“Ode to Apollo” is a song I wrote a few years ago. I thought now would be a good time to give it the ol’ MJV studio treatment.
Unlike most of the songs I make for Tuesday Groove Kabobs, for this I one I enlisted the help of some friends. It features Rick Weber (We Wrote the Book on Connectors, Amanda Winterhalter band, The Ding Dongs) on drums. And it features Ailisa Newhall (The Accordion Babe, honorary Ding Dong) on accordion and vocals. Ailisa recorded all her parts at her studio and then sent them over to me for the mixdown.
I love how “Ode To Apollo” turned out. The whole experience is proof that it’s way more fun to make music with others than it is to make it by myself (I get sick of myself pretty easily). Plus, the music itself is dramatically better.
“Ode To Apollo” is obviously inspired by one of the greatest and nuttiest sports movies of all time, Rocky IV.
It’s a brilliant film that is almost entirely composed of music montages. I just watched it the other day and I’m happy to report Rocky IV still holds up in every way.
Back in 1985, watching this movie in the theatre with my brother, a very young Mike Votava was legitimately shocked that they killed off the great Apollo Creed. Some boxing experts say Apollo lost his fight with Drago because Apollo wore himself out dancing with James Brown moments before the fight even began.
I hope you like the song.
Keep punching in heaven, Apollo!
Here are a few bonus song nuggets for you.
Bonus Song Nugget #1
Despite several warnings from my evil lawyer claiming possible copyright infringement, I pulled the line:
There’s no easy way out
There’s no shortcut home
…directly from the Rob Teppert’s “No Easy Way out”. The song sets the tone for Rocky’s “driving around while thinking about your life” montage. I put the line in my song to pay tribute to one of film’s greatest moments.
It’s a great line from a great song.
Did you know that somebody made a shot-per-shot remake of this montage?! Well, somebody did and it has long been one of my favorite all-time things on the internet.
There are few things I love more in this world than when someone goes ALL IN on a silly idea.
Ode To Apollo
by Mike Votava
Why does Apollo Creed have to die every time I’m watching Rocky IV?
Throw in the towel Sylvester Stallone
If he dies he dies, says Ivan Drago
There’s no easy way out
There’s no shortcut home
