Some writing music: Part 56 -An Ode To Halloween-

Hello there inmates!

I hope you’re all having a wonderfully mad day today. I hope you’re also enjoying the dwindling days of October as well. It’s hard to believe November is so close already. But you know what that means! Halloween is near as well! My favourite day of the year. I’d happily give up Christmas for a second Halloween and no that is not a joke. Haha! As you may be able to tell, I’m feeling much better from my little slump last week. I’m still not quite sure what caused that but I’m glad its been given its marchin orders.

So things here at the asylum have been performing much the same as usual. Traffic seems to be down a bit at the moment which is a pity but I suppose things just go like that sometimes. As long as I’m not irritating folks with my work recently or something. I’d feel very bad in that situation.

So, with that aside, it’s time for this weeks edition of the Harlequins writing music! As halloween is fast approaching I figured I would create a “spooky” themed list today. I’m going to include six (yes that’s right, six!) of the freakiest and scariest artists that I could think of. We need some unsettling imagery in this place! Some of these are likely to be artists that I’ve shared before. Lets get some interesting music videos going eh?

Join me this Halloween eve week as we delve into the musical minds of scary artists the world over!

Mushroomhead – Graveyard Du Jour
http://www.mushroomhead.com

God Module – Spooky
http://www.godmodule.org

Mr. Strange – Last Ride/Road To Ruin
http://www.mrstrangemedia.com

Ghostemane – Lazaretto
https://www.ghostemane.com

Marilyn Manson – The Dope Show
https://marilynmanson.com

Broken Peach – Bad & Ghostbusters
https://m.facebook.com/thebrokenpeach/

So there we have it for another drop of the Harlequins writing music!

That last one was sort of a joke. A very good song, but hardly threatening. I’m a big fan of all of these artists and I think they all deserve just all of the love. Give a clown a hand would you? Check them all out, you’ll not be disappointed. Everyone needs a bit of fear in their lives, no? Especially at Halloween!

So, heres the usual social media spiel! I have a Facebook page for the asylum, an Instagram page and a Twitter account. I share random photos from my mad life and also include clues for my poems a few hours ahead of their release. Also, if you enjoy what I do here at the asylum, please consider supporting me over at the Ko-fi page. Cheers and I doff my hat to you!

Until next week, have a great Halloween inmates!

Some writing music: Part 48

Hello there inmates!

I hope you’re all having a marvellous day today! Things have been looking up fairly consistently this last week. Both in terms of finding work and in my personal life. With that said, it may be unclear that things have been positive with the few poems I’ve written the last few days. Fear not however, I am doing alright. I merely have drawn inspiration from the darker side of the psyche! Haha! As for the blog, things are great to be quite frank. Ive been, as always, very humbled by the responses I’ve been receiving for them.

So it’s time for the next rendition of the Harlequins writing music. Still crawling up to part 50. I decided to do something a tad different in this particular instance. Instead of sharing five general artists I like listening to, I’m going to share five cover songs that I really enjoy. These may be from artists I’ve shown before, but the covers they’ve created. I think it takes real talent to take a song (occasionally a very famous one), and make it your own. I feel it can go wrong very easily. So, lets see how they do eh?

Join me as we delve into the musical minds of creative artists the world over!

Marilyn Manson – Tainted Love (Soft Cell Cover)
https://www.marilynmanson.com

Frog Leap Studios – Thriller (Michael Jackson Cover)
https://m.youtube.com/user/leolego

Steam Powered Giraffe – Diamonds (Rihanna Cover)
https://steampoweredgiraffe.com

Breed 77 – Zombie (The Cranberries Cover)
https://web.archive.org/web/20160322053340/http://www.breed77.com/

Ghost – Here Comes The Sun (The Beatles Cover)
http://www.ghost-official.com

So there we have it for another tome of the Harlequins writing music!

Some good songs there eh? In a few instances, I actually prefer them to the originals. I understand that may be anathema to some of your ears but am I not an honest clown? Regardless, I feel it is worth giving all of these artists a chance. Whether it be their covers or their own original works. Go for it!

As you may have read somewhere before, the asylum has some social media platforms. I have a Facebook page, a twitter account and an Instagram page. It’d be grand if any of gorgeous inmates could follow me over there too! Oh, and as always, if you enjoy what I do here at the asylum, please consider supporting me over on the Ko-fi page! Youre all breathtaking!

Until next time, have a very crazy day inmates!

Some writing music: Part 14 -HALLOWEEN SPECIAL-

Hello again inmates!

Well, here it is! As I mentioned before, I’m posting something a little more “musical” and as unsurprising as it may be, it’s a Halloween special of the Harlequins writing music! It’s the time for trick-or-treating, costume parties and generally being freaky. Music can fit all of these things, music can transform fear into terror and unease into panic. Music and Halloween go hand in hand.

I listen to a great many bands, both obscure and popular. As you may know, I try to keep it as varied as i can. With Halloween upon us, I felt that it would be quite apt to post the bands and songs I write with that fit well with Halloween. Crunching metal epics, fancy costumes and spooky electronic jingles can all be found here. I believe I’ve posted a few of these bands before, but I shall try to keep the songs new. You may know some of these bands, you may not know some of them, however I guarantee you won’t be disappointed in these choices. Unless you’re easily freaked out I suppose.

Now, let us delve into the musical minds of freakish artists the world over!

God Module – Spooky
http://jasyn9.wix.com/god-module

Steam Powered Giraffe – Me And My Baby (Saturday Night)
http://steampoweredgiraffe.com/

The Shanklin Freak Show – Funny Farm
https://www.facebook.com/theshanklinfreakshow

Poets Of The Fall – Daze
http://www.poetsofthefall.com/

Slipknot – Dead Memories
http://www.slipknot1.com/

Warren Zevon – Werewolves In London
http://www.warrenzevon.com/

Marilyn Manson – This Is Halloween
http://www.marilynmanson.com/

So there we have it for another edition! I included a few more songs than usual, with this being a special occasion and all. Here’s hoping that you’ve enjoyed this edition of the Harlequins writing music, I hope that you check out these artists. And once again, I hope that you all have a very happy Halloween! Now, I’m going to go and cut a pumpkin, or something like that. Haha!

Until next time, have a very crazy day inmates!

A New Idea

Greetings inmates.

I’ve got a short one this time. I promise it will actually be short this time. You see, i had an interesting idea the other day. I explained it to Lee and she seemed to think it was a pretty good idea, despite my inability at the time to explain it very well. My mind was quite literally all over the place. I must have been rambling like a lunatic again! I’ll try to explain it a bit better here today. You see, it’s an idea for a new segment for the blog. I believe segment is the right term for it anyway. A bit like my writing music segment, for example.

As anybody who has read my blog knows, WorldofHarley is an asylum for creative derangement and originative absurdity. I picture it as a literal insane asylum that holds my poems and stories, with the inmates milling about here and there. I’m not entirely clear where this thought came from originally, but it is how i view my blog for what ever reason. Anyway, my segment idea was going to be called something along the lines of “Asylum Escapees”. Each ‘chapter’, if you will, of this segment would surround a different music artist, writer or actor who is known for their eccentricity or unusual characters. For example, Marilyn Manson, Till Lindemann or HP Lovecraft. I’d basically write about how each of these people were a fictional asylum escapee and how they’ve escaped. I’d also use the same opportunity to write about what i love about them and their work, from the perspective of a fictional doctor.

I just wanted to try a different kind of writing while still keeping to my “style”, if it can be called as such. Variety is the spice of life after all. So, i implore anybody who reads to tell me if they like this idea and perhaps make some suggestions? Any and all thoughts are appreciated, as always!

Have a very crazy day inmates! Oh, and happy St. Patrick’s day!

King Diamond and the Puppet Master

In the last few days I discovered a new band while i was trawling Youtube as i often do. This band being ‘King Diamond’. At first the only notable thing about the band was the costume of the singer (who is the eponymous King Diamond). It reminds me much of my own face paint designs. These designs were inspired by bands like Marilyn Manson, KISS, Ghost, The Shanklin Freak Show, Gothminister and Alice Cooper. However, i think i can now add King Diamond to this list.  The music did hook me as well in the end. It’s also great, full of dark stories and heavy riffs. Some pretty amazing solos in there too. Awesome songs like “Give me your soul” or “Abigail” in particular caught my attention. I love it!

“Howdy!”

Anyway, that is not actually the point of this post. While i was checking out some of the bands various songs i came across one of their albums in particular. The album in question is called “The Puppet Master”. This album was released in 2003 and tells a thrilling, yet chilling story of a psychotic puppet master in Budepest and his satanic practices. The songs are sung from the point of view of King Diamond himself, a man who has been been turned into a horrific puppet (along with his love Victoria) by the Puppet master and his wife. The thing that intrigues me  so much about this album is how much it comes across more like a horror story rather than a metal music album. It’s quite disturbing and nightmarish throughout with a depressing and thought provoking end.

I could tell you a lot more about it but i feel listening to the album (and buying it) would get my point across better.

The band also made a video with King Diamond himself telling the story in a more traditional around-the-campfire kind of style. I think it’s worth watching both videos. He’s an amazingly capable story teller!

This album and band just go to show that music (yes, even metal music) can still be used to actually tell stories. I wish there would be more bands that would take this approach. For the record i must say that King Diamond have gained a new fan! I’ll be buying the physical album in the next few weeks!