One of the parodies I never published is called The Sound of Coffee Grinding based on The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkle. I don’t remember what inspired the parody. I was obviously grinding coffee, which I do every day. Twisted minds never rest and the strangest ideas for parodies are always presenting themselves.
While writing the lyrics I imagined a hyper-version of the song like when you are wound up on coffee. The first recording I did was a hyper arrangement loosely based on the original music. Since the idea for the parody was a bit out there, to begin with, the hyper version ended up being a bit echoey.
I tried singing my parody lyrics to the traditional music for The Sound of Silence. It was really bloody awful. I asked Teagan at Teagan’s Books if she wanted to take a stab at singing The Sound of Coffee Grinding. I sent her the music and she did a wonderful take on the traditional version of the music. Teagan imaged that I make a back and forth duet out of it, but my vocals didn’t really work, and far as I am concerned my voice detracts from Teagan’s beautiful, sultry voice.
She didn’t want to attempt the hyper version. I can’t blame her. There is only so much of a twisted mind’s parody a sane person is willing to tackle.
I’ve included both versions below. The first is the traditional version with Teagan’s Vocals. The second is the hyper version with my vocals.
The Sound of Coffee Grinding (Traditional)
Parody Lyrics by Timothy Price. Vocals by Teagan Riordain Geneviene. Music by Simon & Garfunkle.
The Sound of Coffee Grinding (Hyper)
Off Center & Not Even 
He turned and pounced and I got a cramp….
Tim, I had to to turn it up to hear it over my laughter… Now, on to listen to the Hyper version. Splash of Jolt Cola, please
I’m happy you you got a good laugh out of it. This is another one of those that cat owners will appreciate. With the kittens and Loki sleeping with me, there is a lot of pouncing and cramping going on most nights. Thanks, Jordan.
Oh, I get that. When I had Merc, I would dream of a face Jacuzzi ??? And, then it would start to get really cold and uncomfortable. Invariably, he had climbed on my head which is cool to me (not to my Chiro), though relaxed himself, and as he sank in he would pretty much become a kitty pillow smothering me. It was fine when he was a kitten, because he’d find a spot, my neck, my ear… But, of course at 12 pounds grown, and still a lap cat who remembers that… I’m gathering you know.
Sasha, who is a huge cat, we call her the badger, likes to sleep on my chest close to my face and she often puts her paws on my throat trying to snuggle up close to my face. She my be trying to kill me, but I think she’s just snuggling. I have to shift her a little bit so I can breath or not have a kitty induced stroke.
🙂 I get that. Death by Love. Sounds like a Greek tragedy. Merc use to do the nursing massage with his paws all the time, though when he would begin to do it on my jugular or trachea… same gig you are experiencing with Sasha Te Badger.
I love them both, Tim! Great stuff. 😎 These are much happier versions.
Thanks, John. The humor necitates a sense of happiness, even with kitties biting us, enslaving us and peeing on us.
Oh geesh, they pee on ya? I’ve had cats before, they never peed on me.
Not normally. But Spunk has gotten mad at me and peed on me. We were both pissed at one another over that incident. It’s more common for cats to barf on you.
Sounds delicious… 😂🤷🏻♂️
I love this collaboration between you and Teagan, Tim! Well done, both of you!
Thanks, Lavinia.
Thanks, Lavinia. It was unexpected, but great fun. Hugs to you and the cats of Salmon Brook Farm. ❤
Ha!Ha! I also enjoyed both. Teagan, I liked your version. Tim, I laughed with both and your version was so you…🤭Fun stuff…
Thanks, Susan. You know those cats.
It was a hoot, Susan. I could never pull off the comedy Tim does. And there was nothing wrong with his voice in the “serious” version. Hugs on the wing.
Haha! This is awesome. Teagan has a gorgeous voice!
Love the lyrics, laughed myself silly.
Happy you got a good laugh, Holly. I love Teagan’s voice it’s sultry and mesmerizing.
Oh gosh, I’m blushing. You’re too kind Holly. It was unexpected, and surprisingly hard work, but it was also huge fun. I’m happy we could make you laugh. Hugs on the wing.
You’re so talented. A beautiful voice! Loved the parody. Hugs to you dear Teagan.
Another laugh and smile received, thanks.
Hahaha!
Thanks, Inchcock. Happy you enjoyed it.
This new version should be in the Top100 ! Great text, I realy enjoyed it. Perfect start for a new day 🙂
Thanks, picpholio. Happy you enjoyed it.
Big fun!
Thanks, Puzzleblume.
Lol, enjoyed both Timothy. Had to smile at the hyper one in that obvi a lot of coffee had been consumed.
Thanks, Shey. Happy you got the consumed coffee feeling out of the hyper-version.
Tim, now that some time has passed, that’s every bit as funny as it was the first time I read your lyrics. It was a surprising amount of work, but fun.
Thanks for letting me be a part of this.
Now more coffee. 😉 Hugs on the wing!
I’m was so happy you were willing to participate in the craziness. I love having other people sing my parodies. It makes them so much more fun. I need to look at getting something together on your Mousies parody.
I thought about playing the piano for that one, but I’m even worse on that than singing properly. I don’t read music. I can sing along with Willie Nelson’s key, but… Well, I don’t have the stress level to be a perfectionist with it.
I’ll come up with some music for it, and we’ll see if we can get a duet out of it.
Hahaha! I repeat… you have way too much fun and yes, Teagan’s voice is so sultry.
Ha. You’re too kind, Dale. Toasting you with a mug of coffee. Cheers!
Just made a fresh cup. Cheers!
Thanks, Dale. Someone has to have fun.
Agreed!
[…] Sunday’s Sound of Coffee Grinding — Off Center & Not Even […]
Never did a coffee grinder nor S&G sound better! I like both traditional and hyper, however Hyper is more ‘music -for- my ears’ 😉
Thanks, Marina. After my attempt at the traditional, I wasn’t going to mess with it anymore, but then Teagan stepped up and made it happen.
Kudos to both of you!!!!!!!!!
It was great to be able to hear Teagan’s voice and her version of the song after reading many of her stories. What a fun song! And your version is totally unique. Thanks for sharing, Tim, and I hope you keep the parodies coming. We need a good laugh!
It was a lot of work, but such fun at the same time, Olga. Thanks so much for visiting Tim’s blog and for listening to this welcome home party for Spunk. Hugs on the wing.
Fun times in coffee city. Thanks for the laughs and coffee comedy! Kudos Teagan and Tim.
Thanks you for visiting and getting and having a laugh on our behalf. Laughs are much needed, specially on Monday mornings.
Yes, laughs are much needed these days!
Fantastic job, Teagan. 🙂
The hyper version might work with a punk rock pace. Think Sex Pistols. I don’t know if you would be Sid Vicious or Johnny Rotten. 😉
Thank you kindly, David. Chin rubs to Midnight. Hugs!
I tried it more punky. I didn’t think it worked as well. Thanks, David.
I enjoyed both of these. I think anyone who is owned by one or more cats can relate to the lyrics. Teagan’s voice is wonderful.
Thanks to both of you for a nice laugh to start the week.
You are most welcome for the laugh, Dan, Thank you for dropping by and listening. Owned by one or more cats is right.
LOL the feline overlords are definitely in charge, Dan. Thanks so much for visiting here. Chin rubs to MiMi and MuMu. Hugs on the wing.
Ahahahaha, great fun, nicely done by all!
Thanks, Leah.
Thanks so very much, Cat. I appreciate you visiting both blogs. Hugs!
This is one of my favourite songs. Teagan did a great job singing your version, she has a great voice.
Thanks, Roberta. I’m happy you enjoyed it.
You are so kind, Robbie. Tim’s lyrics were fabulous. I’m glad you enjoyed this collaboration. Hugs on the wing!
Terrific, Teagan. I think you sounded great. “Yellow raindrops fell. I’m in kitty hell.” hahahaha
Hi John. The way Teagan sings “I’m in kitty hell” is precious. I asked her if she could do more in that voice and she said it’s an occasional voice. I’m happy it came though on this occasion.
I guess I’m a “pantser” in more than writing. That came out spontaneously, and I just couldn’t make it work on command. (shrugs) 🙂
“Panster” happens and I’m so happy it happend on the song.
You were also good and I failed to mention that.My apologies. Good job.
No problem. And no apology needed. I specialize in bloody awful. Teagan’s the star here.
hahahaha,
You’re too kind, John. I’m delighted we could make you laugh. Hugs on the wing.
Very clever.
Dearest Tim, this is such a fun post. Delightful! Teagan has a beautiful voice. If you’re reading this Teagan, you have an amazing voice. Thank you both, an much needed laugh and smile!
Thanks,Mia. Teagan does have and amazing voice. I’m always happy to give you a laugh.
You’re most welcome, Tim! She does, she does!
OMG, the lyrics are so brilliant! Hard to say which version I like best, totally different, Teagan has a wonderful voice, I don’t know how she can sing without laughing! 😂 I like your version too, great music!
Hi Tiffany. Tim’s lyrics are fabulous. You’re so kind — yes it was hard not to laugh. Many times I had to start over. Thanks so much for visiting. Hugs on the wing!
Thanks, Tiffany. You know cats, so you can really appreciate the lyrics. I’m happy you enjoyed it. Holly has tried to sing a couple of my parodies and said she can’t get through them because she starts laughing too much. That’s therapy just trying to sing them.
I enjoyed both versions! I adore Teagan’s voice. Sultry is the perfect word!
Thanks, Resa.
You’re so kind, Resa. I’m horrified by the sound of my recorded voice, so I can’t imagine the sultry part. LOL. I’m a combination of stunned and flattered by the compliment. Thank you. 🙂
I know, it is scary! Nonetheless you sound FAB!
You have a wonderful voice both speaking and singing, and your voice records really well. I think we all hate our recorded voices. It’s a shock to hear how we sound outside ourselves.
So, how did you sent the music to Teagan, and how did she add her voice to it?
I emailed her an mp3 file of the music. She recorded herself, on her computer I assume, and sent me the file of just her vocals and I mixed it in with the music.
Suzette used her phone to record Kitty and sent me the file. Once I get a vocal file, I add it as a track to the song in Studio One and then mix everything to get the sound levels and execution correct.
Yes, Resa — Tim did the heavy lifting with the recording. I downloaded Studio One… I can usually follow my nose to use whatever software, but I couldn’t work with Studio One at all. So Tim did even more work using the files I sent him just using my computer’s microphone.
You were brave enough to download Studio One Prime. It is daunting since you had not worked with a digital audio software of that type. I think you could make good use of it once you got into it, but I understand how intimidating it is. One of these days you might be able to revisit it and make it work for you.
My post-“retirement” goals got side-tracked by the same problems that made me leave work. Anyhow one goal was to make an audio book of one of my stories. I need to investigate what “Audible” requires and the simplest, cheapest way to do it — after I’m feeling less overwhelmed. (Audible is what Amazon insists on for their audio books.)
I just looked up the Audible requirements. The file that goes to them is mp3, easy enough. It’s all the consistency in your reading, the db range and bitrate requirments that are more demanding. Studio One will be a great helping you meet all those requiments before you create the final mp3 file.
Sounds perfect!
I see. Thanks, Tim.
The second version….kind of like the singing style of Bob Dylan.
I enjoyed both musical interpretations immensely. 🙂 🙂
Thanks, Mary.
[…] done several collaborations on song parodies. He wrote outrageously funny lyrics for The Sound of Coffee Grinding in […]