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This song is based on a short story 'Big World' by Australian author Tim Winton. It so happens that Winton grew up in the same time and place as myself (Western Australia) so I have always connected with his characters and themes. It's kind of a plan to look at some of his other stories for inspiration. I want to enter this song in a comp in around 2 weeks so comments including nitpicking most welcome. PM me if you're not comfortable doing it on the forum. I'd really appreciate it! It's A Strange Ol Bug Eyed World Style is _SWFOLKM.STY RealTracks in song: ~1112:Fiddle, Background CountrySwing Sw 110 RealTracks in song: 2672:Pedal Steel, Rhythm HawaiianSwing Sw 110 RealTracks in style: ~~372:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Hank Sw 120 RealTracks in song: ~425:Organ, B3, Background Blues Sw 120 Mixed in Logic Pro X with the addition of self-tracked acoustic and electric guitars, bass, synth (Alchemy) and vocals. It's A Strange Ol Bug Eyed WorldMe and Biggie we’re heading up north Gotta get outta this town of course It’s cold down here, folks all turned to ice Gonna head up to where the mangoes grow Away from everything we know If we don’t I swear I’ll be going bad Me and Biggie we share big dreams Worked nights for years since we were seventeen We always talked about the time we would get away Eating up road, wind on our tail If you got a hammer, gotta drive the nail Gonna hit the jackpot, I know we will one day It’s a big ol, funny ol, strange ol bug eyed world Let your hopes and your dreams like sails be unfurled If you wanna reach the stars, don’t matter who you think you are It’s a big ol, funny ol, strange ol bug eyed world Well I ain’t never been this way before The desert wind warms me to the core Me and Biggie share a smoke as we take in the views outside I may not have witnessed all that much So who am I to sit here and judge But who would wanna stay at home and suicide (Chorus) It’s empty here looking at the sky Makes you wanna be alone and cry I aint so dumb I don’t fear what lies ahead But in this moment in this space in time Let me claim what I need as mine You’re a long time living, a longer time dead
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I don't normally respond, but as it's a competition and I'm probably going to put my own stuff up, I thought I would. Not to mention being a Brisbane boy:-) I loved the chorus, Maybe just putting a chorus in after the 1st verse might do the trick as I found it lost something going straight from verse 1 to verse 2. As far as recording etc etc. It all sounded great to me. I'm struggling with a similar problem and had to actually cut my story (verses) in half on the current song I'm working on.
Edited: Just had another listen and changed my mind.
Last edited by lambada; 06/04/17 11:08 PM.
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Really like the feel of this one!! Cool, simple melody, just the right arrangement, and a vocal that is exactly what's needed. Great job! Good luck! Take care. Greg
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Matcham,
This may be my favorite of your songs... Excellent lyrics, vocal and mix.
Great job!
Bob
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Thanks Bob, Greg and lambada. lambada nice to meet another Aussie on the forum. I'm guessing the idea of going north to pick mangoes might seem strange to some of our cousins on top of the world.
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We like it and the swing feel works very well. The write is obviously contextual to the short story but even without having read it the lyric flowed nicely and told an engaging story (as is so necessary with a folk tune). Your vocal performance matched the folk feel of the lyric very well. Since you asked regarding the mix  With a fiddle, steel and organ there are a lot of sustained notes happening but you did a good job of keeping them separate. Not really nit worthy. The mix presents a nice soundstage on our monitors. And the vocal is up front which is IMO is exactly where it should be for this type of tune. You have a strong entry and best of luck with the contest. We enjoyed it! J&B PS "I'm guessing the idea of going north to pick mangoes might seem strange to some of our cousins on top of the world." If I can accept the Nile River flowing north, i.e., the lower Nile is north, then I can handle the mangoes!
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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Hi Matcham, Great work on this! Really enjoyed the lyrics and form. Well done!
Cheers,
Joe
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Excellent tune Matcham. +1 on Janice and Buds comments. Loved the intro but it was the swing feel to the song that drew me in first. Lyrics just fit right in perfectly. Well done. Another super track...
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Thanks Scott, Joe and Bud. Actually there are a lot of sustained notes, particularly in one of the verses. I might consider that a nit and go back and have another listen.
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very nice, some great lines in the lyric throughout the song
good storytelling, catchy chorus, nice mix
enjoyable
Kenny
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very nice, some great lines in the lyric throughout the song
good storytelling, catchy chorus, nice mix
enjoyable
Kenny G'Day! Kenny said a lot of what we were thinking as we listened. The sound is crisp and very nicely balanced. As has been mentioned several times, the swing feel is what really pulls the listener in. It seems to quietly but efficiently propel the song forward and keeps the listen fresh. Your vocal is very, very good. We found nothing negatively noteworthy, as far as technical merit and performance is concerned, anywhere as we listened. We thought it was delightful from beginning to end. Good luck in the contest! Alan & Di
Last edited by Al-David; 06/07/17 12:53 AM.
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Alan, Di and Kenny, thank you so much. Yeah I was hoping the swing feel would help drive the track as it is a type of road song. The intro section is part of the same idea ie motor noise without being a motor and a car radio without being literally a car radio.
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