Something In F Minor

THE ALBUM
Benjamin Russell and Rob Stuart's debut album is complete and in the pipeline to drop on January 18.

Electro Pop with songs from Rock to Dream Pop, SOMETHING IN F MINOR is an eclectic, artistic mix with meaningful and poetic lyrics covering subjects from social issues to the deeply personal.

INFLUENCES/SOUNDS LIKE:
David Bowie
Brian Eno
The Black Keys
Dead Can Dance
Imagine Dragons
The Killers
Peter Gabriel

ABOUT
Depression can wreak havoc on the best of relationships, but there's hope.

Additional vocals by Kim Stuart

ABOUT
The duo's first single, released in early 2022. It started the year off on the right foot, reaching #1 on Artefaktor Radio's Top 20.

Originally released in 1982 on Benjamin's NOTES FROM UNDERGROUND, a punk pop album, in the mid 80s, in collaboration with Tchukon bassist Harold Fisher, another version appeared on Benjamin's LIFE IN THE ICE AGE album.

Completely reimagined by Rob, this version is far and away the most electronic, pop and fun!

ABOUT
Back in the 70s, Benjamin Russell saw a watch ad in a magazine, "For the transistorized man". This inspired one of his first rock songs. In the 80s the song morphed into the Computerized Man. There were two prototypes, the first was basically the original song with just the change in title. The other, built with synths and sequencers lay dormant until now.

Enter Rob Stuart. His production wizardry has transformed COMPUTERIZED MAN #2 into the song being released now. Plug in and have some fun with the machines!

ABOUT
Written by Benjamin Russell in the late 80s, the song lay dormant, waiting for the magic touch of producer, Rob Stuart.

With nods to sci-fi classics like Bladerunner, Star Wars and Star Trek, TOUCH ME INSIDE asks, "Are you ready for the singularity?"

ABOUT
Is this real anger or just a joke? You decide. Are we all ready to stick our heads out the window and shout that we’re not going to take it any more? Will your friends and neighbours join you? Are you ready to YELL?

The first songwriting collaboration by Benjamin Russell and Rob Stuart.

ABOUT
Ever had a best friend who was holding out on you? You thought you knew each other. But you didn't.

ABOUT
SPACE was written in 1977 as a plea to Benjamin's mother to stop pretending everything was OK, and to let him help her. He performed it in his acoustic live sets. That version appears on his 2010 ROCKHILL CD.

Thanks to Rob Stuart's brilliant arrangement and production, this version of SPACE evokes the emotions he felt, better than he could have imagined. The astral, glacial space between the words.

ABOUT
The sky can save you. Some beautiful cloud formations, sunrise, sunset, even storm clouds. They give you perspective. Just look up.

ABOUT
Sometimes a friend needs cheering up. Songs can do that. Maybe this one will help.

ABOUT
Some relationships are false from the get go. They tell you they're all in but they're just getting what they can from you before they move on. What can you do?

ABOUT
Life can be surreal sometimes, don't you think? The video for the title song of this album was watched more that 25K times in the first 2 weeks from its release - kind of surreal, like the video...

ABOUT
Rob loved this song in the original version when he heard it on CFNY back when it was listed in the top songs of all time. Following an introduction from superfan, Kevin Alberga, the song became the genesis of the partnership leading to this album. First released as a single, MIRACLE 2021 (Rob Stuart's Spacial Remix), Miracle 2023 fine tunes and remasters the mix.

ABOUT
Wait - is this a song about a vampire? Just kidding (maybe)! Seriously, dissociation is a thing. If you've ever experienced it, you will recognize it in this song.

The sombre skies reflected in my eyes
The sombre skies

I'm afraid of what you're thinking
Things could change in a blink
In a moment of time
I've watched the tides as they rise
And then go sinking
Washing footprints and memories
Melting everything but skyline

You're not listening to a word I say
And there's a price we both will pay

Down there in the middle
Everything is clean
I believe there's a future
You and I together
Everything we've seen and been
We can save it

Stop and look me in the eyes
It should come as no surprise
That we're drifting apart
Let's keep our eyes on the prize
We can't restart
Dark clouds on our horizon

On the other side of that horizon
There's a place for us
The sombre skies reflected in my eyes
You can see through that can't you?
The sombre skies reflected in my eyes
They're not meant for you
Come on, you know it's true
You know it's true

The sombre skies reflected in my eyes
Aren't meant for you

I wasn't looking for a miracle
when I found it in your eyes
But there it was, it was a miracle
Right before my eyes
A moment
Taken by surprise

For just a moment, fear was in your eyes
Then it was gone, taken by surprise
Off guard

You thought you'd never by happy again
You thought your broken heart would never mend
Caught up in sorrow, didn't realize
Taken by surprise

For just a moment, you thought of alibis
Then you forgot yourself, taken by surprise
Unaware

Everybody told you, you're all alone
No such thing as love, you're on your own
You can marry for convenience, tell yourself lies
But you were taken by surprise

And I too, just like you
I thought I was wise
But I was taken, like you were taken
Yeah, we were taken by surprise
We thought we were wise
But we were taken by surprise

I wasn't looking for a miracle...

I fall asleep
To the sound
Of the machines

And I will awake
To coffee
With my machines (I'm happy)

I-I-I-I
I am the computer - computerized man

Makes me nervous
When things break down
But I can fix it - I can fix it

I am alone
In my car
With my machines

And I like to dream
Of the future
With my machines (I'm happy)

I-I-I-I
I am the computer - computerized man

There's a circuit in my soul
That helps me keep complete control
There's a circuit in my brain
That keeps me ticking, ticking, ticking, ticking
Keeps me sane

I don't panic
When systems crash
'Cause I can fix it - I can fix it

I-I-I-I
I am the computer - computerized man

Touch me!

The shadows flicker by the light of television
There's someone on the news who says we're heading for collision
I change the channel with the touch of a button
Hey, that's all they gotta do to blow us all to nothing

Back at the station they try another shot
Now that's a better angle, you can see what they got
You can get most anything if the price is right
But how can we enjoy it if we're so uptight

Baby! Give it to me straight
Shake me, wake me baby, before it's too late
Save me! I'm starting to slide
Open up this heart of mine and touch me inside

A lonely child of the video generation
Living in the future, got no anticipation
A million people living in my block
And we all think we're something but it's just a lot of talk

Baby! I'm counting on you
Shake me, wake me baby, tell me it isn't true
Save me! I'm starting to slide
Open up this heart of mine and touch me inside

I feel like a replicant in Bladerunner, a droid in Star Wars, Mr. Spock

The shadows flicker by the light of television
There's someone on the news who says we're heading for collision
I change the channel with the touch of a button
Hey, that's all they gotta do to blow us all to nothing

Baby! Give it to me straight
Shake me, wake me baby, before it's too late
Save me! I'm starting to slide
Open up this heart of mine and touch me inside

Baby! I'm counting on you
Shake me, wake me baby, tell me it isn't true
Save me! I'm starting to slide
Open up this heart of mine and touch me inside

Turn it off - and put it in your pocket
Better yet - put in a drawer, and lock it
I don't need conspiracy theories
Dump that junk and throw away the keys

It makes me mad - makes me see red
(I want to shout)
You can't believe anything that they said
(Get out)
The line of bull they're trying to sell
(Well)
Well - it makes me want to yell

Tik Tok tik - they make you think you choose it
Think you're free - but that's just how you lose it
Swipe tap click - you lose sight of the cost
And before you know it you are lost

Makes me feel hopeless and sad
(I want to shout)
Seems we're losing everything that we had
(Get out)
And this is how democracy fell
(Well)
Well - it makes me want to yell

I don't know - it might be too late
(No way)
I don't care - I won't give in to hate
(Not today)
Put down that phone and talk to a friend
(Hey friend)
Give 'em the message - our lives might depend
(Start a trend)
Start a trend, and Yell

It makes me mad - makes me see red
(I want to shout)
You can't believe anything that they said
(Get out)
Makes me feel hopeless and sad
(So bad)
Seems we're losing everything that we had
(We've been had)
And this is how democracy fell
(Well)
Well - it makes me want to yell

We were young, oh so young
So smart - we were fools
Making plans
Like we thought they'd come true
We made our own rules

Friends in low places
Leave no traces
When they're gone

We were close, oh so close
Best friends - I believed
But you hid
Your big secret from me
Oh, I felt deceived

Friends in low places
Leave no traces
When they're gone
Friends in low places

Spoken:
We were struggling to survive
Pushing boundaries to feel alive
We laughed and tried to have some fun
And forget where we came from
I didn't see it coming - did you?
I didn't have a clue
You never showed me any sign
In all that time

Friends in low places
Leave no traces
When they're gone
Friends in low places
Were there always two faces?
Memories in stasis
Friends in low places
Friends in low places
Leave no traces

It's not things you talk about
That make me feel afraid
It's the things that you don't talk about
The things that you won't talk about
The feelings you've betrayed

It's the space between the words
Where you will seldom dare
In the space between the words
There's a darkness growing there

I know there's more inside of you
And you've glimpsed it once or twice
But you shiver when you think of it
You freeze up when you think of it
Your soul's encased in ice

It's the space between the words...

Everywhere you go
You know they know
Your humiliation
But you're not talking to them
Can't you see?
Talk to me

It's the space between the words...

I’ve been up and I’ve been down
I’ve had my face rubbed in the ground
But I can laugh though I still cry
Listen close, I’ll tell you why
There’s a force that we can’t see
It touches you, it touches me
But we can glimpse it if we try
In the magnificent sky

Chorus:
The magnificent sky - it’s so big, it’s so wide
Makes me feel so small but high - the magnificent sky

I’ve heard the truth and I’ve heard lies
I’ve hear my share of alibis
I’ve hid my head down in the sand
I’ve struggled hard to understand
But through it all, one thing is clear
If you don’t listen you won’t hear
If you don’t ask, you won’t know why
Ask the magnificent sky

Ah...

Do wop wop

I dreamed you were smiling again my friend

Last night I had a dream, it's true
Last night I had a dream of you

I dreamed you were smiling again my friend

I was sad, you felt it too
You were mad, I can't blame you
You cried, felt blue
You tried, I know it's true

I dreamed you were smiling again my friend

Now sing

Do wop wop
Ah...

One day you'll see that it's just a dream
One day you'll see it's come and been

I dreamed you were smiling again my friend

Now sing
Do wop wop
Do wop dream

I gave you flowers, you gave me pain
I gave you tenderness, in vain
You took my love, you took my love
You took me for a ride

You gave me a line, I swallowed it all
You gave me emptiness, nothing at all
You took my love, you took my love
You took me for a ride

I needed you, I needed you
Gave you too much credit
I felt so bad, thought you loved me
You even said it, but you lied
You took me for a ride

I'm laughing without you
See through you now
Finally broke free of you
Somehow
Got your number, got your number
Took me for a ride

I gave you flowers, you gave me pain
I gave you tenderness, in vain
You took my love, you took my love
You took me for a ride
But I got your number, got your number
Took me for a ride

When I woke up this morning - I was still in my dream
And I just couldn't break free
All centaurs and horses and birds of prey

It was minor, something in F minor
And I just couldn't see
Something in F minor
Reminded me

I remembered my first mall - on surreal boulevard
Clockwork Orange inside me
All muzak and glitter and I freaked out

It was minor, something in F minor
Yeah, I think that's the key
Something in F minor
Could unlock me

Well it seems like I'm finding little clues everywhere
I was voguing on you
And through my fingers I saw you smile

It was minor, something in F minor
I'm beginning to see
Something in F minor
It's the key

Love is the miracle that keeps me alive
Love is the miracle, side by side
Hearts open wide - powerglide

I feel unbeatable when you say I'm good
It's unbelievable, didn't know I could
Be so understood, knock on wood

I thank God for the lifetimes
I thank you for the lifelines you throw me
I thank God for the lifetimes
I thank you for the miracle of love

I remember when it used to be so dark and lonely
I can't forget, it changed, you said you loved me only
Love me only

I thank God...