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Olivia Midnight

by Paper Airplane

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about

On June 4, 2018 Olivia "Liv" Midnight died unexpectedly at the age of 17 in the hospital from a blood clot in the brain. For the past several years, singer-songwriter Ryan Horns (Paper Airplane, Last Hotel, Japanese B-sides) has worked to create a song to both celebrate the life of Liv Midnight, show support for her father and friend Chip Midnight, plus raise funds for her scholarship memorial at Thomas Worthington High School. The fund, and all proceeds from song sales, can help carry forward Liv's passions and joy of life. Please consider donating to the Liv Midnight scholarship fund via the Columbus Foundation by purchasing the song. Visit the Columbus Foundation and search for "Midnight," to create an account and make a donation there as well. The annual scholarship provides $500 to a student who shares Liv's passion for art and joy of life.

Note about the song:
What I love about music and art is how it immediately becomes immortal. When Chip Midnight’s daughter died, I felt an extreme amount of sadness for him and his family. I finally decided to write a song for her to help, at least me, deal with it. Besides, her name is Olivia Midnight – that’s just begging for a rock song. Also, what’s more rock and roll than Thin Lizzy twin guitars? When Liv died, Chip said there was a huge rainbow in the sky that day, so I knew I needed to mention that. The song also needed a point, but there’s nothing positive about death, especially the death of a daughter. I finally realized nothing can take away what they shared for 17 years. In that case, perhaps a world that never even knew her would be even worse. I recorded the song at home in 2019 and booked a recording session in March 2020… and the pandemic hit. I used to practice the song at our studio space alone and would always hear noises in the stairwell after I finished. That was interesting. Paper Airplane bandmates Keith Jenkins and Rob Cave started emailing me their parts and we pieced the song together into a mix. I booked a Secret Studio day in February and brought in only one person for each half of the day to record. Dan Bandman laid down the live drums and Brian Larcey added bass parts. The final song was mixed by Keith Hanlon and mastered by Cauliflower Audio - Ryan Horns

lyrics

OLIVIA MIDNIGHT

So often the days turn into nights.
So often we all just run out of time.
But what do you do, when all of your love.
Disappears in the air like a rainbow above?

Olivia Midnight, I know I can still hear your name in the twilight.

But there’s a smile on my face when I think about this place.
And the memories we made and all the charming things you said.
Because I know that living in a world without you is better
than living in a world that never knew you at all

I know defeat. I hear its name in the streets.
Blinking tigers all donning their cleats.
But I don’t know how to sing you a song,
when I’m studying shadows and lines on the wall.

Olivia Midnight, I know I can still see your face in the sunlight.

But there’s a smile on my face when I think about this place.
And the memories we made and all the charming things you said.
Because I know that living in a world without you Is better
than living in a world that never knew you at all...

credits

released June 4, 2021
Song by:
Ryan Horns

Performed by:
Dan Bandman, drums
Brian Larcey, bass
Keith Jenkins, lead guitar and slide
Rob Cave, keys
Ryan Horns, vocals, rhythm guitar and lead

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about

Paper Airplane Ohio

Noise and melody of the Midwest.

After a seven-year hiatus, singer-songwriter Ryan Horns returns with new shows, new band members and the double album "OTHELLO" release in 2019.

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