Conditional Dance from Little Canyons by Timmy Vigilante

So, when I wrote this song, it didn't really have the meaning it ended up having for me in Cedar Springs, but I think therein it became clearly about accepting that you have a condition (Depression, in my case), and not letting that define you. But the lyrics are certainly dark, even if it's very fun to dance to. I guess I switch into disco more or less only when I'm feeling morbid.

My first version of this song used the protools drum sample, "Disco Drums 126" and while it was really fun to play, it felt like it was missing something, and I didn't think I'd include it on this album. As it began regaining meaning to me, I experimented with recording it again. I ran a drum machine into my direct box and increased the tempo to around 140/145, going absolutely insane with making a dance beat for about ten minutes. I then took only what I could use and proceeded to record the mandola. Then, I recorded the keyboard bass, and began to build.

In Belize, I was working on the song while driving to the Blue Hole, and I wanted to try out the Funkbox app. I ended up replacing my drum machine experiment with the funk box drums, which I was really excited about. When I got home, I spent a few hours singing the song. Over. And over. And doing stomps and claps. Lots of harmonies. The whole time I was dancing, which felt, ya know, appropriate. I wanted the song to have energy, and to convince people that they should dance. If they want to. And leave their friends behind.

Tracklist

11.	Conditional Dance	3:30

Lyrics

Chords: A////A////D////C//G//
Actual guitar part somewhat more complicated, involves a funky c shape thrown in on the three and four of the A's, only in the verse, if you cover this, you'll either figure it out or just decide not to do it.

Well it's nothing dreadful serious
Just a common cold I'm sure
But oh I'll take my medicine
Oh I'll take your word
I will see a doctor
I will try to calm your nerves
Not a cause to cause alarm
But I'll double cross my t's
And double cross the yard

Dance dance dance like you got a condition
I wanna see you move, I wanna see you
Give no thought to your inhibition
I wanna see you move, I wanna see you move

Interlude: A////A////D////F#//F//x2
back to normal

I've got a picture of my head
And a picture of my heart
Marked it up the color red
We marked it in the car
Flip a coin to tell the kids
We've got another set of chores
But I'll do them on my own
Yes I'll do them all alone

EVERYBODY NOW!
Chorus
Interlude
Solo
Chorus, chorus, play out.

Credits

from Little Canyons, released March 14, 2015
Timmy Vilgiate: Mandola, Bass, Accordion, Organ, Glockenspiel, Voices, Guitar, Recording.
Elijah Petty: Mixing, Mastering.

Special thanks to the nation of Belize, for being warm, humid, and a good place to make disco.

License