Thanks, Mr. Scorp. But no, that isn't it either.

Too many chords, too normalish. I knew this would be tough on account of the lack of clues. However, I figured that because the song was so unusual, you guys would nail it.

I'll try and get back to the market tonight and, by God, if the manager doesn't give me that CD, I'll tear that freaking place apart. There will be lettuce and potatoes and cantaloupe everywhere and I'll smack him square in the nuts with a clump of celery.

FAX

My submission. It the very least, is this the kind of chord progression you're envisioning? Three chord, droning, a key change.

No real dominant percussion

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I wish I could offer more. As I mentioned, the listening conditions were less than ideal. It might be older ... honestly, I refuse to listen to the radio much other than classical and jazz in an effort to avoid being let down. The only reason I thought it might be more recent is because it was on a muzak reel with a lot of other stuff that was probably no more than 5 years old.

I'll check out Buckley and see if he's a possibility.

As for strings, horns ... there were probably strings and/or synth throughout but I can't swear to it. I may be projecting, but I think there might have been merely due to the fact that it was a very dramatic sort of arrangement and melody with extremely minimal chord changes ... like almost none. Were I producing something like that, I'd probably use strings. No horns, though ... at least what I could hear.

I recall hardly any percussion. The main clues I can offer are the facts that the vocalist was a high tenor and the song is, essentially, a 1-chord song with very occasional changes ... that is what makes it so unique. The melody line takes place over this sort of droning chord thing. It's a very cool song ... very interesting melody. Wish I could have made out some of the lyrics. Or, alternatively, had gone to a different market to buy stuff for my juicer.

FAX

I think people are getting closer to the song style, but forgetting this was played in a grocery store. Go to the local store and take a sample of the music. I doubt they are playing most of the stuff we are guessing.

Sorry, Mr. Baby Lee, but nope.

That's in the general ballpark ... kind of. This song was more richly produced ... at least, it seemed that way.

I knew this was going to be tough since I can offer few clues. But I didn't think it would be this difficult. I've googled every conceivable combination of terms trying to churn up something but, so far, nothing. Honestly, it's getting hard to believe that we can't figure this out.

FAX

I know this has too much percussion and stuff, but I would hate to have an idea and not throw it out there.

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Nope. Not Buckley. Wrong voice.

FAX

ROFL

I think you're right. Everything else they have on that reel (so far as I can remember) is pretty pop/rock oriented and written for radio. Some older, but mainly fairly recent. To be honest, that's the reason this particular song stood out. Otherwise, I would never have noticed.

By the way, that last song isn't it, either. Thanks, man. But sorry.

FAX

When we figure this one out, can we keep the thread going? This is like a fun mystery game. Whomever gets the correct song gets to post the next one.

Me, too.

Okay, here's what I do, if it's just killing you. Call the grocery store and ask to speak to the manager. Ask him who supplies their music service. If he doesn't know, he can likely give you the number to their corporate office, which will in turn give you the name of the music service.

Contact the music service. Tell them that you heard a song in your city, zip and state playing this month at "x" grocery store and ask them for a playlist. I'd be shocked if they didn't comply. Once you have the list, post it here or search for yourself on Spotify or whatever.

It sounds like more work than it actually is and you'd probably have your answer in less than an hour. Good luck!

How about this radiohead song:

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Thanks, man. I'm on it.

Although, I will probably be on it tomorrow. It's 8:00 and I don't know where my remote control is.

FAX

Nope. Thanks, Mr. jjjayb, but that's not it either.

I like that song, though. It's too bad that isn't the one.

FAX

You're so ****in special. I wish I was special.

This doesn't quite fit your description Mr. Fax but now that we are just throwing darts was it this?
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Methinks it lacks the british affect you described (among other things) but what the hell. By the way your description is remarkably illustrative but maddeningly devoid of any useful clues figuring it outwise.

I have heard wierd shit at grocery stores like Pinback. Never know what the shit you are going to hear.

Geddy Lee's new acoustical solo album "Tenor I Am":p

Seriously though is the voice Geddy Lee like?

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I am sorry I offended you Mr. FAX but felt like the right thing to do. I do have a suggestion for you though. Perhaps this is it? <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/C8Q7_HTDo0k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

ROFL

You didn't offend me, Mr. acesn8s. Not one bit. It was Mr. Mr. Flopnuts.

And, no. That's not the song. I'm going to find that damn thing, though. I'm going back to the market and hold the manager hostage with a bag of carrots until he gives me the answer I need. Then, it will be very interesting to post the tune so you guys can see what I was talking about ... and how closely my horrible clues were to the real thing (I only heard the song once in the midst of a din). God ... now that I think on it, I hope to hell I wasn't wrong about all of those clues I posted.

FAX

But...but...I love you... :deevee:

Okay ... "feel-wise" that's the closest yet. It was ballady like that and the production style is not exact, but similar in some respects. Even the singer is kind of close. But that's not it.

By the way, where have you been, Mr. vhf, and how's your reception these days?

FAX

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I'm not sure I've ever heard Geddy Lee's voice. I thought he was a bass player and raised those little, fat-bellied pigs in his backyard.

FAX

Not a bad tune, but no. It has chord changes ... the unique aspect of the song I heard (and the reason it caught my attention) is that the verse melodies take place over a single, sustained chord.

And isn't that a girl singer? My song had a guy singer. High tenor with that cool, occasional, rough break in his throat on select high notes. Good, damn singer.

FAX

Oops.

Didn't think you'd see that.

Hey. How did you see that so quickly?

FAX

What kind of vocalist was it. Did they sound like they gave a crap about hitting notes or were they just reciting words rythmicly? How would you grade the singer's ability to sing? BTW Bob Seger used sax in his songs.

Tenor. Very high range. Great control. Almost as though classically trained, but definitely pop/rock stylization and annunciation. Based on what I remember, I'd give the guy an A+ and would love to work with him if the opportunity presented.

Yes, it sounded as though he gave a crap. Very controlled.

FAX

Was it close to the vocals in the previous video?

Similar, Mr. acesn8s ... but only in the sense that they are both tenors. Your guy is more naturally "breathy" (of course, that could be the micking/production technique, but I don't think so). My guy is more like ... say ... Jon Anderson but not as thin on the high notes. More full and rounded than even say ... Robert Plant. Now, remember, I only heard this once in poor listening conditions ... but that's how I recall the vocal.

FAX

Ok. Good info. This guy has some new(er) music out that is less "breathy" but they are a rock/pop mix kind of band that uses a violin frequently.

What kind of beat was it? Could one slow dance to it? Or does it get the women to bounce their boobies to it? Was it even danceable?

Slowish tempo. Kind of a contemporary ballad. Would remind me of the old, progressive rock in a way ... ala early Genesis, Yes, King Crimson ... that symphonic rock. That's what I hear in my head ... again, I heard this one time in a supermarket produce section with babies crying and people talking and some old lady squeezing a honeydew.

We're talking about a song that had one (1) chord throughout the verse except for a single minor chord change at the end of the verse for, maybe, 4 beats to serve as a turn-around back to the root or original chord.

The melody was really nice and served as the primary vehicle ... you could almost imagine the guy singing acapella because he was working over this single, droning chord.

I didn't hear much percussion ... at least, it wasn't predominant. I might have heard strings or synth in the background to carry the sustains. I might have heard electric guitar. If there was acoustic guitar, I didn't hear it.

Let's see ... what else can I tell you? ... Actually, that's about all I can think of in terms of clues.

I can't wait to find out what the hell this song was.

FAX

Hey Fax, did you try The Shins links I posted? The way you describe it sounds like The Shins style.

Yep. I did. No joy there, though.

This is actually an interesting exercise that's kind of like that "telephone game". It's fascinating to see how different people interpret my stupid clues differently.

To my mind, the main clue is the whole "single chord" deal. Yet, every song guys have posted has normal chord progressions. Some are slower paced than others, but they all have progressions. The song from Hell doesn't. That's what makes it so unusual and I know for a certain, absolute fact that there are very few songs ever recorded or released that use one chord throughout the verses. U2 has done it, but not many others.

FAX

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Nice tune. Kinda depressing. I feel badly for that guy and his sad state of mind.

But ERRRRNT!!!

The vocal range and subtleties are damn close to the one I'm looking for. Style-wise, I mean. Still, this isn't the vocalist. I can assure you of that.

FAX

Okay ... I have to get some work done.

Thanks, Mr. acesn8s and everyone else for all your efforts to assist on this deal. Sorry my clues suck. I really am. But, eventually, we'll get this figured out. I can't wait for you guys to hear this tune ... you'll probably find it abhorrent.

FAX

I tried.

I used to tell Joie that very same thing about him (she introduced me to them). I find myself enjoying their music when I need an emotion release (Razorblade for rage, She's my Ride Home to lose myself in a tune, Into the Ocean or X amount of Words if I feel the need for pop, Dirt Room or The End if I feel the need to get revenge).

Maybe next time Mr. FAX but i cannot...

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Based on your most recent description, I think it's a band called RA. Gorgeous high tenor. Sorry, embed is disabled.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0

It is tough to find that. Some songs are close but they aren't close to the one you describe.

When I think of songs with one guitar chord over and over I think of March Of the Pigs by Nine Inch Nails but, even it changes later.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL72Tyxe1rc

It's hard to think of songs like that...

Another shot, mostly check and see if this sounds like the singer. I've heard some Modest Mouse in the grocery stores around here lately.

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This is the first song that popped into my head after reading what FAX was looking for. It will stay in your head for days and the ba ba ba ba ba ba bahaha kind of fits his description.

Not even talking about FAX's conundrum [sorry, Witty Mr. FAX], but that reminded me of the cover of Blower's Daughter on Covert Affairs a couple weeks back. It's the same group that covered Creep for The Social Network.

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I heard the first couple of chords and started jumping around the room shouting 'Get OFF My Heartstrings!!!! Get This Dust Out of My Eyes!!!'

Multiple chords.

I don't always follow posters on Chiefsplanet, but when I do, I follow Mr. Fax' posts.

Yeah, there are other inconsistencies, too. Like I said, I mainly just wanted him to listen to the signer.

I don't even know what that means. I'm not going to be much help.

:toast:

Go back to the store and ask if their music is programmed. If it is ask if you can see their playlist. A lot of retail places used programmed music.

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Yep. That's the plan, Mr. Chiefshrink. I'm holding the store manager hostage until those guys cross my palm with a CD and liner notes.

FAX

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Nice song, Mr. Joe Seahawk. Not it, but really nice. I like it.

It's funny, I get kind of nervous-like every time I've clicked on one of these youtube deals in the hope that it's the one.

This one is close in terms of the simplicity of the chord structure, but not it. The guy's voice is damn close, too. The one I'm looking for is more ... symphonic, I guess ... this is more like a garage jam. Plus, it's faster in tempo and the drums are more dominant.

EDIT: Oh! There's another one ... hold on ... nope. Too up-tempo with harmonies (mine didn't have harmonies, I don't think). Plus, it has percussion up front. Thanks for helping, though. Seriously.

FAX

http://tinyurl.com/ygdr9z4 ??

Is that one of those rickroll deals, Mr. SimplyRed. If so, I ain't clicking on that, man.

FAX

Well, any progress in identifying the song?
I'm much interested in what it was.:hmmm:

Not yet. I have not had the opportunity to matriculate over to that market again. I'll probably go there sometime over the next few days.

Believe me, I am as anxious as you are to solve this mystery.

FAX

It's not 500 Miles by The Proclaimers, is it? I love that song.

?

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Could it be Ed Sheeran? New British tenor singer who's hits include "A-team" and "Lego House"

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was in the grocery store tonight and heard this, first thing that popped into my head was...."I wonder if this is Fax's song..." :)

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No, no, no, no, no, and no.

Sorry guys. None of those are the one.

Dang it, I knew my clues were bad, but I really thought that one of you guys would figure this out.

Ah well, with luck I shall convince the market manager to relinquish his CD ... if he knows what's good for him. I can chuck a quart jar of mayonnaise over 20 yards.

FAX

TV on Radio, Staring at the sun.
Go to ITunes and go through top 40 songs over the last few years... It's a start.

hello Fax I sent you amazing song. Probably best of all time its the greatest for sure i know. Check your mail center I sent it to you!! Very eager to see your thoughts !

Well this will be fun as shit.

It started with a whisper...

This thread must not end until this is solved.

Can you play QB?

:shrug:

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You should record yourself humming the melody. That would be much more helpful than trying to figure it out from your typed "da da's" Unless you can't hum worth a darn.

WTF guys? 15 days and this mystery hasn't been solved yet! This place has lost it's burst.

Just when I stopped having nightmares about this thread, somebody goes and digs it back up.

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not really a high voice, maybe sometimes...

Great, now I'm sucked into it. The high-voiced male vocal singers that come to mind are Death Cab for Cutie, Iron and Wine, Coldplay, Jeff Buckley, or Sufjan Stevens. But good god, no idea what it could be.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6Zi4AyzRC4

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THIS AND MORE THIS! I can't translate your da dums for shit.