There’s nothing unusual about a new Brett Newski song. Hell, the hard-working alt-rock troubadour has released eight singles in 2021 alone. What is unusual is a new Brett Newski song that doesn’t come complete with a bonkers video, a bonkers promotion, or both.
So it goes with the new “I Should’ve Listened To Ferris Bueller,” a song crafted from lyrics Newski found in one of his old high school notebooks. Oh, and it’s a song that serves as the leadoff single to a new record, It’s Hard To Be A Person: The Soundtrack To The Book, which, as the title suggests, is the soundtrack to Newski’s new book, It’s Hard To Be A Person: Defeating Anxiety, Surviving The World, And Having More Fun. Oh, and it’s a song that also features Barenaked Ladies co-founder Steven Page on vocals. Phew.
First, the song and video!
Next, the press release, which is one of those press releases that really can’t be improved on, so here’s the whole thing:
At age 13, Brett Newski’s dad “The Vin Man” suggested Newski get a job at Mcdonald’s in order to buy his first guitar. Newski was uncertain because his hands were still tiny and square, like goat hooves. But after seeing Barenaked Ladies to a sold out Milwaukee Amphitheatre, Newski felt the fire and walked down to fill out an application at the nearest Mcdonalds. He was hired.
At $5.15 an hour, it took a bit to acquire the guitar, but he did, and became obsessed by learning BNL, Better than Ezra and and Violent Femmes songs. Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page became Newski’s first musical hero.
Last year, Brett Newski uncovered old notebooks of song ideas from two decades ago while still in high school, including early lyrical ideas for the “coming of age” tune “I Should’ve Listened to Ferris Bueller” which is now the lead track to It’s Hard to be a Person: the Soundtrack to the book. (The book is a collection of Newski’s quirky illustrations making fun of his own anxiety and depression, offering hacks and ideas to feel better in your brain.)
While Newski and his collaborator Spatola were finishing the song, Newski reached out to Steven Page to see if he would guest-vocal on the track. Page replied within 10 minutes and had vocal parts done within 48 hours.
Listen/download “I Should’ve Listened To Ferris Bueller” HERE. Pre-order It’s Hard To Be A Person: Defeating Anxiety, Surviving The World, And Having More Fun HERE. Oh, and listen to Newski’s podcast, Dirt From The Road, HERE.
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