Alibis

Well..I don't really have one. Sorry for not updating this in forever. Here is a new song! I'm excited because it's been awhile since I've had the energy to see a project through. Turns out "alibis" is pretty hard to say...sorry about the weird vowels...

Here's the link - click, or you can just download.

Here!

Just Another Monday

Hey guys! Sorry for the long hiatus.  More stuff coming soon, promise! For now I'll leave you with this lovely tid bit.  Jeremy Star, one of my best friends and a very talented rap artist, asked me to collaborate on this project. Lyrics and music by clicking the link.

http://www.yournamehere.co.nz/jeremy/

Red-eye to Boston

This is song from 2008 (also not a stellar recording) but I'm posting it because a special someone is taking a red-eye and will be in Boston tomorrow! Yay!

V1: You don't believe in riding coach or stopping 'long the way, but I can't count the number of times I've been stalled down in LA. I just can't bring myself to spend the extra buck or two, so I'm always on the red-eye when I'm coming back to you. Chorus 1: Red-eye to Boston Quiet at 6am But I know you, and you'll never be up to see me before 10 So I pack my bags and call a cab And when the night is blue I'll be flying through the starry sky, coming back to you. V2: You don't believe in telling lies It's admirable, it's true So I won't pretend that I can keep my backs as green as you Gotta play some gigs and bum a ride and fly under the moon Yes, I'm always on the red-eye but at least I'll see you soon [out of tune EWWW]

Chorus 2: Red-eye to Boston Quiet at 6am And all I can think's how good it will be to see your face again I'm on the red-eye to Boston and when the night is blue I'll be flying through the starry sky coming back to you Bad bridge: Coz it's tough to be a mistress to this devil we call life and I'll drive 'round in his beemer, but I'm not going to be the wife And I guess that means the sometimes Gotta fly under the moon Yes, I'm always on the red-eye but at least I'll see you soon Chorus 3 : Red-eye to Boston Quiet at 6am And all I can think's how good it will be to see your face again I'm on the red-eye to Boston and when the night is blue I'll be flying through the starry sky coming back to you

Sha la la do be do

Yup that's the name of the song

Hold my hand don't break my heart I can see that from the start We weren't meant to be apart Sha la la la la I could write some poetry and hope you fall in love with me Or maybe a soliloquy Sha la la la la Sha la la do be do Hold me hand don't break my heart And let's be happy from the start Perfect just like apple tart Sha la la la la One day when we're old and gray I'll look at you and then I'll say I'm happy things worked out this way Sha la la la la Sha la la do be do

Hold my hand don't break my heart I can see that from the start We weren't meant to be apart Sha la la la la One day when we're old and gray I'll look at you and then I'll say I'm happy things worked out this way Sha la la la la Sha la la do be do

Oh là là

I wrote this song when I lived in Belgium (in 2005/6), but I never recorded it because I thought it would take too long.  Well, it did take most of the day, but here's a rough draft.

Again..it's all Garage Band, so only the built in mic...sorry!  I also wish I sounded more like Gwen Stefani...le sigh

also..really sorry I put autoplay=false...but it seems to be having a bad day...

Yeah....that's dumb...here's a link

http://web.mit.edu/tesswise/Public/New%20Tess%20Music/Oh%20l%E0%20l%E0.mp3

So you're back With a smile upon your face You're still searching For the spoils from the race And you're looking Half-way decent now-a-days It's a shame I only knew your darker phase There's a smile On the corners of your lips And you think You'll charm my hands right off my hips So come in And we can open up some wine And let's talk About the passages of time And oh là là Let's go sit 'round the table And I'll try not to say That I just don't think you're able To love and be loved And to drink from the chalice Without choking on the lye Without shifting the balast

You should know From the fire in my eyes That's it's over No use waiting til sunrise It was good But every good thing has it's end Drain your glass And I'll toast to you my friend And oh là là Let's go sit 'round the table And I'll try not to say That I just don't think you're able To love and be loved And to drink from the chalice Without choking on the lye Without shifting the balast And oh là là Let's go sit 'round the table And I'll try not to say That I just don't think you're able To love and be loved And to drink from the chalice Without choking on the lye Without shifting the balast

Stardust

Since I'm home I had a piano and wrote a new song. I didn't have my good microphones so I did it all in Garage Band.  Sorry!

Look as the city lights fade away and leave black space I wished on an airplane as it hurried to some place And I wonder where these dreams go when we're dead and when we're gone? Winners and losers we'll all be singing the same song. She's waiting on inspiration. She's waiting on faith. She wants to close her eyes and be blown into outer space. Shimmering softly she can light up the human race. Turn into stardust in her place of eternal grace.

Look as the city lights fade away and leave black space I wished on an airplane as it hurried to some place And where do these dreams go when we're dead and when we're gone? Winners and losers we'll all be singing the same song.

Monday ughhh

Nothing like trying to make up for the end of term craziness by wearing happy clothes...

Solo!

So this is a video from the Chorallaries' Spring Concert 2009! It was my first real solo - I didn't quite nail it, but I did okay =).  I also arranged the song. =)

Friday

Viva le weekend (and the sunshine)!!!

DIY Necklace

I've been looking for the perfect necklace for a few months now with little success.  This isn't it, but at least it didn't cost me anything.  Not to be too cheesy...but I like how the pieces sorta correspond to some of the main parts of my life. 

Thursday

Guess what?! I got a job for the summer! Now I can make some money and buy a real camera...maybe a tripod too.

(oh...and I've already started the shoe wish list...)

Grace

Lookie!!! A new song!

I got a new mp3 player!!! Isn't it cute?!

This song is about growing up.

She was only 17 She had her life left to lead Well I don't know her any more She left and she slammed the back door And now everything has turned to gray And I don't have any words left to say And where did she go? I think I lost her somewhere in the show Now well, I've fallen out of grace Far from your sweet wide-eyed face Well I ain't see the worst of this place And I've got no excuses again So turn your collar up against the wind Hold your breath until the lights grow dim And wait until the picture's drawn Coz maybe she's in there and maybe she's gone

Oooh well I've fallen out of grace Oooh well I've fallen out of grace Oooh well I've fallen out of grace Coz she was only 17 She had her life left to lead And where did she go? I think I lost her somewhere in the show. I think I lost her somewhere in the show. I think I lost her somewhere in the show.

Sunday

I found this skirt at a store called "Valley Girl" in Wellington, New Zealand.  It has little hearts all over it.  Also, you can't see it, but the shoes are pretty worn to death...I just love them too much to retire them...

Saturday

Sorry not to post until today.  I got distracted by the Ben Folds/Sara Bareilles concert (yes, it was awesome!).

Color-spiration

What are your favourite colour palettes? 

Friday

You're going to see these shoes a lot.  I *LOVE* these shoes.  

I promise I'll wear some new colours tomorrow. But I do love this pallet...

Also, some day I will get a new camera and stop using PhotoBooth.

Thursday

Okay.  I know it seems pretty self-absorbed, so I won't pretend that it's not. I just realized that a lot of my inspiration for outfits comes from various people's "fashion diaries" and I thought I'd give back.  Also, maybe I'll finally figure out what looks good on me.  Don't worry I'll still use this blog for music.  Actually I was thinking that might be a nice way to "diary myself'" - music and clothes! Okay...Here it goes!

Oh high school....

I was 15 when I wrote this.

Invisible Girl

Viewin' the world from behind a shaggy hairdo He looks like Cleopatra's Anthony. He doesn't care much 'bout school or doin' homework Takes life in stride, say's that's the way it's supposed to be. CHORUS: Do do do Doesn't notice me do do do doesn't really see do do do way too cool for me Coz I'm invisible girl Riding his bike up and down the street he looks so cool with those skater shoes Smiles at me, but I can see he doesn't know me I'm just another face to confuse

Chorus X2 BRIDGE: And when walks He walks right past me And when he smiles He smiles right through me If only I could catch his eye, he'd see but Chorus X2 as before... I saw him, three years later on Stopped to talk, said he'd known me all along but when he asked me what my name was I knew that things would be the same coz: Chorus X2 as before

I know...it's been a while

This is from 2007.  I promise I'll write some new stuff once the semester's over..

Sideways I've been searching The whole world over Callin' sideways Will you hear me out, hear me out? I've been racing Down your byways Callin' sideways Will you hear me out, hear me out? Coz I can hardly breathe without you And I'll do whatever you want to I've been searching Readin' my lines Callin' sideways Will you hear me out, hear me out. February's just the name we call that time when we let it out let it out. Coz I can hardly breathe without you And I'll do whatever you want to Can't move up and Can't move down and Callin' sideways Will you hear me out, hear me out?

Can't move up and Can't move down and Callin' sideways Will you hear me out, hear me out? Coz I can hardly breathe without you And I'll do whatever you want to Do do do Can't move up and Can't move down and Callin' sideways Will you hear me out, hear me out? Can't move up and Can't move down and Callin' sideways Will you hear me out, hear me out? Coz I can hardly breathe without you And I'll do whatever you want to

La la la

My computer's getting fixed so I thought I'd post another vintage song. Originally written in 2003(I think..) I rewrote the words and added some new parts in 2008.

La la la la la la la la la la la la I've seen you before At the bar just down the street You always smile when I walk past And what would it take to make you buy me a drink or maybe talk to me at last? I'll wear those shoes I'll wear that dress I'll even try to do my hair But sometimes I think that no matter what I do You'd continue not to care So I won't go writing love songs for you baby Make a dramatic tragedy No I won't go writing love songs for you honey but I might just sing la la la la la la Well let me say that my heart still skips a beat every time I catch your eye but I'm too scared to just tell you how I feel Any time you walk by

So I won't go writing love songs for you baby Make a dramatic tragedy No I won't go writing love songs for you darling but i might just sing sing sing sing la la la la la la I'll keep dreaming of the day when you stop and look my way, and I can finally something, but I don't know what to say to you... la la la I've seen you before at the bar just down the street you always smile when I walk past And what would it take to make you buy a drink and maybe talk to me at last? la la la la la la la la la

New mp3 player

Hey guys! I'm trying a new mp3 player - it should help the page load faster.  Let me know if you have any problems =)

-tess

Blurry

This time I even managed to make it stereo !

Blurry You Lying on the bed Listenin' to the music playing in your head And you Always seem so sad And I can never Never understand How Did we get this far? When we're always cryin' at night Well, I wouldn't change where we are So I guess we're doing something right Coz in this blurry world Somehow you're always so clear And I can't help but thinkin' It's all just a game my dear, my dear And I'm staring at the pictures Relivin' it all in my mind Putting together the pieces Make this feel less like we're flying blind Coz in this blurry world Somehow you're always so clear And I can't help but thinkin' It's all just a game my dear, my dear And I'm tryin' to love you Yeah I'm tryin' to love you Oo I'm tryin' to love you Yeah I'm tryin' to love you Love you

You Lying on the bed Listenin' to the music playing in your head And you Always seem so sad And I can never Never understand Coz in this blurry world Somehow you're always so clear And I can't help but thinkin' It's all just a game my dear, my dear And I'm tryin' to love you Yeah I'm tryin' to love you Oo I'm tryin' to love you Yeah I'm tryin' to love you And I'm tryin' to love you Yeah I'm tryin' to love you Oo I'm tryin' to love you Yeah I'm tryin' to love you Love you

Ghosts

I used the Mbox and a real mic! Also...2 sentences might not be enough lyrics...heh.

Ghosts And I would walk the world to be with you. Da na na na.

Sometimes I feel as if I'm looking at our ghosts, and I might wake and find our lives were this ("games" 2nd time) at most.

Vintage Tess : Nightmares (2006)

I wrote this in 2006.  It's not the best quality recording (sorry!) but it's on the top of my list of songs to "redo" with better background/vocals/percussion/instruments etc... What do you think?

Nightmares It's stormy this September and I'm sitting on my balcony Watching the flames of streetlights flicker 'cross a black sea and there's a song on the radio some sweet old melody that reminds me that I'm all alone but I don't know where I'd like to be do do do it's a long way to California To bury my toes in the sad And all the dreams of dreamtown Won't turn it into the promised land So let's keep on building mansions buy up the land of the free I'll be turning the pages of my paperback to escape from this reality do do do

CHORUS: And the man on the street Says it's time to go back to 1959 Well, I've never been there, and I'm stuck around here Wonderin' what to make of my own time They'll keep fighting their wars They'll keep paying their whores and we'll all sleep tight at night And when all of our worst nightmares come true Maybe we'll just give up the fight. do do do Some people turn to Jesus Some turn on their computer screen Some hide behind their poety with only their music for company. And my song plays on the radio That sweet old melody Makes me think of candlelight and street lamps on a black sea CHORUS X2 And when all of my worst nightmares come true, maybe I'll just give up the fight.

Angry Song

Chris said to write a punk song

I'm not actually angry...it's just hard to write happy punk songs....

Angry Song It was simple at the start I never thought that you would break my heart But here I am, burning letters And writing angry songs Push the pins into this voodoo doll I hope that you fall off a wall While I wait I'll delete your emails And write some angry songs It's okay I'm okay It's okay It's all okay Well here it goes It's simple and it's plain I hoped that you would share the blame But here I am, removing you from photos And writing angry songs

They say it's okay You're okay They say it's okay It's all okay I'm writing angry songs I'm writing angry songs I'm writing angry songs It's all okay It's all okay I'm writing angry songs It's all okay I'm writing angry songs It's all okay I'm writing angry songs

Passing Cars

I decided to try something different

Passing Cars We're Passing Cars Watching Lights Fade Away And We're So Afraid So Alone So Confused Ooo All I want is you Ooo All I want is you

We're Stealing Looks Turning Heads Other Ways And who Will be First To Give in Say it's Okay Ooo All I want is you Ooo All I want is you

Love Song for Someone

Originally this song was called "Love Song for No One"

I actually wrote this last year, but only recorded it this year.  

Love Song for Someone Baby I don't want to say The way you make me feel Like no one else is in the room Like no one else is real And when we kiss It's like fireworks On the fourth of July So I'm thanking All my lucky stars You're mine 'Coz any fool can fall in love They say it happens all the time Then you find you're on your own No one there to ease your mind But when we kiss Oh I feel like I could fly So I'm thanking All my lucky stars You're mine

'Coz I've been around And I know how it feels Holdin' out for dreams That you don't believe are real And I've rolled my dice And I've taken a chance or two So I think this time I might take a chance On you But when we kiss Oh I feel like I could fly So I'm thanking All my lucky stars You're mine

Haircut!

So if you're interested in my music...you're probably interested in me as well.

I just got a haircut today.  Nothing drastic there, just tidied things up.  The drastic part, for those who know me, is that my hair is the longest it's been since I was....8? I'm also trying out a slightly different colour (or a very different colour depending on when you last saw me).  Sorry that the picture is mirrored - I used photobooth. 

Coffee

This song needs a better title. Any ideas?

Just a short jazz sketch

Coffee I couldn't sleep So went out walking The dogs were quiet And the streets were calm I rested my head for a minute and I heard a voice asking Who Who could have done you wrong? I couldn't sleep So I started making coffee I pour the milk Like a tornado in a cup I raised the cup to my lips and I heard a voice asking Who Who could have set you up?

I couldn't sleep So went out walking The dogs were quiet And the streets were calm I rested my head for a minute and I heard a voice asking Who Who could have done you wrong?

Postcard

First song of 2009

Think film noir - or the end credits from a thriller

Postcard Oh my love Do you remember That summer day Aux Tuilieries We watched the ducks Then you said Let's run away Let's run away So here I am Somewhere North of L.A. Feeding the ducks And watching the people Like a bad B-grade movie But isn't this life? Isn't this life?

Oh my love I wrote you a postcard There wasn't much space To put down my thoughts To put down my dreams So I drew a chair And left it at that Left it at that So here I am Somewhere North of L.A. Feeding the ducks And watching the people Like a bad B-grade movie But isn't this life? Isn't this life?

Ironic In the Aftermath

Last song of 2008

Ironic In the Aftermath And here we go And here we go We're counting our dreams, Counting our dreams again It seems It seems And I don't know How long they go Those unraveling seams The pieces are falling apart And oh I'll sit and contemplate our fate Maybe buy A needle and thread So it will be Even more ironic in the aftermath They'll you had it all Why didn't you just sew it back?

They'll tie our hands With golden bands That once were a part A piece or some art Or maybe not mmm So here we are We'll show our scars At art galleries With sewing machines and thread And oh We'll sit and contemplate our fate Maybe buy A needle and thread So it will be Even more ironic in the aftermath They'll say you had it all Why didn't you just sew it back?