[005 | AUDIO] ain't nothing in this world beats a '52 Vincent and a redheaded girl

[spah]

Hey y'all.

[There's the sound of shifting and guitar strings lightly strumming on the feed.]

It's a quiet sorta evenin' for me down here on Level 3, and I felt like sharin' a tune I learnt not too long ago. If y'ain't interested, free to change the channel... so to speak. There's a story in this one, 'bout a boy and a girl and a motorcycle. Here goes.

[Engineer takes a short pause - then starts with a crisp, single strum. He then starts into Richard Thompson's 1952 Vincent Black Lightning.]



[Sean Rowe's version of the song has a lot more energy than the original, but the story's all the same: James and Red Molly meet and bond over his motorcycle, a '52 Vincent Black Lightning. They fall in love, and James warns Red Molly that he's led a live of crime since seventeen. If anything should happen to him, he'll give her his Vincent to ride.

Sadly, that day comes. James is fatally shot in a failed robbery. As he lays dying in a hospital bed, he smiles and gives the keys to his Vincent to a tearful Red Molly.

The story is short and sweet, but told with gusto and sharp, emotional lyrics. Engineer is an average singer, but his low, gravely southern voice adds to his skillful, enthusiastic guitar, especially over lines like "red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme". The guitar itself gets wild and fast between the words, and the merc's fingers pace every time.

The song ends with one last strum down the strings, and Engineer lets it reverberate for a while. Silence passes as the sound fades, and he laughs, nearly impressed with himself.]

Alright for my first net-wide performance.

Comments

Voice

[searchingforlove]

[Manuela closes her eyes to list to the song. It isn't a style she's familiar with but that's alright. It's the lyrics she pays close attention to and how meaningful they are. The story is a sad one and by the end she has to gently make sure she's not shedding a tear. Well, at least he won't see that. That's a relief.]

Why, that was lovely. May I ask what the song is called? There was so much emotion to the words that it was moving.

[spah]

Whoop. Probably should've mentioned the name first. S'called "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" by a fella named Richard Thompson. Kind've a mouthful, but you get the idea.

[searchingforlove]

I'm not familiar with these things called motorcycles but I don't think that takes away from the story at all.

[spah]

Basically, it's a two-wheel vehicle. People also call 'em "bikes."Gained a reputation for being a troublemaker's sorta ride, especially in my time. [See: The Hells Angels.] You're right, though, story still stands.

You sing these kinda songs a lot?

[searchingforlove]

A bike... [She still can't picture it but she can always ask around about this sort of thing later.]

I do. Songs with stories have always been my favorites. They give so much emotion and draw you in. Maybe that's what drew me to the opera.

[spah]

Usually are. A lot of folk songs are like that too. Tell some kinda story or moral, usually from down-on-their-luck kinda people.

Guess that's another reason why I like opera too.

video

[braverpath]

[Slowly overcoming his fear of the Network as of late, Yoshimitsu pauses when he comes across this video. The instrument this man carries is reminiscent of a shamisen but the style of it looks so uniquely foreign. While he does possess a love for music, Yoshimitsu doesn’t get to indulge often. So, he eagerly listens to this melancholy song, the somber moral behind it winning his intrigue.

He doesn't dare interrupt as this live stream continues. The ninja holds his silence as he sits at the window of his abode. There's not much to see on his end since the lights are off, but the faint glow of the city highlights his face. He was in the middle of contemplation when he found this recording but now, he forgot what he was thinking about.

Once the stream ends, he offers them a bit of praise.]

A rather somber debut.

[He answers with a faint smile.]

But you'll hear no complaints from me.

[permavoice] engie's post is also audio!

[spah]

Hah. 'Preciate it.

[Engineer stays on audio, but he recognizes the man on video's voice... sort of. It's one of many he's heard on the network over the months, he's just never happened to actually talk to this one until now. There's a smile to his voice on the other end:]

I got happier songs, if it helps. I just like the string on this one. I'm technically coverin' a cover - the fella I'm basin' this off's just doin' his own version of the original. But his guitarwork's somethin' else. Wanted to try somethin' similar.

Re: [permavoice] whoops! my mistake

[braverpath]

[Yoshimitsu pleasantly surprised when he hears the reply. He's more used to seeing the text on the screen rather than hearing an actual voice.]

Anyone can sing of happier times but it takes true talent to sing of melancholy.

[Wise words from someone who's too acquainted with sorrow.]

Guitarwork? [That wins a curious hum.] So that's a guitar.

I can't say I'm familiar with that kind of instrument but you seem to play it well. It reminds me of what my father used to play.

no biggie!

[spah]

Reckon you're right.

[Engineer hums. He idly plucks at a few strings.]

Yep. This here's usually what they sound like. There's all types of ways to play one, though.

What kinda instrument you thinkin' of? That your father played, I mean.

[braverpath]

The shamisen.

[The one instrument that Yoshimitsu couldn't master. While many didn't know of the Manji Clan’s love for the arts, his father was one of the few greats hailing from the Fujimoto region at the time. Both his parents were artistically inclined despite their more nefarious work.]

He tried to teach me many times in the past but I preferred the noisy clamor of the taiko.

[His smile his hidden but it can be felt within his words.]

Do all guitars possess six strings?

[He noticed that difference from earlier.]

The shamisen only has three.

[audio]

[biotictouch]

[ She's heard this song before. But never acoustically, much less played on anything other than a lossy file. There's a sincere smile in her voice. ]

Ever still, so full of talent and surprises.

[spah]

Ahh, I wouldn't say that.

[He laughs.]

But I appreciate it. You heard this one before? [He's guessing so, if Moira's ahead of his time.] S'from... 1991, I think. And the version I heard's from 2014.

[biotictouch]

I have.

A twenty four year gap is quite a long while. I've heard the original, but compared to an .mp3 file about a hundred years old, I think I prefer your version much better.

[ There's a wistful note to her tone. ]

Besides. I'd only ever heard it from a Scotsman. I think your accent adds a lot to it.

[spah]

It's funny, the version I heard's from a New York fella coverin' the original. But he's got one of those deep, rumblin's kinda voices you usually heard from Southern crooners.

here's a historic backtag

[biotictouch]

That sounds like it'd be interesting.

I can always appreciate a good, rich accent; all things considered.

vidya

[good_bamf_ugly]

[McCree's relaxing in his bed in a tank top and pajama pants and he opens his video response to a slow clap, precariously balancing his device between his knees. There is nothing he didn't like about this performance.]

Shoot, I think I just fell in love.

Did a lot of justice to that classic. You know A Horse With No Name?

[permavoice]

[spah]

I'll be sure to pass that off to Richard Thompson.

[Engie laughs.]

Sure do. That's actually a new one where I come from... that's by that band America, right?

[good_bamf_ugly]

[McCree also laughs.] By America in America. That's the one.

[spah]

Sounds about right. It's 1972 where I come from, so some stuff's pretty darn recent for me. Like The Godfather.

One kid 'round here recommended I catch up on songs from the Eagles.

voice

[extalon]

Well if the engineering thing doesn't work out, you could have a second career as a musician. That was good.

[spah]

Y'think so? Maybe I can be the next Waylon Jennings.

How you been, Jean?

[extalon]

Been pretty good, just busy.

[Which is how he kind of likes it.]

What about you? How's business?

[spah]

Ain't too bad, ain't too bad. You get a lot of dang interestin' projects when you live on an interdimensional crossroad, I'll tell ya that.

And I can imagine. You head up that clinic with Angela Ziegler, right?

[extalon]

Yes. And I work security at the Flux for Hanzo Shimada. I'm also attending school to get an official medical license in this world. [So he's been very busy.]