Here’s our 5th digital album. A StarfishStories project in support of the “Let The Dolphins Go” ACRES’s campaign, to free the dolphins at Resorts World Sentosa.
- Album: 2011 Let the Dolphins Go
- Download at: Archive.org | Bandcamp.com | Jamendo.com
- Remixes are welcome, at ccMixter.org
- Band: Starfish Stories :: The Band – Adrian Loo & I-Ling Chia, Ivan Chew
- Original composition by Adrian Loo; Lyrics and Vocals by I-Ling Chia; Arrangement and Mix by Ivan Chew
- Initial release: 6 July 2011
- Album art can be downloaded at this Flickr page. Cover art adapted from: “2001-12-02 01-03 Neuseeland 305” by Allie_Caulfield, CC-BY 2.0 (last accessed 6 Jul 2011)
This is the title track, “Free”. With I-Ling on vocals.
The other two tracks are a rock guitar instrumental version, and a Minus-One. They can all be downloaded at Archive.org
This project came about after Adrian ran a marathon. It’s a long story and he tells it better. Anyway the gist was that he thought of his family to keep himself going. And it made him think of the dolphins who were torn away from their family and natural habit, to be part of a resort entertainment lineup.
Adrian felt compelled to compose something (apart from contributing to the general call for action). He emailed the raw draft for the song (on 1 Jun). Titled it “Free”.
He added this in his email: “Imagine dolphins porpoising in the water”.
It didn’t take long for I-Ling to come up with the lyrics:
Leap and turn in the air
Like a child at play
Whistle songs, sing your dreams
In the summer rays
Feel the rush of the currents
Find your way in the oceanGlide along, ride the crest
There’s no turning back
Hold your breath and break the waves
Full speed ahead
Feel the rush of the currents
You’re a child of the oceanYou’re free. So free, oh, so free.
Breathe. You’re free, so free.
She emailed her vocal track to me. I mixed it, emailed a few versions (with subtle arrangement changes) to the two of them. I-Ling agreed to re-record her vocals to get a clearer take. While waiting for I-Ling to do that, I recorded and mixed a guitar instrumental version.
It was done out of fun, but Adrian and I-Ling gave it their thumbs-up, so it was considered to be part of the album.
After receiving I-Ling’s second vocal take (she decided to invest in an audio interface), two more email exchanges… and it was done.
Capturing intelligent creatures, who were roaming free, for the sake of entertainment. And calling the move as part of contribution to research. Doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Please, let the dolphins go.
Credits: 2001-12-02 01-03 Neuseeland 305 by Allie_Caulfield, CC-BY 2.0 (last accessed 6 Jul 2011).
Selected references:
- “ACRES continues pressure on RWS to free dolphins“, ChannelNewsAsia, 2 Jun 2011
- “Animal rights’ group takes RWS to task over dolphins“, TODAYonline, 2 Jun 2011
- “5 dolphins destined for RWS moved to Philippines“, ChannelNewsAsia, 8 Jan 2011
BTW, it’s really good to know we’re not the only musicians adding to this call. Check out Typewriter’s rendition of “Please let the dolphins go”:
~ Ivan
2011 Let the Dolphins Go by Starfish Stories : The Band is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Singapore License. As long as you ATTRIBUTE the music by stating this: “Starfish Stories :: The Band – StarfishStories.wordpress.com”* in your audio, video, website, printed materials etc., you are FREE to USE, COPY, SHARE, MODIFY, or SELL (yes sell!) any of the songs from this album.
In case we weren’t quite clear on the above, try reading this.
Starfish Stories :: The Band 