Who knows how true these are, but the confessional or angry letter format have a real feel to them.
-I wonder, if the letter had been about a girl that was raped, but the accused had denied culpability, would you have questioned it so? Would you have mentioned how much she received for writing it?
Excellent observation and question. We are moved every which way by good writing. I'm aware of how I am manipulated by good writing and compelling stories. The more we identify with the story, the more we are likely to believe it - so you make a good point. (I was a little disbelieving because the treatment of the boy seemed pretty harsh given he was only 15 and self-described as shy.) I read several of the letters posted by The Guardian - mostly about affairs - a woman writing to her ex-lover's wife, a woman writing to her husband about her ex-lover. They were very well written and I found myself questioning them immediately - even though they were by women, so I'm not sure gender is the only factor in believability. I imagine, though, that all the letters are true. I try not to be taken in by good stories. I liked the boy's letter and my point was, it doesn't matter whether it's true or not - he tells an excellent story that should be taught in school. Anything that is published could be fiction. In fact, as soon as it is written, it becomes fictionalized because writing from life is not the same as life: writing always involves choosing details and our perceptions are deeply subjective. When I found out that The Guardian pays for letters, I felt like writing one or making one up. I actually probably have dozens of letters in my journals that I could send. I actually did once write a letter to my lover's wife. {NOTE: tng - long, long ago in a galaxy far away).
This "story" deserves a far better effort, but in the short time I had, I could only muster this: edit: ghostoffuffle, T-Dog, jonaswildman, coffeesp00ns, BLOB_CASTLE, theholywombat, rezzeJ -feel free to add to it if you'd like. I was a boy and I left a monster
You could see the shift as they left my porch
Just a child and they ripped me open
She still smiled at me from the third row All my friends
They stood by me
---- I was just a boy back then
(my monster)
I left it pretty basic intentionally. Let me know if there's anything your ear hears over this.
This sounds great! It's perfect, I couldn't imagine anything different. Great work BC! I'm excited to hear more added to it. ghostoffuffle, jonaswildman, rezzeJ, T-Dog, have a listen to this one with B_C's bowed bass. Anyone want to add to it?
I'm glad you thought so too. I thought about adding another layer toward the end, but had decided against it.
I dig it, a lot! This is going in a very cool direction imo. I think the song needs the addition of drums when your bass part comes in the first time. Then a big building drum part that can cut in to a beat mid way through the end part, when your bass starts doing more rhythmic stuff and less "buildy" stuff. If any drummers are willing to tackle this piece (I obviously didn't use a click), then please... go for it. rezzeJ and jonaswildman -any interest? If not, I'll take a stab at it, but I'd prefer a better drummer. Great work T-Dog, it compliments B_C's bowed bass well. shout-out to ghostoffuffle
I'm hearing some sultry bowed upright on this one edit: Maybe sultry wasn't the most appropriate word...
I wouldn't mind this being taught in Sex Ed in schools but I would like to see by its side a letter from a person (of any gender) who truly had been raped and what they went through. We should educate people not to falsely report crimes and how damaging it is. But we should also educate people about how truly awful those crimes are - which, of course, is why it is so devastating to be wrongfully accused of them.