I wrote most of the music for "Emergency" on August 29, 2012. Written in drop-D guitar tuning, I also wrote the music for fellow drop-D Mission Of Mercy song "Asylum" on the same day. After releasing Plaid On Flannel's debut album Fairbairn Meadows on July 1, 2012, I wrote a lot of songs that summer. Towards the end of this writing season, I wanted to create heavier tunes that I could play with a rock and roll band in the future. The writing of "Emergency" started with the thunderous guitar riff that's repeated throughout the song. To me, the guitar riff reminded me of an earthquake. Or some kind of natural disaster. I kept that in mind as I started recording the Mission Of Mercy album on September 4, 2012. A couple of months later, Hurricane Sandy hit the United States. It was the deadliest and costliest hurricane in the U.S. at the time. There was a ton of public outcry and tributes that followed. After this happened, I knew what the tune "Emergency" was going to be about. Natural disasters. Even though the song didn't have a title yet. But I thought of this because the guitar riff sounds like a natural disaster. And the lyrics should reflect the way the music sounds.
I had produced 12 songs for the Mission Of Mercy album before I started recording "Emergency" on February 13, 2013. At that point, I had finally figured out the chorus for the tune. As well as the guitar riffs in the middle and end of the song. The lyrics for "Emergency" were written on February 15, 2013. As I said before, the tune is about natural disasters. Earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes, tsunamis, etc. "Emergency" really addresses the effects of global warming. Especially with the line "Traveling an endangered world".
The bass guitar follows the regular guitar during the main riff and choruses of "Emergency". But during the verses, the bass is slapped. This slap bass gives the song a funk rock groove during these parts. It provides some dynamic balance in an otherwise alternative metal type of tune. To further that balance, I also added 3-part vocal harmonies to the verses and choruses of "Emergency". These extra elements were implemented to make the song sound as original as possible. Because I largely borrow from Black Sabbath in "Emergency". The finishing guitar riff over top of the regular riff sounds like Tony Iommi's finishing guitar riff in Black Sabbath's "War Pigs". Although "Emergency" doesn't have an official guitar solo section to the tune, there's lots of lead guitar fills throughout the entire song.
I finished recording "Emergency" on February 22, 2013. The entire Mission Of Mercy album was released on May 20, 2013. After I moved to Toronto from Peterborough in September of 2013, the Plaid On Flannel band started on February 15, 2014 as a 3-piece. "Emergency" was part of the first batch of my original songs that I brought to the band. We always played "Emergency" right after playing "The Rambler", as both songs are in drop-D tuning. We would play this "double shot" at our shows without stopping between songs. The next year, keyboardist Jen Doyon joined Plaid On Flannel on February 22, 2015. She added sequencer sound effects to the guitar riff in "Emergency". This made it sound rather psychedelic and industrial. We never ended up recording the tune as a band. "Emergency" is a song that might come back to Plaid On Flannel's live repertoire as a band in the future. Only time can tell.
lyrics
Words and music by Nolan Randall
It's such a natural process
The geological compromise
Time after another it will change
But still cost so many lives
No time to panic, gotta take it all in
For the purpose of your own sake
The seismic waves goin' under your skin
Unprepared for the earthquake
Traveling an endangered world into
Another part of the scenery, over the sea
Paying off your admission fee
No matter how much you're gonna disagree
Emergency
After the flood overflowed
We saw a tropical cyclone we won't commend
There's somethin' goin' on in the fields of disaster
Something we cannot defend
Traveling an endangered world
Into another part of the scenery, under the sea
Paying off your admission fee
No matter how much you're gonna disagree
Emergency
A lot of questions arise
Volcanic eruptions fill the atmosphere
I see the look in your eyes
If there was only a way we could persevere
Traveling an endangered world
Into another part of the scenery, over the sea
Paying off your admission fee
No matter how much you're gonna disagree
Emergency
Plaid On Flannel is an alternative indie blues rock act from Toronto, Canada. With 80+ original songs recorded since 2011,
singer-songwriter Nolan Randall has remained the sole constant member of the band. POF's music is known for guitar riffs/solos, memorable hooks, catchy melodies/harmonies, evocative lyrics, & superb musicianship. While keeping a focus on originality and songwriting quality....more
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