G’day guys & girls,

Somewhere along the lines I read on a thread (I now can’t find) a suggestion by a member that an update of the 1987 C’mon Demons tune would be a good idea.

As a music producer, amongst other media making roles, I had it in mind to tackle an original update to the tune. Lo and behold, over my post NY break I took to producing some tracks to experiment with AI. Yep I know! Many of us in the music industry are either embracing the tech or sh*t scared of how music will be/is evolving.

Anyways, I’m after some feedback on a medley of tunes which are in effect an homage to the C’mon Demons release of ’87. Utilising the old track as a ref, the original lyrics and directed prompting.

So if anyone has the time or inclination checkout the demo (only) mix link.

BTW, if anything appeals to the likes of the podcast team i.e to replace the ol’ opening tune let me know and I can put some real polish on what is essentially a rough mix. FYI, I have forwarded a submission to the club for any reaction. I personally would like to see, in an ideal world, a collection along these themes with a group of singers from the club and the fan-base - to produce a complication. Potentially exploring a wider array of music genres celebrating the club and fan-base in song.

In all there are about 7 music tracks/segments presented as a medley. Be warned the mix is loud and in-your-face. But hey sports anthems and the likes are designed to be.

I hope you get some enjoyment, if you take some time out to have a listen.

Go Dees! https://on.soundcloud.com/pOUKwcVP7pYNdCsY7t

Not bad! Will have a proper listen later but there's plenty to work with there.

Good to see that you're having a go with the AI and seeing what it can offer.

Another lifetime ago I was in the scene myself and an amateur song writer/arrangement maker. I still do it as a hobby occasionally. This AI stuff is a real love-hate thing because I've always really appreciated the craft of songwriting/sound design/mixing and mastering and love seeing a professional do it. After 15 - 20 years of in and off music making I have a hard drive somewhere with around 100 ideas and arrangements and of those, about a dozen completed songs. Yet these programs come along and produce in a click what took me weeks, months and sometimes years of work! On the flip side it has proven to be a way to get ideas down much quicker and help prevent the writer's block. I am worried about what it means for the industry but we'll just have to see how it develops.

Will give it a proper listen today 🙂

20 hours ago, Stem Splitters said:

G’day guys & girls,

Somewhere along the lines I read on a thread (I now can’t find) a suggestion by a member that an update of the 1987 C’mon Demons tune would be a good idea.

As a music producer, amongst other media making roles, I had it in mind to tackle an original update to the tune. Lo and behold, over my post NY break I took to producing some tracks to experiment with AI. Yep I know! Many of us in the music industry are either embracing the tech or sh*t scared of how music will be/is evolving.

Anyways, I’m after some feedback on a medley of tunes which are in effect an homage to the C’mon Demons release of ’87. Utilising the old track as a ref, the original lyrics and directed prompting.

So if anyone has the time or inclination checkout the demo (only) mix link.

BTW, if anything appeals to the likes of the podcast team i.e to replace the ol’ opening tune let me know and I can put some real polish on what is essentially a rough mix. FYI, I have forwarded a submission to the club for any reaction. I personally would like to see, in an ideal world, a collection along these themes with a group of singers from the club and the fan-base - to produce a complication. Potentially exploring a wider array of music genres celebrating the club and fan-base in song.

In all there are about 7 music tracks/segments presented as a medley. Be warned the mix is loud and in-your-face. But hey sports anthems and the likes are designed to be.

I hope you get some enjoyment, if you take some time out to have a listen.

Go Dees! https://on.soundcloud.com/pOUKwcVP7pYNdCsY7t

Well done on putting this together. I got a Stone Roses - Fools Gold vibe in the opening, which was short lived and then felt like you'd taken us to Revolver at 3am. I think the lyrics need to be more pronounced. It doesn't appeal to me. It doesn't really feel contemporary at all. Kind of lacks flow and wouldn't really rev up a crowd imho. Respect the effort though

I'm not sure it would rev up the crowd, I think it needs something with a bit more emotion. Something Springsteen Ish echoing resilience and hope.

Something like this. Addicted to the Red and the Blue ==> https://youtu.be/QVTCinojCI8

Or perhaps a more focused version of my Glory glory Red and Blue ==> https://youtu.be/ce0eeQNwdIU

Thank you kindly for the thought and refs. I will def dig in and check them out.

@Trident22 The initial thoughts were to pay an homage to the C'mon Demons track of 1987. So there was deliberate references to pursue a late '80s Stadium "Modern Cinematic Retro” feel. Not sure that was accomplished. However, the platforms (AI) are evolving so quickly, directing the tech to achieve desire outcomes will get better. The 'flow' you speak of is likely due to my quick edit of producing a medley. And not spending too much time in execution. It's also something of an art to be able to thread varying music pieces together into a seamless run on. If you get my drift.

@layzie I would definitely reach into your archive of older tunes and writings you have. That was my initial purpose in experimenting with AI. As a songwriter myself, it's been surprising in hearing how one can re-imagine songs you may have kicking around. I would encourage you to dip your feet into the AI music waters, so to speak. I have divided views but the genie is out of the bottle and the current upload statistics to the likes of Spotify of AI music is mind boggling. Yet, let me know if you have the next Billboard Top One hundred contender laying around. I'd be happy to help carve out an updated version of any of your works. hehehe As this, re-imagining past works, is where I am personally achieving the best results. Some old band tracks of my own that never saw the light of day other than the odd play on triple R are feeling refreshed.

As a footnote: This exercise was/is for the purpose to revisit the C'mon Demons song, pay some homage by referencing the track. Find something new. The lyrics def need to be looked at closely should a more pro reset be pursued. In additions, it's difficult to please everyone when serving up an array of music as it's so subjective.

I'm fairly confident that there is some merit in pursuing something distinct that grabs attentions. What that maybe is hard to say. I imagine as a worthy exercise to see a band of singers on both sides of the fences from the club and supporters screaming out some catchy hook and chorus - in modern contemporary manners. This type of imagery would go along way to bring contemporary performance elite athletes and their humble supporters into a shared experience.

I'll dig into your thoughts and feedbacks some more.

Thanks again for the replies.

Go Dees

Edited February 6Feb 6 by Stem Splitters
Expanding upon thoughts

@Six6Six Thank you for your super references. That first tune is an absolute banger! A great vocal performance. Who is the artist?

I've taken some liberty to have a play around with a re-imaging. I get your mention of Springsteen. I was moved to put strings and another backing to the vocalists performance in Addicted. Taking a more ‘cinematic’ approach, it's kinda Springsteen meets the Man From Snowy River or maybe John Williams. Hehe

You can check it out here if you're like.

Addicted to the Red and the Blue_Reimagined

It’s loose and needs polish. However, you ought to get the idea. Let me know if you know of or have a connect to the artist. I'd love to seek permissions and to access the original vocal recordings for any possible interest in tightening/polishing this prop version - if they may be interested at all.

Your second ref I hadn’t heard either. I’ve set aside some time to play with it too. If something inspiring occurs I’ll post.

Thanks again for your references. As said, the first tune is a real banger and moved me. I hope you enjoy this take. It's meant to be played loud. Despite being a loose draft. However, it pulls on my heart strings.

Edited February 6Feb 6 by Stem Splitters
Minor correction

On 07/02/2026 at 10:48, Stem Splitters said:

@Six6Six Thank you for your super references. That first tune is an absolute banger! A great vocal performance. Who is the artist?

I've taken some liberty to have a play around with a re-imaging. I get your mention of Springsteen. I was moved to put strings and another backing to the vocalists performance in Addicted. Taking a more ‘cinematic’ approach, it's kinda Springsteen meets the Man From Snowy River or maybe John Williams. Hehe

You can check it out here if you're like.

Addicted to the Red and the Blue_Reimagined

It’s loose and needs polish. However, you ought to get the idea. Let me know if you know of or have a connect to the artist. I'd love to seek permissions and to access the original vocal recordings for any possible interest in tightening/polishing this prop version - if they may be interested at all.

Your second ref I hadn’t heard either. I’ve set aside some time to play with it too. If something inspiring occurs I’ll post.

Thanks again for your references. As said, the first tune is a real banger and moved me. I hope you enjoy this take. It's meant to be played loud. Despite being a loose draft. However, it pulls on my heart strings.

Hi SS

Your remix of Addicted to the red and the blue sounds good produce as a cinematic piece but I guess that was not my intent for the song. I wrote it as a stadium anthem to replace It's a grand old Flag which like all the current AFL themes is a bit stuck in the past. I wrote it with the intention of crowd participation, A bit like the "Yellow and Black" response in the Richmond theme song.

That was also the intent of "Glory glory red and blue yeah", crowd response.

I have remixed Addicted to the red and the blue to emphasize this a bit more. It might be a bit over the top but makes the point.

YouTube ==> https://youtu.be/CGTw32SQOto

Soundcloud ==> https://soundcloud.com/ritmo-virtuale/addicted-to-the-red-and-the-blue-2?in=ritmo-virtuale/sets/ritmo&si=9cd4c238c73b4e68a737d99f7c365a50&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The YouTube version of this also has some ideas that I have had to re-imagine the demon logo which is a bit bland. A bit to stuck with the MCC theme. There was a fair bit of comment about this at the AGM. The designs I have come up with feed of three older logos,

1. The flame head log,

2. The current MFC shield logo

3. The club Mascot Checker

I'd be interested on people's thoughts around the logos

Regards, Six6Six.

@ Six6Six

Hiya,

First up: kudos for writing Addicted to the Red and the Blue. I did think it was produced/commission works. By an artist with close ties to the club - along the lines. On my first listen it really landed for me - sentimental in the best way, with well-shaped lyrics and classic storytelling. The version here you uploaded captures that spirit beautifully: https://youtu.be/QVTCinojCI8

It’s a cracker.

That’s why I had a crack at reimagining it. To my ear, the current band backing leans into a mild country trope that doesn’t quite do justice to the words and melody. The more “cinematic” approach I went for is simply my taste - I hear the song working with a more substantial, emotive bed under the vocal.

Also: if that vocal is AI rather than a real performer, it genuinely fooled me - and either way, no shame in it.

Where I’m less convinced is the second version you uploaded: https://youtu.be/CGTw32SQOto

For me it pulls the lyric and melody into a different lane and, IMHO, it loses some of the magic of that first, slightly Springsteen-esque interpretation. If your goal is to produce/present/submit something to the club, my advice would be to focus on the first version (particularly the melody) - it best nails what it feels like you set out to achieve.

On Glory Glory Red and Blue: I get the motivation, but I think it’s trickier territory. That “Glory, glory…” line is heavily associated with older American hymn/anthem melodies (often linked through John Brown’s Body / Battle Hymn of the Republic lineage). Personally, adapting that to an Aussie club comes with baggage and potential complications.

That said, I completely agree with your broader point: a lot of AFL club songs feel dated, and they’re mostly just “accepted as is.” Even newer clubs haven’t exactly delivered themes that feel genuinely stirring. So yes: I understand the frustration and the impulse to modernise.

Same goes for “logo land.” I had my own issues with the Demons logo pre the last incarnation.

On your logo variations - why I think they’re running into trouble

A few thoughts, offered in the spirit of constructive critique:

1. Logos are notoriously hard to get right. There’s a reason only a handful of designers become globally known for it. People like Paul Rand, Milton Glaser, David Ogilvy, etc.

2. The space is flooded with second-rate, clip-art-ish logo language. A mock-up can look “passable,” but great logos hold up under scrutiny and across real-world uses.

3. In your current directions, two choices feel like they work against a modern submission:

• embossing / 3D treatment

• the demon face

4. The demon face is especially hard to land as a club mark. Even if it has and has been utilised in the past. It’s very personified and can tip into a “satanic” reading or take on things, whether intended or not. In my view it’s a risk you don’t want in a mainstream club identity. Even though the Club is know as the Demons.

For context (so you know where I’m coming from): I’m a cinematographer with international/major TV experience, and I also do semi-pro graphic and web design. I’ve been around/worked in top-tier F1 and made ads for Coca-Cola - so take my opinion as informed, but still just one person’s view.

If you look at curated lists of the best football badges (subjective, of course), a strong common thread is flat, simplified design:

https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/100-best-club-football-badges-ever

There are practical reasons (reproduction, printing, embroidery, small-scale legibility), but also aesthetic ones: the best marks are usually simple, distinctive, and built to last.

Even if the current Melbourne logo eventually gets a refresh, I doubt it changes unless something genuinely exceptional appears. Something they can’t ignore.

I’d strongly avoid embossing. When I worked in Tokyo years back (different design culture, sure), embossing often read as “cheap.” And practically, 2D marks are just far easier to execute consistently across every application.

There’s an example on that FourFourTwo page - badge #25 (Caen) - that uses a Viking face influence and makes it work because it’s restrained: not overly literal, not aggressive, not scary. That restraint is doing a lot of heavy lifting.

Any redesign of a club logo - especially one with history - has to account for a lot of stakeholder viewpoints.

Final thought

Both club anthems and club logos are subjective - but the ones that become classics tend to do a few things well: they’re simple, emotionally clear, and they feel timeless, like they’ve always existed and always will.

If you’re interested in talking offline about a potential collab, let me know. It feels like we share a few overlapping instincts and goals.

Best,

Stem Splitter(s)