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“Fever” about deploying empathy to get past the frustration we have with one another. A plea to actually TALK to one another, despite the intentional pressure (by those in power) to keep us apart, distracted by pointless, bitter in-fighting. Collective action is only possible when we see and experience commonality and cohesion.
The narrative in “Fever” goes from frustration to empathy in 4 minutes. It demonstrates a pathway, and the cost of NOT coming together. I perform it live often, and it generates an intense reaction. You can feel the energy shift in the room.
I got a $1,000 arts grant to support the studio production of this track. I made a pitch with a demo and a set of lyrics, along with my aim to have it serve a social good. The song was tested in front of real audiences. It’s been revised again and again in response to feedback and post-show audience comments.
It features the beautiful backing vocals of Britt Connors, who guested on One Sunday in Autumn as well. And like my other recent singles, this song is made infinitely better by some of the Boston area’s best musicians: Andrew Stern (Mark Erelli Band, Dennis Brennan Band) on lead and 12-string guitar, Dave Brophy (Will Dailey, Alisa Amador) on drums & percussion, Joe McMahon on bass, and Peter Fernandez on organ.
Download this song for free as a part of your membership in my Patreon community: patreon.com/mboezi
lyrics
LYRICS
Doesn’t matter what we hoped
The fever never broke
Their anger burned with no evidence
Into something uncontrolled
Doesn’t matter what we hoped
The fever never broke
We're strangled up in their selfishness
With no slack left in the rope
Expecting... I don’t know, some defensiveness
Yet all they did was gloat
Let the record show: It didn’t happen on its own
(But if we) get a second go, we'll cut it in stone
So we remember it always
Doesn’t matter what we hoped
The fever never broke
Spellbound in this illogical narrative
That we could not decode
Strung out on snake oil palliatives
And resentments oversold
Acting out a string of imperatives
Dealt out by cheats and trolls
Now let the record show: It didn’t happen on its own
(But if we) get a second go, we'll cut it in stone
So we remember it always
Doesn’t matter what we hoped
The fever never broke
In the script, where there should be a signature
Someone scratched out what we wrote
Now we fortify the perimeter
With topics we can’t broach
We won’t admit how we’re similar
When you get us on our own
We exist on more of a continuum
The gap between us, overblown
So are we gonna stop, look, or listen or just…
Treat each other like a joke?
Now let the record show: It didn’t happen on its own
(But if we) get a second go, we'll cut it in stone
So we can let the record show: It didn’t happen on its own
(But if we) get a second go, we'll cut it in stone
So we remember it always
So we remember it always
credits
released November 7, 2023
————
CREDITS:
Lyrics and music by Michael Boezi
Michael Boezi: Voice, guitar
Britt Connors: Backing vocals
Dave Brophy: Drums & percussion, backing vocals
Joe McMahon: Bass guitar
Andrew Stern: Lead guitar, 12-string guitar
Peter Fernandez: Organ
Produced by Michael Boezi and Dave Brophy
Recorded at Studio Solitaire in Somerville, MA
Engineered by Dave Brophy
Arranged by Michael Boezi and Dave Brophy
Mixed and mastered by Dave Brophy
Cover photograph by Michael Boezi
Cover design by Michael Boezi
This production was supported in part by Emerson College through their Affiliated Faculty Professional Development Fund.
I'm a singer-songwriter who performs original songs about current challenges in our culture. Format: Solo, "electric folk" busking Billy Bragg style. I also write and play guitar for The Rockmores, a power-pop quartet in the Boston area.
I am also a writer and guitarist for The Rockmores, a power-pop quartet with catchy hooks, vocal harmonies, and tight arrangements. We wrote and recorded this album during lockdown in 2020. Michael Boezi
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