The Unfan

It would have to be an instrumental so I could totally ignore the message.

VEGANGELICA

Hey! You replied! I'm glad. Hmmm...instrumental. What are your favorite instruments? And do you have a favorite music genre? I'm thinking I remember seeing many of your posts in the metal thread.

A vegan activist and musician, Will Tuttle, who wrote "The World Peace Diet," plays piano music to express his feelings during his talks, and he and his spouse created a CD of children's music incorporating mostly wild animal sounds. Somehow, though, I don't think a song with some snorting pigs will win you over...although...Hey!!...maybe *I* could fake the different animal sounds!! The song and my animal sounds could humorously symbolize the evolutionary tree connecting us all...and I wouldn't have to say a word. You would end up too exhausted from laughing to be able to eat anything!

Well, Unfan, I will think on this issue and see if I can come up with a song that emphasizes instrumentals and let's the listener ignore the message almost completely. I actually wrote down the skeleton of some lyrics today with you in mind...my attempt at subtle vegan propaganda that only becomes obvious at the end of the song. I think it would be hard for me to not use any words at all, because I like words so much, although I agree that instrumental music perhaps can be more emotionally moving.

Say, when you were taking about Bono, did you mean the "Don't Give Up (Africa)" rendition of Peter Gabriel's song?
--Erica

The Unfan

Mandolin, piano, washboard, and the sound that Captain Beefheart makess.
Progressive post-apocalyptic space jazz.
No, I was just refering to his general blatant activism.

VEGANGELICA

Hmm, "progressive post-apocalyptic space jazz" using the mandolin, piano, and washboard, influenced by the sounds of Captain Beefheart. That will be quite a challenge to make such a vegan instrumental song! While a mandolin may be hard to find, I probably can get my hands on a warshboard pretty easily, seeing as how I am here in Iowa.

Unfan, do you have any Captain Beefheart favorites, such as, say, "Tropical Hot Dog Night?" Strange...I could have *sworn* you were an avid fan of grindcore, "the most beautiful music in the world," and perhaps still enamored with Kylesa!
--Erica

The Unfan

The Past Sure Is Tense
I'm pretty sure even grindcore fans consider the music to be ugly beyond belief. That is sort of the appeal.
Perhaps.

VEGANGELICA

So, after listening to "The Past Sure is Tense," I'm now wondering if part of its appeal to you is the use of word play and double meanings? If I made a vegan song that you actually thought was clever, would that lure you in? (I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate lyrics that you wouldn't despise).

At least I know (assuming you *are* a grindcore fan, which I think you are) that I won't have to worry about trying to make my vegan song for you pretty. --Erica

The Unfan

No, not now that you told me.

Have fun figuring that one out.

VEGANGELICA

Good. It is much easier to write a song that isn't clever. One final question, Unfan, as I consider how to make a vegan song for you...and this is a rather personal one...who are the most important people in your life? For example, I've read in one of your posts a mention of your mom. Are there any kids who are special to you (little sibling/niece/nephew)? The reason I ask, of course, is that I'm trying to find out what you care about so I can perhaps use that in a song.
--Erica

The Unfan

Me, myself, Unfan, and I.

VEGANGELICA

Four people!
I realized there was another question I hoped you can answer, probably the most important: what are the reasons you eat animals? I ask because I am trying to write songs that address all the reasons people have for eating animals, and it helps me to know what they are.
--Erica