ELO - Time After Time (Cover Arrangement w/ Animation)

Music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne. Originally recorded by Electric Light Orchestra for the album "Secret Messages", released in 1983.
I've always been a fan of the melody and lyrics for this song, especially the line "The beauty of the Earth from way up high shines like a jewel upon the velvet sky". Secret Messages is a somewhat experimental album and many of its songs feature odd effects and musical textures - this song in particular married a two-note synth loop to a bombastic snare drum. I've come across multiple reviews where people have said that this is not only the worst song on the album but the worst ELO song overall. I disagree with this sentiment, and chose to make my own arrangement devoid of the obnoxious special effects in the hopes of proving that there's something worthwhile in Mr. Lynne's work.
I started the arrangement on 12/25/2009, got distracted by my album at some point, then started recording the vocals on 10/16/2010. Since then, I've returned to the arrangement twice (making this the 3rd version, recorded on 7/20/2011). At the time of this post, I think I'm the only person who's put up a cover of this song on YouTube. First!
I made the animation on 9/5/2011 and it's taken me an additional 3 weeks to get my dinosaur of a computer to render the video properly.
As always, the music was made with Propellerhead Reason and Adobe Audition; the animation was made with Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro.
And if you want, you can get the mp3 here: http://www.mediafire.com/?1mc768vk6j17ss9

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Film & Animation

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• Sean Moore

[ashproductions]

Well this is a bit weird and hypnotic! Also very neat. How did you do the kaleidoscope business?

Also nice harmonies.

[MasterCactaur]

@ashproductions I'm pretty sure that "kaleidoscope business" is an effect called "Kaleidoscope"...or maybe I layered a bunch of different abstract shapes on top of each other and messed around with the opacity settings. I'm definitely not motivated enough to go back to the source files and investigate further.

[darthgonzalo]

Incredibily good. You took out the best of this tune. I do not think there is even a bad second in Secret Messages. Thank you.

[MasterCactaur]

@darthgonzalo I agree: Secret Messages is a fairly solid album...although I generally skip "Rock and Roll is King" due to its irritating repetition and (like "Time After Time")...loud snare drum.

[swarlock]

Very cool. I'd like to play this one on my TWILLIGHT; THE MUSIC OF ELO AND MORE SHOW on TYME 102.9 on the net.

[MasterCactaur]

@swarlock Go for it. There's a link for downloading an mp3 at the bottom of the video description.

[louie5587]

Nice arrangement Sean....Vocals are really crisp..... I trust Jeff Lynne would be proud of your version....I heard your "Whisper in the Night" take as well- you did a great job w/ it...fragile & quite beautiful.....good luck w/ your music endeavors

[swarlock]

@MasterCactaur Thank you.

[swarlock]

@MasterCactaur Thank you.