Another year, another Rubber Wizard game. This time around Kageki asked me to do more of the same style as before, and suggested La Gazza Ladra as an inspiration. I also threw in a bit of the Sailor Moon theme for good measure.

Game: Rubber Wizard Is Going Through It

For a visual novel prequel to Gooning Simulator I was given a rather long and detailed pitch, but for the jam the scope was limited to just a single flirting scene at a bar. Maybe this game will get more music later.

Game: Meeting Mistress

Sneaky stealth puzzle action

Game: Ass Without A Trace 2

A post-puzzle affection scene.

Game: Ass Without A Trace 2

A shopping theme for Gone Fishing.

Game: Gone Fishing

Jigs pitched a fishing game in the style of Animal Crossing, and specifically wanted some chill bossa nova.

Game: Gone Fishing

When Song Fight! posted the title “Repair My Heart,” I had just bought a CD-R of “royalty-free” loops (of extremely dubious origin) which came with a whole bunch of interesting beats and instrument one-shots. In particular there was a fun jungle beat which sounded like an off-kilter heartbeat to me.

So, I made a lo-fi jungle-ish track for my second Song Fight! entry.

There’s a long-running debate within Song Fight! about the legitimacy of instrumental tracks; one of the prevailing beliefs is that there’s nothing that ties an instrumental to the title, and what stops someone from entering an instrumental song for any given title, and then later entering it again for another title?

So I am quite pleased that Frankie Big Face, who was at one time one of the staunchest advocates of that above line of thinking, held up my Repair My Heart as a rare exception to that, an instrumental which could only work with that title.

Anyway, here it is as a jazz ensemble.

The Plus 5 version of Listen Close. For this version I just did it as introverted jazz and just left the angsty lyrics behind.

I didn’t update this one for Transitions because I don’t think the song says anything that needed to be said, and what few interesting musical things happen in it are better covered by the final version of Sunny Again.

Just as with I LOVE YOU, the Transitions version of this song is basically the Plus 5 version, done somewhat more competently.

Yes, that’s a musical reference to Katamari Damacy.

Lyrics: Fool In The Middle [Song Fight!, 2003]

(One, two, three four)

Life is like a riddle Stuck in the middle I have been such a fool A fool in the middle

Not so bad but not so good I don’t do the things that I should I have been such a fool A fool in the middle

Everything I do makes it worse Just a speck in the universe Have I been such a fool A fool in the middle

Everybody puts me down But they say they like having me around And that makes me a bitter fool A fool in the middle

One side pink and one side blue Purple’s gonna have to do People can be very cruel when you’re Stuck in the middle

Life is like a riddle Stuck in the middle I have been such a fool A fool in the middle

Life is like a riddle Stuck in the middle I have been such a fool A fool in the middle

Lyrics: Birds of Our Own [Song Fight!, 2001]

I always wanted a bird of my own My mother had one but it had flown Away when she opened the window To let it be free as she loved it so

She always said that it would be, “If you love someone you set them free” And I know that I would love it so And I would open the window

It’s always sad when one’s not good Being in a cage made of Norwegian wood I’d hope that someone would love me so Much as to open my window

Dooo doo doo dooo doo

I once had a man, or should I say He once had me for a single day I thought that he had loved me so But he would not open my window

I flew away in a single day He chased me but I ran away Back to a place that I could be Myself and by myself be free

I always wanted a bird of my own My mother had one but it had flown Away when she opened the window To let it be free as she loved it so

Originally for Song Fight! Live in Madison, Wisconsin, 2019

Song Fight! is a weekly-ish songwriting contest where a title is provided for everyone to write a song to. People write songs, they’re put up for a vote, somebody wins, and it’s all just a pretty good time overall.

Once a year we try to get together and do a little in-person concert where we get up on stage and perform our songs together. And part of Song Fight! Live involves a “live fight” where we’re given a title to write a song for and debut at the show.

In 2019 we went to Madison, Wisconsin, and the live fight title was The Supper Club. I was having Thoughts about Song Fight! at the time and decided to write a song about how Song Fight! as a community is a place where you should feel comfortable to express yourself in whatever way makes you most comfortable. I don’t know if anyone got that message from the song but it’s something I feel deeply all the same.

Lyrics: The Supper Club

A place where you belong, a place to sing a song Welcome to the supper club Everyone is nice, giving you advice Every night at the supper club

We take you as you are, whether near or far Just come on down on in to the supper club No-one needs your name, we’re always glad you came All are welcome at the supper club

Be the way that you want to be Comfort is what sets you free We’re your friends and your family All night long at the supper club

We’re happy when you’re glad, saddest when you’re sad Please join us at the supper club Precious fish to fry, reminder of days gone by Every Friday at the supper club

We relish when you’re here, love when you drink our beer Please relax at the supper club Have a drink or three, connecting you and me The rest of your life at the supper club

Be the way that you want to be Comfort is what sets us free We’re your friends and your family All night long at the supper club

A place where you belong, a place to sing a song Welcome to the supper club We love you through and through, it’s something old and new Please enjoy the supper club We love you at the supper club

Paige’s character theme song from Full Course.

The request for Paige’s theme from the game’s creator was that it should be “That Distant Shore” from Steven Universe, which I took to mean being a nice gentle bossa nova tune where you can relax while swaying in the breeze.

Caroline’s date scene from Full Course.

The idea I had for Full Course’s soundtrack was that each character would have a musical theme and a style, and different situations would cause one theme to play in another one’s style. I had decided that the dating scenes would be in the style of cheezy lounge jazz.

I also had started a jazz version of “Water to Wine,” Morgan’s theme, to represent their inner thoughts when alone in the restaurant, and I planned on completing it for this album, but without the impetus of completing the game it felt a bit gratuitous.

A soundtrack done for a seasons greetings video for the Trans Academy.

This was done as a stylistic riff on the front half of “Linus and Lucy” by Vince Guaraldi, with a Motown-inspired jazz sound (and an anachronistic touch of disco, as has been my tendency lately).

From “Werewolf Detective” by KDRGN, https://kayedrgn.itch.io/werewolf-detective

Game: Werewolf Detective

From “Werewolf Detective” by KDRGN, https://kayedrgn.itch.io/werewolf-detective

Game: Werewolf Detective

A preparation song from the game Pawmune

Game: Pawmune

Play Pawmune at https://sundewbry.itch.io/pawmune

Game: Pawmune

Game: Rubber Wizard is Very Busy