R&P: Can you give me feedback on these ideas for a rock opera?
Question by Austin Bought a Straightener: R&P: Can you give me feedback on these ideas for a rock opera?
I’m currently writing a rock opera about a boy named Johnny who has an alternate personality named Astra that he can only be while crossdressing. He grows up to be a rock star who falls into a life of sex and drugs, and dies at the end. I’ve been writing a new song called “The Fallen Birds” (the name of the fictional band in the story) and the song takes place in 6 parts, each part sounding at least somewhat slightly different from the previous part (sort of like “Jesus of Suburbia” and “Homecoming” by Green Day or “Land” by Patti Smith). The song takes a chunk out of the beginning of the story about when Johnny leaves home with his band to find fame and fortune in The Land of “I Don’t Know.” It also explores the feelings of disconnection, loneliness and belonging that are the main focus of the album.
I’ll explain each part of the song, what it’s about and it’s sound. Keep in mind that the sound does not fit into each genre perfectly since the song is overall a Power/Glam Punk song. Each section has an instrumental transition from one part to the next.
-Part 1: Handcrafted. (Soft Rock)
This part is about how Johnny dislikes the life of Christianity being pushed on him as a child. He hates confirmation, and his hateful priest (based off my own childhood priest) is only further disconnecting him from reality in the attempt to bring him closer to it. Johnny wants to break out of this life, but doesn’t know how. He tries to find connection in reading philosophy books (Nietzsche, LaVey and Crowley to be specific) that he stole. He feels that this life is not his, and has really just been “handcrated” by his parents.
-Part 2: They Were Never Really There (Power Pop, Pop Punk)
Johnny goes back to find memories of his friends, but realizes that the friends he had were not really his friends at all. In fact, they’re nowhere to be found, making Johnny wonder if they were ever really there to begin with. He feels lonely without any form of connection or sense of belonging, until he finds a band of misfit children just like him called “The Fallen Birds,” which he joins as lead singer.
-Part 3: I’m Going Away (Blues-Rock, Folk Punk)
Johnny tells his mother that he is leaving with his band and that he’ll return home one day. This deeply saddens her, but he tells her not to be sad but to be happy for him. The guitar solo in this part shares similarities to the harmonica in “Love Me Do” by The Beatles
-Part 4: At the End of the Road (Punk Rock in the verse and Folk Rock in the chorus)
This part of the song describes the road trip that the band takes on their way to The Land of “I Don’t Know.”
-Part 5: Beaten Up (A mix of Glam and Hardcore Punk)
This part of the song describes the band finding The Land of “I Don’t Know” (referred to here as “Sodom and Gomorrah Town”). The city is like a giant playground to them, but it has its dangers since it is filled with insanity. They will use “Sodom and Gomorrah Town” as the place where they hope to find fame. Part of the song I wrote based off an experience I had with my best friend when we had a day out on the town and her boyfriend tried to beat me up.
-Part 6: To Be Set Free (Glam Punk)
Johnny and his alternate personality have a conversation with each other. They talk about Johnny’s clincal depression and his temptations with cocaine. Johnny is starting to give in to Astra in a Jekyll and Hyde sort of way, but does not become Astra entirely until later in the album. Johnny can only be Astra when he is cross-dressing, and he only cross-dressed in private when no one else is around. However, Astra wants to live the same exciting life as him and doesn’t want to be confined to when no one is around. So she asks him to be set free forever, to which he says “In time.” Astra tells Johnny that she no longer believes in him, and since this is sung by the same person it appears as though the main character is starting to lose his mind. The song climaxes with with Astra and Johnny switching every line in the chorus, with the rest of The Fallen Birds shouting things in between them.
If you want, I can post the lyrics as a question for you to give better criticism.
Best answer:
Answer by Kelly Wholigan
Actually, that is pretty cool, I give you credit for being creative! I really like what I’ve read, good luck with it!
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