Category: Music

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Lyrics for “Big Backyard” -Montessori Songs for Children

Lyrics by Mark Galasso  ©2013

Will Mr. Will

The will is a special thing

You don’t wanna SMASH it!

That wouldn’t be nice

But will as of when it began

It isn’t perfect & that’s alright

 

The way it began as a will

It was lifeless, until the sky

With the wind and a wish for a will

There was brightness

So “I” Began

 

Will Mr. Will don’t wash away, my self

C’ause Will Mr. Will wants honey bee, his side kick

Wanna be me, see’s after will

It’s a well drawn line for the road to myself

Mr. Will, my likeness

Armadillo

There’s an armadillo sittin’ in my big backyard

He’s gotta lotta ripples on his back and they’re hard

 He moves kinda funny but he pulls his weight

Next think ya know he meets a friend along the way

 

It’s Saturday, WE ROCK!

The froggies and the crickets and the rats

It’s quite a day, WE ROCK!

Armadillo’s in my big backyard

 

There’s a kitten with a mitten in my big backyard

The thing about a mitten is it won’t get far

 It needs the right hand to be comfy all day

An armadillo’s mitten is his shell by the way

 

It’s Saturday, WE ROCK!

The doggies and the cheeta and the nat

It’s quite a day, WE ROCK

Armadillo’s in my big backyard

 

It’s Saturday, WE ROCK!

Armadillo’s in my big backyard!!

Ferris Wheel

There’s a ferris wheel at home in my backyard

And the only place it goes is to the stars

 

There’s one way to be sure the stars will all stay

You make them your friends they color your day

It’s frosty at night the penguins will stay

They look very silly and proud

 

There’s a ferris wheel at home in my backyard

And the only place it goes is to the stars

I’m So Over It

I’m so over It

I’ll never be sad

I’m so over It

No fun being mad

 

So I pitched my tent

Made my fire

Sleep tight in my bed

 

Now, I’m so over It

I’ll never be sad

I’m so over it

I’ll always be glad

 

So I hug my friends

Make ‘em smile

Sleep tight in my bed

 

Now I’m so over It

I’ll never be sad

I’m so over it

What fun we have had

Since I got over it…

 

I made my new best friend

I made my new best friend

I made my new, yes I’m so over it

 

I’m so over it, I’ll never be sad

I’m so over it, I’ll never be sad

I’m so over it, I’ll never be sad

‘Cause I made my new best friend

Nice to meet ya!

Alligator Instigator

Alligator Instigator, Trouble’s on the way

He swims along the bayou in a sneaky kind of way

 

Don’t go near, an Alligator Perpetrator

Once is all it takes & then you’re dinner on a plate!

 

Alligator Instigator watch out for his tail

He whips it when attacked & then you’re on you’re back

Oops!….You’re dinner in the belly of an…

 

Alligator Instigator, Trouble Mr. Percolator

Mountains on his tail, Jaws like Jail

 

Alligator Instigator can you spot a Hungry Gator

Alligator Instigator don’t go near the Percolator

Lest you’ll get a Whack! & then you’re on you’re back!

 

Jaws Like Jail, Teeth Like Nails

Stuck inside the Belly of an…

 

Alligator Instigator don’t go near a Hungry Gator

Alligator He’s a Traitor he’s a Mr. Percolator

Once you get a Whack! You’re never coming Back!

Forever in the Belly of an Alligator Instigator!

Smiles Miles Johnson

Smiles Miles Johnson was a really good man

He built a big house made of peanuts & bread

It all came down you can guess what they said

Smiles Miles Johnson & his peanuts & bread

 

Smiles Miles Johnson, peanuts & bread

He smiled a Lot, he got peanuts & bread

 

Smiles Miles Johnson was a really good man

He built a big house made of peanuts & bread

It all came down you can guess what they said

Smiles Miles Johnson & his peanuts & bread

Peanuts & bread

Peanuts & bread

Get a Grip

Get a grip buddy now

Gotta make good somehow

Gotta do good you always should 

And hold your head up proud

 

Get a grip buddy now

Make your moma proud

Gotta do good you always should

I kicked my Troubles Out!

Goooood Bye!…

Stay Occupied

Stay occupied, get busy

So satisfied, this living

I’m gratified, I’m grateful

I’m level eyed & playful

Stay occupied, get busy

It’s wonderful & graceful

Stay occupied with good

Stay occupied, it’s good

Let go!

That Makes My Times Go Good

I give out my best & I like it that way

The times go better with the work I say

Wipe out the blues when I’m workin’ on a dream

That makes my times go good

 

That makes my times go good

That makes my wings okay

What makes the times so good

I give out my best that day

Role Model

I wanna Be, a Role Model

Set you on your Feet

A Role Model

Keep it Really Sweet

You’ll Get More Smiles & it’s True

You Do~

This Magic can happen for You

A Role Model

Much More Melody

Ten Times More Melody, Wanted in My Home!

I want more melody to sooth my soul

I want more melody to make me whole

 

I want more melody inside my home

I want more melody to sing my songs

 

How much more melody, sing song remedy

Music’s gotta be, playin’ in my home

 

Much more melody, sing song remedy

Ten times more melody, wanted in my home

 

I want more melody to move my soul

I want more melody to make me whole

 

I want more melody inside my home

I want more melody to sing my songs

 

I want more melody, sing song remedy

Music’s gotta be, playin’ in my home

Ten times more melody, sing song remedy

Much more melody keeps playin’ in my home

Listen Listen

Listen, listen all is well

I won’t speak so you can tell

Words are such they matter now

This is what I say

 

This is what I say

Listen this is how

I can always tell

Words are working well

 

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Big Backyard – Montessori Songs for Children (CD)

Created deep down in Louisiana bayou country, these catchy children’s songs are imbued with Montessori Method. Delightfully fun, yet sophisticated songs built to last with ethical lyric themes woven into playful tapestries of ear candy enjoyed by adults and children.

Big Backyard was created by Mark Galasso during his tenure teaching music to pre-school children at Montessori Children’s House (Circa 1968), the oldest private Montessori School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The songs bloomed naturally from direct experiences working with the children in a joyful and productive environment. Having been affiliated with Montessori since childhood, the songs are imbued with educational and ethical principles of the Montessori Method. Many of them are quite short by design as they were written with pre-school aged children in mind. But, they are also sophisticated enough that adults will like them too.

Lyrically, the songs are infused with linguistic aspects that deal with rhyme, diction and verbal/melodic memory training. For example, in the up tempo song “Armadillo”, the lyric requires rapid enunciation and diction:  “There’s a kitten with a mitten in my big  backyard. The thing about a mitten is it won’t get far. It needs the right hand to be comfy all day, an armadillo’s mitten is his shell by the way.”

With consideration given to preserve the timeless nature of these special songs, the instrumentation on Big Backyard  was performed with real instruments: Voice, acoustic guitar, brushes/drums, bass, chromatic & bass harmonica, Dobro, Trumpet, Trombone, Flute, Strings, Bassoon, Slide Whistle, Juice Harp and Percussion (Tambourine, Maracas, Shakers, Woodblock, Cowbell, Castanets, Hand Bells).

Big Backyard’s production and orchestration is manifest with cohesive and intricate parts woven into playful tapestries of ear candy for children.

Montessori students  have performed all of these songs for music class and graduations for the past five years. It is safe to say the songs have been put to the test; they are a hit with children and parents alike.

The goal with “Big Backyard” was to create some new “standard” children’s songs that would endure the test of time and empower children through the liberating philosophical principals of Montessori.

***For more Big Backyard  information, songs samples, videos & merchandise please visit: alligatorinstigator.com

 

Stream/Digitally Download Album/Songs here:

iTunes

Amazon.com

Rhapsody

Spotify

 

Lyrics for “Big Backyard” -Montessori Songs for Children

 

Songs/Tracks List

  1. Will Mr. Will 
  2. Armadillo
  3. Ferris Wheel
  4. I’m So Over It
  5. Alligator Instigator
  6. Smiles Miles Johnson
  7. Get a Grip
  8. Stay Occupied
  9. That Makes My Times Go Good
  10. Role Model
  11. Much More Melody
  12. Listen Listen

CD Credits:

Vocals & Instruments performed by Mark Galasso. Except where indicated.

Troy Davis: Drums/Brushes – Tracks 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

David Ellis: Electric Bass – Tracks 8, 9 + Chorus Outro Bass on “Will Mr. Will”.

All songs composed, produced, recorded & mixed by Mark Galasso.

© 2013 Daddy’s Tutti Music, BMI.

All Rights Reserved.

Cover Art by Taylor Wells

Additional Graphics & Layout: Mario Alessi

CD/Album Release date April 4, 2013.

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The “Brocato Piece” Composed for 1998 “Alternative Hair Show” at Royal Albert Hall, London

The “Brocato Piece.”

This was composed for Brocato International’s 1998 appearance at the “ALTERNATIVE HAIR SHOW”, at the ROYAL ALBERT HALL, LONDON.

Every year a video of the show is made and distributed throughout the world wide hair industry. The “Alternative Hair Show” is one of the biggest Leukaemia fund raisers in the world.

Brocato Piece – iTunes Song Link

Brocato Piece – iTunes Radio Link

Lottery Jingles
Lottery Jingles/Brocato Piece

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Professional Musician with C’vello

Mark Galasso was a keyboardist, bassist and singer with the RCA recording artist C’vello.  He performed frequently with the group throughout the 1990’s.

At the height of C’vello’s popularity they became a regional phenomena culminating with the innovative techno rap song, This Jam is Cold.

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Perchaplectic (CD)

Perchaplectic
Released: 1997
℗ 1997 Daddy’s Tutti Music, BMI

Perchaplectic is a one of a kind collection of songs & recordings reflecting this artist’s range of musical interests. Presented in an album format, the CD is 74 minutes long.

All of the material was recorded & mixed by Mark Galasso in his home studio and the musicians playing on the CD are all exceptional. Many of them were child prodigies, and all of them are from Baton Rouge, Louisiana:  Gantt Kees (Drums), Tracy Civello (Drums), David Ellis (Bass), Wendell Tilley (Guitar), Gary Don Smith (Guitar), Kevin Civello (Guitar), Mark Galasso (Vocals, Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Harmonica).

New Orleans’ Offbeat Magazine called Perchaplectic:  “A Perfect Piece of Ear-Candy… Perchaplectic does have its share of expert playing, tasteful while exploratory, especially Gary Don Smith’s blues licks and Galasso’s own Prince-like mastery of almost every instrument he puts his hand on. Imagine a Double Fantasy-era John Lennon transported to the Nineties and blissfully ignoring the Alternative and Electronica explosions and you’ll get some idea of what’s going on. And the sole break with convention-the medley of “I’m Comin’ Over/Perchaplectic” and “Heaven”-works so well that one realizes even this is not the limit of Galasso’s talents. Where are the A&R suits when you need ’em. – The best local pop record of this new year.”

In 1999, Galasso singed on with Labrador Records in England where Perchaplectic was the featured CD on Audiostreet.com who called the CD, “a stunning eclectic collection of 17 songs”.

In 2001 his song “Let’s Make it Work Somehow” charted at #14 on the garageband.com “Pop” charts and was featured as “Song of the Day” based on enthusiastic reviews by listeners from all over the world.

Two songs off of Perchaplectic, the Bowie-ish “Blonde & Fair”, and his Epic “10 Miles Away” were licensed by Shockwave.com for use in their Photojam application.

Purchase at: iTunes

Purchase the CD at:  Amazon

Purchase the MP3 at: Amazon

 

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Pop CD

“Pop” is an enigmatic CD. None of the songs are anything alike,
other than that they are all bound by strong back beats. The recordings span several years.

Curiously, the recorded answering message, “Handsome Man” has been licensed thousands of times on Facebook for people’s whatever?…  So, apparently, I am not alone in finding this message so funny (great impromptu).

This limited CD release is primarily targeted for the Global Digital Download Market. You can buy the CD or single songs, or stream on: Spotify, iTunes,  YouTube, Amazon Music etc.

 

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Antifluff Superstar CD

Antifluff Superstar was composed & recorded during a period of unprecedented self-growth. All of the material was conceived, recorded & mixed without any constrictions regarding when the music was documented as a musical expression. This creates a spontaneity and freshness not easily duplicated in the recording studio.

“OFFBEAT”, New Orleans’ premier music magazine wrote:

“Mark Galasso who gifted us with some of the best modern Louisiana pop around on 1997’s PERCHAPLECTIC, returns with a new persona as Antifluff Superstar, completing his studio-perfectionistic control-freak journey full circle. He’s even starting to sound like other wizards and true stars: his funk is becoming positively Princely, his twisted classicism Rundgrenian, his confessionality Lennonesque. The title track dips and weaves between three decades of damaged art-pop like a drunk on a binge. Just when he seems unfathomable, he polishes off a Beatlesque gem (“Jin’s Jet”), rips out a solid groove (“Stuck Here Without You”), or takes the piss out of his ambition by re-working one his commercial jingles (“Bonus Lucky 7″) and all is well. Mark’s colossally, wonderfully self-obsessed. The sheer audacity and frightening intensity of his ambition is absolutely thrilling. In a state that forgot how to make solid, non-derivative pop music a few decades ago, that’s to be celebrated.”

Mark Galasso-a.k.a “Antifluff Superstar”-has been recognized Nationally and Internationally for nine spectacular radio jingles he has written for the Louisiana Lottery Corporation. In 1999, “Pick 4” won “Best Radio Spot” at the North American Lottery Awards in Halifax, Nova Scotia. “Bonus Lucky 7” & a Gambline Hotline Tv Spot were also finalists in the competition, which involved 49 lottery companies from all over North America. Additionally, his Jingles “Mambo Money” & “Let the Good Times Roll” won Audio Communicator Awards in 2001, and “Mambo Money” was given the “Crystal Award for Excellence”.

(See: “Lottery Jingles” also available on CD Baby, iTunes & many PC download sites)

For further information about Antifluff Superstar please visit:

www.markgalasso.net

ANTIFLUFF SUPERSTAR is also available for Digital Download on the following sites:

Apple iTunes http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/
Rhapsody http://www.listen.com/
Sony Connect http://www.sonyconnect.com/
Napster http://www.napster.com/
PureTracks http://www.puretracks.com/
MusicNet http://www.musicnet.com/
AudioLunchbox http://www.audiolunchbox.com/
MusicMatch http://www.musicmatch.com/download/music_intro.htm
Emusic http://www.emusic.com/
BuyMusic http://www.buymusic.com/
NetMusic http://www.netmusic.com
DiscLogic http://www.disclogic.com/
Emepe3.com http://www.emepe3.com/
Etherstream http://www.etherstream.com/
Linspire http://www.linspire.com/
Music4Cents http://www.music4cents.com/
QTRnote http://www.qtrnote.com/
TriaSite http://www.gimmemusic.net/
CatchMusic http://catchmusic.net/catchweb/

SONIC ADVICE: If you are concerned about the audio fidelity of these recordings it is recommended that you buy the actual CD.