"Fear Of A Fever" was the final song written and recorded for the Parkdale Fever album. It was the last piece of the puzzle. A chance to tie up loose ends, and complete the story of the album as a whole. It works as a quasi-title track for the record. Much like "Primal Desire" is for Plaid On Flannel's Primitive Normative. Similarly to that tune, "Fear Of A Fever" is also the 2nd track on the album.
The word "fever" is used frequently on different song's lyrics from Parkdale Fever. When writing the last tune for the album in the summer of 2021, I wanted to find a word that sounded close to "fever". I figured that "fear" was the nearest thing to it. While only really having a difference with the letter "v".
Parkdale Fever alternates between minor and major keys from track to track throughout the album. This dichotomy between sad and happy sounding songs takes the album to different places with each tune. When it came time to record "Fear Of A Fever", I knew the last song made for the album had to be in a major key. But I also knew the lyricism had to stay on course with the flow of the tunes on the album. As it's the 2nd song from Parkdale Fever. With all major chords played in the tune accompanied with playful melodies, "Fear Of A Fever" is a seemingly paradoxical song title. But it stays true to what this album is all about.
The lyrics for "Fear Of A Fever" discuss the implications of poverty. For me, it was "fear of having to live in a tent". Just like the many people I've seen in my neighbourhood. But for some listeners, it might mean "fear of getting sick" during the pandemic era. This could be interpreted in the lyric "When it flows from me to you". I wanted to use poverty as a metaphor for a contagious disease. When it comes to where a person lives and what their status is within a society. Being a product of one's own environment. And for me, being homeless is something that I truly fear.
I drew a lot of influences when it came to making "Fear Of A Fever". The guitar riff is reminiscent of Andy Summers from The Police. But there's also a Jangle Pop sound to it. I came up with this riff after I had written the rest of the song. And I wanted something that could compliment the three chords played during the main progression. The tune that really inspired "Fear Of A Fever" is "Fine Time" by Britpop band Cast. I guess you could say this song has mostly British influences.
The arrangement on the song is unlike anything I've ever written before. It goes Riff/Verse/Chorus/Riff/Verse/Chorus/Bridge/Solo/Bridge/Riff/Refrain/Solo. There are only 2 choruses, and they are near the beginning of the tune. Making the guitar riff more prominent from start to finish. The guitar solos also take up a big portion of the song. Telling a lot of the story. A big moment in the tune is the "oh-way-oh-way" part which I called the Refrain. This section follows the melody of Verse 2. And acts as a final hook before the closing guitar solo.
Both guitar solos in "Fear Of A Fever" use 2 different guitars. The Fender is playing more melodically, and the Gibson is playing more chaotically. The guitars are switched to create a contrast in the lead instruments. Giving two different perspectives and tones. Much of the guitar work on Parkdale Fever is split between a Fender and a Gibson guitar. When it comes to the rhythm and lead instruments.
"Fear Of A Fever" is a song that could be extended during live performances. While the studio version is short, the live version could tell a longer story. I'm excited to be able to perform this tune.
![Fear Of A Fever [Single]](https://www.jeanfitshawl.shop/image/fear-of-a-fever-single_vE7zbg_1.webp)
