I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaack ....

https://soundcloud.com/phil-leith/hamama-original

It's been a busy summer doing other things, but I have worked on a couple of songs recently, and this is one of them.

This song came about when a playful little pattern picking lick I found on the guitar (which doesn't appear anywhere in the song, but it did inspire the melody) met a lovely woman from Pakistan last weekend with a personality to match it. She was a force of nature, coming out of her shell. It was fun to watch. Sweet. Pretty. Opinionated. And trying things she'd never tried.

I didn't intend this to be a bluegrass tune. But considering the lick was somewhat bluegrassy to begin with, and the fact that I needed a very playful instrument like a mandolin weaving its way around the song to illustrate her lively personality ... well ... there was nothing for it. Add a fiddle and call it done. I think the conga drums make it a little different, though.

****** Song Summary *************
Title: Hamama
File:Hamama.SGU
Key=D , Tempo 95, Length (m:s)=2:49
No intro. 65 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 65. Repeat x1 chorus
Fadeout ending bars =8.
No Melody
Soloist track has 976 notes, Soloist harmony is < no harmony >(0)
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Style is _CAMPING.STY (Camping Acoustic Guitar w Congas)

RealTracks in style: ~~2475:Bass, Acoustic, HeldSimple Ev 085
RealTracks in style: ~~362:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 2441:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking HipFolk Sw16 85
RealTracks in song: 378:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming DoubleTime Ev 088
RealTracks in song: 601:Fiddle, Soloist Train Ev 130
RealTracks in song: 2174:Mandolin, Soloist CountryAndy Ev 165
RealDrums in Song: CongasEv16[single]: a: Congas b: CongasEv16[single]

Hamama
Phil Leith, 8/2018

Hey, Hamama - with the laughing eyes
I believe that you must be a fairy in disguise
The sunshine and laughter that you bring into my life
Hey Hamama, won't you come out and play tonight?

Hey Hamama, talking with your hands
It may seem there're many things that you don't understand
You've the heart of the butterfly, and the wisdom of a child
Hey, Hamama - oh, you drive me wild

Everyone around you is captured by your spell
The love you send the world comes back a million times as well

Hey, Hamama - with the laughing eyes
I believe that you must be a fairy in disguise
The sunshine and laughter that you bring into my life
Hey Hamama, won't you come out and play tonight?

Hi Phil,

Good to have you back. And quite a nice tune, too! And yes, the congas give this a whole new flavor and it tastes good to my ears. That was a real nice listen!

If I may, one thing of note: I think you could have brought the mandolin and fiddle a little more forward in the mix. Other than that, this was real sweet!

BTW, I'm originally from St. Charles, MO. But, as a younger child (late 1940s to mid 1950s), I grew up in Troy, MO; Paris, MO; Mexico, MO; and Vandalia, MO. Those are all not too distant from Columbia. And my Aunt Lillie (father's sister) lived in Fulton most of her adult life. Also have family ties to Hermann, MO.

Anyway, real nice little tune! Best to you.

Alan

Al-David

I'm quite familiar with all of those places.

And thanks for the compliments.

Yes, I really didn't, ahem, "fiddle" with this one too much. It's not going on my album. I mainly did it 1) because I was inspired, and 2) for her. She needs an ego boost (but I didn't say anything in the song that I didn't mean ... well, the "drive me wild" is an exaggeration, but hell, I just said "child", so what am I gonna do on the next line??? We're writing SONGS here!!!!! :-D . and it wasn't THAT much of a stretch)

I really haven't listened to the mix on my monitors. I just know I want them toned down while the vocals are going on. How much, I didn't mess with. Probably could be louder in the solos and that's easy enough to do when I get time. Good advice, I will check it all out on the monitors.

Nice story, nice song. Love the congas.

The mandolin and fiddle sound great! As you said, don't argue with what works, and they certainly work here.

I enjoyed the listen.

Pretty little song - well done. Pity you didn't put your picking in.

Very cool tune. Loved the backtrack. Congos were cool. Super vocal and lyric. Well done.

Hi Phil,

Sweet song.
The mandolin works out fine here, so do the congas.
Good job.

Rob and Anne-Marie

Thanks for sharing this with us phil! I really enjoyed the overall tone of this and very easy to listen to. The harmonies for the vocals sound very rich! Well done!

Phil,

I'm really enjoying this.

As others above me have said, everything about it works. Your choice of instruments and the way that you've arranged them carries the listener along on a very pleasant musical ride. What appealed most to me, though, was your singing. I found it an absolute delight to listen to.

Regards,
Noel

Thank you, everyone. I've been busy getting stuff together for a camping trip and came back to all of these very nice comments.

First, to Al-David, I just now remixed it to bring up the mando and fiddle in spots, as well as the backup vocal and I compressed the drums a little so I could bring them up a bit without clipping (much).

You are right. It's better.

rayc, I did try putting my picking in. It clashed with the other guitar, and on top of that, cluttered it up. I do like how the other guitar sounds. Probably because Jason Roller is a far better guitar player probably even when he's drunk, tired, and has cuts on three of his fret-fingers than I will ever be sober, alert, and healthy.

So I left it clean and kept my ego out of it (this time!). I'm just happy the little riff I made up years ago was enough to get this thing off the ground, even if it did take a sharp turn into bluegrass (not expected, but I don't mind it ... it grew on me. That mando is a must to illustrate her personality, and that's just where it led.)

I actually considered finding a sitar to put in the mix and try (since she's Pakastani) but couldn't find one to try. In the end, I thought maybe the conga suggested a bit of tabula ... which she actually picked up on so that made me happy.

She loves the song. Apparently her uncle does, too. Haven't heard what her sisters had to say about it yet.

Scott C, Joe, and Noel 96 ... thank you ... I don't think I will ever get used to compliments on my voice. It has taken me a long time to even get comfortable with it, and all I hear is the parts that don't sound like I wanted them to. :-)

That's a stretch, there are parts I like, too, but I sure hear the other stuff as well.

Your words are encouraging and also inspire me to try to live up to it in the future by doing the best I can.

Wow, I really enjoyed this one, especially the congas. Really cool stuff. Thanks for sharing!

Nice one Phil!! Very happy music...playful and lively. Mandolin with that steady percussion beat really grabs the listener. Nice job!! Take care. Greg

Welcome back Phil! And really nice work on the tune - I enjoy the upbeat and playful nature of the song. It's got a fantastic groove as well, and your vocals are spot on here.

Great work, and thanks for sharing

Well, what a nice surprise! I saw this post before I left on vac and made a note to check back on it later on, find out what the title meant. Immediate reward with those initial congas! Good idea putting that stop in toward the end of the chorus..increased the interest.

And what a nice gift for your new friend. Really enjoyed it!