Sometimes it’s rock. Sometimes it’s alternative. But it’s always JustVera. This time with priceless contributions of Mitch Brody on guitar, Darren Womack on drums and lyrics&vocals by Mark Alan Dooley.
Bray with Jack!

Yo!
His name is Jack, the king of the farm,
With a bray so loud, he’ll set off alarms.

Donkey, donkey, he’s the star,
With hooves of gold and a heart so large,
Running wild, kicking up dust,
My pet donkey, someone I trust.
Donkey!

Jack’s coat is brown, shining in the sun,
He’s always ready for some fun.

Donkey, donkey, he’s the star,
With hooves of gold and a heart so large,
Running wild, kicking up dust,
My pet donkey, someone I trust.
Donkey, donkey.

My pet donkey, someone I trust.

His name is Jack,
The king of the farm,
A friend so true,
My pet donkey.
My pet donkey, someone I trust.

Donkey, donkey, he’s the star,
With hooves of gold and a heart so large.

So here’s to Jack, my donkey dear,
He’s always near,
A bond unbreakable, strong as can be,
My pet donkey,
He’s the star.

(Lyrics and vocals by Mark Alan Dooley)

This is the last song which will be added to the next JustVera album. And some song it turned out to be. Although my initial idea planted the seed, the final result of ‘Fruit flies rock’ exceeded my expectations. With the help of Elizabeth Auzan (lyrics), Tarjei Skarlund (vocals), JC Beziz (rhythm guitars), Billy LeCoq-Mauvais (lead guitar) and Gustavo Riani (both drums AND bass) it turned out next level.                                            These Kompoz talents rock big time.

The countdown’s on
Five, four, three, two, one
Little fruit fly in outer space
Feeling very out of place

It’s scary. I’m wary
From my glass cage
I can see white-coated humans coming near
What do they want to do, want to do to me? 
 
I hear them say, Now!
It’s time for decisions
Our mission, 
Our vision, ambition
Is human transition

Oh, my!
It’s scary. I’m wary.
But I don’t need to worry, they say, we share same DNA, 
They all love me.  There’ll be no pain

Oh, my!
It’s scary. I’m wary.
But I don’t need to worry, they say, we share same DNA, 
They all love me.  There’ll be no pain

Fruit flies, we rock. Yeah!
We rock. Yeah !

(Lyrics Elizabeth Auzan, vocals by Tarjei Skarlund)

For seven years I’ve been working on ‘Suspicion’. The contributions of Alex Zulaika (drums), Eric Spiering (bass) and Job Posthuma (intro lead guitar) kept me going, knowing there was a gem to be discovered. Then Richard Lunt came along. His original lyrics and stunning vocal performance were the missing pieces.
Do you think you heard it all? You might be in for a surprise…

(Note to self: never give up.)

You say suspicion is on your mind
You say you’ll try and leave those thoughts behind
They’ll only drag you down as far as your soul can fall

You’ll start fabricating
procrastinating over stories born in grey matter
that don’t matter at all

Suspicion is on your mind
You’re suspicious of what you might find
And you’re scared of it coming to fruition
And you’re scared of the truth

Oh the voices,
The choices
In my head

It’s like a video in my head
Fast forward, repeat, delete, repeat
It’s dragging me down to the ground

Blackmailing, water torture, humiliation, interrogation, music torture, nudity, pharmacological torture, exploitation of phobias, mock execution, leaving arachnophobes in a room full of spiders

All these thoughts are in silence

(Who would have thought)
Suspicion

And your scared of it coming to fruition

Oh the voices,
The choices
In my head
Suspicion

The voices, the choices

(Lyrics and vocals by Richard Lunt)

Bill Ray, Cedric Camus and Richard Lunt turned my initial idea into ‘Human Zoo’.

I waited 17 years for this moment. Can you imagine the joy and gratification I feel right now?…

You shouldn’t tell the truth
You shouldn’t believe their lies
You shouldn’t go to the human zoo
They put you in cages and control you

If you don’t mind, please don’t control my mind
Welcome to the human zoo
If you don’t mind, please don’t control my mind

You can stay for as long as you like
You can leave in the dead of night
You can beg and steal and borrow
Just don’t be disillusioned
You’re a loser

You belong in the human zoo

And they’ll ask you to take a name
Then they’ll point the finger of blame at you

And there’s nothing, nothing left to do
Except dissect you

It’s the human zoo
You shouldn’t tell the truth
You shouldn’t believe their lies

If you don’t mind, please don’t control my mind
Welcome to the human zoo
If you don’t mind, please don’t control my mind
I’m worried you might find

Welcome to the human zoo
Welcome what you decided
Welcome to the human zoo
You shouldn’t believe
What they told you

(Lyrics and vocals by Richard Lunt)

When your life looks grey for whatever reason, you might consider listening to ‘Just summer’.

(With warm regards from Chris Bouchard, Steve Johnson, Elizabeth Auzan, Kat Orlando, Katiria Mar and me.)

Baila conmigo
Baila conmigo

Rumba y salsa
Vengo con una propuesta
Dime, quien falta?
Time for the fiesta
Plumber, drummer, lover
Let’s enjoy the summer
Plumber, drummer, lover
Let’s enjoy the summer

Ocean breeze
Come with me
Let’s have some fun
Sex and sun
Let it be
Set me free
Summertime love
Hit and run

Summer love
Summer love

Caipirinha
Lazy siesta
Ken and Barbie
Marvelous party
Sun is shinning
Wine and dining
Catwalk stunner
Just strut the summer

Baila conmigo
Baila conmigo

Dime, que quieres cariño?
Que decida el destino
Si somos amigo
Solo baila conmigo, baila conmigo
Baila conmigo

(Lyrics Elizabeth Auzan/Katiria Mar, vocals Katiria Mar)

Richard Lunt’s brilliant lyrics and vocal performance. JustVera’s view on people with despicable ideas and actions. You may find them all over the world, but one specific Russian barbarian stands out. Peace to all.

Are you receiving me?
Receiving.
Do you hear my call?
Who’s there?
Well what you fighting for?

He’s calling you – it’s war.
You’ve got no fight,
You’ve got no hope,
You’ve got no life left in those bones.

One day you’ll look around and you’ll feel
‘I’m so ashamed’, such shame,
and I’ll be there pointing out the mistakes you made.

King of the fools, you made the rules up,
Queen of the losers, you put us down to hide incompetence.
Your destiny, oh, OBE will be lost on you.
Because I can see eternity, and it looks lonely,
OBE, wait and see.

It’s war baby, what’s it like to be,
wouldn’t want to be you,
I wouldn’t want to be, oh, you.

All the lives you’ve lost, for what, ego?
All the love you killed, ego.

King of the fools, you made the rules up,
Queen of the losers, you put us down to hide incompetence.

It’s war baby, what’s it like to be you.
It’s war lately, I feel so confused,
over you, all this war, all this war.

(Lyrics and vocals by Richard Lunt)

Are you ready?…
Inspired by vibes of Lucy in the sky and Lesley Gore. With inimitable contributions of Kat Orlando and Jarek Adamowski grooving on this 2022 JustVera dance classic. Please do come to our party.

A splendid time is guaranteed for all!

Neo- mythological, post apocalyptic, dark alternative, lyrical electronica.
(Thank you, Elizabeth Auzan, Steve Johnson, Mark Miller, liljoesixstring and Oana Gottschald).

Pale Cassandra speaks
But no one listens
Hear her cry
The end is nigh

There’s no escape.
Deep, dark doom is close at hand
Sea will rise and humans
Make their very final stand

Pale Cassandra speaks
But no one listens
Hear her cry
The end is nigh

There’s no return
Armageddon’s come and gone
Noah’s ark is shipwrecked
No one left to carry on

Pale Cassandra speaks
But no one listens
Hear her cry
The end is nigh

So, the end is nigh
Wave goodbye
The end is nigh
Goodbye

So,this is it, now
Curtain fall
We got what
We deserved

(Lyrics by Elizabeth Auzan, vocals by Oana Gottschald)

My initial idea was to create a musical piece like a kind of film score. Then Ramlee came along and provided an extra layered bassline. Much to my surprise Richard Lunt joined in with an amazing vocal performance. His lyrics were written in the context of a long term relation where one person has mental health issues and has become a stranger to themselves and their environment. Shivers…

I wake up in the morning,
This isn’t my head,
Thinking thoughts I never had – I feel like a stranger.

Stranger days, stranger ways

Strange that
You said
I said
Til death doeth apart

Strangest thing is
I never left your side
Just my mind wonders lonely as a clown

Stranger ways, strange days, stranger
Crazy ways
Stranger
I lost my mind

One day we’ll look back and say
Those were the days of our time
Mind declined

One of these days my mind will be mine
You’ll be denied

One of these crazy days, we’ll smile
Smile denied

Oh I want to be in control
I’ve lost control
Give me control

You lost control
You left me feeling way behind
You lost your soul
You left me feeling cold inside

Stranger days, stranger ways
Stranger days, stranger ways

(Lyrics and vocals by Richard Lunt)