“Leaving Millie” is an interesting addition to the theme of Kroc’s life (my source material for this “Kroc’s Symphony” experiment; see also Retribution and The Journey).  In spring 2005, Kroc shared with me a series of remarkable stories.  One of the recurring characters in these stories was a girl named “Millie,” and she is the inspiration for this song.

My hope for this was to accomplish several things.  I wanted a piece that sounded pretty and pleasant (not dark or dreary), but I didn’t want to go so far as “happy,” per se.  I wanted it to be the kind of song you could contemplate to.  I also wanted it to start simple, but progress into a more complex ending that stayed true to the simpleness of the melody.  It’s designed to be a sort of musical conundrum.  :)  I’m rather fond of it.

Again, thanks go out to Kroc for all he’s done to help me out.  This song, as well as The Journey and Retribution, are my small way of saying thanks.

By popular request, I have also included a “live piano” version of this piece.  In this version the piano track was recorded as MIDI through my keyboard and recreated via soundfont – so it’s not entirely “live”, but the notes are an exact replica of me at my keyboard.  In my opinion, this version has more grandeur than the all-electronic version, and although there are some dissonant notes at the end (oops!), I find this to be a nice improvement on an already excellent song.

(Originally posted on THIS 1.0 on 12 Aug 2005)

Note: The original “Faith” can be found here: http://www.tannerhelland.com/music/song-faith/

I’ve played with many ideas for adding a melody to “Faith’s” original simple vi-IV-I-V (or i-VI-III-VII in natural minor) progression, but invariably none of them were epic enough to match the scope and majesty of the original arrangement.  Eventually I settled on a couple ideas that I liked, so I decided to arrange the song in a more peaceful, quiet setting.  Thus we get “Faith’s” Love Remix.

The key to writing a good remix is to maintain enough of the original that it sounds familiar, but to add enough new/changed material that it’s not just a rip-off variation.  I wanted this to be a literal “re-mixing” of the original “Faith” theme and I’m pleased with how it turned out.  Nothing spectacularly technical here – just some simple arrangements of a couple simple themes.  Nothing as majestic as the original, but – then again – a sequel never is, eh?

(Originally posted on THIS 1.0 on 25 Apr 2005)

Of all the songs I’ve written, I think this one may be the best match for title and song.  I don’t know where the inspiration for the title “Deserve to be Loved” came from…which is probably why it fits so well.  Creativity is weird like that.

I can’t speak for everyone, but I’d venture to say that most adults have experienced a time in life where they felt like they deserved to be loved by someone that didn’t grant the same.  (If you haven’t felt such an emotion, consider yourself extremely lucky.)  This is the song that plays as you walk down a rainy street, alone and tired and cold and angry and confused, wondering why you ever fell for him/her in the first place.  And yet the love is still there and you deserve to be loved.

I think you’ll really like this song, especially after you’ve been dumped.  Seems to fit that kind of mood…

(Originally posted on THIS 1.0 on 24 Apr 2005)