The sound and production is really good.

Cheers
Andy
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: pompeyjazz on August 08, 2017, 06:03:36 PM
I didn't expect this form you JB !

Wow, that was a lot of fun and you captured The Pogues sound very well. Excellent humorous lyrics.

What is that round thing with the holes in it then  :)

I was singing along to this by the end

Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: Paulski on August 09, 2017, 12:45:42 AM
Hey JB

One of those songs you forget you're supposed to be critiquing - and just sit back and enjoy.
Great lyrics, great performances = GREAT SONG!!

And I'm only saying that because it's true  ;D ;D
In a fairer world this would be number one everywhere.

Paul
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: Sing4me88 on August 09, 2017, 03:04:11 PM
Loving this. Nothing to fault at all - I'm a huge Pogues fan and sometimes people get it so wrong when they try to write/play/sing in their style but you've nailed this. Everything from the vocal right to the neat wee drum intro sounds like an authentic Pogues number. That tin whistle is something else. It really adds to the feel of the track. That 'Shane McGowan' hook in the chorus is damn catchy. Have listened to this a few times now and it keeps getting better.
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: shadowfax on August 09, 2017, 03:35:13 PM
This is top notch gear mate..just a fab song and fab writing...a great listen.. :) :) :)
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: PaulyX on August 09, 2017, 11:04:21 PM
Yeah, this is just great.  Made me grin all over.  Funny, rocky, bouncy, catchy... that's all you need to craft a CLASSIC.  Nice one Shane!
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: TheButcher on August 10, 2017, 07:04:02 AM


groove

instruments

driving drums and bass

love the chorus; how you play with the vocals - great interlude - great build up - boom

B.
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: Jambrains on August 10, 2017, 08:42:17 AM
Wow, what an overwhelming response! Thanks to each and every one of you, very much appreciated!
I've always been a big fan of the Pogues and even though this song is a little bit different compared to what I usually do I like to belive there are shades of folk/celtic in them. So glad I finally got around to do a track like this, great fun!
And no, personally I don't think I sound much like Shane and thank God I don't look very much like him either.

Sadly enough he don't seem very well these days... :-(
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: Martinswede on August 10, 2017, 02:26:59 PM
Hi!

Your song grew on me. When it got to the third verse I really started to like it.
I think you get this good match between pub rock and not being too, well, masculine.

Great!

Martin
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: digger72 on September 02, 2017, 02:12:53 PM
Hi JB,

What a cheery tune.
Loved the lyrics - very well delivered.
The music is fab. Relentless, in a good way.

Loved it.

Digger
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: montydog on September 05, 2017, 03:09:05 PM
Hi JB,

Bleedin' excellent song beautifully realised. Loved the tin whistle and the Pogues instrumentation. I think you sound more like Bob Geldof but the whole point is, it's brilliant. Hard to write a fun song and be clever without sounding like a complete arse but you've pulled it off (the song, not your arse :-))

M
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: adamfarr on September 05, 2017, 10:11:49 PM
Great stuff - around half way I was thinking, OK so that's a nice idea but then the man himself appeared and the story developed further! Very clever and I think you really got the most out of the idea. Maybe I will drop "you sound like Bjork" or some such into my next reviews to see what comes out... And great real whistle by the way. Very cool.
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: deegeorge on September 05, 2017, 10:14:11 PM
Class ,as a fan of the Dubliners aswell i can really appreciate this .A bit of Ricky Warwick in there aswell.
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: Wicked Deeds on September 06, 2017, 12:56:27 PM
A really good song and production.  Mostly, I enjoyed the story telling. The performance is very good here.

Well done

Paul
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: Neil C on September 09, 2017, 10:16:54 AM
jambrians,
Loads to like here. Great lyrics and music put a big :-) on my face.
I hope it has a great big crowd singing the chorus towards the end, do you play it live?
 :)
neil
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: Binladeda on September 16, 2017, 09:41:01 AM

 Excellent song JB....bloody loved it, smiled all the way through. ;D

 Should be The Blessing Of Shane MacGowan though. There's no one
 around who can sing like you.  Those pipes of yours are awesome to
 behold...and powerful.  It's the sort of voice that makes people stop
 and listen.  You just need the right song (and a bit of luck, of course)
 and you will FLY....I'm sure. You're making all the right moves, and your
 songwriting skills and musicianship (especially guitar) are top class.

 Keep on keeping on my friend.....I'm convinced anyway ::) ::)



 
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: Wolfini on September 16, 2017, 11:19:37 AM
Haha, that was perfect. Really made me laugh. You caught spirit of the music spot on.

Big thumbs up from me!

Bye Wolfi
Title: Re: The Curse Of Shane MacGowan
Post by: redrhodie on September 16, 2017, 01:00:40 PM
You kind of remind me of someone. I can't quite put my finger on it. Hmmmm. 😉

Great song. Very fun and catchy. Put a smile on my face.