A live video of Sullivan's Dog "Lowzer" has been on my youtube channel TheDavidisaiah since around the time I started the channel. But the video was shot in 1994 and transferred to digital in 2010. I don't just put videos up for no reason. There must be something good or noteworthy about them in order for me to be compelled to place them on the internet for public viewing. "Lowzer" is not the worst songwriting accomplishment- especially by 1994 standards. It is just that this video is the only surviving recording I know of from the original group of which I was one of the guitar players. So while the recording quality, balance, and vocals are the not the best that they could be, it is the only recording of a not bad song. The recording has other positive attributes- the instrumental work, the freaky-deaky outro, and the stage lighting for example. If I had to say what would really help it, I would say that our lead singer Dan should have not backed away from really roaring on the vocals. It sounds too cautious and careful. I don't think that earns it a thumbs down, though. And to be honest, I think youtube pulled some shekinary over the number of hits the video actually got over time. I think the numbers might actually be in the hundreds and hundreds. It was one of the most popular videos on the channel at first. "For what reason?" you might say. Well, if it's listenable over and over, then it's practically not a bad song or recording. I think it's not the worst thing I ever heard actually. The lyrics are not poetry. They're not supposed to be, though. They're song lyrics. It communicates a specific experience that if one experienced that, it would be kind of hard to explain to others- especially if ghosts tried to take you, etc.
"Lowzer" doesn't mean loser, either. I think that's why we called it "Lowzer" or "Lozer." The word could perhaps indicate someone who could be easily confused for a loser. The video should receive more thumbs up than what it has. It was a good songwriting accomplishment. It think it is very ballsy as well- goes right up to the line in terms of acceptability in terms of songwriting best practices.
On the other hand, Dan's singing here is actually an artistic and sensitive approach to music. The gentleness conveyed is actually expressing care and caution- as if the narrator of the song is an eyewitness or friend who witnessed a scenario (like as suggested by the second person point of view in verse 2), and the scenario requires understanding...a scenario that's very very delicate perhaps and needs someone to be cautious and careful. The vocal projection and mix/balance is simply what I was commenting on above.
Sullivan's Dog, live performance of original song "Lowzer" at the Onalaska Omnicenter in Onalaska WI. 7-13-94
LOWZER (lyrics)
The ghosts ,the ghosts have all but taken me
I try to say
The sky, the sky is falling down on me
I walk away
The sea, the sea has almost taken me
I'm washed away
The ground, the ground has surely swallowed me
I walk away
CHORUS
Grate your hands on the broken glass of yesterday
VERSE 2
The dark, the dark has nearly swallowed you
You try to say
Your friends, your friends have all abandoned you
They walked away
The cold, cold has nearly frozen you
You turn away
The guilt, the guilt has all but emptied you
I try to say
"Lowzer" doesn't mean loser, either. I think that's why we called it "Lowzer" or "Lozer." The word could perhaps indicate someone who could be easily confused for a loser. The video should receive more thumbs up than what it has. It was a good songwriting accomplishment. It think it is very ballsy as well- goes right up to the line in terms of acceptability in terms of songwriting best practices.
On the other hand, Dan's singing here is actually an artistic and sensitive approach to music. The gentleness conveyed is actually expressing care and caution- as if the narrator of the song is an eyewitness or friend who witnessed a scenario (like as suggested by the second person point of view in verse 2), and the scenario requires understanding...a scenario that's very very delicate perhaps and needs someone to be cautious and careful. The vocal projection and mix/balance is simply what I was commenting on above.
Sullivan's Dog, live performance of original song "Lowzer" at the Onalaska Omnicenter in Onalaska WI. 7-13-94
LOWZER (lyrics)
The ghosts ,the ghosts have all but taken me
I try to say
The sky, the sky is falling down on me
I walk away
The sea, the sea has almost taken me
I'm washed away
The ground, the ground has surely swallowed me
I walk away
CHORUS
Grate your hands on the broken glass of yesterday
VERSE 2
The dark, the dark has nearly swallowed you
You try to say
Your friends, your friends have all abandoned you
They walked away
The cold, cold has nearly frozen you
You turn away
The guilt, the guilt has all but emptied you
I try to say
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