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Posted: |
Aug 17, 2009 - 9:02 AM
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By: |
Cryogenix
(Member)
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Since the anniversary of Princess Diana’s death is approaching (August 31st), I thought I'd
finally break down and make my entire musical tribute CD available to everyone, since over the
years I've only given out a few tracks here and there.
Everything's explained in the liner notes, so I'll be brief... When Princess Diana died, I felt I
needed to create a musical tribute to her and her life, and I spent the next three months doing
so. I didn't create it for profit, I created it because she meant a lot to me and the world, and I
knew a lot of people felt as I did, and would appreciate (and possibly need) something special
to remember her by and reflect on. This tribute is a mix of songs and film scores, many of which
are custom tracks with various music, songs, effects and voices mixed together in a very
touching, fluid way to tell the story of Diana's life, from fairytale beginning to tragic end. Except
for I think four tracks, what may start off as a regular song or piece of music will have a special
mix or something special added here and there. To this date, there hasn't been a musical
tribute released that truly captures who Diana was and what she meant to the world.
I've included scans of all my artwork for the jewel case and the actual disc, so hopefully you'll
get the maximum impact of what I was trying to accomplish. I've written many letters to
record labels and individual artists over the past 10 years, but nobody is willing to listen to my
creation and produce it, so I've given up. In 1997, I sent copies to Princes William and Harry, as
well as Diana's brother and two sisters, but never received a response. And every year since
1997, I've handed out copies to anyone I met who randomly said something nice about Diana. I
always keep a couple of copies in my vehicle for just such an occasion. To-date, aside from
family and friends, I think there are 45 copies floating around out there. I did receive consent
from four artists to use their music/songs, which was very cool. You have no idea how much
music I bought and how many hours I spent sifting through everything to find the perfect
material to reflect what I was trying to do - I think I went through 30-40 different versions of
this compilation. It was truly the most exhausting thing I've ever undertaken. And especially
since I wasn't familiar with editing music in a computer or working with Photoshop, etc. It was
also my first time burning CD's.It was a huge challenge.
I've also included in the ZIP file a MIDI I made back in 1997. It was my first attempt at creating
a tangible piece of music, and I used Cakewalk (or something like that) to make it. It's pretty
amateurish, but I think you can see where my heart was. I've included a brief description of
each movement, so you know what I was thinking. I've deleted all my private information from
everything I've done.
Anyway, I hope it will bring back many emotional memories of a beautiful woman whose
presence touched our hearts and gave us hope. BTW, if you look closely at the front coverart
(the close shot of Diana with all the hearts) you might be able to see two tiny chickadees on the
stem of the rose. They represent William and Harry. The scan isn't very good. Track 13 is
grayed out because her car struck column 13. On the back art, there's a lit candle in the center
of the ornamental island, where she was buried. And I know there's a reason I used 14 hearts
in the black strip across her head, but I can't remember the reason. In the event the link dies or
something happens to this post, e-mail me for a new link.
Princess Diana…
“A heart and a smile that moved a world”
~Me (1997)
Diana: A Musical Remembrance - 24 tracks - 120MB
http://depositfiles.com/files/16msamlng
or
http://hotfile.com/dl/10415265/a2f43cc/PtributeD.rar.html
Note: I had to re-up from a different computer and this ZIP version does not have the artwork
included. Just right-click the above-images and SAVE AS, to retain them in your PC.
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Posted: |
Aug 17, 2009 - 10:30 AM
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By: |
Cryogenix
(Member)
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So, let me get this straight (I haven't read the liner notes): This is a collection of film music themes that you've "renamed" to fit certain aspects of Diana's life and person?
Where's the Elton John song "Goodbye England's Rose"? I would assume no Diana compilation would be complete without that.
Anyways, looks like a dedicated undertaking. But you've cut out your picture, man! Now that finally had a chance to see what you look like. 
It's more than a collection of film music (probably 60% film, 40% songs) I've spliced pieces
together, overlaid elements of this onto that, introduced voices during certain portions, etc. It's
about a flow of music that tells a very emotional story. It really gets very custom from track 13.
Most tracks have something special added. Sometimes, that special something doesn't happen
until the latter part of the track (one is right at the very end...)
Elton John's song...it's in there, though you may not agree with my synthesized
attempt at putting my own "heart," feelings and love for Diana into it.
Track 21 is my favorite, and was inspired by the bells Horner used in Krull. Since hearing that
score, I've had a fondness for tolling bells, and this was the perfect chance to use them.
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Way to go, Cryogenix!
Sorry you weren't able to get labels interested, but at least we now have the ability to share our heartfelt creations with other fans via forums like this or other internet platforms.
While not a fan of Diana per se, I did think she seemed like a kind woman with a lot of heart, beauty and dedication to the causes she believed in. It was definitely a shocking, senseless loss.
Very kind of you to share your work with other fans out there.
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Posted: |
Aug 18, 2009 - 4:57 PM
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By: |
Cryogenix
(Member)
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After having listened to the album, I'm afraid I veer more towards Spymaster's reaction too, Cryogenix. Many of the songs/tracks come off as a bit cheesy and the whole project seems a little....well, weird.
I'll agree with cheesy (and I'll add very idealisitic in tone at both ends of the spectrum), but this
wasn't meant to be an intellectual commemoration. It was meant to appeal to the general
masses who thrive on cheesy stuff and are emotional fools who adored Diana. Naturally, I tried
to approach it with a degree of class - and always stayed true to selecting music I felt would
best embody my point of view as I saw Diana's life - but I did need to use selections that
people could relate to and enjoy, even if simply for something to listen to, all thoughts of Diana
aside.
I'd catagorize it as "unique," not weird. Everyone's entitled to their opinion, and I've gotten
nothing (until now) but great feedback from strangers I gave the CD to who wrote me back via
the mailing address I provided in the jewel case. And they said the people they made copies
for loved it. A few friends made copies for their friends who'd lost someone, and they said the
music helped them through the mourning process.
Not everyone will appreciate it or enjoy it or understand it, simply because it's about someone
they're indifferent to, or because it's from me (Cryogenix) a member most here don't care for
(which is fine by me - I'm not looking to make friends here) or because they're very close-
minded and/or can't open their hearts and ears to experience something familiar in a new way.
I'm not looking for any feedback here, and I'm not looking for congratulations or a pat on the
back for my effort. It's just here for anyone who wants to give it a listen and might like it purely
as unique body of music. Love it or hate it, I truly don't care. Anything anyone puts their
heart into is worth hearing, even it you end up hating it. Why take a creation like that to the
grave and not allow others a chance to possibly enjoy (or hate) it? If just one person out of
a million enjoys it, then it's existence is worthwhile, aside from my own personal satisfaction
from listening to it.
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Is this a wind-up? This is GREAT material for a satire show. I'm sorry, people know I hope that I don't like being negative, and I don't like criticising peoples' individual need for expressing some sort of grief but ...
You sent a CD to Princes William and Harry with an action track called 'Paparazzi Car Chase and Crash'? And one about a heart struggling to survive?
Let me just get my head around that again ...
You sent a CD to Princes William and Harry with an action track called 'Paparazzi Car Chase and Crash'? And one about a heart struggling to survive?
I wouldn't comment on the actual business of Princess Diana, nil nisi bonum etc., but hey ... no 'Lost Weekend' 'alcoholism' theme for Al Fayed's driver?
One more time there ....
You sent a CD to Princes William and Harry with a track called 'Paparazzi Car Chase and Crash'? And one about a heart struggling to survive?
(Incidentally, there WAS an official CD about this, which I think my brother bought, because it had Bryan Ferry singing 'Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day?', and we like Bryan we do, his music anyway.}
Will and Harry are nice enough guys I'm sure, but they're also wolves in their own way. It goes with the territory. Aren't you glad you got no reply ....?
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Is this a wind-up? This is GREAT material for a satire show. I'm sorry, people know I hope that I don't like being negative, and I don't like criticising peoples' individual need for expressing some sort of grief but ...
You sent a CD to Princes William and Harry with an action track called 'Paparazzi Car Chase and Crash'? And one about a heart stuggling to survive?
Let me just get my head around that again ...
You sent a CD to Princes William and Harry with an action track called 'Paparazzi Car Chase and Crash'? And one about a heart stuggling to survive?
I wouldn't comment on the actual business of Princess Diana, nil nisi bonum etc., but hey ... no 'Lost Weekend' 'alcoholism' theme for Al Fayed's driver?
One more time there ....
You sent a CD to Princes William and Harry with a track called 'Paparazzi Car Chase and Crash'? And one about a heart stuggling to survive?
(Incidentally, there WAS an official CD about this, which I think my brother bought, because it had Bryan Ferry singing 'Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day?', and we like Bryan we do, his music anyway.}
Will and Harry are nice enough guys I'm sure, but they're also wolves in their own way. It goes with the territory. Aren't you glad you got no reply ....?
LMFAO!
Mr. McC, THAT was funny.
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Posted: |
Aug 18, 2009 - 6:10 PM
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By: |
Cryogenix
(Member)
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Is this a wind-up? This is GREAT material for a satire show. I'm sorry, people know I hope that I don't like being negative, and I don't like criticising peoples' individual need for expressing some sort of grief but ...
You sent a CD to Princes William and Harry with an action track called 'Paparazzi Car Chase and Crash'? And one about a heart struggling to survive?
Let me just get my head around that again ...
You sent a CD to Princes William and Harry with an action track called 'Paparazzi Car Chase and Crash'? And one about a heart struggling to survive?
(Incidentally, there WAS an official CD about this, which I think my brother bought, because it had Bryan Ferry singing 'Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day?', and we like Bryan we do, his music anyway.}
Will and Harry are nice enough guys I'm sure, but they're also wolves in their own way. It goes with the territory. Aren't you glad you got no reply ....?
Before considering sending it, I talked with many people about the "appropriateness" and
the potential for "insensitivity," and everyone said although it might make them obviously sad,
it might actually help them come to grips with what happened, help then rationalize and
understand it, etc. Mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, uncles, aunts, etc (and not simply
my family members, mind you) all chimed in and said they'd be touched to receive such a gift
from the heart from someone.
I seriously doubt they even got the discs anyway. Probably just thrown in a big room with 10
million other presents that went unopened or forgotten.
I keep saying tribute, but it's actually a "remembrance" of her life. There's a big difference.
The "official" tribute CD (I bought many such discs and there may be more than one) were all
pretty boring. Just collections of random music that anybody could've tossed onto a disc with
little effort. No heart behind the selections.
And I especially love the Horner music I used for the frantic paparazzi piece. I can just picture all
the insanity and hustle and bustle of the moment as flashbulbs pop all over the place as they
rush away from The Ritz with those assholes in hot pursuit. That one, more than any other
"serious" piece I tried before, worked flawlessly, and captured what I was seeing in my mind
and feeling in my heart. Adrenaline, rage, desperation, direness, hope, overbearingness,
relentlessness, a scramble to survive and outrun and out-manuever... It's perfect. Actually,
that track is the most complex mix, having bits and pieces from I think five or six different
composers, but I only credit three because the other borrowed stuff is short samplings for effect,
and not the "meat" of the track. Forget that it's about Diana. It rocks as a standalone, exciting
piece of music. Actually, track 21 is the most complex.
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The "official" tribute CD (I bought many such discs and there may be more than one) were all
pretty boring. Just collections of random music that anybody could've tossed onto a disc with
little effort. No heart behind the selections.
I see you deleted your last sentence there, Cryo, about how your CD was 'not meant for emotional cut-offs with no relation to the outside world'. We wouldn't want that last flourish to go unappreciated by a mourning world, so I'll respond to it anyway, shall I?
The hysteria surrounding the Princess's death was universally disturbing. Whatever anyone says about her life, and she did involve herself with many good causes, she also had terrible problems, some her own fault, others not. But she knew how to manipulate the masses via the press, and one ought not to be naive about that. She was involved with the press very deliberately in creating a myth, a set of images and interviews that would prove hooks for YOUR projections. The hysteria was not a genuine outpouring, but a mass guilt and a collective vicarious displacement. She set herself up as an archetype, and she got there.
The hysteria also promulgated a folly among people, because it was pure SOAP-OPERA. I'm not going to defend the royals, but at least their sane take on things was that they should remain a little aloof from cameras. They ALL do much the same amount of charity work mostly quietly, and on a daily basis, but the Princess had to be SEEN to do it. The mourning was kitsch. It was REAL, because people felt what they felt. But they felt it for a MYTH, a projection of an IDEAL. That was what they were MEANT to feel, a part of the plan. And there was guilt too, and lots of it, because the day before, the same press and half the public were vilifying her.
So before you call people who disagree with you 'emotional cut-offs' try reflecting on the fact that your OWN emotions may well have been 'cut-off' to such a BIG extent that they were ripe for being scooped up up in a mass hysteria, like at a Nuremburg or mass-evangelical rally. You did not know her, she did not know you, I presume. It's fine when people decide to 'love' a great figure, and that will involve seeing the perfection, but people also need to know when they're being milked by press, tricks, image-making.
But to get back to your CD. Do you REALLY see Princes Harry and Will sitting in front of their stereos going, "Yeah, that was ... yah, okay, that was deep... I felt a real catharsis there, in that car-crash scene ... yah." ? Or would these VERY KNOWING guys, surrounded by great works of world art (which they're tired of anyway: they want fun) not say, 'Oh God ... kisch-o or WHAT!' and bin it?
Call me cruel.
Y'need some time with the wolf-pack, Cryo.
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