✵ Linksom Rechtsom

1 week ago by @max

Liner Notes

https://studio273.bandcamp.com/track/linksom-rechtsom
Over 20 years of participating in February Album Writing Month (FAWM), I’ve developed a workflow that allows me to quickly create a decent recording of a freshly written song. My process always starts with guitar chords and humming a melody. Once a few words come to mind the songcrafting starts.
Despite all the digital possibilities out there, I prefer to keep things pure by using real instruments. I print the lyrics in large text, hang them above a camera, and play the song several times in a row. Usually, the fourth or fifth take is good enough. Thanks to FAWM, I’ve learned not to dwell too long on whether something is "perfect."

Next, I separate the one-take audio track from the video and load it into a mixing program. Most of the effects I use are already preset. Then I record additional vocal tracks and layer in more instruments like guitar, banjo, piano, and keyboard. Once the mix sounds decent, I sync it back with the video footage. Each year, I choose a different color theme for my two-tone videos.

If a song is recorded this way during FAWM, it’s done. After FAWM, I usually end up with three or four keepers, which I test live on stage. Songs often grow and evolve during live performances, but I never rerecord them. Around 90% of the songs I’ve written over the past 20 years were created during FAWM—simple and effective.

These days, I use ChatGPT to check my lyrics for grammar and spelling mistakes and to give suggestions. In the past, I relied on native-speaking FAWMers for this.
The audio mix I upload to Bandcamp is the same as the one in the videos. My style is defined by one-take, single-mic recordings with additional vocals and instruments.
Here's a quicky to release the anger.
#dutch #political #folkpunk

Lyrics

Je kan het mooi vertellen
maar je bent gewoon een lul
het enige wat jij wilt
is dat ik jouw zakken vul
Je hebt maar één belang
en dat moet heel snel gehaald
Koste wat het kost
in harde pegels uitbetaald

Linksom, rechtsom
Je praat alles krom
en je krijgt je gelijk
want de meerderheid is dom

Ze trappen er in
zeg maar dikke bult
nu je aan de macht bent
is het echt hun eigen schuld
Maar laat mij met rust
ook al leidt je het land
met infantiel geleuter
vul jij nu de krant

Linksom, rechtsom
Je praat alles krom
en je krijgt je gelijk
want de meerderheid is dom

Linksom, rechtsom
Je praat alles krom
en je krijgt je gelijk
want de meerderheid is dom

Met verworven rechten
ga jij flink aan de haal
Het maakt je niks uit
je plukt de mensen kaal
Je hebt lak aan alles
je vermogen groeit en groeit
Er is werkelijk niks anders
wat jouw ook maar iets boeit

Linksom, rechtsom
Je praat alles krom
en je krijgt je gelijk
want de meerderheid is dom

En mijn moeder zei altijd
vrijheid slaat zomaar om

Plots zijn wij verloren
en wie is er dan dom?

Left or Right

You can tell a good story,
but you’re just a total jerk.
The only thing you want
is for me to fill your pockets.
You have just one priority,
and it needs to happen fast.
No matter the cost,
as long as it pays in cold, hard cash.

Left or right,
you twist every word.
And you get your way,
because the majority is dumb.

Left or right,
you twist every word.
And you get your way,
because the majority is dumb.

They fall for it,
too bad for them.
With you in power,
it’s really their own fault.
But leave me alone,
even if you run the country.
With your childish nonsense,
you fill the papers headlines.

Left or right,
you twist every word.
And you get your way,
because the majority is dumb.

You don’t care about
human rights
You don’t care,
you strip people down to nothing.
You have no shame,
your fortune just keeps growing.
There’s truly nothing else
that matters to you.

Left or right,
you twist every word.
And you get your way,
because the majority is dumb.

And my mother always said,
freedom can turn in an instant.

Suddenly, we are lost—
and they call us fools.

Some rights reserved. TIMAXTAN™ studio273amsterdam™.
© Max Vanremmerden / vanremmerdenmusic 2025.
fawm.org/@max

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