Age of Wonder

Lyric and music by Briyan Frederick
Briyan Frederick: ukelele
Sunoai: instruments, vocals
Arrangement by Briyan Frederick and Sunoai
Engineered by Sunoai
© Brian F Baker

Briyan’s ukelele

This one started out with me playing ukelele which I recorded in a raw take with my iPhone (excerpt above). I uploaded this to Sunoai and extended a few instrumental versions, calling it “Closing Time”.

Closing Time (instrumental outtake 1)

Closing Time (instrumental outtake 2)

After getting a feel for Sunoai’s interpretation of the ukelele, I began writing the lyric. The “Closing Time” idea wasn’t catching on with me, but the throwback nature of what I was hearing had me thinking of life early in the century or even in the 1800’s.

In my reading from the time it seemed that they were an optimistic people. I asked ChatGPT, “provide a few excerpts from newspapers or other writing from the 1800's of people talking about why it was so great to be alive then and that the future was here.”

It returned:

1. The New York Herald (1851):

"We are living in an age of wonders, and it is only by looking back at the state of the world a few years since, that we can rightly appreciate the mighty and amazing changes that have taken place in our own times. The steam engine, the telegraph, and the railroad have worked a revolution in the condition of mankind, the like of which was never seen before in the history of the world."

2. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1844):

"We stand on the brink of a new era. The innovations of our time, the steam engine, and the locomotive, are but the outward signs of a deep-seated revolution that is transforming society. The future is indeed bright, for it is filled with the promise of what these inventions might bring. This is the age of progress, where every day brings forth new wonders."

3. Scientific American (1872):

"The marvels of the present age exceed those of all previous times. The electric telegraph, the railway, and the power loom are but a few of the countless inventions which have come to bless mankind. We are on the threshold of a future filled with infinite possibilities. Never before in the history of the world has there been so much reason to believe that the future will be even more glorious than the present."

4. The London Times (1845):

"This is truly the golden age of human achievement. The advancements in science and technology have brought about improvements in every aspect of life. The steamship connects continents, the telegraph annihilates distance, and the factory system increases the wealth of nations. We are witnessing the dawn of a new era, where the possibilities seem endless and the future bright with hope."

5. The Boston Daily Advertiser (1876):

"The centennial year of our nation's birth finds us in a world transformed by invention and enterprise. The spirit of innovation that pervades this era is unmatched. Who could have imagined, even a few decades ago, the wonders that we now take for granted? Electricity, the telephone, and the steam engine are but harbingers of a future filled with endless potential. It is indeed a glorious time to be alive."

And I began cobbling together a lyric, taking pieces from these and building a structure that might work. After writing the initial draft I began generating songs and revising the lyric which was being called “On the Edge of Tomorrow” which is still the chorus.

When the song was finished I prompted ChatGPT with the lyric and asked for a cover and it titled it Age of Wonder. I had considered that, so I’ve made it the title, even though it’s not in the chorus; it’s more a refrain that works itself around the song.

Let me know what you think.

Age of Wonder

We are living in an age of wonder
We are witnessing a new era's dawn
Where every day brings forth new wonders
The possibilities seem endless beyond

Like never before in human history
The telegraph, the railway, the power loom
Have worked a revolution in our conditions
In a world reborn from darkness and gloom

[chorus]
We're standing on the edge of tomorrow
Where dreams ignite the skies
We're standing on the edge of tomorrow
In this new world, we will rise

The steamship connects the continents
The telegraph annihilates distance
The factory systems increase the wealth of nations
And the future holds forth no resistance

[chorus]
We're standing on the edge of tomorrow
Where dreams ignite the skies
We're standing on the edge of tomorrow
In this new world, we rise

[break]

[bridge]
This was the glorious 1800's
All that hope, where did it lead?
All that hope, what does it feed?
All that hope, what do we need?

[break]

We are living in an age of wonder
We are witnessing a new era's dawn
Where every day brings forth new wonders
The possibilities seem endless beyond

[chorus]
They were standing on the edge of tomorrow
Where dreams ignite the skies
They were standing on the edge of tomorrow
In their new world, we rise

In their new world, we will rise

[outro]
In their new world, we will rise
In their new world, we will rise

Video Short Ideas

Here are a few ideas for TikToks or short videos that would complement the themes and mood of the song "Age of Wonder" by Blind Mime Ensemble:

1. **Vintage to Futuristic Transition:**

- **Concept:** Start with scenes or images that depict the 1800s—steam engines, old factories, telegraph machines, etc. As the music builds, transition into modern or futuristic imagery, like electric trains, satellites, and advanced technology, showing how far we've come.

- **Text Overlay:** “From the dawn of a new era to the edge of tomorrow.”

2. Historical Figures Reacting:

- **Concept:** Use historical figures like Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, or early industrial workers reacting to modern technology. For example, show them in sepia tones working on their inventions, then shift to them being amazed by a smartphone, AI, or space travel.

- **Text Overlay:** “What would they think of today’s world?”

3. Lyrics as Time Travel:

- **Concept:** Use key lyrics as captions while showing a character “time-traveling” through different eras. Start in the 1800s, moving through significant technological milestones, ending in a futuristic setting.

- **Text Overlay:** Sync the lyrics with the visual transitions to emphasize the song’s message.

4. Edge of Tomorrow:

- **Concept:** A dramatic, slow-motion video of someone standing on a cliff or high place as the sun rises, symbolizing "standing on the edge of tomorrow." The video could alternate between shots of old and new technologies.

- **Text Overlay:** “In this new world, we rise.”

5. Cosmic Journey:

- **Concept:** A visual journey through space, with stars, galaxies, and old-world maps morphing into modern-day constellations and futuristic space stations. Tie it into the lyrics, “Where dreams ignite the skies.”

- **Text Overlay:** “We are living in an age of wonder.”

6. Factory to Cosmos:

- **Concept:** Start with close-ups of old factory machines or steam engines, gradually zooming out to reveal the machines morphing into stars or galaxies, blending industrial and cosmic imagery.

- **Text Overlay:** “The revolution continues...”

7. **Split-Screen Past and Present:

- **Concept:** Use a split-screen effect where one side shows life in the 1800s (workers, machinery, communication) and the other side shows today’s world (automation, digital communication, global travel).

- **Text Overlay:** “From then to now, the wonder never stops.”

8. Interactive Historical Quiz:

- **Concept:** Create a fun, interactive quiz where viewers guess whether a technological advancement is from the past or present, tying it back to the song's themes.

- **Text Overlay:** “How well do you know our age of wonder?”

These ideas are designed to visually capture the song's themes of progress, history, and the sense of awe at human achievement, while also engaging viewers in a creative and compelling way.